Volunteering in the Buddhist Monastery

You will be met at the airport by one of our staff (Ishwor Shrestha or Anjila Joshi). Together with our driver, Binod, you will be taken to either the Volunteer Society Nepal(VSN) office or a hotel. Here, you can drop your bags and relax. The Volunteer Society Nepal(VSN) Manager, Bishal Shrestha, will come to meet you to clarify your program for the first few days. Depending on when you arrive, you will begin a Nepali language class or a sightseeing tour of some of the world heritage sights in the Kathmandu valley. In the evening, you will enjoy your first Nepali dinner.

After a leisurely start and breakfast, so you can recover properly from your journey, you will start your Nepali language course at the Volunteer Society Nepal(VSN) office. After meeting the entire Volunteer Society Nepal(VSN) team, you will have two lessons from around 10.30 to 12.45 with our highly experienced language teachers. This will also give you a chance to meet any other volunteers who are joining at the same time. In the afternoon, one of our staff members will take you around the local area of Pepsi-Cola, where the office and homestays are for the induction period.
Later that afternoon, you will be driven around and shown where all relevant amenities are: the nearest bank, shopping center, internet café, food shops, and post office. You will also be shown the local buses that can take you to Kathmandu or Bhaktapur and where you can catch a taxi. You will also be told where to keep your valuables and general information about life in Nepal.
At the end of the afternoon, you will be driven by our guide to see some of Kathmandu’s famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of our guides, Sushil Bam, has over 5 years of experience taking foreigners around the ancient city and can answer any questions you have about ancient and contemporary Nepal. During your introduction, you can visit the famous Buddhist Boudanath and Swayambhunath stupas, as well as the Hindu temple complex of Pashupatinath. The Durbar Squares in Patan and Kathmandu are also essential visits. If you have other sites you are particularly interested in, then this may be integrated as well.

In the morning, we will continue the Nepali language training. Be aware that we are aiming for a basic understanding. For example, say ‘yes and no’ and introduce yourself. We do not expect you to speak the language fluently after the training. After the lesson, you are driven around some Volunteer Society Nepal(VSN)’s projects in the Kathmandu Valley. This may include the new CBIA school, our women’s center, our orphanage in the Pepsi-Cola suburb, or a visit to the village of Sunakoti, where you will see new toilets, drinking water systems, and environmental projects that have all been recently implemented by volunteers and fundraising efforts.
In the afternoon, you can do more sightseeing with our guide in Kathmandu, or if you desire to take some time for yourself, that’s even more possible. This afternoon, it's also a good opportunity to stock up on anything you may have forgotten before heading up to a rural placement. The tourist hub of Thamel will be able to furnish you with anything from Marmite to an extra pair of Merino socks.

After about two days of language classes and sightseeing, you will be moved to the host family. They will be fully trained in hosting volunteers, and you won’t be left in the dark about anything: toilets, drinking water, bedding, how to work the shower, where to buy anything you need nearby, and basic etiquette. If you want an early night, then that is fine, but you will also be given the opportunity to ring home or send emails from the Volunteer Society Nepal(VSN) office, so any parents or loved ones won’t be worrying about you.

It’s possible we already started this day on your project. If time appears to be short, we will start the next day in the morning. Our VSN Nepal director, Dinesh, will discuss and finalize your program upon arrival so you know what to expect during the first days in Nepal.

While you volunteer with VSN Nepal, you will be staying with a Nepali host family. Be part of a Nepali family. Eat together with the family. Play with the children. Experience the rich Nepali culture firsthand. Many volunteers tell us this unique insight into the culture of Nepal is a key part of why they come back again and again.

All our host families have conducted training regarding hosting volunteers adequately. They know how to ensure hygiene and provide security. They will treat you as a member of the family. To secure knowledge of Western culture and desires, we train our host families annually.

Although we do not experience it frequently, and it can be considered very rare, it could be possible that you are not satisfied with your host family. In that case, it’s possible to switch host families. We want to guarantee your happiness and secure a positive experience in Nepal. Hence, we remain in contact if anything runs properly with your host family during your stay.

When you arrive on placement, you will be introduced to your host family by the VSN Nepal representative and given a full tour of the premises. Many of our host families have children, and it seems many of our volunteers enjoy helping them with their English, learning to cook Nepali food, and mixing in with their lives. On the other hand, we experience volunteers learning a lot from the hosts and children regarding life in Nepal.

At the host families, you will stay with or without fellow volunteers. You can clarify your preference, and we will take that into account while arranging your host family. It is always possible to stay as a couple or group of friends in one host family. You should consider the host family as your temporary family in Nepal. As they will treat and value you as a family member. They can even teach you how to discover the neighborhood, advise on travel, and offer you warmth in times of homesickness.

Comfort

You should not expect luxury during your stay in Nepal. Nepal is a developing country and may well be different from what you are used to at home. However, you will have your own room unless requested otherwise, and the rooms are always clean and comfortable. The quality of toilet and washing facilities varies significantly between placements. If you are based in Kathmandu, you may find a hot shower and a Western-style toilet in your homestay. However, if you are in a rural area, then it is more likely that you will have a traditional squat toilet and a cold shower. If you feel like having a hot shower and flushing the toilet is a priority, then make this clear when you are applying, and we will see if it is possible to find you one of our better-equipped host families.

Electricity

The electricity supply in all areas is limited. Due to nationwide electricity shortages, the government imposes unexpected power cuts. In the cities, some houses have backup batteries that will run low-power bulbs in key rooms, but in rural areas, you can expect to use candles. A head torch is a very useful thing to bring.

Food

On placement, you will usually eat with the family and share the same food as them. At least two meals a day are provided for you while volunteering. The usual meal times are between 9 and 10 a.m. and 6 and 8 p.m. You will usually be served the national staple of Dal Bhat Tarkari, which is a tasty and filling plate of rice, vegetable curry, lentils, and pickles. It may occasionally have meat, such as chicken or mutton, although if you are vegetarian, this can easily be explained. This may be supplemented occasionally by noodles, eggs, and other snacks, depending on your host family and placement.

Water

Your host family will provide you with clean drinking water during your placement.