Some Frequently Asked Questions
When should I arrive?
Any time of the year. We are very flexible to start your orientation any time you arrived. But the monsoon season hinders activities and your movement between July and August.
How do I get from the airport to the guest house?
You will be met outside the airport terminal by IDF-Nepal representative holding a placard with your name, you will then be escorted to the guest house. Please provide us your flight information as soon as possible so that a pick up can be assured.
How can I pay for the program fees?
The program fees should be sent to the Bank Account of IDF-Nepal. If you extend your volunteering program you must discuss this with IDF-Nepal and pay the fee in advance.
What happens if I decide to return home before the placement is completed?
Once the volunteer commences orientation training, having paid the fee and receive a receipt, IDF-Nepal does not refund program fees. However, if due to unavoidable circumstances (e.g. serious illness, family bereavement, etc. the volunteer may request to leave the program prematurely. In this case, IDF-Nepal will consider a refund of 30% of the Host Family Costs, provided the volunteer is registered for a program of more than 30 days). No refund will be offered for programs of less than 30 days.
Is there a Orientation program?
Yes,there is orientation program for the volunteers both individual and in group.The orientation program lasts for 2-3 days at a hotel if there is group volunteers and at IDF office for the individual volunteer.
How is the program length calculated?
The length of your time is equal to the orientation period plus your placement period. For example, if your program length is two months, then you will spend 2-3 days in orientation including sight seeing and rest of the time in project area with host family working in the project location.
Where will I stay during the orientation period?
During the orientation period, you will stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.
When you are accomodated in project location,you will be placed in the host family.
An IDF-Nepal representative will accompany you to and from the placement location
Do you select my placement area?
Yes, placements are decided based upon program vacancies and volunteer’s skills. However, we try to take into the special preferences/needs of the volunteers. If you have any preferences, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can accommodate you.
We offer volunteer placement in the following locations:
Kathmandu Valley: It is the capital city of Nepal. We place the volunteers at:
Sirutar VDC, Bhaktapur
Lamatar VDC, Lalitpur
Chitwan: It is about 150 km south to Kathmandu. There is a famous National Park in this area. Volunteers who work in this area can have experience of elephant riding and jungle safari during the weekend if they want. We place the volunteers at:
Chainpur VDC, Chitwan. This VDC is 8 km away from Sauraha near Chitwan National Park.
Pokhara Valley: It is about 200 km west to Kathmandu. It is a beautiful town and the most popular tourist destination in Nepal. We place the Volunteers here for different programs.
How can my family contact me during my placement?
Depending on your particular placement, your host family may or may not have a telephone in their home. Most villages will have one phone that accepts incoming and outgoing international calls. In addition, most placements are within an hours walk to a major city that provides e-mail/internet and/or international phone service.
In case of an emergency, your family/friends may contact IDF- Nepal. We will do our best to get a message to the individual as quickly as possible. You must understand that the infrastructure of Nepal is not as reliable as in developed countries. In some cases it may be hours or even a day before a message can get through to a volunteer.
IDF-Nepal will help you to provide the local SIM Card in Nepal as well.
Does an IDF-staff person stay in the village with me during my placement?
An IDF-Nepal staff member will not be in your placement village throughout your stay. However, each village has a local ‘IDF Representative’ to assist the volunteer with any issues that may arise in the village. If there is a problem that he or she can not resolve, then they will contact an IDF- staff person to provide assistance.
How can I prepare for teaching English prior to my arrival?
You will be provided basic TEFL instruction during your orientation period, but it would be helpful for you to brush up on your grammatical knowledge of the English Language. You could also consider bringing any English language textbooks, and or TEFL books that you may find useful as they are difficult to find in Nepal.
What is the weather like in Nepal?
The width of Nepal is only about 200 km on an average, but within this short distance the altitude of the land rises from 60 m to all the way up to above 8,848 m. Hence the weather depends upon the altitude of the place in Nepal. However, in general Nepal has four climatic seasons: Spring, summer, autumn and Winter.
Spring starts from March to May. The temperature of this season fluctuates between 20C to 30C (68F to 86F). Summer starts from June last to August. These are also the pre-monsoon months with occasional evening-thunderstorms and hot temperature. Autumn starts from September and ends by November. During this period, the climate is dry and mild with temperature fluctuating between 20C to 30C (68F to 86F). Winter starts from December last to February. The mornings and evenings are very cold while the afternoon is pretty sunny. The temperature during these months rises from 10C to 20C (59F to 68F).
How much money should I bring with me?
It’s difficult to give an exact amount of money that you should bring. Costs will vary according to how much time you spend traveling on your own, whether or not you go trekking/traveling, if you drink better (!), how often you phone home/use the internet etc. or how much shopping you want to do.
That said, living in the village is very cheap as you will not have to pay for your main food or accommodation and there is very little for you to spend your money on! During your training and placement you are responsible for any incidentals (additional food, snacks, etc) that you may want.
We recommend purchasing one of the travel guides, such as the Lonely Planet for Nepal to help you estimate how much money you may need.
Don’t forget that you also need to budget for IDF-Nepal’s program fees, visa fees and your flight and any extra activities, extra transportation and extra food. Also leave some occasional gifts.
Is there any thing I can bring with me that would be useful to your organization?
We would be very grateful for educational books (grammar, TEFL, science, health, etc.,) illustrated books, English novels and children’s books and toys. Also very much appreciated for donations of clothes and stationery. We will also be grateful if you help in fund raising programs so that some students, old people and victims will get their quality education, better care and easy life respectively and they will remember you through out their life.
What should I bring for myself?
This will vary depending on what non-IDF-Nepal activities you want to participate in (trekking, white water rafting, etc.) and how much you need to be comfortable during your placement. With the exception medicine, first- aid -kit and high-tech trekking gear, you can buy everything that you would need for your placement in Kathmandu (likely cheaper than in your home country).
Here are few suggestions:
. Sleeping Bags ( If you want to go to Trekking)
. Hiking boots ( if you want to go to Trekking)
. Fleece jacket (during winter months)
. Light-weight cotton clothing (during Summer)
. Water proof jacket (a fold -away windcheater is fine)
. Mosquito repellent
. Sun cream
. Water purification tablets and/or good quality water purifier
. First-aid-kit
. Flashlight (torch)
. Penknife
. Radio-Tape recorder (small)
. Books about your country
. Photos of your family/friends/home (essential!)
. Souvenirs for your family and staff from your country (If you like)
. Basic Learner’s English/Nepali/English dictionary- for simple definitions (buy a Nepali dictionary on arrival in Kathmandu)
. Magazines
. Coloured pencils and pens, drawing books stickers
. Inflatable globe
. Books on teaching English/ English Grammar for your reference
What vaccinations should I consider having prior to arrival?
You should consider the following vaccinations, however, please consult your doctor/local travel clinic for the latest recommendations regarding vaccine in Nepal:
. Tetanus
. Polio
. Diphtheria
. Hepatitis A and B
. Yellow fever
. Typhoid
. Tuberculosis
. Rabies
. Malaria tablets
What makes a good volunteer?
IDF-Nepal does not ask for any formal qualifications from our volunteers. But if you want to teach you need to have professionalism, experience, native English language and required educational qualification. All we ask is that you have a genuine desire to help people and are committed to seeing the program through. A positive and flexible attitude will also help you to get the most of your stay in Nepal.
If you are applying to teach English, a strong command of the English language is a necessary. Similarly, if you are interested in volunteering at a Health post, some prior medical experience and First Aid skills would be useful. If you are applying to teach computers at the Resource Center, to the environmental awareness program, or income generating program, you should possess the skill and knowledge necessary to work within these programs.
The following attributes are vital for survival, regardless of the program!
. Patience
. Independence
. Sense of humor/ability to smile at yourself
. Good problem-solving skills
. Willingness to share
. Tolerance, respect for other’s culture
. Self motivation
. Flexibility
. Enthusiasm to learn about new cultures, mixing with people
. Open-mindedness, participating
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
