About Volunteer Alliance Nepal volunteer program (In General)
Applying for the Nepal volunteer program?
Airport and Arrival Information
Room and Food
Visa
Health and safety
Vaccination
Money Matter
Field Support and supervision
Communication
Climate of Nepal
Materials to Bring
Gift for Host Family and Project

About Volunteer Alliance Nepal volunteer program (In General)

In Nepal we have been running our volunteer programs for the last 2 years. We are presently focusing on 7 resourc poor orphanages in Nepall. Volunteer Alliance Nepa has a well set up office in the heart of Kathmandu giving volunteers access to each part of the city. We run our first week of orientation in the Kathmandu office just 4 miles from the airport. It has 8 rooms, internet, and recreational areas. Most of our volunteer projects in Kathmandu are within 20 KM radius of our office allowing us the opportunity to help our volunteers whenever it is needed. You are always welcome at our office during your free time.

Applying for the Nepal volunteer program?

Please read Volunteer Alliance Nepa 5 steps of application
No application fee is needed to apply
You can pay program fee upon arrival in Nepal

Please learn how application process work (5 steps of application)

Airport and Arrival Information

If you get delayed or miss your flight, please call our office or coordinator and wait for him. If again you get lost, go to the contact hotel using a Taxi service. Address of contact hotel is available in the placem ent sheets and pre-departure booklet. Once you meet our representative or coordinator, you will be transferred to our offices and on to your host family. You will meet staff and fellow volunteers there. Volunteers coming to Nepal are advised to arrive one day before their program start date. The program fee will cover expenses beginning of the first day of the program (Usually first or third Monday) to the last day of the program. If you arrive before the first day of the program and/or stay beyond the last day of the program, expenses will be the responsibility of the volunteer (usually $30 per day for room/food in hostel).

Room and Food

The vast majority of our Nepal volunteers live in orphanage hostel during their projects. Here you are provided a private room and three meals. Bathroom and kitchen facilities are shared with other volunteers (yes, you might have another volunteer living with you.) Nepali diets are vegetarian; bread, vegetables, lentil soup, curry, and pickles. The project doesn't offer laundry service. Except vegetarian, we do not accommodate any special diets.

Visa

Please find the Nepali Embassy Abroad

http://www.mofa.gov.np/missions.php?type=nepalese

Health and safety

Tips for visitor to Nepal (http://kathmandu.usembassy.gov/information_for_travelers.html)

• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
  1600 Clifton Road, NE
  Atlanta , GA 31333
  (888) 232-3228
  (888) 232-3299 - fax information service

• Health Canada Online
• Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Travel Report
• U.S. State Department & Consular Information Sheets
  Room 4811
  2201 C Street NW
  Washington , DC 20520
  (202) 647-5225

• Travel Health Online
• Travelers' Health

General Health Tips for volunteer in Nepal

• Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by both filtering through an "absolute 1 micron or less" filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. "Absolute 1 micron filters" are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
• Buy bottled water from respectable outlets to guard against stomach upsets. Some of the better known brands are, Aqua Fina, and Himalaya . Make sure that the seal of the bottle is intact to avoid being sold tap water in a resealed bottle.
• Watch out for spicy dishes, especially at the outset of your tour. Avoid eating food from road side stalls. Don't eat unpeeled fruits and avoid fresh salads, especially in small hotels. If you are forced to eat food at some place that you have doubts about, make sure the food is served hot.
• Always use an insect repellent if you find yourself in a mosquito-prone area. But remember, not every place is mosquito-infested and low temperatures in winters (when most tourists come to Nepal ) kill most bugs in the northern plains and hills.
• If traveling in scorching heat, r em em ber to drink enough water, use hats, sunglasses & UV lotions. Beware of the health effects that the mid day sun may cause, most importantly SUN BURN or DEHYDRATION.
• Pharmacies or ch em ists are available in every little town and village and you can buy medication. In case you need to see a doctor for a specific condition, ask for help from your hotel (most have doctors on call) or your tour operator. The cost of visiting a doctor is fairly low (less than a dollar) compared to western countries.
• In Nepal , most modern medicines are available over the counters in drugstores, but it is wise with any prescription drugs you require, bring enough for the duration of the trip. It is advisable that you carry a small health kit which should include r em edy for upset stomachs, some antiseptic cream, mosquito repellant, sun block, band aids, etc.

Vaccination

We use the Center for Disease Control traveler's health recommendations (www.cdc.gov.) Your travel doctor will know about current epid em ics and should be consulted.

The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to South Asia including Nepal .

Money Matter

The local currency is the Nepal Rupee. You can change your money upon arrival to Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport . There is one bank counter at the departure lounge and three bank counters at the arrival lounge. All transactions are done on the basis of the declared amount by the passenger and the currencies permitted by the government based on the day's foreign exchange rate.

You can also carry a debit card that can be used at ATM's to withdraw local currency. When using ATM's be advised to bring a friend along, travel directly from the bank back to your home and stash your cash. Find a private, well disguised place to hide any cash. When you are carrying cash, break it up into different amounts and keep it in different pockets so if you get robbed you won't lose everything.

Debit card is the best way of getting money and ATM vendors are available in major bank and department store in Kathmandu . Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in some of the large stores and hotels in larger cities but not accepted in smaller cities.

How much money you bring depends on your personal spending habits. Thrifty people can get by on less than $10/day. Your budget should also include money to explore Nepal in free time as well as for your personal use. A good rule of thumb for money management is the 1/3 method, bring 1/3 cash, 1/3 traveler's check and leave 1/3 of your money in your account - plus a credit card for emergencies.

Field Support and supervision

Communication

Volunteers are request to bring their mobile phone. Once you arrive in Nepal , you can change sim-card and use it. This is the perfect way to stay in touch with your family and Volunteer Alliance Nepa office in Kathmandu . Internet Café's are available in most areas of Kathmandu , Chitwan, and Pokhara and computer stations are rented by the hour for a very nominal fee. Internet services can be found in Chitwan and Pokhara plac em ent sights as well.

Climate of Nepal

Take advantage of the Web which can bring you current weather and forecasts for your destination:

Yahoo Weather: http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/NPXX0002.html (www.weather.yahoo.com)

The Weather Channel: www.weather.com

The Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/44454.html (www.wunderground.com)

Nepal has a diverse climate; summer is normally the hot, humid and rainy season. Winter is cold in the morning and warm during the daytime. The t em perature drops during winter nights. Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing according to the season and activities. The months of fall and spring are wonderful.

*Please bring a raincoat in June-July-August

Temperatures in Degrees Celsius (maximum - minimum T em perature)

AVERAGE RAINFALL IN NEPAL

Materials to Bring:

Most of stuffs of daily use are available in Nepal at a cheaper price. However, we suggest volunteers pack the following things.

•  Camera
•  Mobile phone (you can use mobile phone after changing sim card)
•  Sleeping bag
•  Mosquito repellents
•  Insect repellents
•  Sun-block
•  Working gloves (if you are joining conservation or construction project)
•  Some books about Nepal
•  Map of Nepal
•  Toiletries
•  First aid kit
•  Flash light
•  Electricity adopter/converter
•  Sun glasses
•  Footwear (for work and travel)
•  Towel

What gift should I bring for my project?

It is a common courtesy to bring a small gift for the family that will be hosting you. You are not required to do so, but if you choose to bring something it can be pretty simple. We suggest a box of chocolates, a t-shirt with a hometown logo, or pictures of your family and some local post cards.

If you want to bring gifts for your project (and if you are working for an orphanage or a school please bring pencils, pens and paper, art supplies like markers and construction paper pads, and games. R em em ber that every child will need these it em s so you may wish to bring a bunch of one thing.