' I LOVE this experience in chitwan for though short period! '
Xue Ying Fiona WangWould you like to spend time teaching English to impoverished children in Nepal? Do you dream of travelling to Nepal to hike the world famous Himalayas while exploring other places of great interest? Are you passionate about improving education for children especially in rural areas where they have limited access to education?
Volunteering abroad is not an easy trip. You need to be organized and have a great plan. The planning and research process can be overwhelming, especially if you have no idea where to start looking. Lack of proper preparation and groundwork can be synonymous to a traumatic experience.
In this exclusive guide, we have packaged for you a comprehensive overview giving you all the details of everything you need to know about volunteering teaching English in Nepal for a life changing and fulfilling experience.
We will take you step by step from what you will be required to know before volunteering in Nepal, to what will be expected of you while in Nepal all through to when you complete volunteer teaching in Nepal and return back home.
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Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.
What is volunteering abroad you may be asking? Well, volunteering abroad is travelling internationally to work to help people who are in need or animals that are suffering for a meaningful humanitarian cause.
Why volunteer in Nepal?
Nepal is one of the most top travelled destinations in the world, because of the different travel experiences that you can get there. The most common intriguing and captivating experiences are the mountaineering and rock climbing most famous in the Nepalese Himalayas.
Nepal is also a hotspot for religion, art and cultural diversity. It is also famous for colorful and intricate festivals that attract millions of tourist every year including the five major monsoon festivals, Nag Panchami, Janai Purnima, Gai Jatra, Indra Jatra and Krishna Ashtami.
Unfortunately, despite tourism being a leading source of government revenue in Nepal, fluency in English is nothing but a dream for many Nepalese especially in the rural areas. Many schools in Nepal are drastically underfunded and although English, art and physical education are required, they are typically not available due to the lack of sufficient funding and experience teachers.
In some schools, English may be taught but at a very low skill level as local teachers may not be qualified to teach the course. This results in students having difficulty in developing required English skills and they therefore are desperately looking for help from volunteers like you.
By joining volunteer to teach English in Nepal you will give hope to students attending schools in disadvantaged communities. Similarly, you will support to bridge the gap of understaffed schools and provide children with vital English skills for an opportunity to compete in the lucrative formal job market.
A very common question is why should I travel to volunteer in Nepal? Is Nepal volunteer teaching program worth my time and resources?
The answer is yes! Teaching English program in schools Nepal is a very meaningful. Your work will provide much needed help to improve the quality of education and ensure the children and the future generations do not miss out on job opportunities.
There are so many reasons to inspire you to travel to Nepal; arguably it is one of the best places in the world to volunteer. Here are some few reasons why many volunteers like you are highly attracted to Nepal.
Positively change And Improve The Education System In Nepal
Lack of qualified teachers in Nepal is a major set back in the education system in Nepal. Additionally there is also insufficient lack of a proper syllabus and other resources to help children from poor communities. Although, in the last few years there has been significant changes a lot more needs to be done.
When you join volunteering English teaching opportunity in Nepal, you will focus on improving the standards of English, while supporting teachers for positive changes in Nepal and the world over. They say education is the best gift you can give a child and you will be able to achieve that while in Nepal.
Travel, Explore And Have Adventure
Nepal is a country full of adventures. It is famously known as a “hikers paradise”. It is home to the Himalayas and the Annapurna Mountain ranges known to be the best for hiking and mountaineering. Additionally Nepal has over 200 glacial lakes, wildlife, temples and palaces. You will not get enough of Nepal don’t deny yourself this experience!
Experience Diverse Culture, Customs And Traditions
Nepal has over 126 ethnic groups and castes with as many as 123 local languages! If that does not impress you, then you may be interested to know that you will be able to experience some of the most popular caste systems in Nepal largely influenced by the Hindu model. There is just so much culture, religious practices and traditions to learn while in Nepal English teaching volunteer program.
Safe Volunteering And Travel Destination
Nepal is a very safe destination for volunteer teaching English. The religious nature of the country makes it very friendly and safe. Politically, Nepal has been stable for many years now and major crimes are rare for travellers. As a matter of fact Nepal is ranked among the safest destinations for tourists and volunteers.
Natural Kindness and Friendliness Of The People.
Nepalese people are known for naturally being friendly, extremely kind and welcoming of visitors from whom they are eager to learn about their countries. Similarly, Nepalese are very open-minded. As a sign of gratitude they will hold your hand and even hug you as a greeting. Remember it is the country of “Namaste” you can be guaranteed great interactions with the locals when you volunteer teaching in Nepal.
Is English teaching volunteering program in Nepal really for me?
Sometime you may have a doubt if English teaching in Nepal is really your thing. You may question yourself if you have what it takes to teach young children and be good at it.
There is always a first time to everything and just because you have not done something before does not mean you will not be great at it. Do not be intimidated and hesitate to try out volunteer in Nepal teach English.
Ask yourself these questions to determine if you are ready to commit and make the final decision to travel abroad.
Are you passionate about helping poor people?
If you are not committed to helping people then this volunteering opportunities teaching English in Nepal may not be the program for you. You need to be dedicated to this cause to be able to make a difference for you and the children you will be teaching.
Are you flexible and open-minded to try new things?
You may find it difficult to keep an open mind while living abroad out of your normal routine and trying out new things. When you travel to Nepal, it means you have to be open to new experiences and be confident while doing it. Keeping your mind open minded creates new opportunities while building your self-confidence and capabilities.
Are you financially secure to support you travel?
To volunteer teaching in Nepal, you require sufficient funds to support this humanitarian endeavor. You will be required to buy your ticket, pay visa fees, program fees, travel insurance, excursion expenses and local transportation. There are many ways in which you can raise funds to volunteer abroad including crowd funding or from family and friends.
Do you enjoy meeting new people and making friends?
Volunteering in Nepal, you will be working with other volunteers, live with a host family and work with other teachers in the schools interacting on a daily basis. You need to be kind, nurturing with self-confidence to make sure your personality does not crush with people that you meet.
Are you ready to live out of your comfort zone?
Are you ready to eat and try food that you are not familiar with? Are you ready to live with another family while possibly sharing the same bedroom? Are you ready to learn a new language and culture? If your answer is yes, then you are good to go! You can now start planning your trip to volunteer to teach English in Nepal.
Travelling to Nepal will change your perspective and outlook of life because of the unique adventure with fascinating culture. However, preparation is key to a successful and life changing experience in Nepal. Take your time to make sure that everything on your to-do list is covered and addressed.
Use this handy checklist to guide you through the process in time for your departure to Nepal.
Passport
Just like any international travel, you will need a valid passport to travel to Nepal If you do not have a passport arrange to get one as soon as possible since the process can take up to months to acquire a new passport. Also ensure that your passport has more than six months before the expiry date with two blank visa pages.
Visa
You may be wondering if you need a visa to travel to Nepal. Yes! A tourist visa is required to travel to join volunteering teaching English work in Nepal. A tourist visa can be obtained from the Nepal Embassy or consulate in your home country. However, on arrival visas are available for U.S, Canadian, British, Australian, or other EU country citizens. Check out the requirements needed for a Nepal tourist visa.
Vaccinations
Why do I need vaccinations to join Nepal volunteer English teaching opportunity? When do I take the vaccinations?
Vaccinations will generally protect you against diseases. Medical reports show that vaccinations have saved more lives than any other medical intervention. As a tourist you will be predisposed to different situations, and many times you may travel to rural areas where you may risk contracting serious illnesses by producing immunity for your body.
Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends vaccinations against Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Malaria, chickenpox, Polio, Japanese Encephalitis, MMR and Rabies. Consult with your personal doctor before taking any of the vaccinations.
Flights
Your flight to Nepal is one of the biggest costs that you will incur. The tip to saving hundreds of dollars is taking your time to compare different airlines and companies for the best deal. Generally the best time to book your flight to volunteer teaching in Nepal is between 120 to 160 days before your planned departure date. This is because you will have a larger window of snagging the best fares. Buying early is not a gamble but a bargain.
Funds Raising
Have you saved up enough money for your volunteering opportunities teaching English in Nepal? Do you need to bring extra money to Nepal?
Besides the program fees, you also need to pay for the visas, flights, vaccinations and also invest extra money for your local travels while in Nepal. If you do not have enough money you can travel frugal or raise money to reduce your volunteering costs in Nepal.
Reach out to family and friends for personal donations. Also check out online resources to learn how to raise money through crowd funding. When you register to crowd funding you need to explain your motives and goals to travel to Nepal to attract viable donors that will help you raise enough money to volunteer.
Check out some of the most common crowd funding sites mostly used by volunteers travelling abroad.
Recommended Reading Resources
There are many books out there that will help you prepare for your volunteer teaching English trip to Nepal. You will find books that provide you with a great insight of Nepal, the customs, the culture and even a language guide. A tour guidebook also gives you a great perspective while travelling as a tourist from a different viewpoint and opinion. So be sure to pick a great book to learn more about the country.
This list of books has proven to be very handy.
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Volunteering abroad is an altruistic activity that includes many sacrifices and resources. You need to be well prepared to have the most rewarding volunteer experience in Nepal. You’ve got all the required vaccinations, visas and booked your flight, now you’re ready to start volunteering teaching English experience in Nepal.
Here we go!
Packing Checklist
Packing list to travel for several weeks can be a daunting task. Luckily, using our checklist it will be easier for you to gather all the things you need and put them together. This list is a great reference but you can always add your own personal preferences to add to what the Nepal adventure takes you.
We advise you to pack all your essentials in a carry-on bag rather than a checked bag, just in case you luggage does not arrive on time.
Remember to pack light!
It is always advisable to bring a small gift for your host family or the children you will be volunteer teaching English in Nepal. Books, toys, teaching aids, educational resources, even school supplies will go a long way because many schools are underfunded with no basic supplies. You gift will go a long way to help the children.
Information To Know Before Travelling To Nepal
Now that you’re ready and packed up, you need more information on what to expect in Nepal. Make sure you have all the information needed before you go. Nothing can make your trip more unpleasant than not knowing where you will stay, or who is picking you from the airport.
Double check to make sure you have all the information you might need to know upon arrival, this will boost your confidence and make you will feel at ease and secure, expecting no surprises.
Accommodation And Meals Available While You Volunteer In Nepal
While volunteering In Nepal teaching English you can live with a host family, or in a volunteer house where you will be provided with three local home cooked local meals per day.
Volunteer House: Our volunteer house is a 2 story permanent building situated at Kalanki, about 2km far from Thamel. The house offers you a safe, secure and sound living environment. You will receive three home cooked local meals a day. The facilities include spacious rooms shared with same gender, comfy bedding materials, and western style toilet with running water.
Host family: This is a local respected family that will host you throughout your stay in Nepal for volunteering teaching English. For your security and safety, the family in Nepal socially respected with years of experience in hosting volunteers like you. The home will be comfortable and secure full of love while caring for you like one of them. In the home you will have a great opportunity to immerse f in the local culture, while living like a local.
Before travelling to Nepal gather as much information as possible about your host family. This will be your home away from home and you need to know everything including:
Just be open-minded and prepared to live in harmony while learning and sharing meals with your new family.
Your in-country coordinator is a very important part of your volunteer to teach English in Nepal program. They have the key role to ensure you remain safe and well cared for while in Nepal. Normally, they are available to help you out in case there are any issues.
Your local in-country support should also fully brief you and answer any questions or concerns that you may have prior to taking the teaching English volunteering trip to Nepal.
On the other hand you are also required to build a good relationship with them and keep them updated on everything you are doing while at the project in Nepal. Regardless of the issues that you may be experiencing, your in-country support coordinator will be your lifeline to solve and make your experience even more memorable.
Typically your in-country coordinator will
Making the final call before departing for Nepal.
When you travel to volunteer teaching in Nepal, a member of the local staff will pick you up from the airport. It is important to make the final call before boarding the plane to confirm your arrival. Confirm once more your arrival date, time, airline, flight number and arrival terminal.
In case you experience any flight delays or cancellations you must communicate and update the new arrival time. Also, you should have another emergency contact number just incase the one provided to you develops any issues.
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Welcome to gorgeous Nepal! You will have mixed emotions being in a new place for the next days. You may be a little nervous and emotional filled with fear of the unknown. Coming face to face with reality on the ground can be apprehensive sometimes. Different weather, the slums, the state of the roads, the poor hygienic standards and poor desperate communities can be overwhelming but you will feel the real purpose on why you committed to volunteer in Nepal in teaching English opportunity.
A staff representative will pick you from the airport and take you to your accommodation where you will have a brief security and regulations briefing. It will take a few days to settle down and transition into your new life but it will be worthy it.
Departure Checklist
Beforehand your trip to Nepal, it is wise to verify all the details concerning your trip. This is also an opportunity to request any final pressing questions that might be persistent on your mind. Be certain that:
Your safety is a priority. Culture shock is usually experienced when you travel to a new environment with stark differences including language barriers, religion, food, hygiene and the general was of life. After sometime you will have to adjust and accustom to the new ways of doing things. We have broken down a few ways you minimize the major effects of culture shock while in Nepal
Pay extra attention to your local surrounding.
The goal is to watch, learn and replicate. Chances are you learn more by watching behavior and seeing what other people are doing in different situations while in Nepal to volunteer teaching English program.
Embrace you local host Family
Your local family will be your gateway to experiencing the local culture, attending local festivities and showing you around the community. Things will be pretty different but be open and ready to embrace the differences. You do not have to like it but be kind enough to respect it, learn and grow to accept other people’s culture.
Do your due diligence
Learn in depth about Nepal. Research the culture, religion, traditions and festivals to have an idea what the country is all about. If there is anything you have a doubt you can goggle or ask around to have a better understanding as a volunteer teaching in Nepal.
Expand your social circle
Establish relationships in the community, in the school and even in the neighborhood. Talk to strangers, join meet-ups, attend events and be ready to open up to create new relationships. Connect with people who are aware of the culture and be open and confortable to meet new people constantly.
Learn the local Language
Learning the local Nepalese language will make life easier. In a country where many people do not speak English you will need to learn the local language. Once you have learnt and understood the language, you’ll be able to navigate all the daily activities and conversations with ease.
Safety
Your well being while in volunteer opportunities teaching English in Nepal, can’t be compromised, as it is critical to having a rewarding experience abroad. We usually recommend applying the same safety precautions you would apply when you are at home. Nepal is generally a very safe country but better safe than sorry!
Here are some safety measures that will be highly recommended to you:
The Do’s’ and Don’ts’ of Volunteer Teaching In Nepal
Do’s’
Don’ts
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Volunteering teaching English program in Nepal is the fundamental reason you sacrifice your time and resources to make lives better for impoverished children. Besides helping poor children, you’d also want to learn and gain skills while volunteering in Nepal. To guarantee that you have the best memorable and rewarding trip in Nepal, you’ll want to make sure that:
How to make your Nepal teaching English volunteering experience rewarding?
Take everything as an adventure
Just like back at home, you will good and bad days while in Nepal. If you put so much energy in to the bad days you will end up not enjoying your volunteer experience. There is always value added each day you are out volunteering, take it as an adventure and lessons learned.
Participate in the community festivities and functions.
When you engage with the community you will work to find feasible solutions that the community needs to build a rapport. These activities will allow you to learn more skills and integrate fully in the culture.
Have a positive attitude
Do not loose your focus to help people that are in need of help. No matter what happens make sure you are focused on creating positive change as a volunteer teaching in Nepal. Do not let any negativity divert you from your goal take it as a challenge to do better.
Understand the culture
When you understand Nepalese culture and traditions you learn a lot and you will be able to make the best out of every situation. This process helps in preparing for the adventure in Nepal.
Travel and explore all the places of Interest in Nepal
Nepal is one of the best countries to explore. There is so much you can do and see around to make our volunteer time valuable. Nepal has a lot of palaces, temples and monasteries to see. Make use of your valuable time while in Nepal and visit all these places.
Things To See And Do While Volunteering Opportunity In Nepal In Teaching English
Are you worried if you will have enough time to travel and explore while volunteering in Nepal? Are you concerned where you can travel while working with underprivileged communities in Nepal?
No need to be concerned, teaching English volunteer program in Nepal is designed to allow you enough free time to explore and experience the beautiful attractions while you volunteer. You will work for 5 days in a week from Monday through to Friday.
You will get two days off in a week that you can spend by exploring the places of natural and cultural splendors in Nepal. There are plenty of tourist attractions in Nepal for you to bask under. This country is extremely diverse and picturesque with some of the greatest things and places to visit regardless of your interest and taste.
Hanuman Dhoka
Go and explore Hanuman Dhoka, dating back to the 4th and 8th century AD. It is an extraordinary palace, covered in red and sheltered by an umbrella.
Durbar Square
Visit Durbar Square the old-style heart of the old town and Kathmandu’s most remarkable inheritance of old-style architecture. Durbar Square is essentially made up of three lightly connected squares. It is a must see while on volunteer to teach English in Nepal.
If you are fascinated by great architecture, this monumental is the greatest grandeurs of Kathmandu Valley architecture. It rises through whitewashed dome to a gilded peak.
Kathesimbhu Stupa
Go and check out one of the most popular Tibetan pilgrimage stupa, dating back to 1650 engulfed by the great Swayambhunath complex. It is set out in a hidden courtyard.
The Bodhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas of its kind in the world and dates back to the 6th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site lying in the old trade route.
Annapurna Mountain Ranges
The renowned Annapurna region is the most diverse and common trekking area in Nepal that stretches to the historic mustang region. Many volunteers in volunteer teaching in Nepal visit these mountains.
Mount Everest Base Camp
It is the base of the Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth, with a peak of 8,848 meters.
Lumbini is renowned birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the historic Buddha Shakyamuni. Lumbini is a worthwhile diversion on the route from Pokhara.
Helambu region is famous for particularly with trekking companies with guided hikes. It is close to Kathmandu with low elevations, and offers some gorgeous mountain scenery.
This is a wildlife-viewing park with and a safari-type of experience. It has much lower attitude and a tropical monsoon climate. You can visit while volunteering teaching English in Nepal.
This fresh water lake is located in Pokhara city with water sports as a major attraction.
Kopan Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery also a member of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition. It is located in the outskirts of Kathmandu and a popular teaching English in Nepal volunteer program destination.
Pashupatinath Temple is a Hindu temple positioned on the banks of Bagmati River in the outskirts of Kathmandu. It is dedicated to god Shiva.
It is a peace temple founded by the Nichiren Sect of Japanese Buddhists. This holy shrine has views of the Annapurna range and the beautiful Pokhara city.
Dream Garden
Garden of Dream, is in Kathmandu city, Nepal. Renowned as the garden of six seasons, created the late Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana in the early 1920s.
Located in Pokhara, it has three main exhibition halls with exhibits on famous peaks, descriptions of famous mountaineers, the culture and lifestyle of the mountain people including flora and fauna of the mountain. It is a popular with volunteers teaching English in Nepal.
It is the largest national park in the Nepal Terai in the Bardiya District.
How Can You Continue To Support Volunteer Teaching In Nepal Project?
When you have concluded your volunteer trip, usually, there are follow-up things that you can assist in the teaching Nepal project, improvement of the program and even future volunteers. Online reviews from past volunteers help many volunteers to select a project they are interested in.
By contributing and adding to the online reviews, forums, social media and blogs you can be very helpful to other aspiring volunteers, now that you will have gained enough experience of volunteer English teaching in Nepal.
Your honest and productive feedback will offer us an outlook of detailed information that will help improve the program.
You can also help in other ways including:
Sharing your experience
While out n Nepal pay close attention to what is happening around you, choose the most relevant aspect of it and share in the reviews when you complete the project. Sharing is a powerful way of helping other volunteers who are looking to travel to Nepal to volunteer. Your experience is not only valuable to you but to other people as well.
Raise awareness to other volunteers to support the fundraising efforts
Now that you know what is really happening to children from impoverished communities that lack good education, you can raise awareness by hosting fundraising gigs or charity event so that other people can help raise funds for Nepal teaching volunteering program. Inspire other people to participate and contribute to the great humanitarian cause.
Write us a feedback
We love to hear from our volunteers in Nepal! Share all the ideas and areas that you felt needed improvement with us. If you have constructive criticism do not hesitate to write to us. Our goal as an organization is to listen to all the ideas and try to improve the program as much as we can to help the children of Nepal.
Write an inspiring blog post or social media post
Believe it or not other people are looking see your photos and read your volunteer experience in Nepal.
People would love to read on:
Stay In Touch
Keep in contact with everyone that you shared a great time with while in volunteer teaching Nepal. The new relationships you built are special and should be kept for future endeavors. If you ever want to return to Nepal in the future, these relationships will be very handy. You would also want to know the progress of the children you were teaching English as a volunteer in Nepal, which you can contact your local coordinator for all the information and details.
Will the host family speak English?
Yes! English is a second language in Nepal and we choose families that can speak at least little conversational English to host you. However, do not expect all members of the family to speak English. If there is a communication issue you can always speak to your in-country coordinator.
What will I be eating while in Nepal?
The main dishes in Nepal include Rice and curry with pickle and soup that is eaten almost daily. The momos dumplings, chow men, noodles, bread, are common snacks in Nepal. Beef is not eaten, as it is a sacred animal. The food is home cooked, healthy and delicious, you will love it.
Will transport be provided to my volunteer placement?
It will all depend on the distance from your placement to where you will be living. Depending you can walk, bike or take public transportation to your volunteer to teach English in Nepal. But not to worry the local in-country coordinator will assist you to find decent transportation while in Nepal.
Will there be other volunteers working with me?
This entirely depends on the time of the year, and the project you select to work on. The number of volunteers is not always constant, you can ask this question while volunteering and we can confirm how many will join you teaching English in Nepal.
Can we volunteer as a group?
Absolutely, yes! In most cases this is not a problem, we shall arrange and customize a project that works for you and your group including accommodation that will be confortable for everyone in your group.
Closing With A Few Final Words
Volunteering teaching English opportunities in Nepal needs constant flexibility, motivation and patience. When you volunteer abroad you must also ensure that you have a rewarding life-changing experience to avoid wasting your time and money.
In Nepal there is a great need for volunteers like you to help disadvantaged communities who cannot afford proper education. You are highly valued to connect the children with good education and change their lives and the future generations of Nepalese children living in poor communities. Now that you know all you need to volunteer teaching in Nepal we know you are ready to register and have a great fulfilling and satisfying experience in Nepal.
RCDP Nepal also offers other volunteer programs in Nepal, such as teaching English, childcare, photojournalism , healthcare volunteering, nature conservation etc. If you are interested in any of these programs and want to know the full details, read our complete guidebooks on Childcare volunteer program in Nepal, medical volunteer in Nepal and buddhist monastery program in Nepal.
Happy volunteering!
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