VOLUNTEERING QUESTIONS
What is unique about Hands-with-Hands volunteer program?
Do I need any previous experience in volunteering?
What age do I have to be to volunteer?
What countries do your volunteers come from?
Do I need to speak english to become a volunteer?
What types of volunteer placements are available?
When can I volunteer with Hands-with-Hands?
How long should i volunteer for?
Who will I decide my volunteer placement?
Will I receive any training before i start my placement?
What are the costs involved with volunteering with Hands-with-Hands?
What is included and not included in the fee?
How do i pay?
How much extra money should I bring? TRAVEL QUESTIONS
Who organises the flight?
Do I need a Visa for Nepal?
What is the political situation in Nepal?
Do I need Travel Insurance?
What kind of health precautions do I need to take? What immunisations are needed?
What is the climate like in Nepal? What type of clothing should I bring?
What other items should I bring?
When should I arrive in Nepal?
Will there be anyone at the airport to receive me?
Where will I stay upon arriving in Nepal? PROGRAM QUESTIONS
Where will I stay during the Orientation Program?
How will I get to the Volunteer Placement?
What are the living arrangements whilst on a Volunteering Placement?
Can you describe the kind of living conditions can I expect on a placement?
Will I have access to telephone and email during my volunteer placement?
How can I be contacted in an emergency?
What happens if I have to cut short my placement or change plans at the last minute?
What happens after I've completed the my volunteer placement? VOLUNTEERING
What is unique about Hands-with-Hands volunteer program?
A key aspect of this Volunteer program is that all financial details are easily understood and transparent with the Volunteer themselves paying funds directly to the project and chosen accommodation option so that additional expenses are kept to a minimum. We also offer all Volunteers the opportunity for discounted rates on Trekking, Jungle safari's and Rafting.
Do I need any previous experience in volunteering?
There is no requirement for previous volunteering experience. However, any experience or skills gained from life in your home country could prove useful in your volunteer placement. Placements that require a specific skill, such as medical training will be outlined on the project page.
What age do I have to be to volunteer?
Although there is no fixed age range you should be at least 18. There is no upper age limit. You should consider yourself to be in good health as travelling in a developing country such as Nepal and assisting as a volunteer can provide unexpected challenges. What countries do your volunteers come from?
Our volunteers come from all over the world. If you go to our volunteer section (link) you can read their experiences whilst volunteering with HwH. Do I need to speak english to become a volunteer?
Yes. You will need to be able to speak english as your first or second language. Once you arrive in Nepal there is the option to complete a specially designed 1-3 day Orientation Program where you will learn some basic Nepali phrases that will aid you in your day to day interactions. What types of volunteer placements are available?
You could chose to volunteer at an orphanage in Katmandu, or at a medical outpost near Pokhara or maybe teach English at a local village school. The range and number of opportunies are expanding so check the projects pages (link) for more details. When can I volunteer with Hands-with-Hands?
There are no set starting dates. All projects are on-going and your 'hands' are welcome at any time. Note that schools are closed for holidays at various times so please be in touch for exact dates of holidays when you are considering a school placement. How long should I volunteer for?
There are no set guidelines so it depends on your individual circumstances - how much time have you to Give? However, we would recommend a minimum of 2-3 weeks to gain the most from any volunteer experience. Who will decide my volunteer placement?
After reading the project pages you may develop a preference, or you may have a particular skill which we feel could be useful at one of our projects. Alternatively, maybe you have some areas of Nepal in mind that you would like to visit and so it could be that you volunteer at two different projects in different parts of Nepal. This can be discussed at the application stage. Will I receive any training before I start my placement? Where will i be staying?
Yes. All volunteers are required to complete a specially designed 1-3 day Orientation Program that will familiarise you with the way of life in Nepal and your placement - you will learn about Nepal, its culture, local customs, safety advice and basic language training. The training is included in the cost of the program and will be conducted in Katmandu, where you will stay at a local hotel (we can help you in your choice of hotel depending on your budget). Some projects may require more training, especially in Nepali language, this will be made clear at the application stage if relevant to your choice of project. What are the costs involved with volunteering with Hands-with-Hands?
A key aspect of this Volunteer program is that all financial details are easily understood and transparent with the Volunteer herself/himself paying funds directly to the project and chosen accommodation option so that additional expenses are kept to a minimum.
(link to fees page) What costs are included and what is not included?
From the start of volunteer program your accommodation, 3 meals a day, and basic training/orientation. In some situations transport to the volunteer location will be provided. Flights, internal travel, visa, travel insurance, departure tax and any other personal expenditure incurred outside of the volunteer program time are not included. (Link to fees page)
How do I pay?
You can pay either by cash (currency or travellers cheques can be exchanged in any main city in Nepal, which we can recommend if required) or you can send via a bank transfer in advance to each projects personal bank account if you feel comfortable with this option, although this will incur bank transfer fees in addition to your volunteer fee. How much extra money should I bring?
This depends on your personal requirements and how you plan to spend your time outside of the program. During the program additional items such as bottled water, soft drinks, snacks/sweets, gifts, souvenirs, international calls and unrelated travel costs are not included so you may wish to take this into consideration. ATM machines, banks and money exchange facilities can be found in the main tourist areas so bringing visa debit and credit cards or currency from your home country should allow you to access extra funds. That said, most things in Nepal will be quite inexpensive when compared to your home country. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  TRAVEL QUESTIONS
Who arranges the flight?
The volunteer is responsible for the cost and booking of flights to and from Nepal. Please ensure that you take out travel and health insurance for your stay. Do I need a Visa for Nepal?
Yes, and this is the responsibility of the volunteer. A visa can be obtained at Katmandu airport upon arrival or from the Nepali embassy in your home country prior to arrival. If you intend to obtain a visa at the airport upon landing ensure you have two passport sized photos and US $30, or the equivalent in your home currency. Your initial visa is valid for 2 months and you can extend it later for upto a maximum of 5 months if necessary.
What is the political situation in Nepal?
In the past year Nepal has been undergoing a major transition form a Kingdom ruled by a Monarchy to a democratic republic. This process is still underway and there is significant progress towards this end. In the past there has been maoist activities in rural areas that have disrupted daily life, this is now not active. We will be keeping a close eye on the situation and include information that is current and relevant at the time of your application. Recently (April 2007) a delegation from the EU recommended that the UN and various countries amend their travel warnings about Nepal to encourage tourists and visitors back to Nepal.
Do I need Travel Insurance?
As with any overseas travel, insurance which covers your flights, personal belongings and health is highly recommended. We do not provide travel or health insurance as part of the volunteer program so it is the sole responsibiliy of the volunteer to take out appropriate insurance to cover the duration and activities during their stay in any country. What kind of health precautions do I need to take? What immunisations are needed?
It depends on what you may have already had. Please check with your doctor or local health professional for guidance on immunisations. In terms of medical care whilst in Nepal the larger towns have pharmacies, although the dispensing agent usually has only basic medical training so it is best if you know what you need. As gastric problems are common we suggest you consult with you local doctor before coming to bring appropriate remedies. What is the climate like in Nepal? What type of clothing should I bring?
It depends on where you are in Nepal. Generally speaking you should bring winter clothing/more layers in the months between November and February, and light summer clothing the rest of the year. May and June are the hottest time of the year. If you are planning to visit Nepal between June and September you should bring a waterproof jacket as this is the rainy season. The temperature in the daytime can rise to between 30-40C in the summer and in the winter it can still reach 20C - but can be near freezing at night. Although you shouldnt be too concerned if you dont get it quite right because you can buy almost anything relatively cheaply in Katmandu.
It is also important to respect local tradition & sensitivities - it is therefore not appropriate for women to wear short skirts, skimpy tops or clothing that is considered too revealing. What other items should I bring?
You can buy almost anything you might need in the capital Katmandu, which will be your landing point. However you will find the items listed below useful to bring with you;
Sleeping bag
Backpack
Daypack
Warm clothing/Fleece top
Hiking boots/Sturdy shoes
Sandals/flip-flops
Travel Torch
International Plug Adaptor
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Insect Repellant
Mosquito Net
Basic Medicines
Book
Photos of Family & Friends and your Home Also, if you have any items at home that you do not require or no longer have a use for, such as childrens clothing or books, household items or games/toys, and they are of good quality and in new or near new condition, you could consider bringing them if you have spare luggage space and donate them to one of the projects.
It can also be useful to bring a photo album of your family/home country to show your host family, and perhaps some small souvenier from your home country as a gift. When should I arrive in Nepal?
You can make arrangements to arrive at any time and we can advise you when we discuss your application in more detail. Generally, it is a good idea if you arrange to arrive a few days before your Orientation Program begins. This will allow some time for your body to rest and adjust to the time & climate differences. Please keep in mind that you are responsible for all expenses outside of the training & volunteer program time. Will there be anyone at the airport to receive me?
Yes. Depending upon your individual travel plans this will be arranged and we will cover this during the application process. A representative of HwH will greet you at the airport and transport you to your chosen accommodation. Should there be any problems with flights and delays you will be in receipt of all relevant contacts details prior to departure. Where will I stay upon arriving in Nepal?
You will stay in a local hotel close to central Katmandu. This depends on your individual plans for your trip to Nepal and your budget for accommodation. This will be discussed during the application process. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Where will I stay during the Orientation Program?
This will be discussed during the application process. However, it is most likely you will stay in a local hotel close by central Katmandu. How will I get to the Volunteer Placement?
We will arrange transport to the placement site once you have completed the Orientation course and the cost of this will vary depending on the location on your preference of travel, this cost is not included in the volunteer placement fee. What are the living arrangements whilst on a Volunteering Placement?
You will usually stay on site or nearby with a local family and all accommodation costs are included in your program fee. If you are assisting in one of the orphanages you will stay with the children on the premises. Can you describe the kind of living conditions can I expect on a placement?
It will vary slightly from placement to placement but typically the living conditions will be basic and possibly not as comfortable as you may be used too.
This will mean a basic room, possibly shared, with a simple bed in which to sleep. The washing and toilet facilities will be shared and will be basic but adequate, although hot water is not always readily available. The toilet will most likely not be a western style toilet but the traditional squat type found in most of Asia. Electricity is generally available everywhere but not always guaranteed, with power cuts common.
Generally many people find within a day or two they will have adjusted to these differences and think nothing more of them as they settle into the day to day Nepali way of life.
Your main meals will be traditional Nepali food, home cooked. The traditional meal is called Daal Bhaat which consists of boiled rice, a lentil soup and a vegetable curry - a balanced and nutritious meal. Will I have access to telephone and email during my volunteer placement?
All placement projects will have telephone either on site or with easy access from a local home closeby. Emailing facilities can be found within the main city areas such as Katmandu & Pokhara and some small villages. It is highly unlikely you will have access to email on site at your placement. If you purchase a calling card in Kathmandu to use for international calling, or if you have a mobile you can purchase a mero mobile sim card for use in Nepal where there is reception (not always in village areas) How can I be contacted in an emergency?
In case of an emergency your family or friends can contact Hands-with-Hands and we will ensure any message is relayed to you as quickly as possible. All placements will have telephone either on site or within easy access via a local home closeby. You will also have the contact details of a Hands-with-Hands representative in Nepal who will be available at all times for emergency situations. There may be additional costs associated with emergency travel etc that would need to be paid by the volunteer. What happens if I have to cut short my trip or change plans at the last minute?
Should this happen then you would contact the local HwH representative who will assist you in making the appropriate arrangements. Cost/Refund implications? If you make a commitment to stay for a length of time at a project site and decide to change your plans the fee is not refundable. If you visit is cut short due to some health or personal crisis we will discuss this case by case. What happens after I've completed the my volunteer placement?
You will be asked to write your impressions of the time volunteering and also to fill out a debriefing questionaire - this helps us to discover areas we can improve and to hear of your experience. It may also be possible to have a face to face interview to complete with one of the organisers of Hands-with-Hands.
On a more personal level you may wish to have additional time in Nepal to trek, sight-see and generally experience others aspects of this rich culture! See our Adventure page for details. |
