Location
Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north contains eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest. In Nepal it feels like the clock has gone back several hundred years. The capital city is a maze of narrow, unpaved streets lined with terracotta-roofed houses. With its thousands of shrines, temples and antiquities, Kathmandu is often referred to as a "living museum". Hinduism is practiced by a greater majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation. Buddhism, though a minority faith in the country, is linked historically with Nepal as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama who as the Buddha Gautama gave birth to the Buddhist tradition.
About the project
Buddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of liberation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It is a religion or spiritual philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha (Pali/Sanskrit "the awakened one").
In this program you will teach English to Buddhist monks at the monasteries. This is most suitable for those especially interested in Buddhist culture and religion.
Due to the fact that the monks spend their lives inside the monastery, this program provides them with the amazing opportunity to learn English, as well as experience another culture, from an international volunteer.
As a volunteer you will live near the Monastery and Teach a few hours of English each day to young monks; children and adults, all of whom may participate in the class.
Project Structure:
Week 1 (Optional): Introduction and Volunteer Orientation
Week (1 or) 2+ : Volunteer Placement and work
Final Week(s): Exciting eco-adventure or relaxation trips around Nepal
Week 1: Orientation and Culture Week (Optional)
Orientation week is the exciting first step of your Kathmandu experience. You will stay together as a group in shared bedrooms and will enjoy 3 meals a day together as well. During this week, you will be subjected to a great amount of new information, brough to you in a variety of ways. This week will include:
- Language classes
- Sightseeing
- Food and cooking courses
- Culture exchange
- Classroom survival tips for teaching
- Insight into the Nepali way of life, including customs, and do's and dont's
- Introduction to Monastaries and traditions included in this lifestyle
Week 2+ : Volunteer Placement
After a week of intense orientation into the lives and culture of the Nepalese, volunteers will have had an in-depth analysis of the volunteer opportunities to come. Volunteers will be evaluated individually and will be appropriately placed in various projects based on skills and preferences. Projects may include:
Teaching:
Depending on abilities and past experiences, some volunteers may be assisting a local teacher, while others may be able to lead class on their own. Volunteers will teach English informally - which gives you the opportunity to use your imagination and plan your daily lessons as you see fit. There are no guidelines, other than to engage your class and allow them to practice English. Classes are available for young and old monks, for around 1-2 hours every day.
Organizing Afterschool Activities:
Some volunteers will be in charge of overseeing outdoor or indoor games and projects to engage the students outside of their boring everyday schoolwork. You will organize educational and environmental activities, as well as singing and dancing games, painting, or other crafts. Your main goal is to keep the children satisfied and happy, as a way of letting them let loose after long days of studying and practicing Buddhism.
Accommodation & meals
During the placement volunteers stay with a local family and receive a separate room with basic furniture, don't expect luxury. The families have received orientation on western habits. Families provide two main meals a day. The typical Nepalese meal is 'daal, bhaat, tarkaari' (lentil soup, rice and vegetables) also other food like noodles, 'roti' (flat round bread) and different kinds of seasonal fruits and vegetables are eaten. You will be eating the same food as the family eats everyday. Boiled water will be available for drinking. Electricity is available, although power outs are common, and phone/ internet service can be accessed near the village. Every Saturday you will have a day off.
Final Week: Eco-Adventure and Relaxation Trips
If you would like to do some sightseeing and trekking, a fun trip can be added to your Nepal Experience, or you can also discover new places independently. Nepal offers a great combination of nature and culture, highlights include:
Pokhara - Picturesque lake-side town, and the base for many activities. Great live music scene, with plenty of cool bars and hotels. Fast becoming the destination of choice for travelers due to the scenery, adventure sports and nightlife.
Royal Chitwan National Park - join a safari and view tigers, rhinos and other animals in the Jungle.
Annapurna area - popular trekking region of Nepal, where the world-famous Annapurna Circuit is located.
Rafting - join an exhilarating white water rafting trip.
Minimum requirements
- Min age 18
- High level of English
- Able to work in high altitudes
- Good physical fitness
- Motivation to teach
- Full travel & medical insurance
- Immunizations (please consult your doctor)
Volunteer feedback
I went to Nepal to teach English at a Buddhist school in Pharping for about 5 weeks in Jul-Aug 2007. The project was well-run, even though there were not many teachers attending the classes, they told us we (me and the other volunteers) can teach whatever we like, we didn't have to follow any program or anything. They said that anything will do, will help the kids with the language and that's what we tried to do - make it interesting and useful at the same time. The school had a very nice library with many books and materials that we could aid our classes with. At first I was thinking to do some teaching at the public school as well, but I liked the monastery too much and I spent all my time there. We ended helping with many of the other classes as there was a lack of teachers in many other subjects too. I would definitely recommend it to others. For me it was a once in a life time experience. The difficulties I met In Nepal were more from cultural shock and the quite harsh impressions that the extreme poverty had made on me. In this respect it was nice that from the organisation had organised language course with a very sweet girl, who was also my guide for the first few days, so I had some company when i most needed it. What I liked most it was probably the whole atmosphere at the monastery, with all the boys that accepted us. I've made some friends there who I'm still in contact with. There are so pure and genuine in their relationship, it was something we could learn from them too.
Posted By: Bilyana Iliykova