Every year VIN hosts numerous volunteers from different parts of the world. Our dedicated volunteers bring together their exceptional skills and desire to help people. We on the other hand, are striving every day to make sure that our volunteers have an exceptional encounter. We are highly determined on giving them a lifetime experience. Our dedicated staff continuously work to make the most of the time and money that our volunteers bring to the organization.
However, with over 40 individual projects in the Kathmandu Valley and beyond, the management of our volunteers is very crucial and time-consuming role. Hence, VIN has introduced this project as an opportunity for a confident and motivated volunteer coordinator to shape the experience of our volunteers and the projects run by VIN.
The major goal of Volunteer Coordinator Volunteer Project is to regularly supervise the volunteers and ensure excellent experience throughout their placement. VIN’s Volunteer Coordinator placement or internship is open to anyone who would like to be part of the management side of VIN. You will help to provide direction for our volunteers, interns and our overall projects.
We encourage a commitment of a minimum three months, during which time you will have the opportunity to visit all of VIN’s projects, from community schools to Buddhist monasteries and understand how various projects operate. Your role will be to receive volunteers, prepare them for their respective projects, oversee placements in rural areas and provide contact and support, where necessary. During your placement, you will live with a Nepali host family familiarising yourself with Nepali culture and traditions. As a volunteer coordinator, you will be engaged in one or more of the following activities:
- Recruiting, training, organising and supervising volunteers
- Overseeing the volunteer induction period
- Designing and delivering training relevant to interests of the chosen program, including TEFL/ESL overview, health and safety overview etc.
- Planning and scheduling volunteer placement relevant to need, skills, strengths and abilities of volunteers
- Communicating with partner organisation/ community prior to placement
- Ensuring volunteer targets are set
- Regularly contacting volunteers to ensure that they are satisfied with food and accommodation during placement
- Monitoring and reviewing volunteer workload and targets and adjusting when necessary
- Assisting in evaluation of volunteer’s experience at the end of placement
- Organizing regular interaction between different projects and volunteers
- Developing new volunteer program strategies
- Implementing a standardized working structure to enable VIN permanent staff to support volunteers in the absence of an international volunteer coordinator
Project Specific Skills
- Possess strong inter-personal, cross-cultural communication skills
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Administrative and organisational skills
- Facilitation and presentation skills
- Ability to work with Microsoft Word, Excel and similar applications
- Experience of overseeing staff, delivering training and organising workloads
- Prior experience in coordination and management will be an added asset
Desirable/ Common Skills
- Excellent communicator with good interpersonal skills
- A team player with good workethics
- Time management and leadership qualities
- Adaptable, flexible and able to work under pressure
- Accepting of different ideas and culture
- Problem solving: always be part of solutions than part of a problem
- Creative
- Positive attitude
Requirements
- Gender: Female / Male
- Minimum Age: 18+ years (16-17 years old person can volunteer but need to present parents’/ guardian’s consent letter)
- Language:English (Intermediate)
- Educational:High School Graduate
Your Experience/ Setting
Upon your arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), you will receive a warm welcome and be transported to your hotel or hostel. If you are already in Nepal before the start of your placement, we can make alternative arrangements for you. You will undergo a comprehensive two- to three-day induction program after arrival. This induction will provide valuable information about your project and general information about the Nepalese language, culture, health, safety, and security. It is also an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow volunteers and interns who can become your companions for sightseeing and a source of support throughout your volunteer placement.
During the induction period, you will be accommodated in a budget hotel or hostel arranged by VIN. However, most of the VIN experience involves living with a Nepalese host family. While this immersion is essential for a complete experience, we understand that it can be challenging as you adapt to a new culture and adjust to facilities that may be more basic than you are accustomed to. Don’t worry; all our host families have experience accommodating volunteers, although their English-speaking abilities may vary. Also, you will have 24-hour access to our staff members for support and assistance throughout your placement.
Volunteers will be assigned to one of VIN’s working areas, which include Tarakeshor Municipality in Kathmandu, Taluwa, Thulachhap, and Bhadaure in Okhaldhunga, and Okharpouwa and Kaule in the Nuwakot district. While at the working site, volunteers are requested to bring their lunch box, water bottle, safety gear, face mask, and any other essential belongings. We advise volunteers to dress comfortably and modestly, preferably with long sleeves. Please get in touch with us for guidance and support if you want to raise project funds or collect project-specific resources. This will help the community a lot.
Schedule and Commitment
You will work five to six days a week, up to six hours per day. You may propose your preferred time and hours; however, the working time period will be dependent on the institution you have been placed. A minimum of 2 weeks’ time commitment is expected of a volunteer. The longer you commit; the better impact you can make. You should be willing to commit a certain amount of your free time and energy, show a lot of commitment and be a good listener. You are expected to work constructively and co-operatively maintaining good reputation and standards at all times. Volunteer should abide by relevant security concerns and access procedures. Moreover, you should be receptive and positive to performance appraisal, advice and feedback. Throughout your placement, you will have the full support of VIN. Your safety is our highest priority.
Your typical day might look like this:
| 07:00-08:00 | Tea/Leisure Time |
| 08:00-09:00 | Breakfast/Brunch (Nepali meal – Daal-Bhaat) |
| 09:00-13:00 | Working hour |
| 13:00-14:00 | Lunch (Packed lunch) |
| 15:00-17:00 | Working hour |
| 17:00-20:00 | Preparation for next day/Leisure time |
| 20:00-21:00 | Dinner (Nepali meal – Daal-Bhaat) |
You will receive a clear and concise on-the-job instructions, course of action, context of work and policies/strategies before your placement begins. You will be provided with ample of guidance and support throughout the placement with trainings / onboarding sessions incase necessary. You will be in a constant communication and regular check-in with the VIN volunteer coordinator. VIN aims to maintain a culture of continuous feedback between the volunteer supervisor at the placement to monitor the performance of the volunteer and ensure the project delivers desired outcomes.
In case of an emergency, you may contact one of our Volunteer Coordinators who will be available anytime for your assistance and support.
Click here to Learn more on how volunteering works
Mid and Long Term Volunteers:
2 weeks minimum stay- € 380
3 weeks – 480€
4 weeks – 580€ (after 4th week, for each additional week €95)
University Internships:
4 weeks minimum stay- € 680 (for each additional week – €105
Click here to Learn what’s included and excluded in our Fees Section
Click here to Learn recruitment process on how volunteering works
Our projects are open year-round, and our inductions begin on the first and third Mondays of each month. We would like to ask that volunteers arrive one day before the start of the induction. You can choose the duration of your participation based on your available time. However, so that you know, our volunteering placements are limited. We highly recommend booking your placement in advance to secure your placement. Click here to apply Volunteer Coordinator.
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