Children’s Winter Camp 2020 – (EDU, SPOR & CULT)

Background:
Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) is a NGO with the mission to empower marginalised communities through inclusive and holistic development programmes.

This is done through the following project areas:

• Education
• Health and Environment
• Economy
• Basic Infrastructure

Within the above project areas, we conduct the following programmes:

• Women’s Empowerment
• Children’s Development
• Youth Empowerment
• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Environment and Conservation
• Public Health and Medical Care

Project information:
This work camp focuses on CHILD DEVELOPMENT.
The Children’s Development Programme aims to protect the rights of all children by providing them access to education, life skills, health and hygiene. This is done through Children’s Clubs, Early Child Development Programmes, School Attendance services and Child Care.

Even nowadays, schools focus very much on literacy and theoretical learning.
At home, parents have very busy work schedules and have limited financial resources which means that during school breaks they can’t go on holidays and often need to rely on themselves to fill their time constructively.
This leaves little space for exploring creativity and different innovative ways of learning in a structured environment.

We are keen to make a difference in children’s lives and explore their talents. That is why these work camps are essential to provide children aged 5 to 12 years of age with ideas, life skills as well as developmental opportunities in a fun and creative environment.

OBJECTIVES/ AIM:

The main aim for this work camp is to arrange emotionally and socially stimulating activities for children aged 5 to 12 years of age in order to improve English skills, creative thinking and personal development.

Your placement and activities:

In this work camp, national and international volunteers (with staff guidance) will facilitate different groups and activities, with the main aim to:

• Develop and facilitate unique activities for children aged 5 to 12 years which will support social, emotional, physical and mental wellbeing during their vacation time.
  This will include activities related to sports and exercise, drawing, colouring, painting, arts & crafts, singing, dancing, drama, music, exploring the environment with walks and hiking.
• Promote friendships and solidarity amounts their peers through team building activities.
• Provide an opportunity for the children to understand different cultures by learning about their own one as well as the traditions of local and international volunteers. This can include English language teaching.

These are just some examples but we rely on volunteers’ ideas to make the camp as fun as possible.

There will be one rest day in the middle of your work camp. If you’ve volunteering at a school, the Saturdays will be a rest day also.

Your support from VIN:

We want volunteers to have the best experience possible.
That is why we have created a thorough induction process, which will help you settle into your placement.

Day 1– ARRIVAL DAY
We will pick you up at the airport and bring you to the VIN hostel where you will meet other volunteers who will volunteer at the work camp too.

Day 2- ORIENTATION DAY AND TRAVEL TO WORK CAMP
We will provide you with an induction which includes cultural tips, useful Nepali phrases, health and safety tips as well as preparations for your project activities. All volunteers will be taken to the work camp site.

Day 3- WORK CAMP PLACEMENT STARTS

Last day– REPORT WRITING AND FEEDBACK
On the last day of the work camp volunteers come back to the VIN head office in Kathmandu and you will submit a detailed work report, fill out an exit form and sit with VIN executives for an exit interview and feedback session.

Throughout the work camp, a VIN camp leader will be with you. Supervisors who are usually based in Kathmandu will also be in regular contact (either in person or by phone and email) to make sure you have a positive experience. This is a 24/7 support service we provide to all volunteers so please call us if you need immediate help.

Location:
The work camp is based in Tarakeshwor and Okharpauwa municipality, which is situated in the outskirts of the Kathmandu District.
It is around 10-15 km from main ring road to Balaju, Kathmandu covered with hills, fields and woods.

Accommodation:
Volunteers stay with the host family/hostel identified by VIN.
The living conditions at the host family/ hostel are simple and basic. Male and female volunteers will share the same living area but have separate sleeping rooms.
The volunteers sleep on simple beds / mattress.
Please bring your sleeping bag.

Language:
Basic English should be spoken among the participants

Work Camp Fee:
The participation fee is 200 Euros (+30 Euro for transportation), which is to be paid on arrival at VIN Office.

The Participation Fee Covers:

• Food and Accommodation: Nepali Standard at a local host family – 3 meals a day
• Transportation:
  Airport pick up; transport to and from the work camp
• Materials for the work camp
• Local volunteers’ support cost
• VIN T-shirt
• Certificate of participation
• 24 hours emergency support
• VIN admin cost.

 What is excluded?
Airfare, VISA, vaccinations, travel & medical insurance, return airport transfer, personal travel and weekend activities expenses etc.

Meeting point: VIN staff will picks each volunteer from the airport.
You will need to send us your flight details on time so that we can send our staff to pick you up at the airport. We will have a sign with your name on it, as well as the VIN logo.

If you want to come earlier and explore the country more, you may find pre-paid taxi at the airport and VIN can help you with that.

Airport : Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu

Leisure Activities:
There are lots of sightseeing options in and around Kathmandu.
If you arrive early or if you’re planning on staying in Nepal after your work camp finished, VIN also organises weekends travel tours to Chitwan Jungle Safari, Pokhara, Nagarkot at an additional cost if you are interested.

[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.]