Approximately 150km from
Kathmandu, Chitwan is the region adjacent to the Indian border. Chitwan is in the middle of the Terrai, a vast, flat and fertile
area that stretches right across Southern Nepal, although this area
is very flat, there are some hills with elevations over 740m high.
This area is very multi-cultural, as people continue to
migrate to this area from all over Nepal. This area is best known for the
Royal
Chitwan National Park, a large ecological and environmental
reservation.
People
in this region are primarily Tharu. The Tharu people are known for
their farming skills, industrious nature and intelligence. Although
they have a low income, the Tharu are mostly self sufficient due to
their farming abilities.
Volunteers working in this region should bring mosquito nets, lots
of insect repellent and appropriate inoculations and vaccinations
for Malaria, Meningitis, Typhus fever, Hepatitis A & B, sunscreen
lotion, and appropriate clothing to be working in a jungle type
environment.
Placements in Chitwan:
Ganganagar
Informal Education for Displaced Tribal Children
– This project was started in 2002, when the Tharu and
Bote tribes were displaced by the Rapati River Flooding. Volunteers
provided sanitation and hygiene education, and additional
resources. We were able to help 81 families, and also placed many
of the children in government schools. When we first started our
program, we found that there were 24 children who were old enough to
go to school, but were not enrolled. INFO started an informal
education program, and continues to convince parents the importance
of educating their children. As a result, 14 of the 24 children
became enrolled in their school. INFO placed 2 of these children in
a boarding school, and provided essential school materials (pens
paper etc) for 8 additional children. In
November, 2005, we built 22 toilets in this community.
Ganganagar
New Happy Home – This project
was started in 2002 as a library. It has 3 rooms, including a room for
the volunteer, a kitchen and library room for the children. This is a
beautiful facility, and has a nice garden and sitting area for
volunteers to relax in at the end of the day. Full western
facilities are available, and 24hr running water. Since its inception, we have
placed over 14 volunteers, and educated more than 300 children at
this facility.In 2007 we
upgraded the building, creating one more floor, and transforming
it into a new
Happy Home orphanage for 20 children.
Prabatipur
Library and Community Youth Centre - Established in
2003. This building has full western facilities, and has 2 rooms; a
classroom and a meeting area for villagers. The host family is
located next to the library. Since inception, we have educated more
than 150 children, and have placed more than 10 volunteers at this
location.
Sauraha Orphanage Home -
Established in 2000. We have partnered with two facilities in this
area. They are both run independently of INFO Nepal. These house
14-25 children each, and the children both live and are educated at
this facility. Since we started this partnership, we have placed
over 10 volunteers at this location.
Sauraha Resource Center -
Started in
2007, this is one of our newest placements. This is a
fairly large resource center, nicely established around both the
Magar tribal region as well as the touristy part of Sauraha with
all its modern conveniences. The host family where the
volunteers stay are also involved in a childcare center so the
volunteers can also help out there, as well as teach English at
a local school.
Chitwan Health & Sanitation Posts Ganganagar, Parbatipur, Bharatpur -
INFO has been working in these three areas since 2001. In addition
to working in the health posts, volunteers also work with community
women’s groups, and youth groups to provide education. Volunteers
have also assisted by building toilets for families within this
community. This has benefited more than 250 people.
Amarapuri Library
and Community Youth Centre, Nawalparasi District - Established in 2002. This was built in 2002, 2003, it has two rooms, a
meeting room for villagers and a classroom. This library has a
beautiful garden, and Western facilities. Since inception, we have
educated more than 400 students and have placed more than 10
volunteers at this location.
Nava Jyoti
Library and Resource Centre, Chormara, Nawalaparsi
District - This project was established by the Losedhara Youth Club,
and "Room To Read" in August 2002. In 2004 a new building was
completed, involving the local community organizations and INFO
Nepal, with
all the construction done by local volunteers. This facility has two
rooms, one as an office for the volunteer, which has a computer, and
a classroom. Since inception we have educated over 300 children, and
have placed over 10 volunteers at this facility.
Indra Puri Lower Secondary School, Tori Khet
-
Supporting
students from class 1 to 7, this school has 9 friendly teachers.
This is the home village and school of one of INFO Nepal's
founding members, and he earnestly welcomes volunteers!
Facilities here are typical of Nepali villages. Volunteers
here can also get involved with local clubs and projects.
INFO is in the process of creating a library in this town so
volunteers can help there as well.
Scholarship
Program -To pay School Fees
and Expenses e.g. Purchase uniforms and books, for the children of
the very poor Tribes in the Chitwan District. These children would
otherwise have no opportunity for education, since their families
are quite poor and cannot afford to pay for these supplies.
Volunteers
are encouraged to visit the National Park. It is a wildlife reserve
for rhinos, elephants, tigers and 50 other species of animals, and
over 400 types of birds. Volunteers can enjoy elephant safari,
canoeing, animal watching, animal breeding projects, animal
rehabilitation centers, cycling, and 4WWD safaris here.
Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddartha Gautama, the founder of
Buddhism.
Ashokan Pillar
Maya Devi Temple
Taulihawa
& Tilayrakot
Local area temples
Major Centers in Chitwan Are:
Amarapuri – Located 16 kilometers from Narayangarh. Amarapuri
provides multiple opportunities to teach in the local government
schools or to volunteer at INFO's Amarapuri Children's Resource
Centre and Library.
Chormara – Located 40 kilometers from Narayangarh. Chormara
provides multiple opportunities to teach in the local government
schools or to volunteer at INFO's Chormara
Resource Center and Library. With the help of Room to Read, another
library has just been completed.
Ganganagar -
is situated on the bank of the Chitwan National Park. It is twenty
kilometers away from the main city, Narayangot, where they have all
internet and phone facilities. Gaurigang
– Approximately a half hour from Narayangarh. Gaurigang is home to a
large Health Post that serves over 10,000 people, and has 5 full
time staff.
Narayngot
- is the centre point for all volunteers in this area to meet at
weekends and eat western food, talk and socialize.
Narayangarh
is the region’s main city and offers shopping, Internet and
telephone facilities. Most of the village placements in Chitwan are
less than an one hour bus ride from this city.
Nawalparasi-
The
neighboring district to Chitwan and lies 25km west of Naragangarh.
A jeep ride into Narayangarh takes around 40 minutes. Is a beautiful
area situated on the Narayani River which separates the district
from Chitwan National Park. It is a fertile, farming area with many
small, pretty villages surrounded by rice, wheat, sesame, millet
and corn fields.
Patihani – One hour from Narayangarh. Patihani is situated on the bank of the Chitwan National Park. It is
twenty kilometers away from the main city, Narayangot, where they
have all internet and phone facilities.
Torikahet – Located a half hour from Narayangar. Torikahet
provides opportunities to teach English within a number of
government school.
Throughout
my time as a volunteer I have found the INFO team to be very
welcoming and helpful. From the moment I landed in Nepal the INFO
team have been very attentive. It was great to see a member of the
team at the airport, especially as my flight was delayed by several
hours. I was taken directly to the Guest House and after a couple
of ‘welcome’ phone calls from the INFO team and a goodnight’s sleep,
I moved to Happy Home and started my four day language and cultural
program. Pamela Bruck
- Ireland - July 2006
I
decided to come to Nepal on the advice of my cousin Mark who also
volunteered with Info Nepal in January. I must admit that I was
apprehensive about traveling to Kathmandu. This would be something I
would dream about but never actually go through with. However, to
anyone who is having second thoughts about volunteering with Info
Nepal you should book your ticket now!
Paula -
Ireland - June 2006
Volunteer, Finland, Spanish V
Our
volunteer experience with INFO Nepal was one of the most rewarding
and challenging periods of our lives. We spent only a few short
weeks at the Sacred Home Orphanage in Jorpati, but the kids made it
feel like it was just a few days. From the moment we arrived in
Nepal, the INFO family made us feel comfortable and secure in a new
country. The thoughtfulness and experience of the INFO team allowed
us to mesh well with the children and environment of the orphanage.
Digvi and Hans -
USA - May 2006
INFO
would not place any volunteer in an unsafe region. The only reminder
of the circumstances came from delayed travel times, as there are
army checkpoints along the highways to hinder Maoist mobility. That
said, foreigners are not in danger of any harm. All parties--the
government, the army, Maoists--do not want to hurt the economy; they
want to protect tourism, so they will not cause trouble for
tourists. In fact, in my opinion tourists receive special treatment.
Jordana Taskly -
USA - April 2006
We ate Dhal baat
(rice and spiced veg)twice a day, in the main room, ducking through
the doorway, taking our shoes off as we entered. When in we were
told 'basnus basnus' 'please sit please sit' where they would lay a
straw rug for us as the clay floor would be cold. It always took a
few moments for our eyes to adjust to the lack of light in here.
Hajur aamaa would sit in the opposite corner crouched over the
stove, made from the same red clay, about a foot high with a hole at
the front to put the fire wood in and 2 holes at the top for the
pans to sit on. There was also a set of wooden steps leading to the
next floor. Every morning after she blessed the house Hajur aamaa
would milk the buffalo, then we would see the animals trot past our
door to graze by the side of the house. Then we would brush our
teeth, sometimes going to the stone carved tap on the hillside.
Sometimes it seemed like half the village would be there, mostly
women, with large baskets carried across their head with a strap, on
their journey to the paddy fields.
Approximately 150km from
Throughout
my time as a volunteer I have found the INFO team to be very
welcoming and helpful. From the moment I landed in Nepal the INFO
team have been very attentive. It was great to see a member of the
team at the airport, especially as my flight was delayed by several
hours. I was taken directly to the Guest House and after a couple
of ‘welcome’ phone calls from the INFO team and a goodnight’s sleep,
I moved to Happy Home and started my four day language and cultural
program.
I
decided to come to Nepal on the advice of my cousin Mark who also
volunteered with Info Nepal in January. I must admit that I was
apprehensive about traveling to Kathmandu. This would be something I
would dream about but never actually go through with. However, to
anyone who is having second thoughts about volunteering with Info
Nepal you should book your ticket now!
Our
volunteer experience with INFO Nepal was one of the most rewarding
and challenging periods of our lives. We spent only a few short
weeks at the Sacred Home Orphanage in Jorpati, but the
kids made it
feel like it was just a few days. From the moment we arrived in
Nepal, the INFO family made us feel comfortable and secure in a new
country. The thoughtfulness and experience of the INFO team allowed
us to mesh well with the children and environment of the orphanage.
INFO
would not place any volunteer in an unsafe region. The only reminder
of the circumstances came from delayed travel times, as there are
army checkpoints along the highways to hinder Maoist mobility. That
said, foreigners are not in danger of any harm. All parties--the
government, the army, Maoists--do not want to hurt the economy; they
want to protect tourism, so they will not cause trouble for
tourists. In fact, in my opinion tourists receive special treatment.