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NGO Support Volunteer Program in Nepal

NGO Support Volunteer Program in Nepal

Interested in being a NGO Support volunteer in Nepal? International Volunteer HQ’s NGO Support project enables volunteers to assist under-resourced initiatives work towards both the long-term development goals of Nepal and important fundraising goals that directly support the immediate community. Volunteers gain experience working with NGOs, knowledge of the causes they support, and learn about the challenges they face in a national and global context.

Highlights:
  • Programs start every first and third Monday of the month
  • Affordable fees from AU$1067 for 4 weeks
  • Includes accommodation, breakfast and dinner, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Do meaningful volunteer work that aligns with your skills and interests

  • Be overawed by a visit to Mt Everest Base Camp

  • Stay with a local family for a unique experience of life in Nepal

Key information

Support the community through NGO initiatives
Based with NGOs in Nepal
Homestay accommodation
Volunteers aged 16+ and families
Fully hosted experience from AU$1067 for 4 weeks
Durations from 4 - 12 weeks
Yoga and meditation retreat available
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Hard-working, independent volunteers who have relevant skills and experience in youth and women’s empowerment, education, environment and conservation, public health, management, administration and journalism. It’s also open to those who have an interest in international relations, social work, development studies, social issues or those who want to learn about project management. A basic knowledge of how non-profit organisations operate is preferred and this understanding will help you maximize your time and the impact you can make in Nepal.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

In Nepal, NGOs play an important role in the development of the country and improving the quality of life for locals. However, many are in need of volunteer assistance, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to assist under-resourced organisations.

As a NGO Support volunteer you’ll assist small, local NGOs which operate in areas including youth and women’s empowerment, education, environment and conservation, public health, management and administration and journalism. Your tasks can include:

  • Administrative work
  • Monthly/annual reporting
  • Working in communities to support the initiatives of the NGO you’re placed in.

You can expect to work between four to eight hours a day and your tasks will depend on your individual skills and interests, as well as your program duration.

This project has a minimum duration requirement of 4 weeks to give you enough time to understand the needs of the NGO you’re assisting and maximize your contribution as a volunteer. You need to register no later than four weeks prior to your start date to allow the local team time to arrange your volunteer placement.

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #10: Reduced Inequalities

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #10: Reduced Inequalities

Covid-19 has deepened existing inequalities, hitting disadvantaged and minority communities the hardest. To reduce inequalities, we must provide better services and support to refugees, migrants, indigenous peoples and people with disabilities.

Why do NGO Support volunteering in Nepal with IVHQ?

When you volunteer with NGOs in Nepal you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Support non-profit initiatives that aim to help the local community
  • Use your existing skills to make a meaningful contribution
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining experience working with NGOs
  • Immersing yourself in Nepali culture
  • Discovering the amazing mountainscapes of Nepal

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
  • Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
  • All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
  • All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
  • All volunteers must speak fluent English.
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

Apply For Free

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What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

YK
Yekta Karami
29 Sep 2023

Many thanks to the local team and my IVHQ Program Manager for their support. The IVHQ team helped us to experience Nepal magical culture and traditions. With IVHQ, you will feel safe.

...
MP
Márton Palotás
05 Sep 2023

I’ve learned a lot of things about the NGOs and the culture as well!

...
DM
Darcie Mudd
03 May 2023

I cannot thank the local team enough for this experience. From the get go they have both been so helpful and available for any questions or help! They have made this experience so so amazing and make living in a foreign country easy.

Shristy is an amazing host, always there to listen and give advice, and was helpful to every query. He was quick to fix something if it wasn’t working and was always available to communicate with. He goes out of his way to make you feel comfortable and give anything you need!

...
JT
Joseph Turner
20 Oct 2022

Excellent hospitality and very lovely family that were always supportive and introduced me to Nepali culture. The food that was prepared in my homestay was delicious and authentic. The family are amazing cooks and I will miss the dishes prepared for me everyday.

The biggest impact my volunteering trip had on me was being able to make a difference on the ground and feel valued by the staff and other volunteers.

It is one of the best things I've done and it was a life changing experience!

...
CC
Carly Clutterbuck
12 Oct 2022

My favourite moments were dancing with the girls in traditional dress and feeling part of a community. The local team were absolutely amazing, they are worth their weight in gold.

...
EA
Eliza Allomes
05 Oct 2022

My homestay and the NGO that I volunteered at were the absolute highlights of my stay. They made me feel so comfortable and at 'home' and I don't think I would have had the same experience without them.

I didn't have any expectations but they were exceeded. My NGO approach was to immerse us in the culture FIRST and then let us volunteer. It was a minimum 4 weeks and I think this was perfect because we wouldn't have been fully equipped to volunteer if we didn't know the culture.

The homestay was the highlight of my trip! My family was so sweet and accommodating. They were flexible with us and provided us guidance on what was appropriate. The food was amazing!! I really felt like a part of the family from day 1. I didn't have to buy any extra food. Everything was provided and anything we tasted outside of the home that we liked it was given to us the NEXT day! I felt a lot healthier and when I would call someone from home they would often comment on how healthy I looked.

I went for perspective after covid and it slapped me in the face. It was exactly what I needed and changed the course of my life.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit
Volunteer Abroad in Nepal with IVHQ

Location

Land-locked in the middle of South Asia, Nepal is known for its astonishing alpine scenery and breathtaking mountainscapes. But this diverse country offers much more than its remarkable natural environment. Among Nepal’s 28 million people, there are more than 100 different ethnic groups speaking as many languages and following a large number of religious and cultural traditions. It also faces the challenges associated with a history of civil war, natural disasters, political corruption and a lack of resources and infrastructure to support its population.

Volunteers can have a meaningful impact on Nepalese communities by providing assistance with a wide range of activities that help make life, and the future, better for local people. IVHQ has a number of volunteer projects in Nepal. Some are located on the outskirts of the capital city of Kathmandu in rural and urban areas, while others are in Chitwan 150 kilometres away, in the middle of Terrai - a flat fertile plain that borders India and stretches right across Southern Nepal. Pokhara is located in mid-western Nepal and is a popular tourist destination, renowned for its amazing mountain views.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of each month, and volunteers need to arrive in Kathmandu on the Sunday before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Kathmandu. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are travelling in Nepal prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up at a prearranged destination in Kathmandu on the day before your program orientation.

Orientation is hosted by our Nepal team in Kathmandu and runs over the course of two days. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Nepal – an introduction to Nepal, Nepalese customs, language training details, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Nepal, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to visit local temples, sample authentic Nepali food, meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.

If you are placed in Pokhara or Chitwan, you will travel to your placement location on Tuesday afternoon and you will begin work on Wednesday. If you are located in Kathmandu, you will begin work on Wednesday.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day:

On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.

Weekdays:

While a volunteer daily schedule will vary depending on the specific placement, a typical day is as follows:

7:30 AM Breakfast at the homestay.
8:00 AM Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. There is usually a tea break and a lunch break.
2:00 - 5:00 PM Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to the volunteer house, go sightseeing, or do some shopping.
7:00 - 9:00 PM Dinner at the homestay.

Weekends:

During the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of their local town and Nepal. Known for being home to the world’s tallest mountain, Mt Everest, Nepal is an adventurer’s paradise. It has a vast selection of exceptional hikes in the Himalayas with arresting views in every direction, white-water rafting, canyon swings, paragliding and scenic flights. It also has a rich multicultural heritage and a huge collection of temples, pagodas, shrines, carvings and ancient architecture, not to mention an astonishing array of wildlife and an interesting cuisine influenced by its many ethnic groups and cultures.

Accommodation and WiFi

On arrival in Nepal, volunteers stay in a local hotel in Kathmandu for their two-day orientation.

Volunteers are then accommodated together in homestays and hosted by local families who have been approved by our program staff. We give your host family a fee for your support, food and board. It is exciting to stay with a host family, providing you with a unique opportunity to learn about the Nepalese way of life, meet local people, try traditional food and speak the local language - especially when host families in Nepal tend to have limited English.

Living is basic but comfortable and most homestays have electricity and running water, with the exception of some rural homestays which are without these conveniences during the dry season. Western toilets can be found at your home stays but please keep in mind that Squat toilets are still the norm in parts of Nepal; so you might find these at your placement and during activities, treks, etc. Volunteers can also expect low-pressure showers that are generally not heated, however, this is refreshing after a day in the heat.

You can expect to share a room with one to three other volunteers and bedrooms have single beds and bunk beds with bedding provided. It is recommended volunteers bring their own sleeping bag and mosquito nets for any trips away.

WiFi is available in most of the volunteer homestays, however those based in Chitwan should expect to walk to a nearby cafe for internet access. If you would like to keep connected during your stay, we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card when you arrive in Nepal.

Meals

The staple meal for most Nepali families is dal bhat, which consists of lentil soup (dal), rice (bhat) and vegetables in curry (tarkari) and/or meat (masu) with a side of pickle/sauce (achar).

Food in Nepal is heavily influenced by the country’s Indian and Tibetan neighbours and includes plenty of curries, breads and potato-based dishes. Volunteers are served two meals per day at their homestay and can purchase additional food to supplement this if they wish.

Bottled water is readily available in Nepal and volunteers should budget approximately AU$8 per week for two litres a day. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can make arrangements for you. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but there is a need to be flexible.

Pricing

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
4 weeks AU$1065 Equivalent to AU$38/day
5 weeks AU$1273 Equivalent to AU$36/day
6 weeks AU$1482 Equivalent to AU$35/day
8 weeks AU$1866 Equivalent to AU$33/day
10 weeks AU$2251 Equivalent to AU$32/day
12 weeks AU$2635 Equivalent to AU$31/day
  • Accommodation
  • Breakfast and dinner
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately AU$528) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in AUD.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, lunches, public transportation to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Nepal generally find US$30 per week to be sufficient for expenses, such as lunches, and local tours and activities.

Free-time experiences & tours in Nepal

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with IVHQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Nepal! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Nepal program.

Chitwan Jungle Safari (2 nights/3 days)
Chitwan Jungle Safari (2 nights/3 days)

Embark on an unforgettable jungle safari to witness Nepal’s captivating wildlife in its natural habitat.

AU$288
Everest Base Camp Trek (14 days)
Everest Base Camp Trek (14 days)

This iconic expedition is the most popular trekking route in the Himalayas and is unlike any other in the world.

AU$2367
Hatha Yoga and Meditation Retreat (1 week)
Hatha Yoga and Meditation Retreat (1 week)

Reconnect with tranquility and mindfulness during a rejuvenating one-week yoga and meditation retreat, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the Western world.

AU$842
Everest Base Camp Trek (14 days)
Everest Base Camp Trek (14 days)

This iconic expedition is the most popular trekking route in the Himalayas and is unlike any other in the world.

AU$2367
Hatha Yoga and Meditation Retreat (1 week)
Hatha Yoga and Meditation Retreat (1 week)

Reconnect with tranquility and mindfulness during a rejuvenating one-week yoga and meditation retreat, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the Western world.

AU$842
Chitwan Jungle Safari (2 nights/3 days)
Chitwan Jungle Safari (2 nights/3 days)

Embark on an unforgettable jungle safari to witness Nepal’s captivating wildlife in its natural habitat.

AU$288

Check what's required to visit Nepal

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Kathmandu
Population 28 million
Languages Nepali
Currency Rupee (NRs.)
Time zone UTC+05:45

Weather and climate: The climate in Nepal varies largely due to the variations in geography across the country. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons with dry weather and moderate temperatures. The Kathmandu Valley and other areas of high altitude experience summer temperatures of up to 28°C (82.4°F) and in winter, temperatures range between 2°C (35.6°F) and 20°C (68°F). The summer temperatures in Chitwan can reach up to 35°C (95°F) and in winter they range between 7°C (44.6°F) and a mild 23°C (73.4°F). The climate in Pokhara is similar to that of the Kathmandu Valley, with slightly warmer temperatures.

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How to get started

Pick a destination + project and apply for free
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Pay the Registration Fee to secure your place and upgrade your MyIVHQ account
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