Volunteer in Nepal - Nepal Rewarding Volunteer Experience

VolNepal is a great experience. I learned a lot and it was great to give back to communities in Nepal. I would recommend this experience to everyone. I truly felt like I had an impact and look forward to what VolNepal has planned next to help those in need. I would recommend people to volunteer for a month or two to really make an impact if they have time since you really need to be there. For anyone interested, I would recommend Volnepal (www.volnepal.org) as it is run by really friendly local Nepalis and has a very good reputation.

I was very happy with my trip in general. The adventure was incredible and I will never forget it.

Orphanage was great I really enjoy the time and want to back some day again:

I miss Nepal a lot.

Spending time at orphanage in Nepal was absolutely the most amazing time ever spent. My friend Sara and I worked there as volunteers for one month, and I am definetely going back. Besides walking them to school, picking them up again and helping with their homework, we pretty much decided for ourselves how to fill out the day. Even though helping them with school is very important, I very quickly realized that the most important input you can give them, is just being there for them. Meaning engaging in what they do, giving them attention, and especially giving them hugs and pretty much being like an older sibling to them.
I remember one episode with a girl named Babi. She wanted me to lift her up, and as I kissed her on her forehead she got all shy, and covered her head in my arms. Literally within 2 minutes she got all quite because apparently she had fallen asleep. So cute.

Please feel free to watch my videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRr8y9SZwag

Thank you VolNepal and team. It's really great time I enjoy my time in Orphanage home at Chitwan. I will back soon.

One month I have been volunteering in one of VolNepal's projects and had the most valuable experience living with the children at the Himalayan Foundation Orphanage in Kathmandu. This was an excellent way to get an insight into the problematics that do exist here in Nepal and a beautiful opportunity to provide support. It also gave me the possibility to experience the real Nepal as the orphanage and its residents became my home from home, my family. David, the head of the orphanage, is giving with his wife and his own two children shelter to 14 orphans. It is is a peaceful place. There is a strong sense of family and lots of respect for and in between the children. They treat each other as brothers and sisters, are disciplined, generous, playful, open and very loving. So many times I have been comparing their behavior with some of our kids at home and it is wonderful to see how they appreciate everything what is given to them. Be it toys, be it food or affection.
Not everything was fun though. I also experienced the sometimes harsh conditions they are living in. We are taking so many things for granted while they have to suffer regular power cuts up to 14 hours a day, they are running out of water almost daily or they have to deal with the shortage of gas haunting the entire country. And still they smile, are always happy and jolly. They are willing to do everything they can to help you and their brothers or sisters. Often I did ask myself if I do look after them or if they do actually look after me.

If you would like to experience a truly live changing experience I only can recommend you to do some volunteer work in an orphanage here in Nepal. And I really recommend you to get the help from VolNepal as they will find a suitable place for you and will monitor your activities. If you have doubts on how you are able to help the children because you are not a teacher or do not have a educational formation, you really don't have to worry. Me too I had those doubts before I was coming here. But there are so many things one can do and often it does not need much to make things much better. Never before I thought I would be able to do some found raising. But then I came here, saw the problems myself and shared my insights by writing to all my friends on Facebook, my blog and I sent some Emails. So many people were willing to help and in the end I managed to collect enough money to provide the orphanage with some things that really did change the children's life. Here I will name just three of them:

1. Kathmandu and the rest of Nepal is suffering regular, scheduled power cuts they do call load-shedds. This is due to the fact that the electricity company is not able to provide power for all of the households. Because of that the children in the orphanage often had to do their homework and dinner by candle light and with torches. Inconceivable in western countries it is part of the daily life in Nepal. Thanks to some of the donations we could buy a power backup system, or inverter like they call it here, which makes it possible to run some energy saving light bulbs during the power cuts. Now the children can do their homework, have dinner and read in the evening under somehow normal conditions.

2. One of the first things I got told when arriving in Kathmandu was not to drink the tap water. Most of Kathmandu's ground water is seriously polluted, but many people here do drink it as it is too expensive for them to buy bottled water. This is not different in the orphanage. Even the babies get the tap water to drink. Again thanks to the donations from friends and friends of friends we were able to buy a water filter system for the orphanage which makes the tap water drinkable. Now the children have clean water to drink and are not so delicate for diseases anymore.

3. The third story is maybe the most emotional. While I was living in the orphanage the nine month old son of David got sick. He had like most of the children at this time the flew and diarrhea. While for an adult this maybe isn't a problem it is, if not treated, a serious risk for an almost new born. As after three days the parents still not had brought him to the hospital I did ask them for the reason. The simple answer was that they did not had the money for it. Again with some of the found raising money I got the 60 Euros for three days hospital treatment together which probably saved the life of little Dan.

But this wasn't all. I got to help more children and poor families and all the time I had the wonderful support and backup for my actions with VolNepal. They helped me to create my own little project and helped me to make this stay of mine in Nepal a unforgettable experience. You can find all the things we achieved together on my blog and my Facebook page.

Are you still not convinced that with only a small effort and some good will you can achieve great improvements for some less lucky people and children here in Nepal? Not only will your experience here in Nepal have a great positive impact on some others life. It will also change yours.

Namaste
Daniel

From June to August 2003 I was lucky enough to volunteer with my little sister in Nepal. The village was about an hour's drive from Kathmandu, not far from the historic city of Bhaktapur. What I enjoyed most about volunteering was the experience of really getting to know a place, its people, the culture, the customs and the food. I realized that although traveling is a lot of fun and so exciting, the experience can be a bit superficial. Some people travel quickly and often miss interesting spots or their interaction with locals is limited. A more authentic experience is through volunteering. I would recommend people do volunteer if they have time since you really need to be there for a month or two to really make an impact. For anyone interested, I would recommend Volnepal (www.volnepal.org) as it is run by really friendly local Nepalis and has a very good reputation.

Nepal is forever in my heart. The kindness of color and culture touched my soul. I close my eyes and see the smiles of Nepal. Vol Nepal was a wondrous organization to be affiliated with. They are very compassionate people. They met my needs and were there every step of the way to help when I was in need. They show great concern for their people and their volunteers. I hope they keep trucking the way you do!

My stay in Nepal was for three and half months. When I first arrived I taught English to Buddhist Monks. There is something so wonderful in the exchange of one's culture to the next. Maybe it was the Buddhist demeanor, but the relationship that grew from it is something I cherish greatly. I learned a lot about Buddhism and had terrific tour guides along the way. I also painted murals around Kathmandu. Vol Nepal was great at finding me painting projects. I painted a school and an orphanage in Kathmandu. I also painted a clinic in a rural part of Nepal. This project was hard but the most influential part of my stay. I feel honored to have lived and seen how their village people live. True people that live off the land and content of what they have. I will cherish that experience and hopefully always remember that the most precious things in life are free. Live simple. Do more. Vol Nepal gave me that opportunity to go and be apart of such a world I never knew existed.

There were times that were hard due to such the drastic differences in life and culture. There was still something that was strong and true; the people are so kind and full of color. I was never scared and want to go back when I can. I know I can say I gave something back to the people I came in contact with. I hope they will enjoy my art for many years to come. I am forever grateful to know Anish and Pratik. They are striving business men with a positive cause. May they keep achieving their goals to make Nepal a better place. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

1. Program as a whole: I have recommended this program to numerous people. It is well organized and very professional. The only recommendation I would give is a bit more detail on what to experience and what to bring both personally and in terms of supplies I could have donated. I could help with this if you would like. Also it could be helpful to offer more insight in the cultural differences to expect and to know prior to coming to Nepal.

2. Home stay: The home stay was fantastic. The family and I became very close. I cannot say enough about how much I appreciated the family that I lived with and how helpful they were in my transition and also in helping me with my Nepal vocabulary.

3. Program Experience: Life changing experience and absolutely one of the greatest experiences of my life. Thank you for the experience and for everything you have done for me in letting me be a part of VolNepal.

4. Program schedule: Schedule was great. I was also appreciative of having a chance to experience the Country once my Volunteer work was done.

5. Any Other comments or suggestions: VolNepal is great and I would love to come back in the future.

During the month of June 2011, I participated in a 2-week medical internship program for at Shree Binayak Hospital and at Kanti Children's Hospital. My experiences at both hospitals was great. I was able to learn a great deal by observing the doctors and nurses interact with the patients and examine them. I also had the opportunity to observe a surgery. Even though my internship was only two weeks, I was able to gain much clinical experience which can help me for my future career in the medical field. This was a great opportunity and I am glad I chose to take it. Thanks VolNepal