Social Development & Voluntary Service Nepal

SDVS Nepal is launched with the aim of providing quality service and placement for volunteers in a different field as per his/her own interest of programs under a same roof. We take this opportunity to invite the individuals/groups who are willing to work as volunteer and above all explore Nepal, the highest land of the world (Mt. Everest) and of course one of the most beautiful place on the earth. The nation deserves to have the pride of having unique and indeed very rich Eastern cultural and historical background. One may be fortunate to have the opportunity to be welcomed by very innocent people, whose mind still remains unstained, noble and pure. One can experience total satisfaction to receive warm hospitality, cordiality and friendliness that evolve directly from within. Volunteer guests may stay upto 5 months, no skills needed for the program of Orphan, Jail Kids, Environment, Teaching. For the program Health issues we need authentic documentation such as certificate from the registered organization stating he/she is student or doctor/nurse of the bonafied member of that institute. Orphan Program (OP): If you wish to share your time with our orphan program then, please note most of the Orphanage is located within the Kathmandu valley. You have to teach our children such as games activities, languages, school books, songs or any number of activities. The Orphan always expects your anticipation, love and care after all they are from without their parents. You can also teach member staff of the Orphanage by developing marketing, fundraising and program strategies for the orphanage. Volunteering in the orphanage is a really great opportunity to experience the obstacles and rewards of serving helpless people. The high mortality rate for mothers during childbirth, as well as the short life expectancy in general, leaves thousands of children without parents each year. As a result, most of these needy children are deprived of education and find work as child laborers in restaurants, factories, hotels, slaves, and as trash collectors. These disadvantaged children need attention, love, care, and the opportunity to further their education. Orphanages provide these kids with daily meals, a bed, and some hope. Volunteers will be placed either in orphanages or in the host family near to the orphanages, where they will spend most of the time with the children, assisting them in their day-to-day routines. The children are mostly between the ages of four and fifteen and have a basic understanding of English. The general role of the volunteer will be to act as an older sibling: to care for, look after and encourage the children. Volunteers will teach the children general life skills, including health and sanitation, as well as arts, crafts and music. They may also help the children with their schoolwork. As a volunteer you may also organize tours, games, drawing classes, singing, dancing, painting and other activities that children enjoy. Teaching in the School Program (TSP):If your choice is teaching in a Private Boarding School then your placement will be in rural or urban area, but please note that in rural area there is no proper communication facilities say e-net, ISD, phone calls, fax etc. Hence we would like to suggest you to choose country side area. You will get all the facilities. About your teaching job, before you start your job, you will be introducing Nepalese teaching system. The system of teaching is different in Nepal, so volunteers will be taught their teaching methodology. You have to teach our children such as games activities, language, school books, songs etc. Schools in Nepal often lack appropriate funding and resources to adequately teach children. As English is an international language and widely acceptable by all over the world and is a second language to communicate with the people. Most of the school employed a English background teachers but our target is to provide a good native English background teachers so that the student have more confidence in the future. In this program we mobilize volunteer teachers in teaching activities in Nepali schools by delivering conversational English and reading classes to Nepali children. To teach English at a Nepali boarding school volunteers don't need to have formal teaching qualifications. You will need a good command of written and spoken English, plenty of enthusiasm and a lot of patience. For volunteer teachers who do not have previous teaching experience, SDVS provides intensive teacher training in the school before you start your job. After the training, the first few days of volunteering are spent observing the teachers or other overseas volunteer teachers? classes. Volunteers will start supporting the local teachers and take part in some classes. When the volunteers feel comfortable, they can start teaching classes on their own. Volunteer, who possessed certificate or have previous teaching experience and TEFL certification, may train the local teacher by developing their inner skills to motivate to the student. Children are approximately between five and 16 years of age and volunteers will teach three to four hours per day. Schools are open six days a week, Saturday being the day off. Class sizes range from ten to fifty students. Besides formal teaching, volunteers may get involved in organising activities which encourage the personal development of students, using their initiative to learn life skills. Volunteer teachers may form student groups, which allow further educational experiences for the children, with a particular focus on capacity-building. These groups are also useful for disseminating information on children?s rights, sanitation and hygiene, and adolescent health issues through various informal activities such as debates, quiz contests, art competitions, folk song competitions, street dramas, etc. Volunteers will focus a great deal of their time teaching groups before and after school. SDVS Nepal can also provide opportunities for interested volunteers to teach subjects such as mathematics, environmental science, pure science, international history, computer science, art, music, sports, P.E. and other vocational subjects. Your placement will be one of the Private Boarding School in Nepal either rural area or urban area and choice is depends on you. In the field of teaching, we prefer long term volunteers. If you wish to do long term work then school will handover your particular subject i.e., English for the one full academic session. You can also teach to the students your special mother language. Different options will be given and all depends on you. Disable Program (D): Disabled or ?Differently Able? people in Nepal face many challenges. Culturally, they are generally shunned by society, and there are few facilities that have specialized in caring for these children. These centers deal with a variety of challenged children who are effected by: Autism, Down?s syndrome, Birth Defects, Speech Impediments etc. Nepal has partnered with a few care facilities in Kathmandu Valley who are specialized in caring for these children. Volunteers stay with a local family, while spending 6 hours a day at the facility. Volunteers typically assist caregivers, and provide more education on care methods where necessary. Volunteers may also have English language sessions for caregivers, so that they can better reply to interested donors, medical professionals and other parties. Volunteers also work with the children to provide assistance with therapy, prepare activities, teach basic health and sanitation, academic assistance, and general care. You can also help to plan activities and outings for sightseeing, picnics, cultural sharing etc. depending on the children?s abilities. SDVS Nepal welcomes all interested medical and health personnel and students, including students, professionals, organizations, associations and other groups to join the Health Program. Health Program volunteers will be involved in one or more of the following programs: (1) Working in Health Institutions Most of the health institutions in rural areas in Nepal do not have trained and experienced medical personnel, instead relying on the services of untrained and inexperienced medical personnel. In this program, trained and experienced health volunteers will be assigned to sub-health posts, hospitals, and other health institutions, either being run by the local community, in rural or urban settings. Placement of volunteers in these health institutions will increase the capacity of Nepali health workers to provide better medical facilities when doctors and experienced medical personnel are not available. Volunteers will work alongside doctors, nurses and other health workers, providing training to untrained and/or inexperienced personnel. Volunteers will be assisted by a Nepali translator (who can speak in English), increasing the transfer of knowledge between the volunteer and Nepali health workers. Volunteers will work for 5 -6 hours each day, six days a week. (2) Organizing Health Camp During the time of working in a health institution, health volunteers will be deployed to work in health camps for between two and five days. Volunteers will work alongside their Nepali counterparts to examine patients, distribute medicine and consult with communities about sanitation and health care. Volunteers? participation in health camps will raises local awareness of health and sanitation in rural communities. SDVS Nepal encourages all interested medical and health personnel, including students, professionals, organizations, associations and other groups to join the Health Program and make a lasting contribution towards supporting needy Nepali people. Nestling Home or Jail Kids Program (NHP/JKP: Unlikely other normal kids, these children mostly represent the aspect poverty are at the greatest disadvantage, because they have any neither past nor future planning nor ambitions. Their parents started migrating in search of better opportunities of income when they were infants. In order to cope with the competitive got trapped into the criminal activities and convicted. At no fault of their, these innocent kids are also put behind the bars with their parents at no fault or theirs. An obsession! Their past is wiped out from their memory lane due to rapid changes in their lives. They are neither aware of whereabouts of their ancestors nor these scared, immature minds bother to explore themselves so that they could be proud of. In lack of knowledge of social and family values, they are not aware of what their future exactly would be. Moreover, hundreds of girls living with their parents in various jails in Nepal are more vulnerable and Socially-suppressed as they are more prone to harassment, molestation and rape by prison mates and others which go unnoticed first, but lead the young girl and of course, her offspring to engage into the illicit flesh trade or similar heinous crimes. Objectives: 1) To secure girls from prisons and abandoned ones and provide them a shelter, 2) To prevent them form indulging into illicit trades and crimes by imparting education and vocational training so that they could be self reliant, 3) To prepare them as a responsible and able citizen by helping them socialize. This helps prevent family disintegrating by using kids as a catalyst. 4) To halt the geometric increase of the illegal activities in the long run because it could leap ahead if girls, who are future mothers, are not considered for rehabilitation in time, 5) To bring about a change in social attitudes and behaviors so that kids from prisons could hold their heads high and, 6) To mobilize kids from jail as a catalyst of change in their family. You can also provide your services and understand the immature minds of these kids. Cultural Exchange/Home Stay Program (CE/HSP): Cultural Exchange/Home Stay Program: Volunteers will have the chance to learn more about the Nepali Culture, Tradition, Lifestyle, Language, and People. Volunteers stay in the village with a Nepali Family, where they get Nepali food (Dal Bhat) twice a day, (Morning & Evening) (Khaja) is serving in the afternoon. During this period volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in local festivals and get the opportunity to exchange their culture. Beside this program Volunteers can utilize their spare time in organizing children, women and youth of the Community to do some activities like gardening, paper recycling, or garbage management. The placements are available in Kathmandu valley. The locations of the program placements can vary with regards to a number of issues. Placements are determined upon arrival with considerations of safety of volunteers and availability. Program Schedule: The volunteer program starts as per the applicant wish. You can volunteer anywhere from 2 weeks to 5 months. Project Skills Required: Volunteers need to be independent, enthusiastic and adaptable. Whatever your previous background and qualifications may be, with the positive outlook you bring with you, your other attributes can be put to good use.

Rescue Operation (ROP):

Unlike other kids, these children mostly represent the aspect poverty are at the greatest disadvantage, because they have any neither past nor future planning nor ambitions. Their parents started migrating in search of better opportunities of income when they were infants. In order to cope with the competitive got trapped into the criminal activities and convicted. At no fault of their, these innocent kids are also put behind the bars with their parents at no fault or theirs. An obsession! Their past is wiped out from their memory lane due to rapid changes in their lives. They are neither aware of whereabouts of their ancestors nor these scared, immature minds bother to explore themselves so that they could be proud of. In lack of knowledge of social and family values, they are not aware of what their future exactly would be.

Moreover, hundreds of girls living with their parents in various jails in Nepal are more vulnerable and socially-suppressed as they are more prone to harassment, molestation and rape by prison mates and others which go unnoticed first, but lead the young girl and of course, her offspring to engage into the illicit flesh trade or similar heinous crimes.

Objectives: 1) To secure girls from prisons and abandoned ones and provide them a shelter, 2) To prevent them form indulging into illicit trades and crimes by imparting education and vocational training so that they could be self reliant, 3) To prepare them as a responsible and able citizen by helping them socialize. This helps prevent family disintegrating by using kids as a catalyst. 4) To halt the geometric increase of the illegal activities in the long run because it could leap ahead if girls, who are future mothers, are not considered for rehabilitation in time, 5) To bring about a change in social attitudes and behaviors so that kids from prisons could hold their heads high and, 6) To mobilize kids from jail as a catalyst of change in their family.

You can also provide your services and understand the young minds of these kids. Deaf education program (DEP):To bring up deaf issues for awareness, advocate their rights, rehabilitate their disabilities, sign language movement and achieve equalization. The centuries old concepts, beliefs, poverty and backwardness that have mode deaf people to be more sufferer, have compelled them to live, all the time, at the mercy of hearing community, thereby, their rights have always been cursed and lived a life of nothing.

The deaf people have identified the causes. One of the major causes of it is the situation created by the stat of no communication and language minority group was our findings with the Nepal Sign Language movement. Around this our activities concentrate.

Our main focus is on and around the 'deaf' as a person, thereby, we face, instantly, the situation of non communication affecting their life, which is invisible handicapped. The situation arising due to non communication is our concern which can be remedied, their sufferings can be removed, they can be fully brought in communication, strengthened and equalized. But with the few simple lines of words can not conclude it, there involved many factors that determine the process of and level of achievements. 

1) 'Deaf', a person, main concern as user in here.2) 'Sign language' is a natural language of the deaf, they should allow using and living in sign language environment, taken it as their human right.3) 'Deaf community' – language evolve in community, where persons, frequently, meet and use language; in the case of deaf, when they use sign language, thereby, the process of language evolution start.4) 'Deaf culture' – to evolve deaf community and keep it cohesive, good discipline and better understanding is necessary, which is culture, reflect in their ways of life, which will effect the evolution process. The deaf cultures should be protected, it is their right.

Sharing information and support peers:The deaf people meet and use signs with their peers, they share their experiences and support each others. Interaction programs for the members, regularly, further the information to disseminate.

Job placement:In Kathmandu to the deaf members, insist for their skill to explore. Skill training and education help them for their job placement.

Communication help to deliver education which flow through languages. For deaf, it is sign language as a medium of communication. We believe deaf education through sign language will be productive. For a better education and skill it is depend on level of quality of sign language.

If you wish to serve in our deaf program then please provide us the following documents:

a) Curriculum vite,b) Program starting/end date.c) Your gender.d) Formal education about 'Sign Language' if any.e) How do you help to the organization! Any job oriented training that you want to provide?Women's Empowerment Program (WEP):Nepal is one of the poorest country in the world, the Nepalese society is dominated largely by males, almost all the women after marriage are fully depended on their husband as female child hardly get education in Nepal, illiteracy makes them unfit for any government or private job and the worst part is the are unaware about their own fundamental rights. Without education they can not undergo any academic based trainings or vocation as a result they are left helpless and dependent on their husband. Not all women are treated well by their husbands and laws. Moreover, there are several widows without any means of living as a result of 10 years insurgency; due to their naïve nature they are often lured/forced by pimps into sex business. Some women willingly get into this sort of business as they have no education, no formal trainings to help themselves for their livelihood. All these instances here prompted us to help them by giving some kind of trainings depending on their caliber inviting well educated volunteers from around the world.

The major setbacks specially with women in rural areas can be identified as follows..

01. As Nepal is a Hindu country hence major part of the household are dominated by male members and they can not participate in the social activities,

*Women are mostly oppressed & dominated by male members of the family; they are often barred from participating in social activities.

02. Major part of the Nepalese society is occupied by illiteracy. They can not take any decision about the family.

*Girl child are not given proper education in orthodox family, they can not build self confidence due to lack of conscience and education. Without conscience they can not also make decision about family affairs.

03. All of them are busy in their household work such as cooking, washing, feeding cattle etc.

*Women in a family are limited to day to day household chores only. No interactive performances etc are ever entertained by head of family (often eldest son) 04. Some of the young ladies are educated. But due to the society influence they married under age and leave home.

*A family member takes female child as a burden; they do their best to get rid of them by marring off at very younger age. No matter what their daughter’s dream and expectation are.

05. Due to illiteracy they are unemployment, they do not have any means of earning source.

*Women are not employed due to their lack of education and trainings. If male member (or husband) does not support the family they have no fixed source of income. It is unimaginable for widow or father less girl child to live in the society; they are forced or lured into sex trade on different pretext.  

06. There are social bios between men and women likewise son and daughter.

*There is huge discrimination between son and daughters, arrival of female child aren’t usually celebrated.

07. Lack of unity among the women community.

*Lack of conscience make them unaware of the importance of living in harmony.

08. Low generating income of the family.

*Only husband earning livelihood sometime not enough for whole family.

09. Poor performance in the society.

*They lack social awareness and have very low (or none) contribution in social services.

10. Most of the women are labor

*As they can not do creative job they land up as a physical labor.

So these are the general overview of Nepalese women, we would like to contribute to our society by providing some kind of trainings to young women, provide elementary education and some sort vocational trainings etc. And hope our endeavor would create a mile stone in social awareness campaign.

How to contribute:* You can approach your organization for funding the expenses of volunteer to visit Nepal, we set up a special camp with women are in need of help (there are thousands). You can act as a catalyst for boosting up their self confidence by providing various eye opening trainings, demonstrations, general awareness program etc.

* Teaching them to be self dependent so that their husband and in laws do not underestimate or abuse them taking advantage of her dependence on her husband income for survival. Once women are self sufficient and self dependent domestic violence automatically become less and less over the course of time.

Or let us know how you can best utilize your time and your experience after going thorough our general overview that we have gathered in our lifetime experience and our involvement in social activities. Volunteering in Chitwan National Park – 127 Days (VCNP):We are doing 127 days fixed departure volunteer program in Chitwan to get in depth knowledge about Asia's finest premier game park.

Short introduction:The Royal Chitwan National Park which stand today as successful testimony of nature conservation in South Asia. This is the first National Park of Nepal established in 1973 to preserve a unique eco system significantly valuable to the whole world. The Park covering the protected area of 932 sq. km. is situated in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of southern central part of Nepal. The Park gained much wider recognition in the world when UNESCO included this area on the list of World Heritage Site in 1984. It should also be emphasized that only a very small part of the national park is used for tourism. The great majority of the land, particularly in the hills, remains unvisited and therefore undisturbed. This is ideal for wildlife, and also preserves an element of mystery for humans; because large areas are still unexplored, Chitwan National park of what birds and animals the park contains is by no means finalized, and there is always the possibility of making new discoveries (Click here for map of National Park).

Itinerary:Day 01: Upon arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International airport the guest will be received and transferred to Hotel in Kathmandu. Evening: a short briefing about the program by representative of Lodge. Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 02: AM: visit Kathmandu city, Pashupanath temple and Boudhanath. PM: FreeOvernight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 03: AM: After visit Swayambhunath and Patan city. PM: Free Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 04-124: After breakfast, drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan - 5 hrs. Chitwan is 196 kilometers from Kathmandu and is connected by the Mugling highway. The drive is through terraced rice fields and scenic countryside along the banks of the Trishuli River. Transfer to Lodge.

Orientation class about the Jungle activities and lodge.Overnight at Lodge.

[From this day onward your volunteer program will start and have to server as a active member of the National park for 4 months. After completion of your successful 4 months volunteer program at National park we will pick you up and transfer you to Kathmandu]

Day 125: Today your accommodation will be in our Nepali Host family to experience Nepali culture and tradition. Overnight at Host family.

Day 126: Morning own activities or shopping.Evening: Go for hearty farewell dinner at local Restaurant with cultural dance shows. Overnight at Host family.

Day 127: Final departure transfer to airport.We will pick you up from your host family and transfer to the airport for final departure.

Program fixed departure date (placements are subject to availability): 15 August to 22 December 200715 January to 22 May 2008

Maximum participant 4 persons only.Volunteer fee: US$ 825 nett.The costs include: - 4 months voluntary program at Chitwan (inside the National Park) includes the following:a) Accommodation for 4 months (staff room),b) 3 meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner),c) Visa extension fee.- 2 nights accommodation at 3 star hotel in Kathmandu on full board basis.- 2 Half day sightseeing tour with our local English speaking guide including entrance fees.- Surface transportation Kathmandu-Chitwan-Kathmandu by tourist bus including lunch en-route. - All arrival/departure transfers. - 2 lunch en-route to Kathmandu. - Farewell dinner at local Restaurant.

Costs exclude: - Airfare form/to your country.- Expenditure of personal nature- Personal insurance policy – Suggested comprehensive travel insurance and flight cancellations, loss of valuables, thefts, illness and accidents. Note: 1) We request you to kindly sign online booking form and indicate the departure date.2) Please send us your scan (150KB) passport copy by e-mail.3) Candidate must be +2 levels or degree holder of Environment, Biology etc.

Clothing: The days in Chitwan are generally warm for most of the year and require only light clothing. However, from November to February the early mornings and evenings can be very chilly, requiring a warm sweater or jacket. Light weight, loose-fitting trousers and long-sleeved shirts are recommended to protection from cuts and scratches while moving through the tall grass and forests. Canvas shoes or lightweight boots are ideal for walking or elephant riding as they give protection from thorny vines, insects and prickles. Bright colors are very conspicuous in the jungle and we advise you wear neutral-colored clothing. A sunhat or light neck scarf and suncream are necessary for preventing sunburn and perhaps insect repellent for use out of doors in the evening. We request you to apply before 35 days prior to the starting date of the program. No advance payment is require, only your enthusiasm and valid passport copy and 3 passports size photo is good enough to precede further documentation.