Children’s Summer Camp 2018

Background/Project: Children’s Development is one of the major programs in VIN’s Integrated Community Development Approach. The Goal of the Children’s development program is to protect the rights of all children by providing them access to basic quality education, developing their life skills & providing access to health services through community health program.
Even in recent days in Nepal, schools are focusing on examination and are doing less for developing the creativity of the students. Teachers only focus on reading and writing – rote learning. The creativity of children is not explored. Due to the busy work schedule of parents, most of the children do not have the opportunity to socialize and be creative.  To provide opportunities to children (aged 6-12 years old) on socialization & creativity, such type of camps is very essential.
At VIN working area Okhaldhunga, children don’t have a proper structure and environment at home or school to develop their innate talents.  Children’s camp (at winter and summer breaks) is one of the best places to explore their innate talents and creativity. In this workcamp, national & international volunteers facilitate different types of fun and creative activities for the target children where VIN works.
Objectives: 

• To provide unique opportunity for overall development (social, emotional, physical, mental, creativity) & provide fun-time for children aged 6-12 utilizing their vacation period.
• To promote friendship, understanding and solidarity among local young volunteers and cross-national volunteers.
• To provide opportunity to understand and appreciate the Nepalese culture and tradition via cultural immersion.

Work / Activities: The volunteers will conduct children’s camp to promote their innate talents & creativity for their overall development such as physical, mental, social & emotional. During children camp volunteers can prepare sessions and take classes on following topics: Physical exercises, Team Building, Drawing, coloring & painting, Art, Craft & Origami, Singing and dancing, Drama, Music, and Hiking, Teaching language and so on.
Location:  Okhaldhunga district which is  250 km  from Kathmandu. It takes one day travel by bus. A hilly and mountainous region surrounded by woods and fields.
Placement Support Process: The first day is the arrival day. Each volunteer is greeted and received by VIN local staff at the airport and dropped to a hotel or VIN hostel. The second day volunteers will receive a full day orientation at VIN office in Kathmandu. The placement orientation will cover, cultural tips, survival phrases on Nepali language, health tips, and project activities preparation and about VIN. Then you will travel to Okhaldhunga, project site which takes minimum 8 hrs drive.  You will be always guided by a Nepali camp leader/VIN staff and VIN supervisors will visit you time to time for follow up support. Should you have any concerns on the workcamp, you may always call us for immediate help. Before or after the workcamp, we will take you a half day sight-seeing to cultural heritage sites. On the last day of the workcamp, you will submit a detailed work report, fill up an exit form and sit with VIN executives for exit interview and feedback session.
Accommodation/food:  The volunteers will stay in Kathmandu for two nights until orientation. VIN covers two nights’ accommodation in twin sharing basis and provides lunch in its office on the orientation days. They have to cover breakfast and dinner themselves.  Then they will be with the host family/hostel identified by VIN in Okhaldhhunga. The living facilities are simple and basic. Male and female Volunteers will share the same living area with separate rooms.  There will be 2-4 persons in one room. Volunteers are required to sleep on simple beds. Please bring your sleeping bag.
Language: Basic English should be spoken among participants and children
Participation Fee: The participation fee 200 Euros +60 Euro for Transportation is to be paid on your arrivals at VIN Office, or upon booking the placement by PayPal or bank transfer.
Why Okhaldhunga and extra transportation fee:

• Beautiful Himalayan region close to Mt. Everest.
• Lacks development and basic infrastructure.
• Very needy local area waiting for development.
• Welcoming community and rich in culture.
• Simple life style and smiling people.
• Lovely environment and up and down hills.
• Takes one day (250 km) car/bus rough and paved drive from Kathmandu.
• Good and enough support from local staff and community people.
• Volunteers will fill they have really contributed for needy and poor community.

The Participation Fee Covers:

• Food and Accommodation: Nepali Standard at a local host family – 3 meals a day
• Transportation: Airport pick- up and pick up and drop to the working community site
• A half day guided sight-seeing for the world heritage site of Kathmandu
• Materials for the work-camp, community development projects support
• Local volunteer support cost
• VIN T-shirt and certificate of participation
• 24 hours emergency support
• VIN admin cost

What’s Excluded?
Airfare, VISA, Travel medical insurance, return airport transfer, entrance fees on the world heritage sights, Personal travel and weekend activities expenses etc.
Meeting point: VIN staff will pick each volunteer from the airport. The volunteers are requested to send their flight details to VIN on time so that we can send our staff with your name card and VIN’s Logo.
If you want to come earlier and explore the country more, you may find pre-paid taxi at the airport or VIN may help you on that.
Airport : Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu
Leisure Activities: VIN takes you a half day cultural sightseeing. Either before, after your workcamp.  VIN also organizes travel tours like Chitwan Jungle Safari, Pokhara, Nagorkot on extra costs if you are interested after your workcamp.
Note: We will organize this Workcamp to another community close to Kathmandu if we receive less than 7 participants.
(The detail info sheet and acceptance letter will be sent from VIN after we receive your Complete Volunteer Exchange Form (VEF) from the sending organization)