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Nepal
Co-ordinators: Stephen Donoghue and Kenneth Green
Project E-mail: sva_nepal@yahoo.co.uk
The Country
Nepal is a land of ancient culture and contrasting scenery.
From the majestic Himalayas which contain 8 of the world’s 10 tallest
mountains to the rainforest in the Terai, home to wildlife such as tigers,
rhinos and elephants, there are plenty of tourist opportunities here to
enjoy. Home to some of the most important religious sites in the world,
including Lumbini the birthplace of the Buddha, Nepal is also a popular
destination for pilgrimages. However, Nepal is also one of the world’s
poorest countries – ranked 15th poorest in the world with over
half living the population living on less than 80p a day. Nepal has a
turbulent history and much need for development. Since the end of the civil
war in 2006 and the Maoist party entering into a coalition government, aid
money and tourists have returned to Nepal, although much still has to be
done to help improve the lives and potential of those living outside the
major cities. Foreign aid is still a significant part of Nepal’s economy,
and sustainable development is necessary in allowing Nepal to continue to
flourish.
Aims of the Project
1. The construction of a building(s) for use of the local
community.
2. The education of children from the
poorest backgrounds in a wide variety of subjects in order for them to
compete against other students from more wealthy upbringings.
3. The fostering of cultural links between
the United Kingdom and Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.
4. To increase the awareness of our
volunteers and to expand their horizons and personal development.
Details of the
Project
The project lasts for 6
weeks, which includes around 4 days of language and culture training
North of Kathmandu and the rest spent on placement. During the training the
volunteers will be taught the basics of the Nepali language and take part
in cultural lessons, learning among other things the protocol for eating
and working on the construction site. It will also let them get to know
each other better and get used to being in Nepal. On the project itself the
volunteers will be split into groups of six and will live with host families who will cook them local Nepali food
(mostly Daal Bhat!) and help immerse them in the local community. Each
group will also have a Nepali
counterpart, normally a Nepali student, who will help them translate
both at home and on the work site and assist them with any difficulties.
The project itself is mostly
construction with the scope for
teaching. The groups last year liaised with their school Principals and
made a timetable up so they could teach as much as they wanted in between
construction sessions. Teaching can involve any subject that the volunteers
wish to teach; last year’s group found that English, Art and P.E were very
popular! The construction will typically involve building classrooms or
community halls for poor villages in rural Nepal. The project will run from
the last week of June until early
August (with potential to travel before and after for volunteers) and
some weekends are free for the volunteers to do with as they wish, although
last year they organised excursions such as elephant riding and rafting.
This year SVA aims to send 12
volunteers to Nepal.
Costs
The total amount that is likely to be needed will be £9000 (approx.). This will normally
be split between an individual fundraising total of £350 and the rest will
be fundraised as a group through events such as band nights and ceilidhs.
Flights are around £700 on average.
Volunteers
We want energetic, enthusiastic, compassionate students with a
willingness to teach AND to learn, a desire for travel and new experiences
which will never be forgotten.
Non-Governmental
Organistation (NGO)
Partnership for Sustainable Development Nepal – PSD Nepal
P.O.Box
19782, Buddhanagar
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel.
977-1-4780369, 4780631
Fax 977-1-4781934
psdnepal@mail.com.np
http://psdnepal.org/
Useful Websites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal
- good for general information and history
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12511455
- another site for keeping up-to-date with news and latest figures
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal
- everything you could ever hope to know about Nepal
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