School Development and Education 2018

Background/Project: Okhaldhunga, District of the Himalayas – This small paradise on the earth is in the Everest Region.  It is located in Sagarmatha zone in the North-East part of Nepal. Okhaldhunga is one of the most beautiful places in Nepal. If Okhaldhunga is viewed with sacred vision, it has numerous sights which are fascinating. VIN’s Project site (Taluwa, Bhadaure and Thulachhap communities) is on the South-East part from the district headquarter, Okhaldhunga. From Kathmandu, bus route is about 250 km which is a rough trip that takes one day (9-12 hrs). In Okhaldhunga, VIN implements integrated approach to community development.
Because of the geographical situation, it has limited developmental activities and facilities. Unlike Kathmandu, Okhaldhunga has numbers of illiterate people. Okhaldhunga lacks proper education facilities. Due to the lack of education facilities, young people move from Okhaldhunga to other cities like Kathmandu or fly abroad to secure proper education. There are schools but they don’t impart quality education. Not many people complete high school due to poverty, not having good schools, resources and geographical remoteness.
According to VIN’s baseline survey, there are only 91.56% children who have been attending school regularly, but 1.44% children are not regular in school. Similarly, 10.42% students dropout of school. There are 2.99% families which are well aware about child rights and 20.69% families know a fair amount about child rights. But, 76.30% families do not know anything about child rights. Most children who drop out are involved in household work, field/farm work, households ploughing, labour in agriculture, collect grass/firewood, graze to cattle etc.
Workcamps will be organized with the cooperation of local community schools, and community stakeholders to create child friendly teaching and learning environment. Most of the schools lack basic infrastructure like school building, education material, playground and drinking water. Volunteers can make a big difference in the daily lives of these children by providing necessities listed above and educating children through fun and creative ways.
The workcamp will also involve teaching children from poor and marginalized community in formal and non-formal schools about Basic English and Mathematics, Health and Hygiene, and Environmental protection through creative learning methods like art, music, games etc. There will also be house visits and meetings with local people as part of inter-cultural learning and to give awareness on health and hygiene. In addition, volunteers also will get a chance to take part in simple renovation work at local schools and engage in activities like painting, tree plantation, protection from landslides etc. As part of the cultural exchange, volunteers will witness and participate in the available cultural programs with local community. 
Objectives:

• To create child friendly learning environment to the children of Okhaldhunga by developing resources and educational activities;
• To provide children from the disadvantaged communities a unique opportunity of overall development (social, emotional, physical, mental, creativity) & provide fun-time for children aged 6-12.
• To promote the friendship, understanding and solidarity among local young national and international volunteers.
• To make classroom child friendly by painting and colouring the classrooms. Teach different skills to the children.

Work: Paint and decorate the class rooms. Renovate school areas, class rooms, walls etc. Teach students Basic English and mathematics. Play sports, Teach Basic English and mathematics, health and hygiene, and environmental protection through creative learning methods like art, music, games etc.
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: Each volunteer is greeted and received by VIN local staff from the airport and dropped to hotel or hostel.  The first day is the arrival day. 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. You will again travel to Kathmandu from Okhaldhunga the second last day of the workcamp. 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.  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 the simple beds. Please bring your sleeping bag. When they are in the city after the evaluation, they are required to cover food and accommodation themselves.
Language: Basic English should be spoken among participants
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) by jeep or bus, both rough and paved drive from Kathmandu.
• 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
• Two nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu upon arrival in budget standard in twin sharing basis
• 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. You also can come VIN office, Nayabazar or Hotel Premium http://www.hotelpremium.com.np/  on the first day at the latest 12.00 midday.
Airport : Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu
Leisure Activities: Either before or after your workcamp, there exists the option to undertake a short VIN-organized tour to one of Nepal’s nearby attractions.
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 from the sending organization)