Gap Year - Volunteers Initiative Nepal

Gap Years: What Are They?
Gap years. We’ve all heard of those times between school or college and higher education or between graduation and a job. Students always seem to be looking for that perfect gap year experience that will set them apart from other higher education candidates. Gap years are often a topic of discussion when looking at our professional resumes as well: what would look good on my resume? Should I get a part time job or maybe learn a skill? What can I do with my time that is exciting, challenging, valuable and life changing? What can I do with my gap year that helps me reach my life goals?

Making the Choice:
Really, the decision is up to you, but the choice can have far reaching impacts. Recruiters, employers, and admissions offices often look to these experiences as measurement of a person maturity or skill set. So, when you are tempted to spend your gap year hanging out with friends or in front of the computer, remember that what you choose just might be vital to your future!

Doing Something That Matters:
Volunteering offers a good opportunity for either students or professionals looking to distinguish themselves from usual gap year crowd and get the attention employers or admission officers. You can learn about a new culture and language while giving back to a community in a developing country. You may also acquire valuable skills during your gap year with study, such as language, art, cooking, meditation, or teaching. Volunteering during your gap year also directly helps you get a job or improve your admissions chances for school. The experience from working abroad can be put on your resume and shows that you are able to work within other cultures and with diverse people.

With Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) your overseas volunteer abroad gap year is easier and more valuable than ever. Choosing VIN gives you the chance to work in the amazing country of Nepal with other like-minded volunteers and really do something worthwhile. You could spend your gap year working in a rural school, helping to educate the next generation of young minds and really make an impact on the future. Or, you can learn to meditate with Tibetan monks in a monastery high up on a mountain. From trekking, teaching, meditating, public health, sanitation work, journalism, or children empowerment, the opportunities for your gap year with VIN are endless!

Let’s Get Started:
Applying for your gap year adventure is easy too, as support from VIN begins the minute you contact us. We help you plan your trip and make sure that your gap year time is as exciting and valuable as possible.

By Briton Stender (Kai)
returned volunteer of VIN

Volunteer Now Get Involved Sponsor a Child

Ask a question? Cancel reply

Fanny Riaboff

03:21 18 Jul 25

An amazing and unique experience with VIN to feel the Nepalese culture from inside and help marginalized communities. I recommend, it is a very serious and caring organisation.

Ella McCarthy

09:58 10 Jul 25

Had the most amazing 5 weeks teaching English at a Tibetan Bhuddist monastery- an experience I will encourage everyone to do at least once in their lives! Truly amazing and VIN was so helpful, accommodating and organised in creating this experience. Very transparent with spending, wide variety of programs to choose from each benefitting Nepal in different ways. Well run and deserves all the credit. Highly recommend 10/10

kanako

11:34 27 Jun 25

Whole volunteer experiences here were wonderful. I could experience real culture in Nepal though communication and volunteer activities in the local community. Through my volunteer activities, I could enjoy myself and gained new skills for the personal development.
VIN was so supportive and all of them were organized well.

Samiksha Sharma

11:52 04 Jun 25

Volunteers Iniative Nepal provided an amazing opportunity for me to give back to the communities. I’m very grateful for this experience. Thank you so much VIN.

John Bolton

06:07 25 Apr 25

Volunteering with VIN has been a truly enriching and unforgettable experience. It offers a rare opportunity to deeply immerse oneself in the warmth, richness, and beauty of Nepali culture while giving back in a meaningful way. From the very beginning, the VIN staff were welcoming and supportive, generously sharing cultural insights and guidance that helped me feel at home and prepared to contribute right away. Their dedication and care made it easy to connect with the community and begin making a difference. I am deeply grateful for every moment spent here—the people I met, the lessons I learned, and the sense of purpose I felt throughout. Thank you, VIN, for creating such a powerful and life-changing experience.

Shovan Devkota

09:46 02 Apr 25

Volunteering with Volunteer’s Initiative Nepal was an incredible experience. The team was supportive, and I felt truly valued while making a real impact. I gained new skills, met amazing people, and saw the difference we made firsthand. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to give back, I highly recommend joining!

Arnav k Nepal

09:45 02 Apr 25

VIN was an incredible experience. VIN provided a well-structured program with meaningful community engagement. The organization’s focus on sustainability ensured that our contributions had a lasting impact. We also appreciated the chance to coach sports and organize a winter camp, which made learning fun and interactive for the students. Also I was able to work on some meaningful activities such as women empowerment and human trafficking awareness. For anyone looking to make a real difference while growing personally and professionally, VIN is an excellent choice. Highly recommended!

Martin

08:42 28 Mar 25

That was great experience for me.
There were a lot of lovely dogs.
By participating in this volunteer program, you will have the opportunity to meet many dogs.

Cholindra Karki

16:12 16 Sep 24

Volunteers Initiative Nepal(VIN) is a non- religious, non-political, non-for-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO). It focuses on community based projects involving local volunteers backed-up by international volunteers in Nepal.It has been deploying its volunteers in teaching, teachers training,environment, health and sanitation, children development,women empowerment support, youth empowerment and disaster risk reduction. I am proud to be a staff of this known organization. Let the targeted community be empowered together…

Rosie W

09:01 08 Sep 24

Volunteering with VIN was an incredibly experience! I spent an amazing 2 weeks working in 4 schools teaching about disasters and preparedness while enhancing the childrens english. Everyone I met was so lovely and helpful enciting me into their culture. While in Okhaldhunga I got to see multiple festivals including Gai Jatra and Teej, which was unforgettable and really made my time in Nepal. I'm so glad VIN allowed me to see the beautiful sights and culture if Nepal and I wish to come back soon!