Nepal
Contact
sva_nepal@yahoo.co.uk
In brief
Varied construction work. In the
past, has included building schools and other community facilities, varies
depending on what is most needed. Organising activities with local children,
some room for fresh ideas. Staying with families in the local community.
General information
Situated between India and Tibet,
Nepal
has an incredible diversity of peoples, cultures and lifestyles, adapted to
suit the physical constraints of their environment. Around 90% of the labour
force is involved in agriculture from the mountainous Himalayas
to the southern plains. Terraced hills are used for agriculture while meadows
are utilised for the rearing and grazing of livestock. Officially Nepal
is a Hindu country, but in practice Nepali religion is often a fascinating
blend of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, with a pantheon of Tantric
deities and tribal traditions added to the mix. Nepali is the national
language of Nepal.
With a few exceptions, Nepali pronunciation is straightforward and as a
language it is relatively easy to pick up. As a volunteer, you'll be given
language teaching in Nepal
itself. In addition, we hope to organise a few Nepali classes in the
university during the second term, run by previous volunteers.
Political situation and
security concerns
Although Nepal has had problems in the
past with the political situation which has led to cancellation of projects
and possible security issues, groups will still be sent next year. The
situation has calmed down remarkably and the 2007 volunteers did not
encounter any problems. Of course, the situation will be monitored throughout
the year and if the security situation deteriorates then the project will be
reviewed. For up to date information on the security situation in Nepal
see www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
The Programme
The
six week programme begins with a weeks training course co-ordinated by
Partnership for Sustainable Development (PSD), a Nepal-based NGO (for more
information see www.psdnepal.org). This includes intensive language teaching,
as well as important cultural, environmental and educational issues.
Volunteers then leave in groups for placements in various rural districts.
Local host community organisations or NGOs oversee each project. Throughout
training and placement, each group is accompanied by a Nepali counterpart.
These local volunteers act as translators and mediators, providing a link
with local communities.
The
Project
The projects this year
will probably be situated in the Chitwan area of Nepal.
The NGO have sent a number of proposals which the volunteers will choose
from, but all involve the construction of at least two classrooms or toilets
within a school with cramped teaching facilities. Both projects will also
involve informal conversational English classes, for which the volunteers
will receive training before they leave.
Aside
from construction-type work, volunteers are encouraged to develop other
activities in partnership with the school they are working with. This could
include activities such as painting the nursery, organising quizzes, art
classes, and informal lessons on basic first aid and hygiene. Previous
experience is not required: all that's needed is a little creativity and a
lot of enthusiasm.
Cost of project
The volunteers will have to
fundraise £500 each, with a group total of £3,000. This includes food and
accommodation when on the project. It does not include flights, vaccinations
or travel insurance, all of which you will need to obtain yourselves.
Development issues
The growing population of Nepal
threatens to overwhelm the country. Unsustainable exploitation of forests and
soils pose serious questions for the future of Nepal's economy and environment.
In addition, there is the recent history of political and social turmoil. The
country is currently at a real turning point and needs help now more than
ever. Hope for the future comes from sustainable aid and development
programmes like those of PSD and SVA. SVA projects offer an opportunity to
encourage the cultural links that are needed for the future development of Nepal,
and constitute small but vitally important steps on the country's path
towards a brighter future. In 2008, it is proposed to take two groups to Nepal.
The project will start around the end of July and finish early September.
Contact
Details
Partner
for Sustainable Development Nepal
P.O.Box 19782, Buddhanagar
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel. 977-1-4780369, 4780631
Fax 977-1-4781934
psdnepal@mail.com.np
www.psdnepal.org
Office
hours: Mon-Fri
10:00-17:00
Need help?
Please feel free to contact
sva_nepal@yahoo.co.uk
Nepal profiles
From Wikipedia (good for full
history, culture, geography)
From BBC News (good
for modern political history, problems, recent news)
Student Volunteers Abroad
(SVA) is a student run society offering students of Glasgow and surrounding
universities, the opportunity to get involved with sustainable environmental
and community projects in developing countries.
SVA is a Scottish
Registered Charity: No. SC 030081 c/o. University of Glasgow SRC, The John
MacIntyre Building, University of Glasgow, GLASGOW, G12 8QQ