9845052670 (Nepal)
5142147376 (Canada)
0435119969 (Australia)
07585808737 (UK)
9845052670 (Nepal)
5142147376 (Canada)
0435119969 (Australia)
07585808737 (UK)
How to Prepare to Be Volunteer in Nepal
You might be wondering how to prepare to volunteer in Nepal. When preparing to volunteer in Nepal, one of the most important steps is making sure your visa and passport are taken care of. You don't want to be one week away from leaving and realize that your passport has expired or that you won't be able to get a visa.
Unfortunately, lack of preparation and planning ahead by volunteers means these problems can be very common. Don't let this happen to you. This article will explain how to prepare to volunteer in Nepal, and describe the different types of visas and address passport issues that you may have before you leave to volunteer in Nepal.
Passport
Anytime that you are traveling outside of your home country, you must have a passport. Your passport must be at least valid for six months from the date of your departure to Nepal. If you are planning to volunteer abroad in Nepal in November 25, 2017, your passport must be valid at least until May 25, 2018. Don’t let something so avoidable ruin your trip.
Visas
A visa is required to enter Nepal. However, a visa can be obtained upon arrival at the airport if you are a U.S, Canadian, British, Australian, or other EU country citizen. Other nationalities must obtain a visa prior to arrival and should check with the embassy for requirements and fees. Just make sure you have valid visa to volunteer in Nepal before you leave or as soon as you arrive and can obtain one at the airport. There are 15, 30, and 90-day visas. A 15-day visa costs $25USD, a 30-day visa costs $40, and a 90-day visa costs $100.
Vaccinations
Prior to traveling anywhere, you should make sure that you are vaccinated for measles-mumps-rubella, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio, and your yearly flu shot. While these aren’t required to enter Nepal, it is better to be safe than sorry. It is highly recommended that you also get a Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccination. You can get hepatitis A and typhoid through contaminated food and water in Nepal. Aside from that, you should ask your general physician what other vaccines you should have. For more information about vaccinations and health concerns in Nepal, consult the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Flights
Airfare is going to be one of your biggest costs for Nepal volunteer experience. Most volunteers don’t live particularly close to Nepal. For this reason, airfare is pricy. However, with proper planning and searching, it is possible to find a reasonably priced airline ticket(s). Here’s some tips: Check out several different airline companies. Play around with flying different routes If possible, avoid busy travel months. If you have airline miles, try and find an itinerary that you can apply them to. Book in as far in advance as you can.
Funds
You’ll need to ensure that you have sufficient funds to support your volunteering opportunity in Nepal. If you need some ideas on how to pay for your volunteer program, there are lots of resources to draw on. You can use online funding sites such as GoFundMe , or GiveForward, as well as others for students and large groups. You can also look to local churches, businesses, or volunteer groups for help funding your trip as well. They may just be waiting to help someone like you be of service in another part of the world. Here’s another tip to reduce the cost of your volunteer experience: Budget in advance. Researching, prioritizing, and planning for a financially reasonable volunteer experience will help not break the bank while abroad.
Suggested Reading
It is a wonderful idea to read up on Nepal before you embark on your volunteer trip . Through travel books about Nepal, you can learn a lot about the culture, traditions, religions, customs, history, geography, sights to see, activities to do, and foods to try. Learning about the country in which you are planning to visit will help you to feel more comfortable about your trip and will prepare you for what’s ahead. Sometimes it is also nice to read some non-travel guidebooks about Nepal to get you even more excited and inspired for your volunteer in Nepal trip too. Here is a list ofsuggested reading for your Nepal volunteer adventure:
The Rough Guide to Nepal
Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grenna
Nepal-Culture Smart: The Essential Guide to Customs and Culture
While the Gods Were Sleeping: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal by Elizabeth Enslin
House of Snow: An Anthology of The Greatest Writing about Nepal by Ed Douglas and Ranulph Fiennes
What To Bring On Your Trip?
To avoid getting overwhelmed and forgetting something important for your volunteer trip in Nepal, it is a good idea to make a list of your must-bring items. You should also research the specific area(s) in which you will be volunteering and traveling to in order to get an idea of what the typical weather conditions and temperatures are like, so you know what type of clothing to bring.
Here is a basic list to get you started:
Souvenir
It is also a very nice idea to bring some small gifts from your home country to share with your host family and chosen project. Projects that involve childcare, education, or healthcare, in particular, can always use educational resources, books, coloring books, art supplies, games, toys, and first-aid supplies. A lot of volunteer programs are extremely underfunded and under resourced, so any donations are greatly appreciated. If you are not sure what to bring or what is needed, just ask your volunteer organization.
When you are traveling outside of your home country, it is advised that you brush up on the local culture and customs of the place in which you are planning to visit. Having a basic understanding of the customs, salutations, manners, and common religions of Nepal will save you from unpleasant interactions and behaving in a disrespectful way. Fortunately, the internet has an incredible wealth of information to help you out in your research. What’s more, local knowledge is invaluable. Your host family and the local people with whom you interact will be able to share with you all sorts of information regarding the best places to visit, eat and drink at, and explore. They can also help you plan your free time adventures. Getting advice from a local is the best way to travel and experience a new place. Connect with local in-country support staff & communicate with them When you are in Nepal for a volunteer work, you will have the support of an in-country team who works for your volunteer organization. Your in-country support will either be one specific person or several, but regardless they will be available and often will accompany you to your volunteer project and on cultural excursions. They will also be in charge of providing an orientation and introducing you to your host family and volunteer project coordinator and staff. You will develop a close relationship with your in-country support right off the bat. It is their job to make sure that everything runs smoothly, that you are always safe, and that you are happy. They are also there should any emergency or issue occur during your volunteer opportunity in Nepal. So, you might want to reach out to him or her (or they) prior to your departure date just to say hello and make a first connection. Starting your working relationship early on may help to make you feel more secure about setting off on your adventure. It’s always good to know someone or at least feel like you do.