Nepal

The hot terai of the north Indian plains gives way to the foothills, then rise dramatically skyward to the icy Himalayan peaks, topping off at Mt. Everest - the highest point on earth at 8850m. Visitors revel in experiencing some of the most incredible trekking in the world, white water rafting, visiting game parks and nature preserves, or simply spending the day leisurely floating on the peaceful waters of Phewa Tal in Pokhara.

In spite of these natural blessings, Nepal is one of the poorest countries ELI works in. With a per capita income of approx $490 per year, most Nepalese live well below the poverty line. Different efforts have been made through governmental organizations to improve the deteriorating situation, but the villages of Nepal show very few effects of relief and development efforts.

Thousands of Nepali children are orphans, and the numbers are on the rise. ELI has been working closely with several orphanages in the Kathmandu Valley that need assistance to provide basic care and education for their children. ELI volunteers work as activity coordinators: Playing with the children, coordinating games, teaching English, math or art classes, and giving these children some much needed attention. The children range in age from toddlers to teenagers. This is a great placement for independent, upbeat volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of little ones.

"I wanted to find out if I could see myself doing international aid work. And now I think I can. [In college] I’m also studying poverty issues, and it was fascinating to see principles that we talk about in class and see how they play out in real life. In class they seem very straightforward: you do X, Y and Z and fix everything. And then you go to a place like Nepal and see things are a lot more complicated than that..." -Zack, 2011.  Read Zack's complete interview here.

ELIers Bryce and Melissa took the kids from their orphanage to Nagarkot for the weekend, check out their adventure here.

Our partner organizations work tirelessly for the promotion of gender justice, non-discriminatory and rights-based behaviors and practices. Among the thousands of individuals who are trafficked across Nepal’s borders every year, the majority are women and children. It is estimated that Nepali women aged 15-30 make up 2.8% of the women in Indian brothels, and the numbers are sharply rising.

These placements are open to participants holding a BA in a relevant field or those with significant NGO experience who are motivated and do not require a lot of supervision. Participants in this program often assist with research, reports, and grassroots projects as needed. Volunteers and interns must be able to commit to at least 6-8 weeks.

ELIers Jackson chats about his human rights internship and shares photos:

Medical

It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Nepali people, especially women and children, suffer unnecessarily due to a lack of basic medical care. Interning at a hospital in Nepal provides participants an opportunity to learn about healthcare in a developing country and about tropical diseases. Pre-meds with relevant completed coursework, nursing students, medical students, and medical professionals are welcome to apply. This placement is ideal for students who wish to learn about medical care in a developing Asian country. Students are sometimes invited to observe surgeries. This program fills up during the summer, so we recommend applying early for May, June and July arrival dates.  ELI Medical Intern Ben completed a photojournal, check out his adventure here.

Dental

ELI has partnered with a prominent dental school and dental hospital in the heart of Kathmandu, offering ELI interns a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn alongside Nepali dental students. These positions are open to dental students and junior/senior level undergraduates who have some related experience/education and plan to pursue a career in the field. From time to time interns are also invited to assist with free dental camps for the poor.

"I met some amazing people while in Nepal and got to see a lot of things I would not have seen otherwise. I would definitely recommend that if a person were going to volunteer in Nepal to try to stay at least 4 weeks in the country. I could not because of a previous commitment, but I would have otherwise! ...Had I stayed longer, I think I would have considered doing another volunteering placement – either another hospital or perhaps teaching English." -Rami, Medical Intern 2011

For motivated participants, ELI offers a dual program: Volunteers spend 3 sessions a week teaching English classes at a monastery, and spend off mornings and afternoons at a nearby orphanage leading activites, mentoring and tutoring children.

Schedules of course vary, but here's a snapshot of a typical day:

7 AM – 8 AM: Breakfast time at the orphanage. Volunteer can distribute food for kids and help in kitchen. Volunteers take breakfast after the children.

8 AM-9AM: Time for kids to go school, volunteer can help kids to get ready for school (sanitation, dressing, packing).

9 AM-10 AM: Volunteers take kids to school or make sure they get on the bus.

10 AM- 3 PM: Teaching at Monastery – English class, sometimes a basic computer class.

4:30 PM - 6:00 Kids comes back from school, volunteers bring kids back to orphanage safely. Help them to change and tidy their rooms.  Homework and play time before dinner.

Minimum time requirement is one month, in order to minimize disruption to the classrooms at the monastery.

Teaching English can be a rewarding way to get to know the community and help children learn a very useful skill. Public education is a relatively new concept in Nepal - it began in 1951 and continues to face challenges. Teachers and community members have been working hard to ensure the success of their education system but they lack funds. Volunteers are an invaluable asset to these institutions. Children's programs are fun and they are a great way to make a difference in the lives of little ones. Everyone can contribute! Volunteers in these programs live together in the volunteer house and teach either at a public school or a school for HIV+ children. ELI teachers teach English vocabulary, lead basic writing exercises, and coordinate activities and games.

For similar resources on other countries and programs, please see the "Experiences" tab above.

Photojournals:

Ben's Photojournal

Jackson's Photojournal

Interviews:

Mereline's Interview

Zack's Interview

Bryce and Melissa's Interview

Video Clips:

Feedback:

 "The accommodations were much better than I could have expected and I was really happy with the house and the people that worked there."
-Daniel E.

"You will have the time of your life as the people and culture combine to promote personal growth in many aspects."
-Tara S.

Suggestions:

"I frequently went to Thamel after volunteering because it was just a few minutes away from the house, and I really liked hanging out with fellow volunteers over there. We always had a lot to do. I visited sights in the city like Durbar Square, the Monkey Temple, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Patan, and the Garden of Dreams. They were all beautiful, so I’d definitely recommend visiting there. I also did the Everest Flight, which I would suggest to anyone who really wants to get a good look at all the mountain peaks. My stay was short compared to the other volunteers, but I was able to fit in a few away trips, including Chitwan over the weekend (great if you want to get away from the city and get some fresh air/nature), and bungee jumping at the Last Resort, which I would definitely recommend to everyone (that is, if they’re not afraid of heights and don’t mind climbing up a small mountain to get back to the resort)! Just remember to wear proper fitting boots or sneakers, or you might lose them during your jump like I did."
-Christina D.

"Walk into it with an open mind and don’t expect to change the world. Go into it thinking you’re doing this for a cultural experience and you’re there to learn something about yourself and where you came from. I really enjoyed the experience because it was so different from anything I was used to. Everyone should go abroad in their lifetime!"
-Laura M.

Program Includes:

* Pre-Departure Information
* Pick-Up from the Airport in Kathmandu
* City Tour/Orientation Half Day
* Volunteer/Internship Position 
* Accommodation in ELI's Volunteer House in Thamel
* Breakfast and Dinner at ELI's Volunteer House
* 24/7 Emergency Service

Program Does Not Include:

*Round-Trip Airfare
*Return Trip to Airport (it's a short taxi ride)
*Required Travel and Medical Insurance
*Visa Fees

Accommodation

ELI participants in Kathmandu live together in our new volunteer house, located on the edge of Thamel (Kathmandu's tourist district). Our house is located close to shops, cafes, English language bookstores, and easy access to all forms of transportation. Bedrooms are shared when the house is at capacity, so be prepared to have lovely roommates during the busy seasons (summer and fall).  There are western style flushing toilets, stand-up showers, WIFI in the main living area, and solar panels that provide warm water (depending on the sun). There is electricity, but availability depends on the rolling black outs. Please note, none of the buildings in Kathmandu offer indoor heat - if you are going in the winter be sure to pack a warm coat.

If you are interested in alternative housing, we can also sometimes arrange a room at an orphanage or a homestay.  Please inquire.

2013 Start Dates

Arrival dates in Kathmandu are flexible until the busy season. Starting in May, participants arrive in Kathmandu on these dates as group orientation and city tour will start the following morning.  2013 Dates: May 6, May 20, May 27, June 3, June 10, June 24, July 8, July 22, August 5, August 19, September 2, and September 16.

Questions? Please inquire This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Application Fee: $100 for all programs in Nepal 
(Separate from the program fee, refundable only if we are unable to find a placement that matches your request).

*Beginning after July 31 

The programs in Nepal can last up to six months because of local visa restrictions. Each additional 2 weeks costs $170.  The program fee is higher for medical, dental, and environmental programs because hospitals and the environmental program charge an intern fee.

Sample Budget: $100 application fee, program fee (depends on duration), visa fee (depends on duration), $50 a week for lunch and getting around, spending money for weekend trips (riding the elephants in Chitwan, renting a boat in Pokhara, rafting, bungee jumping, trekking, etc).