Nepal is one of the poorest countries of the world. This beautiful mountain kingdom has been suffering from civil unrest since the last 10 years. Affected by extreme poverty, internal conflicts, social discrimination, and lack of opportunities hundreds of orphan children leave their villages and come to larger cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara in search of work. Many of these orphans land up working as child laborers in restaurants and their life gets further exploited in cities.
Different individuals and social organizations have set up orphanages in Nepal to protect these kids by offering homely environment, education (up to 12 classes), and skill training opportunities. Presently, we have been collaborating with several orphanages located in different parts of Nepal and supporting them by making donations and sending volunteers. We are also in a process of establishing new orphanages as well as improve the standard of living and education for the orphans.
Most of the orphanages in Nepal are poorly managaed, under staffed, and are struggling to run their programs. There is an urgent need of any kinds of help and support. There are many areas where volunteers can use their education, skill, and time making meaningful contributions in the life of orphan kids of Nepal . Help is urgently needed in education, skill trainings, sanitation, and administration.
Role of Volunteer
Orphanages in Nepal run different educational and skill training programs for orphans. So depending on the need of project and skill/interest of participants, volunteers can get involved in any of the following activities:
• Teach English (3-4 hours a day) in orphanage or school (when the orphanage kids go to schools during the day)
• Sanitation (helping kids in brushing teeth, shower, and personal hygiene)
• Organizing games, drawing, singing, dancing, and other creative education and extra curricular activities
• Taking kids on educational tours
• Helping kids to do homework, monitor academic progress, and make sure kids complete next day's homework
• Child care services for orphans who can not go to school
• Skill training opportunities for the children who cannot go to school (because of over age)
• Help kids to dress up and reach safely to school
• Help in food distribution, kitchen, kitchen garden
• Other helps on administration
• Help in other activities or programs designed for kids (If any)
Skills/Qualifications Needed
There is no need of specific qualification for orphanage project in Nepal . However, volunteer interested to work for orphaned kids must have love for the kids and willingness to share time and passion for them.
Room/Food/Supervision
Sahara worldwide manages room/food for volunteer. In most of the cases, volunteers stay with kids in the orphanage where we manage a separate room and Nepali food three times a day for volunteers. In some cases, volunteer stay with host family. The volunteers in Pokhara live in the orphanage.
Sahara worldwide maintains local staffs, office, vehicle, and own hostel in pokhara. Most of our partner orphanages are located within 10-20 miles periphery of our office in Kathmandu enabling us to meet our volunteers frequently and whenever needed. Volunteer will also have 24/7 access to our office and mobile/cell number of our coordinators. Moreover, head of the orphanage serves as a local contact person for volunteers. Our staff will also visit volunteers in each 1-2 week interval as a part of the program and to supervise if there are any difficulties with the
Location Descriptions
Orphanage projects are located throughout the country . Cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Nepalgunj are the melting pots of Nepal and most of the children run away from their homes to these cities in the hopes of getting a job and a brighter future but they cannot sustain their lives in these cities on their own so many orphanages are set up in these cities to help these children. But bear in mind that some of these orphanages are set up not for the welfare of kids but to earn money and they don't provide proper services to the kids. Cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara and Nepalgunj provide a wide range of diverse tourist destinations such as Kathmandu is the capital city as well as, its famous for its art and architecture while Pokhara is one of the most beautiful city which is filled with the gifts of Nature consisting of mountains, lakes, caves, fountains and water falls, it is one of the must see places in Nepal. Whereas, Nepalgunj is a border town, it has a diverse group of ethnic groups and you can see various cultures and religions living in harmony.
A typical day of a volunteer in an orphanage project
7 AM – 8 AM: Breakfast time for kids, volunteer can distribute food for kids and help in kitchen. Volunteers take breakfast after the children
8 AM-9AM: Time for kids to go to school, volunteer can help kids to get ready for school (sanitation, dressing, packing)
9 AM-10 AM: Kids go to school; volunteer takes kids to school or helps kids to reach school safely
10 AM- 3 PM: Volunteer interested in teaching teaches English and other subjects to the kids in school. Small kids (2-6 years) stay in orphanage and volunteer not interested to work in school stay with small kids in orphanage where they teach English, play with them, organize games, drawing, paining, and other extra activities
12 PM - 1PM: Lunch break for volunteers
3 PM - 4 PM: Kids comes back from school, volunteer brings kids back to orphanage safely. Helps them to change their dresses, and tidy their rooms
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM : Play time for kids, volunteer can play with kids. You can organize any kinds of game you want for kids to have some fun and also learn something new and exciting
6:00 PM- 7:00 PM: Home work time, volunteer can help kids to complete their home work and get ready for next day school
7:00 PM: Dinner time and kids go to bed after dinner. Volunteer can help in food distributions and clean the kitchen
