Code | Name of Project | Location | Date | Type | Vols No. | Age |
VINWC15-17 | School Development & Education Project 2015 |
Taluwa, Okhaldhunga | 24 July-9 August 2015 | ENVI, KIDS, EDU, MANU | 9 M + 9 Fe | 18+ |
VINWC15-18 | Taluwa, Okhaldhunga | 5-21 August 2015 | ENVI, KIDS, EDU, MANU | 9 M + 9 Fe | 18+ |
Background/Project: Okhaldhunga, District of the Himalayas – This small paradise on earth is close to Everest Region. It is located in Sagarmatha zone in the North-East part of Nepal. It is one of the beautiful places of Nepal if Okhaldhunga is viewed with sacred vision. It has numerous sights which are fascinating. VIN’s Project site (Taluwa VDC, Bhadaure VDC and Thulachhap VDC) is on South-East part from the district headquarters, Okhaldhunga. From Kathmandu, the short bus route is about 250 km which is a rough trip that takes one day and takes one day. VIN has started to work at Okhaldhunga recently. VIN implements integrated approach for 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 facility. Due to Lack of education facilities, young people move from Okhaldhunga to cities like Kathmandu or fly abroad to secure proper education. There are schools but they don’t have standard education due to which they face comparative disadvantage in their academic and professional career. The existing education standard of Okhaldhunga is not good and compatible with the other community.
According to VIN’s baseline survey 2012, 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 the 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 know very little 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. They do these all because there is no good infrastructure, child friendly classes and teaching in the schools.
Workcamps will be organized with the cooperation of local community schools for community development, education and working together with local teachers/children/ villages in community development projects. 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 the necessities listed above and educating through fun and creative ways.
The workcamp will also involve teaching children from poor and marginalized community in the 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, protecting from landslides etc. As part of the cultural exchange, volunteers will witness and participate in the available cultural programs with local community.
Objectives: To work for School Development and Education project and exchange the experience.
To provide 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 volunteers and cross-national volunteers. To provide opportunity to understand and appreciate the Nepalese culture and tradition or cultural immersion. Paint and colour the classrooms to make it child friendly. Teach different skills to the children.
Work: Paint and decorate the class rooms. Renovate school areas, class rooms, walls etc. Teach the students Basic English and mathematics. Conduct different sessions of sports, Basic English and Mathematics, Health and Hygiene, and Environmental protection through creative learning methods like art, music, games etc.
Location: Taluwa Village Development Committee of 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 local host family. 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, project activities preparation and about VIN. Then actual workcamp starts on from the day third. You will be always guided by a Nepali camp leader 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. During or after the workcamp, our staff 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: The volunteers will stay with the host family/hostel identified by VIN. 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.
Language: Basic English should be spoken among participants
Participation Fee: The participation fee 220 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 Taluwa, 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. You also can come VIN office, Balaju 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 10 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)