RCDP-Nepal Volunteer Program
(VOLUNTEER FOR DEVELOPMENT, CONSERVATION, PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP)
Nepal is a small beautiful country and famous for the majestic Himalayas, beautiful landscapes, rich cultural diversities, and peaceful people. This country has always been a popular destination for visitors, explorers, and nature lovers. In spite of these natural blessings, Nepal is one of the poorest country in the world. With the per capita income less than $240 per year, most of the Nepalese families are under the poverty line.
Most of the villages in Nepal are deprived of school buildings, hospitals, water tanks, children playing grounds, and other basic physical infrastructures. In the mean time, rising population pressure and search for survival have destroyed the most of forest resources in the past decades. Now this green carpet of the nation is also disappearing at an alarming rate. Different efforts have been made through governmental organizations to improve the deteriorating situation but the villages and remote places of Nepal do not realize the sign of relief and development. Nepal is in need of help to relieve the backward, poor, uneducated and innocent people who inspired us to work on the area of community development and nature conservation.
What is RCDP-nepal
Rural Community Development Program-Nepal (RCDP-nepal) is a non-profit, non governmental volunteer organization. We are active in the area of
community development, and nature conservation. We organize international work camps and other volunteers programs where international volunteers work
with local villagers/volunteers and contribute their effort for the development and conservation activities of rural Nepal. We are registered volunteers
organization in Social Welfare Council of Nepal/Ministry of Social welfare HMG of Nepal.
Objectives
Main objectives of the program are:
- To organize international work camps and other volunteer programs to promote global peace, mutual friendship, understanding, and solidarity.
- To assist rural communities of Nepal in their efforts of community development and nature conservation by mobilizing both national and international volunteers
-To provide an educational or learning opportunity for the international volunteers by exploring the culture, religion, people, and life of Nepal.
Mission Statement
The mission of the RCDP-nepal is to encourage and invite the international volunteers to contribute in the community development and nature conservation
activities of Nepalese people. Through our work camps and village-based volunteers program, international volunteers promote the mutual friendship, world
peace, solidarity, enrich their experience and make a meaningful contribution for Nepalese Community.
How Do We Work?
RCDP-nepal works with local clubs, NGO's, governmental agencies and villagers. We have local network of clubs, NGO's and other organization who are
working in the area of community development and nature conservation. We receive the request for volunteers from the local volunteers organizations or
villagers. After reviewing their request our field coordinator visit the local partner to discuss the issues and programs. Generally we make joint programs with
local organizations and work in collaboration with them. RCDP-nepal consists of international relation committee and office of representatives in Japan and
USA, field program implementation committee, local volunteer co-ordinating committee and central working committee. This network of different
committees was designed to fulfill our objectives more effectively.
Who Supervises the Volunteers?
The field co-ordinator or supervisor of RCDP-nepal stays with the volunteers during the entire period of the work camp. He/She will assist the volunteers to
solve the language problems and to better understand the local culture, religion, society, life etc. International volunteers live and work in a rural setting. Where
volunteers can directly engage with the villagers, share experience, understand their culture, and make their stay rewarding and memorable.
What Volunteers Do?
We receive the request for volunteers from local volunteers organizations, clubs, NGO's, and villages. Therefore nature of help request is generally different
and diverse. It helps volunteers to contribute in different areas. But we mostly emphasis the activities of community development and nature conservation. We
announce our international work camps about three months earlier.
Areas of Community Development:
- Construction of schools, hospitals, water tank, children playgrounds etc.
- Renovation and cleaning of archaeological and historical sights.
- Work in year round vegetable project.
- Teaching and awareness program on health, sanitation, disease control, etc.
- Work on farms (we are trying to develop a year-round vegetable garden)
- Different research and educational programs.
*It includes the survey and study of local villages. We develop the questionnaire and volunteers conduct the study in the local village in the different areas of
needs. This study ranges from baseline information of the villages to educational, social, and economic study of villages. Later these reports will be forwarded
to the National Research Institute or local government.
Areas of Nature Conservation:
- Nursery development and fencing.
- Seed collection
- Seedling distribution.
-Erosion control, Small dam construction.
- Plantation in eroded land, infertile land, farmers field, river bank etc.
- Environmental education and awareness to local villagers.
- Development of Agro-forestry model in farmers field.
-Related research and study.
-Ecocamps and Ecoadventures.
* These are the areas of working for the international work camps and short term volunteers programs. We do not offer long term volunteers programs in the above mentioned areas.
*For the volunteers who want to stay in Nepal for more than two weeks, we suggest to join two consecutive work camps. if you want to stay for more than two
months, please work on long term volunteers (English Teacher)
International work camps
We organize two week-long international work camp program. Volunteers work 20-30 hours per week either physically or technically depending upon the
nature of the work. In many programs local villagers and volunteers will work with international volunteers In the work camps 10-15 international volunteers
from different countries will work and stay together. This program is designed for college and university students or youths(age limit 32). Information of
international work camps will be available about three months earlier.
Short Term Volunteers Program
In this program, we arrange the volunteers works in the above mentioned areas of nature conservation and community. Working period is generally ranges from
one weeks to four week. In this program, we welcome volunteers of any age. This program is designed to entertain the request of partner organizations or
individual. In this program we develop some joint programs in the area of community development and nature conservation with partner organizations. There
is flexibilities in term of time, nature of works, duration but programs should contribute for community development and nature conversations.
Long-term Volunteers Program
We receive long term requests for volunteers mostly for English teacher. Long term volunteers program lasts from six weeks to five months. Under this
program native or good English speaker are placed in the elementary and high school of villages. About 90 percent of our placement is in government
elementary schools where volunteers teach the basic English courses for children of 6 to 12 years. This program has year round opening and we have many
requests from different elementary and high schools for English teacher. Therefore, we request volunteers to fix the time for volunteering in Nepal according to
your convenience and contact us.
Who Can Work as a English Teacher
It is not necessary to be a native speaker for this program. If you have good written and spoken English, you can join this program. Generally we place native
speaker for high school and non-native speaker teaches in elementary school. There is no age limit.
Qualification: volunteers must have high school degree for elementary school and undergraduate degree for high school. It is not necessary to have a teaching
licence. But for the volunteers who want to teach in colleges or universities, he/she must have formal degree (Graduate in English or a teaching licence)
Internship Program
This program is designed to help student, scholar, researcher and others who want to visit Nepal for specific purpose like research, study, thesis, field study,
internship etc (other than volunteers works). We manage resources and other necessary help in their work.
What Extra Activities Are Involved in Work camps or Short Term Volunteer Program ?
Nepal is a country of amazing extreme. It is the home of world's highest mountain to world famous trekking routes. We want volunteers to enjoy the beauty of
nature, cultural diversities and richness in their short stay with us. We will organize short trekking, village visits, visit of local touristic, and historical
destinations to orient the volunteers to the Nepalese people and culture. After work camps, volunteers can join a Nepali kitchen and learn to cook Nepalese
food. We encourage volunteers to bring their national flags, songs, some food samples, and other small objects of national identity. We can cook food of
different nations and have picnics on weekends or free time. Generally during the time of orientation, we provide detail information about our extra activities
that we plan to make the short stay of volunteers pleasing, memorable and enjoyable. Our all work camps involve many extra activities where volunteers will
have opportunity to explore this small beautiful country and enrich their experience.
What Cost Are Involved?
International Work camps
RCDP-nepal is non-profit organization motivated for the community development and nature conservation. We don't get funding from government or other
sources to organize work camps. We expect volunteers to arrange their own air ticket and visa. But to transport the volunteers from air port to working area, to
manage the accommodation and foods for two weeks, to organize the extra recreational activities for volunteers, we need a registration fee of $20 and $100 per
person for two weeks. We don't need extra money from volunteers.
We offer Nepalese foods three times a day (Including Nepalese breakfast) and boiled water. Housing arrangements for volunteers are generally arranged in collaboration with local partners and generally placed in local host families, schools, rente house, or tents . It depends on the climate and locations. We provides local carpet and some blankets. We arrange different room for males and females. Nepalese people mostly take outdoor shower so we advise volunteers to bring long cloth which can be used for outdoor shower. Total cost-$120 (including registration fee for two weeks)
*we do not take re-registration fee for volunteers who want to join second work camps.
Short term volunteers program
RCDP-nepal needs registration fee of $20 and program fee of $50 for one weeks to manage food, accommodation, recreational activities, transportation and
other costs of the program. Additional charge is $50 per week for the same purposes. We do not require registration fee for additional weeks and additional cost
is $50 per week to support food and room.
Long term volunteers program
For the English teacher who wishes to work for more than six weeks and up to five months, it is possible sometimes to find a partial support for
accommodation and food in host school. RCDP-nepal needs $100 per volunteers to support placement, transportation and administrative costs in long-term
volunteers program. If volunteers cannot get partial support. We help them to find some host family where they pay $35-50 per month (depending on location)
for food and room. Please pay directly to host family. Most of the elementary schools in the villages are very poor. Government elementary schools are not
allowed to take fees from students in Nepal so they are resource poor institutions in Nepal. So understanding of volunteers for this minimal payment to host
family will be appreciated. Total cost-$100 placement fee and $35-50 per month for host family.
More Information for long term volunteers program(English Teacher)
Our representative will receive you in to the airport so please give your arrival information to our office in Kathmandu. He will take you to the school where he
will introduce you to president of school management committee (every school has management committee in Nepal, which is made from the local villagers to
manage the school), headmaster, and members of the host family. Nepalese school offers English curriculum in the elementary school. There will be a text
book for small children to teach the basic English. Most of the school will have one English teacher so you will work in collaboration with him. He will
supervise, help, and guide you in teaching. However, if you want to teach some things special or if you have some things new in your mind for children, you
can organize that activities in collaboration with English Teacher.
School Hours
In Nepal, school session from Sunday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm (time may differ depending on place and season) and Saturday is holiday. Your
teaching load in school depends on the headmaster of school. Please communicate with him/her in school. Most of the time volunteers teach 2-3 hours (2-3
periods) per day.
Host Family
RCDP-nepal in collaboration with host school will find a host family for you. You will stay with your host family and host family will give you a separate
room (in most of the cases) and three meals a day (including Nepalese breakfast). Nepalese food will consist of rice or bread, vegetable curry, dal (a kind of
spicy soup), pickle, and tea or milk. Volunteers are welcome to organize extra curriculum activities and work with or teach the children of your host family. We
suggest volunteers to bring some teaching materials for the children like colorful books of very basic levels, chart of basic alphabets and words etc. to develop
the interest of the children and to win them. There are four organizations to support or help you during your stay in Nepal. They are RCDP-nepal, your school,
your host family and management committee of school.
How Can I Communicate with my Family
Sometimes it is possible to get the assess of email from local small town, international telephone service also available in local city. But all these depends on
the locations. You will find information about these facilities when we fix a place for you. There is postal service throughout the country. we also suggest
volunteers to use our postal address in Kathmandu specially when your friends or parents send some parcels or important materials for you. You can pick up
your mail from our office or sometimes we will mail it. We suggest volunteers to make a constant touch with our office in Kathmandu.
Nepali Language Class or Cultural Orientation for Long Term Volunteers
RCDP-nepal does not run language class. We do not have resources to organize these activities for volunteers. But sometime volunteers request for these
activities. In this situation, we find some licenced or registered Nepali language teachers for volunteers. Intensive Nepali language class for one week costs
$150 for volunteers which also includes room and food for one week. In this program volunteers will learn basic learning, speaking, and writing skill of Nepali
language and learn some ideas about Nepali culture, religion, people, etc. This is optional program. This helps you to enjoy your stay in Nepal, and make more
friends. BUT we do not ask any volunteers to learn Nepali language. It is not necessary to speak Nepali language for you to teach in school. This program is
not mandatory and it depends on the interest of volunteers.
Internship program
This program is designed for students, scholars, visitors and others who are not involved in volunteers activities but rather come for specific purposes like field
study, research, internship, etc. Therefore cost of the program depends on the nature of work, duration, and location of study. Please communicate with
RCDP-nepal to find out the cost for your program. We do not provide credit for internship.
Please note:
We offer food and accommodation from the first day of the program to the last day. For the volunteers who arrived earlier or who want to stay longer, it is
impossible to offer accommodation, and foods. But we will help volunteers to find a good and cheaper place for food and accommodation. After July
RCDP-nepal will have a rented house where volunteers can stay with the minimum fee of $3 per night. This house will have kitchen where volunteers can make
coffee or tea for themselves.
Visa Information
Any traveler to Nepal is allowed to stay on a tourist visa for 5 months each year at $1 per day. An extension of 1 further month is available if you can produce
a ticket as evidence of your plans to leave the country at the end of that month. You can get tourist visa at Royal Nepalese embassy at your country or at the
Tribhuvan International Airport up on arrival. At the airport, payment must be in US dollar and the charge is $15 for a 15 day visa, $30 for a 30 days visa and
$60 for a 60 day visa which is renewable up to 5 months. Non-tourist visa are 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 suggest volunteers not to stay more than 5 months.
Health and Insurance
We suggest volunteers take immunization shots for hepatitis, typhoid, polio, meningitis, diphtheria, and tetanus in their home country and to bring small first
aid kit. Nepal offers basic medical services and there are places for emergency medical services. Please obtain necessary health and travel insurance before
coming to Nepal. If you are taking any medicine, we suggest you to bring your prescriptions and medication from home.
Cloths and Climate
Nepal is not always as cold as people think. Nepal is geographically divided in three parts. Himalayan region of Nepal is very cold in winter while the mid hill
region and terai region of Nepal have different climate in different seasons. The weather is cold between December thru February but warm and moderately hot
in summer. Months of Spring and Fall are cool and very pleasant. Please bring your winter cloths if you are coming in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb and summer or
warm cloths for the rest of the months. We advise volunteers girls not to wear short skirts in villages. Nepalese people dress modestly and girls cover most of
their body, it is Nepalese tradition. You can wash your cloths in work camps where we will manage for water.
What Materials to Bring?
We suggest volunteers to bring sleeping bags, mosquito net, torch, globe, cloths, trekking shoes, toiletries, seasonal clothing, simple medicine. We suggest
volunteers to learn two basic greetings.
-Namaste (Used to respect the people at any time. It's meaning is near to good morning, or welcome or hello)
-Dhanyabad (Thank you)
Related Information to partner organizations:
We request our partner organization to provide us feedback, comments, and suggestions in our programs. if you need special programs, special time duration, or
working area to place your volunteers, please let us know. We would be glad to communicate with our local partners in Nepal to find out special places,
activities, or program for your volunteers. If your supervisor want to work with our local staff we can develop some joint work program of volunteers
mobilization. If your interest or program does not cover the area of community development and nature conservation but still you are interested to work for
Nepalese people and community. Please let us know.
Other Assistance
If you want to go for trekking or other touristic activities after work camp and need the help of the RCDP. We would be glad to provide you the best
information so far available. It is best idea to pick up a guide book and develop programs of self interest which would be cheaper programs for volunteers. We
want all volunteer to find some extra time before or after the volunteer job and enjoy the beauty of nature in Nepal. Please at least try to see some Himalayan
ranges from Nagarkot (12 miles east of kathmandu) or Pokhara (80 miles west of kathmandu) during your stay in Nepal.
Extra Expenses.
If you are planning to travel Nepal after or before work camps or volunteers program, you will need some extra money. Nepal is a cheap place for shopping and
travel. If you want to buy some 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. Please pay RCDP-nepal in Nepalese currency so it is good idea to change your travel checks at the airport. We don't have a cash
machine but you can get credit card advances. It is possible to get $8-$10 hotel room per night in kathmandu. RCDP-nepal is planning to rent a house in
kathmandu and offer a cheaper place to live in kathmandu for volunteers from July.
Application for Program
you can apply through to our partner organizations or directly to us. Please read this information before applying to RCDP-nepal. We generally send a simple
application by email or we can approve your place with out formal application but we want your complete address or address for emergency.
Further Information:
If you have inquiries about date and place of international work camps, work conditions, workplace, weather, etc in Nepal. Or if you want us to pick you up
from the airport please send an email to us. Our staff will come to airport to pick you up so please inform your airlines, flight number, and arrival time at
kathmandu or give a call from airport. Our office is located bout 7 miles from the international airport.
Contact address in Nepal.
Field program officer
RCDP-nepal
Kathmandu Municipality
post box no-8957
ward no-14,
kathmandu, Nepal
Phone- 977-1-278305
Fax-977-1- 276530
email- rcdpn@mail.com.np
or rcdpn@hotmail.com
If you are in USA, Canada, and Europe. please contact
representative and international co-ordinator for RCDP-nepal for programs and information.
Presently:
Murali Adhikari
200 Elm street #10
Auburn
36832
AL, USA
Email:adhikmu@mail.auburn.edu
Phone: 334-844-5617 (Office)
334-844-8651(Home)
If you have inquiries about our organization or program and want to visit
regional representative of RCDP-nepal in Japan.
Mohan Adhikari
Asst. co-ordinator and representative of RCDP-nepal in Japan.
Dept. of Forest Science
The University of Tokyo
Yayoi1-1-1-, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Zip113-8657
Tel 81-3-5841-5214
Fax 81-3-5841-5464
Please visit the Photo gallery of Nepal
http://www.gorp.com/abvclds/photogal.htm
INFORMATION ABOUT WORK CAMP WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IMMEDIATELY.