Program Reviews

I joined the medical project in SriLanka for 2 weeks and I really enjoyed it. From Monday to Friday I got to go to The Teaching Hospital Karapitiya (THK), where I saw different cases from the ones I'm used to see back in my country. I stayed with a host family and they couldn't be nicer. The food they cooked was so tasty and they all were very attentive. On the weekends I got to explore Sri Lanka. Michael was kind enough to organize everything and make sure I had the best time. Very enriching experience in every aspect!!

The medical program is really an experience, and you really get to see a lot that you wouldn’t normally see in the western countries.

I myself am a medical student from Denmark (22 years of age) and I was placed at the T. U. Teaching hospital in Kathmandu. It is the biggest government hospital here in Nepal, so they always have a lot of cases. I was living at the hostel/host family in Kalanki, which is about 20-25 minutes from the hospital (if there isn’t traffic, which in the morning there usually isn’t). I took the bus almost everyday since it was very cheap and actually quite easy once you got a hang of it. On the first day here, my country coordinator showed me everything I needed to know and how to get there.

My day at the hospital started at 8:30, and depending on the schedule I was done at around 3 pm. But in my experience this was often earlier, so on many of my workdays, I was still able to explore the city. And Saturdays were completely off-days.

I was the only one staying at the hostel/host family, but I did not feel unlucky being the only one there at the time —> then I got my own room and bathroom😀.

Didi, as I called the host mother, is the nicest and sweetest lady. She makes great and safe food, and you really feel welcome and safe. You could always have a good laugh with her.

My country coordinator (Anjana) got me in contact with another volunteer that was in Nepal, and staying at another family. So we also met, and hung out for a day.
I was traveling alone, but you shouldn’t be scared of feeling alone here. Anjana and Didi have been taking very good care of me, and are always ready with good advice and help if you need it.

I have really enjoyed it! RCDP Nepal is very reliable and has always been quick in responding and ready to help. Even when I was leaving, they still went out of their way to make sure I got safely to my next destination.

I volunteer at Hasantar Nunnery, They have like 60 nuns. I had 2 groups, one in the morning with 6 girls from 10 to 12 years old. The English class was more about helping them to improve their conversation. They can understand vocabulary but it's hard to read and talk for them. In the afternoons I had another group, while all Nuns pray, I was taking care of the little girls, the age range was from 5 to 8 years old, and because they can't still read the prayers, I was playing and teaching English to them. They had adorable girls, but just one was kind of hyperactive but fun. The food was amazing; I loved Nepalis food.

I learned about Buddhist prayers, devotion and the way to ask for wishes to Budda. The location is so beautiful and peaceful at the end of the mountain. But sometimes it was hard to go down to the city because I went in the Monson weather and the roads were like waterfalls for some days.

I would recommend the agency RCDP and the experience,I'm already planning to go for my second experience somewhere else.

I went for the RCDP Medical Volunteering program as a medical student. The greatest value for me was going to the hospital (and observing the clinical practice, including the differences from my home country).

I would especially like to thank the program coordinator, Anjana, who always provided us with timely updates and information. Everything was smooth-sailing because of her coordination and support. You will not feel lost or uncertain at any point as the support given is really amazing.

I am also deeply grateful to our host family! (We call her Didi) Her cooking was amazing and she would always tell us to make it our "home" and make ourselves comfortable. It really made the stay so pleasant. A huge thank you to all these people who made the program possible. It was definitely a good experience and very well-organized. We felt very well taken care of throughout!

RCDP Nepal provided an amazing experience with lower fees than most other organisations. I volunteered for two weeks at Sahid Memorial Hospital in Kathmandu. I was in the hospital every day excepted Saturday, but you can ask for Sunday off as well if you prefer.

The hospital is private / semi-private as I was told that volunteers are not normally allowed in government hospitals. I spent most of my time in the emergency department, where most acute cases present for assessment, examination and investigations. All the doctors and nurses speak English, and they are all extremely friendly. While they speak with patients in Nepali, all the notes and case files are written in English, and you can always ask them to explain things to you. As a medical student, I was not allowed to do much except dressings and supervised suturing, so I spent most of my time observing. The patient load is variable and it can be quiet at times, but you can always do your own things, converse with the doctors, or ask questions. Still, I learned a lot through the variety of patient cases (including road traffic accidents, fall injuries, hanging, acute abdomen, infections, etc) as well as conversations with doctors about healthcare in Nepal. Besides, I got to observe a few different surgical operations, and I am very grateful for the opportunity. RCDP Nepal also provides other postings for qualified doctors, such as in more rural locations, and I would love to come back in the future when I can contribute more clinically.

The volunteer hostel is a ten-minute walk from the hospital and 20- to 30-minute drive from the airport. RCDP kindly provided airport transfers both ways. The hostel had simple facilities but was very comfortable - I was expecting to have bunk beds in dorm rooms but ended up in a nice two-bed room with my friend. There are mosquitoes (at least in July) so bring insect repellent if you can. Clothes are handwashed with detergent provided (no washing machine) but this was fine. There is a supermarket within walking distance which was very convenient. The mother of the host family cooked for us, the meals were tasty and you could always ask for more. They treated us like family and gave us freedom and privacy as we liked. I found it comfortable and welcoming.

A side note about Kathmandu in general is the noise and air pollution which makes it difficult to walk around outside (I'd recommend wearing a mask). The traffic is kind of chaotic but we managed by being careful and following the locals when crossing the road.

During the last weekend, we took a tourist bus to visit Pokhara. We saw the Himalayas with the sunrise at Sarangkot and tried paragliding for the first time. We also visited Thamel, a shopping district in Kathmandu, before that. While we didn't have time to explore more of Kathmandu, there are actually many places including temples to visit especially if you like culture and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

We initially wanted to do a trek near the Himalayas like Annapurna Base Camp or Poon Hill, but it was the monsoon season and we were told it was not the best season for trekking due to rain and landslides. If you'd like to trek, September to November would be ideal. The locals at RCDP and the hospital were very helpful and forthcoming in providing us with all this information and wanted us to experience Nepal as much as possible. They gave me a Nepal language and culture book on the first day with an introduction to the country and simple phrases.

Our country coordinator was super helpful both before and during the programme. All information was sent to us in advance and any queries were answered promptly. She was flexible with my requests (such as paying programme fees in a different currency) and checked on us regularly during our time there.

Overall, this has been an extremely educational and enriching experience! I made friends with the doctors and nurses and felt sad to leave. I would recommend this experience to anyone (especially pre-med or medical students) who wish to learn more about healthcare and medicine in developing countries.

Nighttime at the edge of the world. Kathmandu is Nepal’s capital, and sits in a large valley surrounded by the Himalayas. Beautiful and dense architecture catches the eye at every turn, and the people seem to let life unfold organically with smiles on their faces and a big warm welcome resting fittingly on the edge of their lips. It’s a place you can be homesick for without ever having been there, and once you go you’ll never be the same. The food, captivating monasteries, and exotic wildlife just add to it’s divine allure. Do yourself a favor, pack lightly, embrace humility, and buy a one-way ticket to change the way you view the world and reorganize the priorities you think are important.

To attempt to articulate this experience is a welcomed but daunting task. How do I let the world know in a way they'll understand that serving in your preferred manner in a place like Nepal is viscerally uplifting, a certain collective peace & divinity is felt just being there. The locals certainly add to it's truly unique, beauty and offer their time & support at the drop of a hat were they to see me struggle in any way. I went because when I was registering for my university courses I saw an advertisement that mentioned teaching monks in the monasteries English. I've always been fascinated with Buddhism but also my departed grandmother was a devout Buddhist, chanting every morning. I went to Nepal three weeks later for a little over a month. From the moment the father of my host family picked me up at the airport I felt safe and in a state of true wonder, even at 1:00am and also meeting for the first time. I could say so many different things about the genuine kindness of the Nepali people, especially the Kalanki Mundi area. The bottom line is, if you are considering volunteering in Nepal, I encourage you to be honest with yourself and the truth is you already know that something profoundly sacred and morally enlightening awaits. I now hope you will be subtly brave and take the step towards going. I've lived many different lives and had many unique chapters of existence so I believed for a while that I was truly desensitized. Nepal was the shock to my heart that was badly needed and I wasn't even aware. I learned more from my students than they did from me it feels like. I felt a deep sense of purpose being blessed enough to guide those boys for a few weeks. The Light has a funny way of creeping in no matter how much resistance there is. The family that was kind enough to host me was absolutely amazing. I felt so close to them and know our relationship will continue. They truly felt like family to me. Didi and her son were the first to answer any questions at all I may have had, or places I needed to get to. But after a couple mornings you have your routine down and it becomes muscle memory, no worries at all. The home cooking was punctual and incredible, promptly on the table at breakfast lunch and dinner, same time everyday unless your schedule requires otherwise. Beautiful and dense architecture catches the eye at every turn, and the people seem to let life unfold organically, with smiles on their faces and a big warm welcome resting fittingly on the edge of their lips. It's a place you can be homesick for without ever having been there, and once you go you'll never be the same. The food, the captivating monasteries, and exotic wildlife just add to it's divine allure. Do yourself a favor, pack lightly, embrace humility, and buy a one-way ticket to change the way you view the world and reorganize the priorities you think are important. Teaching in the monastery was one of the most enlightening things I've ever done in my life and I learned so much about myself just by stepping outside myself. The Nepali people were there to catch me if I fell and they helped me heal in a way I never have experienced before. For that, I am eternally grateful. I say by not going and volunteering in Nepal is doing a disservice to oneself. Say yes in a polite email to Anjana, and I promise you she will take care of the rest and will be right by your side if ever need be. The program is organized, reliable, easy to communicate with, and were always clear in their words and honored any requests with a genuine kindness and welcoming disposition. I love RCDP and will be working with them again and again. Go be useful and see what happens. Trust me :)

To attempt to articulate this experience is a welcomed but daunting task. How do I let the world know in a way they'll understand that serving in your preferred manner in a place like Nepal is viscerally uplifting, a certain collective peace & divinity is felt just being there. The locals certainly add to it's truly unique, beauty and offer their time & support at the drop of a hat were they to see me struggle in any way. I went because when I was registering for my university courses I saw an advertisement that mentioned teaching monks in the monasteries English. I've always been fascinated with Buddhism but also my departed grandmother was a devout Buddhist, chanting every morning. I went to Nepal three weeks later for a little over a month. From the moment the father of my host family picked me up at the airport I felt safe and in a state of true wonder, even at 1:00am and also meeting for the first time. I could say so many different things about the genuine kindness of the Nepali people, especially the Kalanki Mundi area. The bottom line is, if you are considering volunteering in Nepal, I encourage you to be honest with yourself and the truth is you already know that something profoundly sacred and morally enlightening awaits. I now hope you will be subtly brave and take the step towards going. I've lived many different lives and had many unique chapters of existence so I believed for a while that I was truly desensitized. Nepal was the shock to my heart that was badly needed and I wasn't even aware. I learned more from my students than they did from me it feels like. I felt a deep sense of purpose being blessed enough to guide those boys for a few weeks. The Light has a funny way of creeping in no matter how much resistance there is. The family that was kind enough to host me was absolutely amazing. I felt so close to them and know our relationship will continue. They truly felt like family to me. Didi and her son were the first to answer any questions at all I may have had, or places I needed to get to. But after a couple mornings you have your routine down and it becomes muscle memory, no worries at all. The home cooking was punctual and incredible, promptly on the table at breakfast lunch and dinner, same time everyday unless your schedule requires otherwise. Beautiful and dense architecture catches the eye at every turn, and the people seem to let life unfold organically, with smiles on their faces and a big warm welcome resting fittingly on the edge of their lips. It's a place you can be homesick for without ever having been there, and once you go you'll never be the same. The food, the captivating monasteries, and exotic wildlife just add to it's divine allure. Do yourself a favor, pack lightly, embrace humility, and buy a one-way ticket to change the way you view the world and reorganize the priorities you think are important. Teaching in the monastery was one of the most enlightening things I've ever done in my life and I learned so much about myself just by stepping outside myself. The Nepali people were there to catch me if I fell and they helped me heal in a way I never have experienced before. For that, I am eternally grateful. I say by not going and volunteering in Nepal is doing a disservice to oneself. Say yes in a polite email to Anjana, and I promise you she will take care of the rest and will be right by your side if ever need be. The program is organized, reliable, easy to communicate with, and were always clear in their words and honored any requests with a genuine kindness and welcoming disposition. I love RCDP and will be working with them again and again. Go be useful and see what happens. Trust me :)

My time in Chitwan, Nepal was wonderful.l and I am so glad I went through Rcdp. The experience at the hospital allowed me to see medicine in a different way. The host family was extremely kind and compassionate. The volunteer coordinators made sure everything was set before I arrived and answered any questions I had along the journey. It was very easy to contact the coordinators for help. Transportation was set up and provided. I highly recommend this life changing volunteer program! You will not regret your time abroad!

I volunteered in a public clinic in Cusco for 4 hours in the morning and then had Spanish classes for 4 hours in the afternoon. It was a hard work and tiring but very enjoyable. I was severely limited in seeing by patients by my low level of Spanish. Everyone at the clinic was friendly and it was interesting to see a different healthcare system but my personal impact was low. The Spanish school 'mundo antiguo' was brilliant and organised lots of social activities such as meals, salsa classes and cultural experiences. Cusco is a very safe and beautiful city with loads of historical sites to visit at the weekends