Anna Drutschinin - Australia - : February 6th 2008 - I would love to go back to Nirmal Pokhari as I formed so many close relationships there and it really is a beautiful village. Now that I know what its like, I would go back more prepared so that I could make more of a difference - I feel that I spent my time there learning about the culture of Nepal and the issues it faces more than actually doing quality teaching.
Anne-Marie Parry - England - 30th June 2008 We did full medical checks at the school and at the orphanage a total of one hundred children, the local doctor at a near by health post came also to prescribe any medication the children needed. We also took some of the children from the orphanage to the dentist in Narangard.
I was very sad to leave my placement as the people there and the children were so welcoming and helpful it really felt like home. I do hope in the future I will return here and see how the school has progressed and how the children have grown up.
Danielle Soya - USA - 27 April 2008 Last year I left Gatlang at the end of winter determined to return the next year. It may be a few months later than I'd hoped, but I did return this year to spend the month of May teaching at Gatlang Library and school. I had suggested last year that INFO give Tamang language training to Gatlang volunteers since they don't speak Nepali. When I arrived, I was happy to find out that Durga (the Gatlang host father) was in Kathmandu to give me just that. It was difficult, but the even the few words I remembered helped control the kids and helped me relate better to their very curious parents.
Nina Chapman - Norway - Dec - 2008 Got up at 6.30 and had tea. First class at the RC at 7 am with the little kids, second class at 8 am with the older kids. Went back to the house for dhal bhat at 9.30. Taught at the primary school from 10am-1pm. After 1 pm: free time. Went hiking or visited the next village. 6-7 pm had dhal bhaat.
Simon Altman - German - Aug - 2009 And so my placement comes to an end…
It was a tough experience and to say I enjoyed it wouldn't be the right words. The isolation, freezing cold and very simple way of life definitely takes a big adjustment, and really tests your strength of character. But despite this, it's was an experience I'm glad I had. It taught me some valuable lessons, and made my understanding of the world and myself a little deeper.
Danielle Soya - USA - 27 April 2008 Gatlang is a challenging place for a volunteer. The weather can be extreme, and the lifestyle is worlds away from home, but you'd be hard pressed to find a more welcoming community. I hope the increase in volunteers willing to travel out to Gatlang continues to grow. I know they are eagerly awaiting the next set that comes through.
Info Staff
Naresh Raj Ghimire "Asim"
Director /Chairman
Asim lives with his wife Namrata and his two young sons Nawarash and Nirnaya, at the Happy Home Children's Care House. In 2006 May Asim visited the UK for three weeks on a Cultural Exchange program and 2007 for five weeks to Scotland.
He had over 12 years' experience working with volunteers from NGOs such as SPW and GAN before deciding to set up INFO Nepal in 2000. In 2001 he worked in partnership with GVN (Global Volunteer Network, NZ). Recently he has been appointed as Nepal Country Coordinator of The Global Youth Foundation (TGY).
His interests include working in the theatre and writing plays, he has also made one series for Nepali National Television.
You can contact Asim any time on his cell phone : 977 98510 54813
or email at asim.naresh@yahoo.com <
Bishal Paudel
Volunteer/Placement coordinator
Bishal is the volunteer coordinator. He has been working with INFO Nepal since 2003. His main duty is to take volunteers to the typical placement and make sure they are fine by regular supervision. Bishal travels a lot around Nepal to explore new placement for the volunteers. Bishal is responsible to provide all kinds of in country support for the international volunteers. He also arranges sightseeing, trekking, rafting, jungle safaris for the volunteers. His personal interest includes exploring new places, reading and teaching Nepali language/culture to the foreigners. You may contact him any time in cell No +977-9841829102.
Saroj Ghimire Program co-ordinator
Saroj is the Program Co-coordinator. He has been working with INFO Nepal for 6 Years and has lots of experience in teaching Nepali language and local cultural lessons. He co-ordinates various other projects.
Saroj has a very responsible position co-coordinating all of our volunteers and scheduling their training programs as well as matching each volunteer to a suitable project that will enhance their cultural education and fulfill their ambitions.
Saro meets all volunteers at the airport, before taking them to a guest house for rest. He then meets with them to discuss which program would best fit their needs, previous experiences and personality.
Namrata Ghimire
Happy Home - Mother
She is a Mother of 5 year old Nawaras, 1 year old Nirnaya and all the children at Happy Home. She has six years experience working with INFO Nepal and the volunteers. She is very generous with her time, along with being a busy mum, she tutors the volunteers in Nepali Customs and helps the volunteers shop in Kathmandu to make sure they get the right prices, especially for female volunteers getting Kurta Shalwars and Saris. (Typical Nepali dress)
Namrata is a warm and friendly person and provides a family feel for the volunteers when they stay at the Happy Home.
Gaurab
Jung Thapa
Language Coordinator
Gaurab is a co-coordinator, supporting volunteers throughout their
training. Gaurab is also a Trekking Guide and takes our volunteers in
Annapurna trekking. Gaurab is very friendly and open with good English.
Gaurab study in Class 11 and work for part time now a days.
Rina Adhikari
Language Trainer
Rinais responsible for the majority of teaching Nepali lessons during the training period in Kathmandu. She has over
4 years of experience teaching Nepali and has worked with INFO Nepal since
2006.
Rina is very helpful and supportive, participating in cultural exchanges and she enjoys interacting with her students.
Rama Lamsal
Co-coordinator \ Language Trainer
Rama is a co-coordinator, supporting volunteers throughout their training in Kathmandu. Rama also takes the female volunteers for shopping and sightseeing. Rama also teaches Nepali language as well as accompanying the volunteers to their placements to settle them in. Rama is a very friendly and open girl with very good English. Rama has visited Thailand, Burma, Mongolia and China during her studies.
Ghombo Chiring Tamang
Langtang Coordinator
Ghombo is a co-coordinator, supporting volunteers throughout their placement in Langtang. Ghombo is also a Trekking Guide and takes our volunteers in Langtang trekking. Ghombo has been to UK in 2006 for three months to visiti our past volunteers. Ghombo is also our Host Family of our Thulobharkhu Children's Resource Center. Ghombo is very friendly and open with good English
Mr. Durga Giri Pokhara Coordinator
Durga lives with his wife, parents and two small daughters in the village of Sarangkot, high in the mountains above Pokhara. His family, is an INFO Nepal host family. Durga is an English Teacher at the Bal Prabodhani Primary School He also holds a Resource support position at the Pokhara Teacher Training Centre. Along with a good command of English, he is always very helpful with assisting the volunteers, both with their Nepali language and any situations that may arise.
Mr. Rajesh Shrestha
Volunteer's Training village Co-coordinator
Rajesh Shrestha is our coordinator for Sanga and Dhulikhel. He is a very friendly and honest personality. He is an original member of Sanga village, (he grew up there). Rajesh teaches in a school in Dhulikhel where our volunteers observe the classes and gain experience and practice in teaching English in a foreign country. Rajesh is very helpful and has a wealth of knowledge regarding village life and being a teacher in a Government school.
Mr. Saroj Shrestha Chitwan Coordinator
Saroj runs a guest house in Chitwan, Sauraha and organizes all the programs in the National Park for our volunteers extra curricular activities. Saroj has a motor bike and a jeep so that any time volunteers have any problems he can be available in an instant!Saroj is a very friendly and out going person. He lives with his wife and youngest son in Chitwan, his eldest son is studying in Kathmandu.
Edward Macey - England - 12th May 2008 The main issue was obviously the language barrier, especially when teaching in the primary school as you were trying to teach them from the books they were given and the exercises were far too hard for them. The books were also outdated and often had mistakes in them, which the teachers would never realise, and therefore the teachers would have already drilled this into them.
Shweta Parmekar - USA - July 2009 I loved the variety that volunteering in different parts of Nepal offered. It exposed us to various health conditions and circumstances which gave us a wider perspective on healthcare here. It also allowed us to practice the clinical skills we've gained thus far and allowed us to see conditions that we may not normally see in the States.
Montserrat de Villasante Fuentes and Ricardo Borges Rutz - Spain / Brazil - July 2009 Children who used to come to the library had many different ages, from 2 years old till 20 years old, so we had to deal with this. Montse used to be with the little one, and Ricardo with the olders. The activities consisted on:
Playing nature memory in english, practicing numbers and names of animals, meals and other stuff…., playing with balloons, making jungle balls with balloons, for the olders the activities were: maths, geography, playing table tennis, and all the time using english language.
Rachel Reeves - USA - Nov 2009 Another thing you should know -- the teachers' lack of motivation/organization will likely frustrate you, but don't let it affect you. You just have to get used to it. Though they don't seem to care about their students, you can care about the students for them.
Tami Nudel - Israel - Sept 2008 The Langtang area is very impressive, and waking up every morning with the view of the massive mountains was wonderful.
The local food was very spicy, and I must admit that I will not eat rice for the near future, because eating Dhal Baat for 7 days a week, 3-4 times a day was a real challenge!
To sum it up, I had one of my greater experiences in my life, and I will never forget it.
- I would love to go back to Nirmal Pokhari as I formed so many close relationships there and it really is a beautiful village. Now that I know what its like, I would go back more prepared so that I could make more of a difference - I feel that I spent my time there learning about the culture of Nepal and the issues it faces more than actually doing quality teaching.
We did full medical checks at the school and at the orphanage a total of one hundred children, the local doctor at a near by health post came also to prescribe any medication the children needed. We also took some of the children from the orphanage to the dentist in Narangard.
Last year I left Gatlang at the end of winter determined to return the next year. It may be a few months later than I'd hoped, but I did return this year to spend the month of May teaching at Gatlang Library and school. I had suggested last year that INFO give Tamang language training to Gatlang volunteers since they don't speak Nepali. When I arrived, I was happy to find out that Durga (the Gatlang host father) was in Kathmandu to give me just that. It was difficult, but the even the few words I remembered helped control the kids and helped me relate better to their very curious parents. 
Got up at 6.30 and had tea. First class at the RC at 7 am with the little kids, second class at 8 am with the older kids. Went back to the house for dhal bhat at 9.30. Taught at the primary school from 10am-1pm. After 1 pm: free time. Went hiking or visited the next village. 6-7 pm had dhal bhaat. 
And so my placement comes to an end…
The main issue was obviously the language barrier, especially when teaching in the primary school as you were trying to teach them from the books they were given and the exercises were far too hard for them. The books were also outdated and often had mistakes in them, which the teachers would never realise, and therefore the teachers would have already drilled this into them.
I loved the variety that volunteering in different parts of Nepal offered. It exposed us to various health conditions and circumstances which gave us a wider perspective on healthcare here. It also allowed us to practice the clinical skills we've gained thus far and allowed us to see conditions that we may not normally see in the States. 
Children who used to come to the library had many different ages, from 2 years old till 20 years old, so we had to deal with this. Montse used to be with the little one, and Ricardo with the olders. The activities consisted on:
Another thing you should know -- the teachers' lack of motivation/organization will likely frustrate you, but don't let it affect you. You just have to get used to it. Though they don't seem to care about their students, you can care about the students for them.
The Langtang area is very impressive, and waking up every morning with the view of the massive mountains was wonderful.