Volunteering



Hands-with-Hands offers an international volunteer program in which each person involved can have life-changing experiences. That includes the local residents receiving support, the volunteers that offer their experience/skills and everyone involved in the facilitation. This is truly an opportunity to directly experience that in *giving* you also *receive*, a life truth that can transform you ...

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About Hands with Hands
The HandswithHands initiative has emerged from the collaboration of several friends, primarily Kira Kay, and Dipendra KC., and more recently, Rafael Ebner, Coen Völker, Nina Cejnar, Egon Castlunger, Claudia van Acken and Mia Biel. The intention of the HwH platform and website is to provide the opportunity for many hands to join together creating synergy and support – together Building Better Futures.

The Vision:

Imagine a living experience where everywhere you look: travel, work, family, play, there is a hand reaching out to give to you, to be of support, to share with, to join together with. Imagine the synergy of economics, politics, family, society - where we work hand with hand, supporting, being with, sensitive to the humanity and the higher potential of the person, the situation - the moment.

This is our Vision. We believe this is possible.

Can you recall the last time you 'gave' of yourself? With your time, energy, resources, or finances? What did you feel, experience or gain from that giving? It may have been a learning experience, a heart-warming experience, or perhaps an insight about yourself or another - but without any doubt, you will have gained something. Giving = Receiving. Two-way collaboration in which we all contribute and we all gain naturally creates healthy synergy.

The History of Hands with Hands (HwH):

The HandswithHands initiative has emerged from the collaboration of several friends, primarily Kira Kay, and Dipendra KC., and more recently, Rafael Ebner, Coen Völker, Egon Castlunger, Claudia van Acken and Mia Biel. The intention of the HwH platform and website is to provide the opportunity for many hands to join together creating synergy and support – together Building Better Futures.

Short-term objectives:

  1. o support, encourage and educate individuals and organisations that then, in turn create, initiate and put into action projects that help others.
  2. To promote and help fund projects that support empowerment and include the human elements (e.g. when we work with an indigenous community, rather than imposing an ideal, we develope together a solution, being sensitive to cultural issues and encouraging eco-friendly and sustainable options).
  3. To create opportunities where people can volunteer and learn, and facilitate supportive communication (eg inspiring talks, discussion forums and work groups) to encourage you to find your own way of contributing to others’ hands in need.

Current Organisation:

May 2001 until July 2007, no formal organisation; all funds that had so far been collected in the name of HandswithHands had been given directly to Kira Kay who distributed them directly to projects in Nepal. No part of the money was used in administration or personal costs – and this continues today. As this project has grown and evolved we needed to implement structure for accountability.

Since July 2007 we have a simple Not-for-Profit Organisation, based in Vienna, Austria, formed with a minimum of administration and accounting as required to satisfy standards for International Not For Profit Organisation (INGO) standards. We also have a registered NGO partner in Nepal named HandswithHands that administers the various projects on the ground in Nepal. In 2009 a sister INGO was set up in the Netherlands and in 2010 a sister INGO in Germany will be added to facilitate donations and communication.
(All details can be found on the Impressum page)

All funds collected are benefiting those projects that our team has investigated and considers in integrity. It is envisioned that additional people and projects in various parts of the world will get involved and be supported under the HwH initiative, however they will be sincerely explored for their integrity and humanitarian approach before being accepted.

Additional information & Volunteer opportunities:

HwH is not only about monetary contributions, although money is indeed helpful to facilitate various projects and programs. The main intent is to support and encourage each person to realise that they have the capacity within themselves to contribute, to give of themselves to their community and the whole world in which we live.

An alternative way to give, is of yourself - Kira and Dipendra, along with the help of various Nepali friends and communities, have developed a transparent volunteer program operating in Nepal. There is comprehensive information on this website and a private chat can be arranged with Coen Völker ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) our Volunteer coordinator, to discuss your personal situation before you leave for Nepal.

Basically, we connect you with one or several projects and explain to you the costs involved and where your donations will be used. We also offer you orientation, training in local customs and language and help you find your way around and to the projects. For any questions Dipendra is a direct contact person in Nepal for any problems while volunteering. Volunteers in the past have both contributed and received in children homes, village schools and environmental projects.

For more information, check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).