Program Reviews

I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the incredible experience I’ve had during my volunteering program in Galle.

My host, Michael, has been nothing short of exceptional. From the moment I arrived, he has been warm, welcoming, and genuinely caring, ensuring that all my needs were met. He went above and beyond to make my stay comfortable, offering valuable recommendations on places to visit, shop, and unwind.

Beyond just providing accommodation, Michael took the time to introduce me to the local culture and wildlife through afternoon excursions, making my experience even more enriching. His family’s hospitality and kindness made a lasting impression, and I truly felt at home during my time here.

The volunteering experience itself has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the school for children with disabilities. It’s been a humbling and meaningful journey, and I appreciate all the support and coordination that made it possible.

I just wanted to share this feedback and highlight how much I appreciate Michael’s hospitality and the overall organization of the program. Thank you for making this experience so memorable!

I learned so much and had great experiences in Kathmandu thanks to RCDP. My project included one week of observing in a hospital and two weeks teaching English in a monastery. While at the hospital I had many opportunities to talk to doctors in depth about the sacrifices and rewards that accompany the profession. It was also very interesting to observe the healthcare system and hospital environment in a different country. One day there was a free health clinic that over 900 community members attended! The monastery experience was equally rewarding and a great way to learn about another culture. The guru and monks were very welcoming and always happy to invite me to prayers, chants, and meals. The program coordinator also helped me learn to navigate the city and get the best out of each experience. Lastly, I am grateful for the home stay because the host is amazing and comforting for volunteers in a new environment.

It has been a truly wonderful experience. The staff at RCDP have made every step seamlessly easy. The children at the monastery and other volunteers have made coming to Nepal so enjoyable and I would love to come back. I arrived as a solo traveller, a little nervous but met with Anjana and was made food by didi. I felt welcome as soon as I arrived. Sujan drove me to the monastery and I was met by other volunteers. My conversations with them and my interactions with the children were instantly positive. Although some of the children were shy at first, after a few classes they became more comfortable. If I had more time and money I would extend staying here another week. Everyone is cared for so well at the monastery by each other and I’ve been on many other excursions outside the monastery such a visiting temples or visiting kopang monastery/ the art school.

I went to Kenya for 2 weeks to do Internship program of community development and teaching English. Coordinator was amazing, he arranged my airport pickup service even it was mid night and they welcomed me and treated me well! program was also nice and teacher and host family was so nice and always cared my safety. teaching experience was also nice. You will also gain the experience of teaching how to deal with kids and you will gain lots of soft skills! community development was still at the development stage due to budget shortages but still they thought me their issues and how to deal with so it was good overall.

I volunteered in Kathmandu Nepal, I had a great time overall. It was a large hospital with a lot to see, the home stay hosts are so lovely. The home stay is a way out of town but public transport is good. I would really recommend the service and it’s a great price compared to other organisations. The staff are all really helpful and friendly. The city has so much to do and explore in your free time, there were some other volunteers there at the same time as me and we were able to see some sights together.

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.