Future Nepal Travel and Volunteering, trekking, rafting, jungle safari and volunteering

What are the living conditions of my placement?

The living conditions of the placement depend on the area. One should not expect luxurious accommodations here in Nepal . You will be placed within a family setting with your own room. Most placements have electricity. (If electricity is an asset it can be arranged). Our host families are mostly educated, well respected in society, and experienced with international students. Some members of host families may speak English.

Is there anything I can bring with me that would be useful to your organization?
We would be very grateful for educational books (Grammar, TEFL, science, health, etc.,) illustrated books, English novels, children's books, Organizer, Camera. Also very much appreciated are donations of clothes and stationery.

Are their any special items that I should bring that I may not have thought of?

This will vary depending on what non – Future Nepal activities you want to participate in (trekking, whitewater rafting, etc.) and how much you need to be comfortable during your placement. With the exception of medicine, first-aid-kit and high-tech trekking gear, you can buy everything that you would need for your placement in Kathmandu (likely cheaper than in your home country). Here are a few suggestions:

Sleeping Bag
Hiking boots
Tevas/ flip flops
Fleece jacket (during winter months)
Light-weight cotton clothing (see Program Guide and Volunteer Room for details)
Waterproof jacket (a fold-away windcheater is fine)
(Women) Sarong (or you can buy a lungi cheaply in Nepal )
Mosquito repellent
Sun cream
Water purification tablets and/or water filter
First aid kit
Flashlight
Penknife
Books about your country
Photos of your family / friends / home (essential!)
Small presents for your family from your country
A few examples of your local currency
Music/Portable music player
Basic Learner's English/Nepali/English dictionary – for simple definitions (buy a Nepali dictionary on arrival in KTM)
Magazines
Colored pencils and pens, drawing books, stickers
Inflatable globe
Books on teaching English/English Grammar for your reference

Can I change my volunteer placement if I get dissatisfied?

We will consider request of volunteer seriously for the change of place and in many cases it is possible to change the working areas to meet the expectation of volunteers. We cannot change position frequently with out genuine reasons.

How will I get to headquarters from the Airport?

There is nothing to worry about. One of our representative will be waiting for you at the airport terminal. He will be holding a sign with your name on it. Please do not forget to send your detailed flight itinerary. Please call this number in case of emergency or stand-by flight situation. 977-9851088020 or 977-9803053169

Will I have time to explore Kathmandu during my language and culture program?

There will be plenty of time for you to explore the Kathmandu Valley during orientation. We offers full day guided tour of Kathmandu valley as a part of the language program.

How much extra money should I bring?

We manage food and room for volunteers after training. You may need some extra money if you plan on taking part in adventure activities outside the organization or if you just want to buy some souvenirs. You must also remember the VISA fee, which can range from 30-60 US dollars depending on the length of stay. There is also an airport tax, which you pay upon your departure of Nepal . This can range from $15-25 US dollars.

Will I have access to communications such as, e-mail, telephone, and post office?

This all depends on your placement. Almost all placements will have access to a Post Office. If you are in a city placement there are many places in which you can use phone or access e-mail.

Can I come with a friend or can I be placed near other volunteers?

We allow people to come with a friend or even in a large group. You sometimes may be placed in different homes located within 1-2 miles. We can place any volunteer near to another volunteer already working in the field. Please be reminded that two different genders of volunteers are not allowed to stay in same house unless they are a married couple.

What happens if I decide to return home before the placement is over?

Once the volunteer makes a decision and pays for the program fee, upon receipt of invoice, Future Nepal: Volunteer Program does not refund any program fee under any circumstances. S/he should be for that particular program. But if the volunteer have unavoidable circumstances (such as illness, death of in the family etc) may request to leave the program, Future Nepal: Volunteer Program will consider to return 25% of the host family cost, if volunteer are registered for more than 30 days program. No refund will be made if program is less than 30 days and if volunteer leave program in their own decision. Volunteer position are non transferable.

What Vaccinations will I need for Nepal ?

This all depends on what vaccinations you already have and what country you are coming from. We suggest that you consult a travel doctor from your country before you arrive. (NOTE: Some vaccinations are needed as much as 2 months before arrival to Nepal ). Please take malaria pill as a precautionary measure. This volunteer program does not cover liability and insurance of volunteers. Therefore, volunteers must have an appropriate insurance before joining the program.

Food and accommodation

We manage food and accommodation from the first day of the program to the last day in collaboration with local host families. Nepali staple foods include Rice, Dal ( Lentil soup), vegetables, meat (occasionally), and pickle.

Visa

Any traveler in Nepal can stay on a tourist visa for 5 months each year at $1 per day. You can get the tourist visa at the Nepalese embassy in your country or at the Tribhuvan International Airport up on arrival. A non-tourist visa is difficult to obtain and are twice as expensive as the tourist visa. It is the responsibility of volunteers to manage their own tickets and visa. We suggests volunteers not to stay more than 5 months. Please call the nearest consular or embassy of Nepal to confirm that you can get a visa at the airport.

Visa extension
Obtainable from the Department of Immigration in Katmandu or Pokhara. Extensions are valid for 30 days (whether you need for a day, a week or a whatever) and cost in Nepalese rupees the equivalent of US$50 at the government exchange rate. You must pay for visa extensions.

You are allowed to stay up to 150 days on a tourist visa then for any extension up to 150 days total you are required to show an airline ticket with a suitable date on it, with OK status (i.e. not wait-listed). If you overstay your visa the fine is US$1 a day and US$50 (i.e. for a months extension), paid in rupees. For overstay periods of less than a week this can be processed at the airport on departure.

Traveling

If you are planning to travel in Nepal after or before work camps or volunteer programs, you will need some extra money. Nepal is a cheap place for shopping and traveling. If you want to buy gifts for family and friends, you can buy it in Kathmandu . You can change your major currencies and travelers checks in Kathmandu and at the airport.

How can I familiarize myself with the country I will be traveling to?

Once you have registered Future Nepal: Volunteer Program, you will receive a Nepal booklet that includes a short-introduction to the country and region you will be traveling to. Other sources of information can be found at your local library, bookstore, or on-line. Please visit our links page for great websites that will help you get ready for your volunteer experience.

Where do I fly to and how long will it take to get to my host site?

Kathmandu has the only international airport in Nepal , so all international flights arrive and depart from there. Our representative will meet you at the airport. After completion of your orientation phase in Kathmandu you will be escorted to your assigned placement.

What is the best time to travel in Nepal ?

Any time of year is a great time to be in Nepal . If you wish to trek the best times are from September through November and March through May. The summer is the rainy season and as a result trekking is difficult. The winters are mild in Katmandu with no snow. Even though Nepal is home of the worlds highest mountain range, the country is at warm latitude, the altitude offsets the sub continental heat leaving a very pleasant climate.

Clothes and Climate in Placement Areas

Nepal is not always as cold as people think. The country is geographically divided into three parts. The Himalayan region of Nepal is very cold in winter while the mid hill region (Kathmandu and Pokhara) and mid-terai region (Chitwan) of Nepal have a different climate in different seasons. The weather is cold from December to March but warm and moderately hot in the summer. The spring and fall are cool and very pleasant. Please bring your winter cloths (think layers!) if you are coming in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb and summer clothes for the rest of the months. We advise female volunteers not to wear short skirts in villages. Nepalese people dress modestly and girls cover most of their body; it is the Nepalese tradition. General suggestions for clothes

Regions	Jan –March	April - August	Sept - Dec
Chitwan	Winter and warm clothes	Summer and light clothes	Warm and winter clothes
Kathmandu	Winter clothes	Summer and warm clothes	Warm and winter clothes
Pokhara	Winter clothes	Summer and warm clothes	Warm and winter clothes
* We suggests incoming volunteer to find placement areas in map of Nepal and prepare for climate and clothes accordingly. volunteers changing placement, please aware of changing climatic condition. warm and winter clothes are necessary during trekking

Is Nepal safe?

Nepal is a economically poor country, however unlike many developing countries Nepal is quite safe. There is some instances of petty crime in Kathmandu , however in the rural areas crime is rare.

Do I have to speak a foreign language?

Volunteers on our short-term (2-3 week programs) do not need foreign language skills. Those volunteers interested in participating on one of our long-term programs need to have intermediate language abilities in the spoken language of the program country. Orientation will include an intensive introduction to Nepali language and you'll learn Nepali language quickly.

Emergency Contact

If you failed to meet our representative at airport or if your flight changed suddenly. Please call us 977 9851088020/ 9803053169

How can I pay for the program fees?

The program fees are due when your training commences. Currently we do not accept traveller's cheques or credit cards. We prefer payment in Euros, but can accept Nepalese Rupees as well. If you wish to extend your volunteering program you must discuss this with INTV and pay the fee in advance.

How is the program length calculated?

The length of your time is equal to the training period plus your placement period. For example, if you program length is two months, then you will spend two weeks in training and six weeks at your placement.

Where will I stay during the training period?

During the first phase of the training period, you will stay at a Guest House in Kathmandu , just North of Thamel, across the street from the INTV office. The Guest House will have facilities similar to Western standards. Starting with the first date of your training class, INTV Nepal will pay for your hotel and basic food costs during your stay. You will be responsible for the costs of your accommodation and food for the period before and after your placement.

During the second phase of training, you will be moved to the family where you will stay with the children and INTV Nepal staff during the remainder of your training. An INTV Nepal representative will accompany you to and from the placement locations.

How can my family contact me during my placement?

Depending on your particular placement, your host family may or may not have a telephone within their home. Most villages will have one phone that can accept incoming and outgoing international calls. In addition, most placements are within an hours travel to a major city that provides email/internet and/or international phone service.

That said, in case of an emergency, your family/friends may contact INTV Nepal . We will do our best to get a message to the individual as quickly as possible. You must understand that the infrastructure in Nepal is not as reliable as in more developed countries. In some cases it may be hours or even a day before a message can get through to a volunteer.

Does an INTV staff person stay in the village with me during my placement?

An INTV Nepal staff member will not be in your placement village throughout your stay. However, each village has a local 'point person' to assist the volunteer with any issues that may arise in the village. If there is a problem that he or she can not resolve, then they will contact an INTV staff person to provide assistance.

During the placement an INTV staff person will provide site visits (the number determined by your length of stay), and/or will contact the volunteer via phone to provide regular 'check-ins'.

How can I prepare for teaching English prior to my arrival?

You will be provided basic TEFL instruction during your training period, but it would be helpful for you to brush up on your grammatical knowledge of the English language. You could also consider bringing any English language textbooks, and or TEFL books that you may find useful as they are difficult to find in Nepal .

I am from the United States (or country X). Should I be concerned about anti-Americanism (country x-ism) while in Nepal ?

The Nepali people are very welcoming to tourists, and are very interested in speaking with people from other countries. We have had volunteers from all over the world participate in our program; none of them have experienced any 'anti-x country' sentiments.

How much money should I bring with me?

It's difficult to give an exact amount of money that you should bring. Costs will vary according to how much time you spend travelling on your own, whether or not you go trekking/travelling, if you drink beer (!), how often you phone home / use the internet etc.

That said, living in the village is very cheap as you will not have to pay for your main food or accommodation and there is very little for you to spend your money on! During your training and placement you are responsible for any incidentals (sodas, snacks, etc.) that you may accrue.

We recommend purchasing one of the travel guides, such as the Lonely Planet for Nepal to help you estimate how much money you may need.

Don't forget that you also need to budget for INTV's program fees, visa fees and your flight and any extra activities, extra transportation and extra food.

Is there anything I can bring with me that would be useful to your organization?

We would be very grateful for educational books (grammar, TEFL, science, health, etc.,) illustrated books, English novels and children's books. Also very much appreciated are donations of clothes and stationery.

What should I bring for my host family?

The Nepali people are very friendly, and giving gifts to the volunteer on the day of their departure is very common. If you would like to bring gifts for your family, below are some suggestions:

A framed picture of yourself and your Nepali family (you can have this made while in Nepal )
A small photo album with pictures of you and your family/friends from home
A 'coffee table' book of your home town or country
Posters, stickers or magazine pictures from your country
Children's books
T-shirts (new) from your country
Flags

What vaccinations should I consider having prior to arrival?

You should consider the following vaccinations, however, please consult your doctor / local travel clinic for the latest recommendations regarding vaccines and Nepal :

Diphtheria
Tetanus
Polio
Hepatitis A & B
Typhoid
Yellow fever
Rabies
Tuberculosis
Malaria tablets

What Makes a Good Volunteer?
INTV Nepal does not ask for any formal qualifications from our volunteers. All we ask is that you have a genuine desire to help people and are committed to seeing the Program through. A positive and flexible attitude will also help you to get the most out of your stay in Nepal .

If you are applying to teach English, a strong command of the English language is a necessity. Similarly, if you are interested in volunteering at a Health Post, some prior medical experience and first aid skills would be useful. If you are applying to teach computers at the Resource Centre, to the environmental awareness program, or income generation program, you should possess the skills and knowledge necessary to work within these programs.

The following attributes are vital for survival, regardless of the program!

• Independence

• Patience

• Good problem-solving skills

• Sense of humour / ability to laugh at yourself

• Tolerance

• Willingness to share

• Flexibility

• Self-motivation

• Open-mindedness

• Enthusiasm to learn about new cultures