VOLUNTEER IN Nepal

Women are the mostly marginalized and affected group in Nepalese society, Asia Horizon offers different women programs in rural Nepal and we expect volunteers to join this noble project.

Project Information
In many developing and underdeveloped countries around the world, the position of female is below than their male counterparts. The slogan for gender equality and women’s rights brings tension in many countries, which are socially backward. Constitution of Nepal has declared equal rights to women and passed 33% rights to them but their condition is still very pathetic, they are treated as second class being, passive, marginalized, incapable, weaker sex, subordinate to man and irrational. Due to the existing social, cultural and economic system, situation of the majority of women in Nepal is very miserable. They are deprived of basic human rights like education, health, nutrition, involvement in politics etc. In addition, their literacy rate in comparison to men is very unsatisfactory because girls have been discriminated since their birth. Most women spend their time with household chores, care of children and agricultural activities. They have less power in decision making and their contribution is often neglected. On the same way they are more vulnerable to other major problems such as HIV AIDS, domestic violence trafficking and other sorts of exploitation.

Several efforts have been made to improve condition of women. Most of the women’s development centers work with literacy, motivation, leadership and capacity building, training in women rights and responsibility, saving and cooperative group formation for income generation activities. ASIA HORIZON cooperates with local partners in Nepal to empower and support marginalized and disadvantaged women. Volunteers who are committed to these goals are heartily welcome in this project.

Activities as a Volunteer

As a volunteer, you will work with disadvantaged women, helping them to gain knowledge, skills and confidence. You may have to work in different women empowerment programs and fields such as education and health, or in training centers, helping drug addicts, abolition of exploitation of women, women’s clubs etc. Your knowledge, experience, support and inspiration will help Nepali women to gain optimism and enthusiasm in their daily life and make their future brighter, more successful and prosperous. Volunteers may also work in various women’s rights centered organizations offering support training, evaluation of women’s situation, recommendations of necessary provisions for the establishment of equality between sexes or to empower women in general.

Project Skills Required

You should be above 18 years of age with strong desire to work for women’s project. Your motivation, compassion and willingness to work for the empowerment of women and equality between the sexes are the prerequisites for work as a women’s empowerment volunteer. Though you don’t need any experience and education qualification, you should have some knowledge of human rights, women’s empowerment, gender issues, equality between the sexes. Introductory course in native language is compulsory. Finally you need to be more flexible, patient, open minded, understanding, adjustable and hardworking.

Project Location

Project placements are available in Kathmandu and Chitwan.

Kathmandu: The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu is home to most of the government offices, embassies, and corporate houses. Kathmandu is also known as the city of temples and historically significant monuments. This is why the small city harbors more than half a dozen of ancient historical places and heritages, which are listed in World Heritage Site. This small and beautiful city has topographical variation and cultural diversity.

Chitwan: Located in plain belt of the country, Chitwan is one of the most known tourism hubs in Nepal. It is 150km far from Kathmandu valley that is 5 hours by driving and 20 minutes by air flight. One can enjoy the bliss of nature by traveling to another World Heritage Listed magnificent place known as Chitwan National Park. Participants will experience Elephant riding for Jungle Safari to witness one-horned Rhino, Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, crocodiles and several kinds of deer, canoeing with the splendid view of sunrise and sunset. Besides, visit to Tharu village and Cultural immersion programs are the major attractions of the place.

Nepal Program Fee and Dates
Program Date: Asia Horizon volunteer Program begins with your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday, the day before of your project. A one-day orientation about the program including project sites, types of work, local food, climate, safety issues, health issues, culture people etc. will be provided in Kathmandu office before you start the project.

Program Fees: Our program fee is 80-100% less than most international volunteer organizations.

• Language and Program fee for first week: $185
• Language and program fee for second week: $235

Food and accommodation

ASIA HORIZON makes an appropriate provision for food, room and supervision for its volunteers from the very beginning of their arrival to the end of their project. During the first week of language and cultural program, ASIA HORIZON manages you a clean and pleasant hostel having food facility where cooks prepare a variety of Nepali food three meals a day.  A typical lunch includes Dal, Bhat, Curry, Bread, and Pickle, Tea etc with occasional supplement of chicken or mutton. For your convenience, they will make continental and international food as well. If you want to have you meal outside then there are several best hotels and restaurants in the country where you can easily access and the food of your choice with reasonable price. During volunteers’ respective volunteering programs, a host family will be provided for their accommodation. You cannot expect a luxurious stay in Nepalese host family. However ASIA HORIZON arranges a separate room along with a communal bath for volunteers in both the host families and hostel accommodations. Sometimes you may share your room with other volunteers if the number is large. In the placement, volunteers are expected to assist household chores such as cleaning, washing, fetching, taking care of children and old persons.  Besides, Nepali people are extremely hospitable, warm and welcoming and volunteers are well treated wherever they go.

Visa Information

Any traveler in Nepal can stay on a tourist visa for 3 months each year at $1 per day rate. You may obtain visas from Nepalese embassy in your country or upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport.

You are allowed to stay up to 120 days on a tourist visa, and then for any extension up to 150 days total, but you are required to show an airline ticket with a suitable date on it, and this ticket must be in OK status (i.e. not wait-listed)  
Asia Horizon suggests that ALL volunteers get tourist visa in their home country BEFORE arriving in the host country to avoid any unnecessary hassle at the airport.

Working and Safety Issue

Living and working in a poor country is really challenging. It demands courage, some experiences and the ability to adapt. It can be overwhelming to adjust in a completely new environment. The climate, food, and atmosphere – everything is different than your hometown. You will be faced with a harsh social reality every day of your volunteer work and experience things a tourist never sees.

Independence, maturity, flexibility and the desire to do social work are required if you want to take part in the volunteer work program. Asia Horizon takes full responsibility for your safety and tries its level best to bring sense of security and peace of mind in you from the time of your first arrival to the completion of your project in a host country. When we receive your flight information, we will make the necessary arrangements here for your airport pick-up. Generally, volunteers arrive on Sunday. Our country coordinator will be there to welcome you at the airport, to pick up and take you to your accommodation, and you will receive basic orientation about your itinerary and placement along with a comprehensive briefing on the country and specific locale by the coordinator and transfer to the project on the following day or after the one week orientation. The staff/ coordinator will accompany you until you have a sense of complete safety. You are allowed to contact 24/7with an assigned person directed by Asia Horizon during your stay. We will be fulfilling our additional duties such as monitoring, guiding and counseling. Our staff/ coordinator will be there all the time supporting and coordinating you.