Involvement Volunteers International WHY we need you in Nepal
- Around 25% of the population in Nepal are living below the poverty line.
- Malnutrition is particually evident in children under 5, with 36% enduring stunting.
- Children from poor families have low attendence at school, with 1 in 4 of the poorest not going to school at all.
- Nepal can experience natural disasters, such as earthquakes. This can severly impact the local structures and roads.
- Much of Nepal's population lacks access to basic medical care.
HOW can you help?
- Learn more about Buddhist philosophy and culture
- Teach English language to the monks, a vital skill for them to learn
- Interact and communicate with the monks and immerse yourself in their way of life
- You can even stay at the monastery, and learn more about Buddhism
WHAT you can do?
- Have one on one conversations in front of the class, to help the monks with their English conversational skills
- Teach both young and older monks basic reading and writing in English
- Use creative lessons and activites to inspire learning
- Interact with the monks, ask questions about their culture and share facts about your own country, increasing their cultural awareness
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity
- Over 30 Years Expertise Globally
- Low Program Fees - From US$295
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: BUDDHIST MONASTERY TEACHING
LOCATION: KATHMANDU, PHARPING, NAMOBUDDHA & SERLO
START DATES: WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
ACCOMMODATION: VOLUNTEER HOUSE (SHARED ROOMS)
MIN DURATION: 4 WEEKS
MIN AGE: 16+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: N/A
Overview
Teach various subjects including English and have one on one English conversation class to the monks at the monasteries. You will also get a chance to learn about Buddhism while doing this. You will be teaching to novice monks, both adults and children! You will be staying either in the monastery or in an accommodation nearby, this will allow for fully immersing into the lifestyle of the monks!
During the monastery teaching phase, you will be accommodated at the monastery itself. We have access to various monasteries in different locations including Kathmandu, Pharping, Namobuddha, and Serlo – Everest region. Serlo monastery is the one furthest one which takes about 12 hours of jeep drive and stay overnight in Phaplu and then the next day of about 4 hours hike to the Serlo Monastery. Monastery in Namobuddha is about 4 hours drive from Kathmandu. Pharping is about 2 hours driving from Kathmandu.
Location
Kathmandu, the capital and largest city in Nepal, is an incredible place! The contrast of decaying buildings, smell of incense, street sellers, historic temples and incredible mountain views will invigorate your senses and keep you inspired to learn more about the amazing history and culture. For several hundred years, Kathmandu was one of three rival royal cities, along with Bhaktapur and Patan. The highlight of Kathmandu has long been Durbar Square, the largest of the palace squares in the three royal cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Temples and monuments of varying shapes, sizes, styles, and faiths can be found here. This small, mountain-sheltered valley is the historical centre of Nepal, a place where kingdoms rose and fell, where palaces and temples were built and rebuilt, and where Nepali art and culture was developed and refined.
Pharping is around 19km South from Kathmandu and is full of Buddhist monasteries. The location is situated within green rolling hills, with plenty of small day hikes to do in the surrounding area.
Namobuddha is also known for its Buddhist temples, stunning forest and mountain views and plenty of day hikes. Its around 45km South East from Kathmandu.
Serlo is our most remote location, set within the Everest region. With stunning scenery, this placement would suit those wishing to get off the beaten track a bit.
Project Tasks
- Teach various subjects including English, to Buddhist monks
- Create lesson plans and activities to teach in class
- Engage with the monks and immerse yourself in the culture
Food & Accommodation
You will be housed within the Monastery itslef, or within the volunteer center/guest house if you choose a location close to the city. Please advise your preference upon making a booking. Below is an example of a volunteer house, situated in Kathmandu.
Located in the heart of Kathmandu, about 1 hours drive from the airport, the volunteer centre houses up to 20 volunteers with 4-6 people sharing one room (single gender rooms). They have modern bathrooms; a modern kitchen and dining room, mini library, a fully furnished living room, TV, computer, wifi, DVD player, fans, live-in staff on call 24/7, a garden complete with a comfortable covered area and 24/7 security. Centrally located, there are several gym’s nearby as well as local supermarkets, ATM’s, mobile phone shops etc.
*For couples or those wanting more privacy, there are upgrade accommodation options available for an additional cost (approx US $150 p/room p/week). This must be booked well in advance and is subject to availability.
You will be provided with three meals a day on weekdays and two meals per day on weekends. The meals are a mix of Western and Nepalese food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can expect to have a chicken dish about once per week. You can also choose to eat out at any of the local restaurants.
Internships
& Monestary
- Medical Hospital & Nursing Internship
- Physiotherapy Internship
- Buddhist Monestary Teaching
- Dental Internship
- Journalism Internship
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1 Week - N/A
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2 Weeks - N/A
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3 Weeks - N/A
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1 Month - $1255
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2 Months - $2450
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3 Months - $3590
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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Airport Pickup
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Local Transportation
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1 Day Orientation
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24/7 In-Country Support
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Project Materials & Equipment
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Pre-departure Expert Advice
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Preperation Tools & Checklists
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Certificate of Completion
- Application fee is one off per person (unlimited placements)
- Click Here to convert the below prices to your local currency
- Discounts may apply if travelling in a pair or group!
- All credit card /international fees included in below pricing! 🙂
Testimonials...
FAQ
If you’re interested in learning about Buddhist philosophy and culture and enjoy the idea of some solitude, spending time with monks and teaching vital English skills, this could be the perfect placement.
- Accommodation
- 3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
- Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
- Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
- 1 day orientation
- Daily transportation to project
- In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
- Fundraising support
- University course credits (where applicable)
- Certificate of Completion
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
- Introduction meeting, General rules, Setting Expectations, Advice on Health and Safety and insuring you have all your documents.
- Do’s and Don’ts, Cultural introduction, learning about the countries history
- Tour around the accommodation and local area.
Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.
A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). You must arrive between the hours 06:00 to 24:00 on Sunday.
If arriving outside the pickup times on Sunday, you can book a private transfer for US$50.
If arriving during the week, or on Saturday, we charge US$50 for any extra night’s accommodation before your program, and another US$50 fee for a private transfer.
Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).
From the airport to Kathmandu accommodation, it takes 45 minutes by taxi.
For Pokhara placements you will be picked up at KTM airport and spend the first night (Sunday) at the accommodation in Kathmandu. On Monday you will have an orientation day in Kathmandu (no orientation is offered in Pokhara). On Tuesday, you will be transferred to Pokhara, before starting your project on the Wednesday. If your first project is in Pokhara then the transfer is included. If first volunteering in Kathmandu, and then changing to a project in Pokhara, you will need to pay extra for the transfer.
For Buddhist monastery placements please note that transfers between Kathmandu and monasteries are not included in the program fee. You will be picked up at KTM airport and spend the first night (Sunday) at the accommodation in Kathmandu. On Monday you will have an orientation day in Kathmandu. On Tuesday, you will transfer to the monastery. We highly recommend doing the cultural orientation week add-on project for monastery projects, so you have a full understanding of the local culture.
Example day to day (breakfast lunch, dinner included daily)
You will teach different subjects including English to the monks, both young and old, for about 2 to 3 hours every day. Apart from this activity, you are free to also take part in other activities such as kitchen gardening or at the library etc.
The weekends are always open for your leisure. The local team will assist you in organising additional travel plans with heaps of local knowledge. Shopping in Kathmandu is an experience all its own. Thamel, Kathmandu’s tourist hotspot, is where shoppers can find Nepalese, Tibetan and Indian artifacts, woodcarvings, handicraft and an assortments of unique clothing and apparel. There are also several malls where you can find fashionable clothing and grocery stores, offering everything from wine to breakfast cereals. There are numerous dining options available throughout the city, including Italian, Indian, Thai, Korean and Chinese in addition to a variety of local cuisine.
No extra requirements needed.
Nepal is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich countries in the world. Nepal first opened its borders to outsiders in the 1950s. It is home to Mount Everest, the birthplace of Buddha, and an astonishingly beautiful landscape, ranging from the well-known peaks of the Himalaya to the low-lying regions of the Terai.
The Nepali people are as diverse at the geography, with over 70 languages or dialects and scores of traditional festivals celebrated throughout the year.
However, Nepal is also one of the most under-developed countries in the world, with low rates of literacy, high rates of poverty and a persistent gender imbalance. The government is frequently unable to provide adequate education and health facilities throughout the country and both urban and rural areas are forced to live without necessary resources to promote growth and development of their communities.
Nepal is a year round destination, and the cliate can vary between the North and South regions. The best overall times to visit are during spring and autumn (particually for trekking).
December to Febuary is winter, and it can get extremely cold in the mountains (down to sub zero). Summer in this region has a pleasent temperature but still bring some warmer clothing for the evenings.
Summer in southern Nepal can get extremely hot (plus 40°C) in some areas. Winter temperatures in this area can range from 7°C to 23°C.
Kathmandu has a pleasent climate on average. The monsoon rains start from June to September in Nepal.
The majority of Nepalis are either Hindus or Buddhists, but there are many other religions here too like Islam, Christianity, Jainism and Sikhism. You will find many temples and monasteries around Nepal. The right hand is used for important things such as passing money, eating and the giving of gifts.
Nepalese people love their food and much of it has been influenced by Indian and Tibetan cultures. Nepali people have a lot of respect for elders and will call each other didi (“older sister”), bahini (“younger sister”), etc, even if they are not actually related. The family unit is very strong and having a close knit family is important for the local people.
30 Years Non Profit Experience
IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.
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