Upon their
arrival, volunteers are provided with 3 days to a week of training
in two phase (City and Village)
depending on their length of program.
This is a rigorous training
program to introduce you to Nepali culture, understand enough Nepali
language to function in a village where few English speakers live,
and prepare you for the possibility of living in a home with very
basic facilities.
First Phase of training :
We will pick you up at the airport and take you to a hotel or to
Happy Home, where
you can meet with other volunteers and share their experiences.
During these 3 to 4 days you will be participating in the following
activities:
2 to 3 hours basic Nepali language per day
Cultural information /
safety issues
Discussion of placement
Sightseeing in Kathmandu
Newari and Nepali dinners
Shopping opportunities
The class size ranges from one to three students, so
you receive a lot of personal attention. Lunch and dinner will be
organized for you by INFO. INFO will also coordinate a few
sightseeing and shopping opportunities. Please note, your day will
be full - if you want to do extensive sightseeing in Kathmandu we
recommend that you arrive in Nepal a few days early to enable enough
time to visit the area before training begins.
Second phase training:
After few days in Kathmandu you will be taken one of our training
village in Sanga or Dhulikhel, on the outskirts of the Valley.
There you will spend between 1-2 nights living with a traditional
Nepali family. You will get a chance to hike, visit the local
school, help the family in their daily tasks, and eat traditional
Nepali food. You will also become accustomed to living in
basic conditions (no Western toilet, no shower per se, no internet
or television...), a skill you will need to have developed for your placement.
Accommodation: While in Kathmandu, you
may be staying for the first few days at a Guest House in Paknajol
that is nearby the INFO office and Thamel. All of the rooms will
have "western-style" toilets and hot-water showers. Some have fans,
TVs, and mountain views. A
telephone is available, and there is a good restaurant
where you will receive your breakfast and lunch. Depending on
availability, during training you will either have a single room, or
you may share a room with a same-sex volunteer. When you move
to Happy Home you will have either a single or shared room, with hot
water shower and western style toilets. Your meals will be Nepali
style Dal Bhaat, with the Happy Home family.
Upon completion of
this training, volunteers may have one day in Kathmandu before they
are taken to their placement villages. You may wish to take a break for sightseeing,
shopping, or relaxation at this
time. If you wish to have a break between your training and
placement, please let INFO know as soon as possible.
My
host family was absolutely amazing, spoiling me with
attention and kindness. It was there that I was fortunate
enough to witness firsthand the generosity of the local
people. I worked in the resource centre there 6 days a
week, teaching English and playing games. In all three of my
placements, I was met with groups of amazing children who
were eager to learn, play, sing, dance, and share their
knowledge. My experience here was vastly memorable and full
of many surprises and hardships, and I am already looking
forward to my return in the future. INFO Nepal is a
wonderful organization that allows volunteers to really be a
part of a community and family while providing many
important services throughout Nepal to those most in need.
The staff offer various level of support and guidance
throughout your visit, and were an amazing group to be a
part of for a short while. I wish them all the best, and am
ever grateful to my family in Magartole who let me be a part
of their life.
Tracy
Gaertner,
Canada
May 2007
Monitoring, Study Abroad in
Nepal, Catholic in Nepal, Fund Raiser, Friends, Global
Volunteers, Nepal Study Program, volunteer nepal, internship
nepal, teaching nepal, job nepal, travel nepal, placement
nepal, work abroad nepal, gap year nepal, international
career, career break, work in Nepal, volunteer
opportunities, work in Nepal, study in Nepal, exchange
program in Nepal, volunteer placements, gap year, year out,
cultural exchange, voluntary work, volunteer, orphans,
volunteering in Nepal, educational courses Study Abroad,
Catholic, Fund Raiser, Friends, Global Volunteers, Nepal
Program, volunteer opportunities, volunteer program,
volunteer placements, gap year, year out, cultural exchange,
voluntary work, volunteer, orphans, volunteering in Nepal,
educational courses, work experience, study
Upon their
arrival, volunteers are provided with 3 days to a week of training
in two phase (City and Village)
depending on their length of program.
This is a rigorous training
program to introduce you to Nepali culture, understand enough Nepali
language to function in a village where few English speakers live,
and prepare you for the possibility of living in a home with very
basic facilities.
telephone is available, and there is a good restaurant
where you will receive your breakfast and lunch. Depending on
availability, during training you will either have a single room, or
you may share a room with a same-sex volunteer. When you move
to Happy Home you will have either a single or shared room, with hot
water shower and western style toilets. Your meals will be Nepali
style Dal Bhaat, with the Happy Home family.
My
host family was absolutely amazing, spoiling me with
attention and kindness. It was there that I was fortunate
enough to witness firsthand the generosity of the local
people. I worked in the resource centre there 6 days a
week, teaching English and playing games. In all three of my
placements, I was met with groups of amazing children who
were eager to learn, play, sing, dance, and share their
knowledge. My experience here was vastly memorable and full
of many surprises and hardships, and I am already looking
forward to my return in the future. INFO Nepal is a
wonderful organization that allows volunteers to really be a
part of a community and family while providing many
important services throughout Nepal to those most in need.
The staff offer various level of support and guidance
throughout your visit, and were an amazing group to be a
part of for a short while. I wish them all the best, and am
ever grateful to my family in Magartole who let me be a part
of their life.