Volunteer in Nepal

Volunteering for social campaigns is always for the betterment of the community, not only does it get the work done but also brings the community together as one. Volunteering is considered a good deed and highly appreciated in the West but in third-world developing countries like Nepal, it is not as highly appreciated and people are not really into labor volunteering.

The reason for this can be linked to the low per capita income and low literacy rate. In a country where people are struggling to earn a minimum wage of USD 128.39 per month (NRs. 17,300), it is really difficult for people to comprehend the idea of volunteering for the community. Hence, international volunteering is a need for the communities in Nepal.

In this blog post, we will consider and discuss all the aspects of volunteering in Nepal. If you are thinking of volunteering in Nepal, these are the things you need to know before you jump in.

Understanding Nepal’s Culture and Customs

As we’ve mentioned above, volunteering is not something that Nepalese people think is a perfect opportunity. Think of it this way, on the one hand, you have to make your daily ends meet and on the other hand you have the option to do unpaid labor, volunteering for the betterment of the community. At the end of the day, the community is not going to feed his/her family, so it’s a no-brainer that the majority of youth do not engage in volunteering.

However, this does not mean that you will not find Nepalese youth during your volunteering journey. In Nepal, there are social clubs and organizations with thousands of members who actively participate in social work all over the country. All in all, the volunteering culture is not a big hit in Nepal.

One thing that you must be mindful of is the traditional culture and customs of Nepal. Being a Hindu-majority nation, the culture revolves around thousands of years-old sacred/religious books and generational practices. This gives birth to a society that is somewhat restricted. For example, public affection is frowned upon and considered unacceptable. Moreover, societal expectations are that you dress modestly.

Preparing for Your Trip: Essentials to Pack

You should pack your clothes in accordance with the current season; winter calls for thick jackets while summer calls for thin, light wear. We do not recommend volunteering in Nepal during the monsoon season as disasters like landslides and floods are common all over the country and you will have to work in heavy rain which is not ideal from a clinical point of view. You can get sick in an instant which will make you bed-ridden for at least a day or two.

Except for the clothes, here are some things you should pack:

• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Sturdy boots and comfy flipflops
• First-aid kit
• Sunhat
• Hand sanitizer
• Bug spray
• Ziplock bags
• A daypack to carry all your essentials while on the road

This is pretty much all the essentials you will need. If you need specific things to do the volunteering work or for instance, you might need gloves, a mask, and a gumboot for cleaning, these things will be provided by the campaign organizer.

Navigating Nepal: Travel Tips and Transportation

Traveling in Nepal by land is going to be your least preferred activity as the road conditions are not good. You are going to hate the potholes for the rest of your life. Even the major highways are full of potholes; you will find city roads to be much more smooth and even some countryside roads are better than the highways.

Here are some tips to travel in Nepal:

• Bring along a universal adapter: The power sockets might differ from place to place so, to play it safe, you need to have a universal adapter.
• Beware of Taxi scams: Taxi scams are not very dominant in Nepal but there are a handful do cheeky taxi drivers who will not shy away from the opportunity to earn the big bucks by scamming. This usually happens at the airport. Basically, once you get out of the terminal, the scammer driver will greet you very hospitality, presenting a friendly face, he will help you with your luggage, but he won’t discuss the taxi fare. After he takes you to your destination, we will then demand a large amount of money, probably double or even triple the usual rate.
• Keep your necessary documents safe: While traveling on public transport, you might be a victim of pickpockets. Or you might simply forget to unload your luggage at your destination. You can buy your stolen belongings but having lost your documents is a whole other level of issue.
• Use water purification tablets while traveling: Maybe you are used to drinking tap water without hesitating but do not pull off this stunt in Nepal. The tap water here is only good for bathing, showering, cooking, and other household chores. Drinking straight from the tap might make you sick. Moreover, the water served in roadside restaurants might also be infected, although not purposefully.
• Not every cultural site allows photography: There are some attractions, especially temples that do not allow visitors to take photos. This is mainly applicable for the insides of the temple, you can take photos of the outer structure as much as you would like.
• Get a Nepalese sim: You are likely to find WiFi at most restaurants and hotels but while you are out on the field, working, you won’t find public WiFi. So, it’s best to get a Nepalese sim and use it to stay connected with your family and friends back home.

Impact of Volunteering

Your volunteering efforts provide much-needed human labor to the communities of Nepal. Not only that, seeing foreigners working for the good of the locals might inspire Nepalese youths to consider joining volunteer campaigns. Being a third-world country, the infrastructure, and waste management is very unmanaged and below average.

Your labor is the gap that fills in the cracks of local efforts provided by the local government. As you can expect, the governmental projects are not very successful thanks to corruption and a general lack of work ethic. Moreover, the things you have experienced and learned might help the social clubs do things more effectively and efficiently.

Volunteering does not only mean physical labor, it also incorporates teaching, general awareness of social issues, and training the locals on different topics. This effectively teaches the locals and since it is a free course that can be used as an employable talent, more people will be interested. Your volunteering efforts save the non-profit organization’s limited monetary resources as well.

Besides community growth, you will grow as an individual as well. Actively participating in social work makes one more sympathetic and considerate which are qualities of a good character. Moreover, venturing to a foreign country for social work helps volunteers learn new things or develop their current set of skills. You will definitely learn things about leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Not only that but the sense of accomplishment and the feeling that you are doing things that will impact a whole community and city, is just out of this world. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people and maybe you will also find a career opportunity while in the field.

Nepal Exploration

After you have finished the volunteering program, it’s now time for you to explore the beauty of Nepal. The beautiful hills and highlands of Nepal along with the tropical plains offer an endless sea of activities and experiences. Most of the volunteering efforts are focused in the city areas as rural areas are not very accessible and getting a bunch of volunteers to remote areas adds to the cost of the campaign.

Given, that you are staying in cities, you are in for a treat. Cities like Pokhara, Kathmandu, Chitwan, Lumbini, and more offer a great deal of tourist attractions. If you are interested in the remote countryside and highlands, you can even go for a short trek in the Annapurna region or the Everest region. Trekking the absolutely beautiful highlands of Nepal is one of the top activities that attracts adventurers from all around the globe.

Trekking in Nepal does not necessarily mean that you have to spend a ton of money on logistics and trek guides. There are easy and short trekking trails that do not require you to have a trek guide and can be done solo as well. But to be on the safe side, you must consider getting a trek guide.

If you do not have much time to spare for trekking, you can opt for a visit to the religious sites and viewpoints in and around the place you are staying. The temples in Nepal are aesthetically built, most of them are hundreds of years old with some of them being thousands of years old but over time they have been worked upon to maintain the integrity of the building.

If neither of those things is your cup of tea, there’s a third option as well. Extreme outdoor sports are something that has been gaining popularity in recent years. Basically activities, like rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding, kayaking, etc, have been the top choice of sports.

With a sense of achievement finishing a volunteering program, your sense of satisfaction that comes from these activities will only enhance.

How to Share Your Experience and Inspire Others

You might see a bunch of people looking at the work being done at the campaign; do not shy away from asking them to join in. A new volunteer for the team is only one question away. Moreover, you can talk about your experience in your social media profile or write a guest blog for websites. Making short-form video content for social media is the best free type of advertisement.

FAQs

How do I get a visa to Nepal?

Most foreign nationals are offered visa-on-arrival. Basically, you can get your tourist visa after you arrive at the international airport in Kathmandu. However, you should possess all the necessary documents to get your visa. This includes a return ticket, a valid passport for at least six months, proof of accommodation, and 2 passport-sized photos. Alternatively, you can also apply for a visa to Nepal online.

Do I get a free visa if I am volunteering?

No, at present, there is no such thing as a volunteer visa or free visa for international visitors. The visa fees for Nepal are not that high, you can get a visa for a month at just $50. If you want to stay for 15 days, it will cost you $30, and for 90 days, it’s $125.

What are some well-established non-profit organizations in Nepal?

Child NGO Federation-Nepal (CNFN), Maiti Nepal, Creative Nepal NGO, Hamro Palo, The Small World, PHASE Nepal, Educate the Children, and Nepal Village Foundation, are some of the highly active non-profit organizations in Nepal.

Can I cancel the volunteering program participation after arrival?

The non-profit organizations do not force volunteers to join the campaigns. So, if you experience unforeseen circumstances that require you to not join the program, it’s all good. Be sure to let the organizer know about your circumstances, they will be considerate of your situation.

Is Nepal safe to travel?

Yes, Nepal is among the safest countries in Asia. You can travel to Nepal thinking about the green lush hills and white towering peaks rather than safety issues.