Project Profiles - Nepal
Politics in Nepal
Thousands of former Maoist rebels stuck in camps for five years are joining the army or going home to start new lives. Long-feuding political parties have called a truce and started talks on how to restructure the country.The progress has stirred cautious optimism that this Himalayan nation — one of the world's poorest — can build on the hopes for economic development promised by the end of a brutal civil war five years ago and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.While major hurdles remain, including the writing of a constitution, any movement is seen as significant in a country that has had five coalition governments since elections were last held in 2008.
None of our volunteers have reported being worried by the security situation in Nepal,and,provided you take sensible precautions as advised in the travel advisories issued by various governments including your own, your chances of being affected by such violent acts are very small.You are, however, likely to be inconvenienced by strikes and long power cuts.
(Updated 2 December 2011)
For up-to-date information about the security situation, you should consult the travel advisory services of your government. This is the British government's advice. You may also like to see the US State Department's travel advice.
The task of identifying schools and orphanages in genuine need of assistance is undertaken by trusted contacts, known to Jim Coleman over three decades. Only projects serving poor communities are selected for assistance.
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In addition to teaching, we are looking for someone to help the women at the Chetana Women Skill Development Project in Pokhara to improve their dyeing and design skills. If you would like to volunteer in Nepal, click on a region that interests you on the right, and scroll down until you find a project that suits you. |
The regions in Nepal HELP currently sends volunteers to are listed here:
Click here for opportunities in India |
The School Year
Because the school years in India and Nepal differ, it is possible to teach at HELP sponsored school through the year.
In Nepal the school year normally starts at the end of April and finishes at the end of March. There are, typically, 10 days of summer holidays in June and another 10 days of winter holiday in January. However, there are variations to this general pattern (check the individual school descriptions below).
In addition to the holidays mentioned above, the school programme in both Nepal and India is interrupted first in early October by the major annual Hindu festival of Dussehra (or 'Dasain'), and then 21 days later by the festival of lights called Diwali. These festivals add up to roughly two weeks of holiday. Therefore, at this time of year, preference is given to volunteers who can commit themselves to three months. The weather is usually wonderful in these autumn months, so the holidays provide a great opportunity to trek or travel, or to wander around and observe the many religious activities taking place.
See the weather forecast for Nepal
From the schools' point of view, the best times for volunteers are from May to September, and from December to April.
Kathmandu Valley (Nepal)
The Kathmandu Valley, which is the cultural and political centre of Nepal, covers an area of 360 square kilometres at an altitude of 1336 metres above sea level in central Nepal. It is home to three fabulous cities : Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, Lalitpur (or Patan), and Bhaktapur.
The valley, a roughly oval bowl measuring 24 km east-west and 19 km north-south, is encircled by a range of green terraced hills and dotted by compact clusters of red tiled-roofed houses. Most of Nepal's ethnic groups can be found there, but Newars are the indigenous inhabitants and the creators of the valley's splendid civilization.
Today's weather (forecast)
Legend has it that the valley was once covered by a lake until the Bodhisattva Manjushri raised his sword of wisdom and sliced a passage through the mountain walls, so draining the water. Modern geology suggests that it was indeed once a lake.
The Valley has become densely populated, and Kathmandu in particular has seen rapid growth in the last three decades. Apart from the rich elite, the standard of living is one of the lowest in the world. However, Kathmandu has all the mod cons sought out by foreign tourists, so that volunteers can always escape to a hotel bar or restaurant if they feel like a bit of home luxury.
Visit our photo gallery.
Dolagiri Secondary School
The Dolagiri Secondary School, established in 1982, is situated in a picturesque village which, being perched on a hill, has fine views of the Kathmandu valley.
Dolagiri Secondary School
The school is a Nepali-medium government school, and currently has 430 students, their ages ranging from 6 to 17. There are seventeen teachers, eleven of whom are financed by the government, one is sponsored by the Village Development Committee, and three are local volunteers. The school has 15 classrooms and a library. At present the top class is Class 12.The principal, a Brahmin priest, would like to build a science laboratory, but currently does not have the funds to construct this. The school also lacks computers.
The village
Because this school is Nepali-medium, volunteers will be expected to teach English. A past volunteer also managed to teach Maths, but this is difficult given the relatively low level of English ability in the school.You may well be invited to share your time with the Yumuhangma English School, which provides an English medium education. (see below)
Accommodation is likely to be in a pleasant lodge in the village. Because this is a commercial establishment, this will cost you a little more than the standard HELP payment for a homestay, but our volunteers have liked their stay there.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Dolagiri Secondary School, first read our volunteer webpage, and then please click on the button below and complete and send the application form.
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Saraswatimata Yumahangma English School
The Saraswatimata Yumahangma English School is situated in the same village as the Dolagiri Secondary School (above).
Saraswatimata Yumuhangma school
This is a private English medium school, with 300 students aged 4 to 18. There are eighteen local teachers, two of whom are part time. You are likely to find yourself teaching English, Maths and/or Sciences, depending on your skills.
Accommodation is likely to be in a pleasant lodge in the village. Because this is a commercial establishment, this will cost you a little more than the standard HELP payment for a homestay, but our volunteers have liked their stay there.
The school year ends and begins mid-April (there is a 2 or 3 day break between the end if the old year and the beginning of the new). There is a one week holiday at the end of June and another week at the beginning of March. In addition, a 15 days holiday is given for the Hindu Dussera holiday in late October, and another 4 days for the Diwali festival that takes place about 20 days later.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Saraswatimata Yumahangma English School, first read our volunteer webpage, and then please click on the button below and complete and send the application form.
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Nyacho Pauwa Primary School
Pupils outside their school
The Nyacho Pauwa Primary School is a Nepali-medium government school situated in the same attractive village as the Dolagiri Secondary School and the Sraswatimata Yumuhangma schools(see above). It currently has 134 students aged between 4 and 13, and a staff of nine local teachers teaching grades 1 to 5 in ten classrooms.
The school year starts at the beginning of May and ends in the middle of April the following year.There are 10 days of summer holiday in June, and 15 days in October for the Dasain holiday, and another 10 days of winter holiday in January.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Nyacho Pauwa Primary School, first read our volunteer webpage, and then please click on the button below and complete and send the application form.
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Western Region (Nepal)
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Today's weather (forecast)
This is an administrative region of Nepal which includes the northern zones of Dhaulagiri and Gandaki, and, in the south, the Lumbini zone. It is in this region where the famous treks to the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges take place, with Pokhara as the base. In the extreme north of this region lies the district of Manang where the following schools are located.
Visit our photo gallery.
Shree Lali Gurans Primary School
Shree Lali Gurans School
The Shree Lali Gurans primary school is a small government school in a village on the Annapurna Circuit trekking trail with a fine view of the Dhaulagiri mountain range from the playing fields. The school is housed in a stone building that was opened in 1999 with the financial assistance of a Belgian NGO, which has asked us to assist in finding volunteer teachers. There are some 35 pupils mainly from families dependent on subsistence farming. They are aged from 4 to 12 and are taught in six classrooms. Nepali is the medium of instruction, and English standards are very basic.
There are six teaching days a week. The day for all grades (kindergarten to grade 5) begins at 9.45/10am and finishes at 4pm (3pm on Fridays), with an hour's lunch break.
Sign at Shree Lali Gurans School
The school year begins in mid April, and ends in the second week of March.There is a long summer break from the end of June till the middle of August.The best dates for volunteers are mid-November to mid-March, the last week of April to the end of June, and mid-August to early October.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Shree Lali Gurans primary school, first read our volunteer webpage, and then please click on the button below and complete and send the application form.
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Shikha Secondary School
Shikha School
The Shikha Secondary School is a government school located in the same area as the Sree Lali Gurans school (above), in a nearby village. During the Maoist insurrection, the school was burned to the ground and has been fully re-built from local stone with the assistance of a Belgian NGO. A hostel is included and a fully functional computer-class with ten computers has been established.
There are 250 students aged from 5 to 18 years taught by 13 local teachers (mainly male)in classes ranging from kindergarten to Class 10. Nepali is the medium of instruction. The children come mainly from subsistence farming families.
Computer lab
There are six teaching days a week. The day for all grades begins at 9.45/10am and finishes at 4pm (3pm on Fridays), with an hour's lunch break.
The school year begins in mid April, and ends in the second week of March.There is a long summer break from the end of June till the middle of August.The best dates for volunteers are mid-November to mid-March, the last week of April to the end of June, and mid-August to early October.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Shikha Secondary School, first read our volunteer webpage, and then please click on the button below and complete and send the application form.
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Pokhara (Nepal)
Pokhara, with a population of around 95,000, is situated at an altitude of 827m from the sea level and 200km west of Kathmandu valley. It boasts several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panaromic views of the Annapurna mountain range including the beautiful Machapuchare (fish-tail) mountain. The city is the starting point for many popular trekking and rafting destinations.There is not much of a nightlife in Pokhara other than dining. The town shuts down by about 10:30 in the evening.
Today's weather (forecast)
Pokhara is part of a once busy trade route linking India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers who have earned worldwide fame as Gurkha soldiers in the British and Indian armies. The Thakalis, another important ethnic group here, are known for their entrepreneurship.
The climate of Pokhara is slightly warmer than Kathmandu with daytime temperature hovering around 15 degrees Celsius in winter and 35 degrees in summer. The monsoon season which lasts from mid-June to mid-September is very wet; in fact Pokhara has the highest rainfall in the country.
Visit our photo gallery.
Social Public School
The Social Public School is a private school which was first established in 1997 with 58 students. The main objective of the school is to give an English medium education to poor children by giving scholarships. In the future, the school hopes to be able to provide a vocational education such as motorbike repairing, house wiring, and mechanics for street children in Pokhara.
The school yard
There are currently 42 teachers teaching 587 pupils from kindergarten to Grade 10. The children are aged between 3 and 16 years old. There are altogether seven 45-minute periods and every teacher gets one free period a day. School starts at 10am and closes at 4pm (1pm on Fridays). There is a lunch break of half an hour at 1pm with tea and snacks provided.
The new science block donated by HELP volunteer Susan Foster and friends
The subjects taught are Nepali, English, Science, Maths, Social Studies, Health and Physical Education, Computer Education, General Knowledge, and Population studies. Volunteers will normally be expected to teach English, but other subjects or activities are possible depending on what the volunteer can offer. The school can accommodate two volunteers at any one time.
The school year runs from the third week of April till the end of March the following year. There is a one week holiday in January and another mid-June.(The ideal time for a volunteer assignment is straight after this holiday).The Dussera/Diwali holidays add up to a total of one month in October/November.The last assignment in the year should start no later than early September.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Social Public School, first read our volunteer webpage, and then please click on the button below and complete and send the application form.
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Chetana Women Skill Development Project (CWSDP)
The CWSDP is a local NGO that was established in 2008 by a dynamic Brahmin woman to provide the vocational skills necessary to enable poor women, in a male-dominated society, to become self-reliant. Around 15 women work in a small factory with very basic facilities making bags and other woven handicrafts for the tourist market, including bags, purses, pencil cases, and oven gloves.The women learn how to cut material, sew, weave, dye, and various other related activities.
Although the women are already adept at many of these skills, a volunteer is requested to develop their skills in design and dyeing.
(They also need help to market their products in the developed world. You may not need to volunteer to do this. Just contact us.)
If you have the skills to make a significant contribution and are interested in volunteering with the Chetana Women Skill Development Project, first read our volunteer webpage, and then please click on the button below and complete and send the application form.
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Dhawalagiri Boarding School
Dhawalagiri School
The Dhawalagiri Boarding School is situated in a village about twenty minutes drive from Pokhara. It is a private school, catering for about 1000 students aged from 3 to 16, from pre-primary level through to Class 12
There are currently 45 local teachers (6-8 are trained) teaching the full Nepalese curriculum in 29 classrooms. Teaching takes place on six days a week (Friday is a half day, from 1000 to 1300 and, after lunch, from 1340 to 1550.
There are two weeks of exams at the end of the school year, at the end of March, and there is a two-week summer holiday in the first half of July. The best times for volunteers are from the beginning of the school year in April, and immediately after the summer break.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Dhawalagiri Boarding School, first read our volunteer webpage, and then please click on the button below and complete and send the application form.
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