Total Sanitation programme 2015

 
Background/Project: Nepal is a beautiful mountainous country. More than 80 % of the population live in rural areas with over 35% of the population living below the poverty line. Access to proper health and sanitation facilities is often very limited and awareness of correct hygiene practices is low. Only 46% of the population has access to toilets, leaving 54% to practice open-air defecation.
 
Due to lack of awareness, the community site has to deal with environmental problems such as water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, solid waste management, open deification etc. Recognising these concerns, VIN organises camps to address these environmental and educational issues.  It focuses on Workcamps/ short-term projects which include environmental protection, tree planting, working along with local partners and community people to spread health and hygiene awareness among the community people. The work will vary largely in the camps and will include some simple physical work.
 
VIN intends to achieve “stool-free” (Open Defecation Free) status for its working communities, with each family having access to and being motivated to use a toilet. The implementation of the Total Sanitation Project is expected to generate a significant improvement in the health and sanitation conditions of the community and protect the environment as a reduction in the occurrence of sickness within the community and an improved quality of life.
 
Our aim through this project is to construct toilets, create awareness among the people and to give them more instruments to feel confident and feel free to decide for their future, and for the future of a new generation. VIN cooperates with several local partners in assisting various government schools by creating awareness about the environment; health and hygiene; working with local schools in teaching basic English through creative learning methods; simple renovation activities like painting, cleaning or constructing toilets, tree planting etc.
 
Objectives: To construct toilets to the needy households, To involve the community and sensitize community/people about the Environment, Health & Hygiene problems, To educate and raise awareness on environmental issues to children and villagers.
 
Work: Construction and awareness raising.
 
Location:

1. Jitpur community: Kathmandu District, which is only about 11 km away from main ring road to Balaju, Kathmandu
2. Okharpawa community: It is in Nuwakot District, which is 17 km from Kathmandu with fields, woods and hills.

 
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, and 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 230 Euros is to be paid on your arrivals at VIN Office or upon booking the placement by PayPal or bank transfer.
 
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.
 
(The detail info sheet and acceptance letter will be sent from VIN after we receive your Complete Volunteer Exchange Form from the sending organization)