Work with Tibetan Refugees and other Himalayan Ethnic Minorities in Nepal

volunteer abroad tibetan refugees teach Nepal

  • The Project

    By volunteering in Asia, you can change the lives of thousands of Nepalese by teaching them English and looking at ways to improve their lives locally. Nepal is ethnically a very diverse country, where the majority of the people live in small villages with a very traditional lifestyle. High in the Himalayas, life in a small village is not very lucrative financially and many migrate to Kathmandu in the hope of finding a job and an opportunity to break free from poverty.

    The Tibetan minority in Nepal face numerous obstacles regarding finding employment and in their daily life in general. These obstacles range from poverty and low literacy levels to discrimination and legal uncertainty. Many do not have a residence card, which restricts their daily life to the extent where they cannot get a driver’s license and their children cannot attend public school. In addition to this, many initiatives to improve their situation are blocked or complicated by political issues. The low level of literacy within these minority groups means that finding a job is extremely difficult. The project aims to help these minority groups by providing them with English tuition; a skill which is invaluable to them when seeking a job. The project also runs a job-placement database to aid them to find employment.

  • Why the project needs you

    The project needs volunteers for 2 main roles: teaching and administration. Volunteers can do a mixture of these or focus on one area. With regards to teaching, the adult English classes are immensely popular and are always in high demand of volunteers. The project also requires help with marketing and the management of their website and job database. Anyone with skills in these areas are particularly welcomed to pass their knowledge on to the local staff.

    Project Location

    The capital of Nepal, and the countries only major city, Kathmandu is a fascinating place. Set in the Kathmandu Valley, with the Himalayas rising to the north and the gentler slopes of the Mahabharat Range to the south, Kathmandu is in places as crowded, dirty and bustling as virtually any developing world city. Other areas are architecturally stunning and home to numerous notable Hindi and Buddhist temples and ancient buildings.

  • Project Facts

    • Duration: 2-26 weeks
    • Costs: £810 ($1418) for 2 weeks, £175 ($306) for additional weeks
    • Requirements: Age 17+
    • Location : Kathmandu, Nepal
    • Project Activities: Teach adults English, administration, marketing, website management
    • Working Hours : Mon-Fri, 4-8 hours per day. Volunteers are asked to work a minimum of 4 hours per day but are welcome to stay for upto 8 if they wish
    • Project Availability: Projects begin every Monday

  • What is included

    • Accommodation: Single or shared room in a homestay
    • Food: 2 meals per day
    • Airport Pick up and drop off
    • Training: Pre-departure pack, On-site Orientation and project induction provided
    • Support: 24 hour support
    • Excursion planning: Staff will help organise trips and activities in your spare time (activities may cost extra)

  • What is not included

    • Flights
    • Insurance
    • Visas

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