YAN tries to solve
your frequent asked questions.
We hope to answer most of your probable initial questions
in this prospectus. We glad to answer your questions if you have any curious
besides bellow’s questions
Q1. What is Youth Activation Nepal (YAN)?
Q2. Do you have any information about
Nepal?
Q3. Do I have to be from a specific
country to volunteer?
Q4. What age do I have to be a volunteer?
Q5. Do you provide any financial support?
Q6. What vaccinations will I need?
Q7. Do I need to speak English as a
Volunteer?
Q8. What are the living arrangements when
volunteering?
Q9. Who organizes my flights?
Q10. How would my family members be
accommodated while volunteering?
Q11. Who organizes the visa for my
volunteer placement and what are the visa requirements?
Q12. How can I communicate with my family
back home?
Q 3. What should I bring to Nepal for
myself?
14. What should I bring for my host
family?
Q15. What is the climate like and what
clothes should I bring?
Q16. Is there anything I can bring with
me that would be useful to your organization?
Q17. What Makes a Good Volunteer?
Q18. How safe is it to volunteer in
Nepal?
Youth
Activation Nepal (YAN) is a non-religious, non-political, non-governmental,
non-for-profit organization (NGO) which was founded in 2012. YAN strongly believe that, youth are the only
One
key for the nation to developed in sustainable way. Also YAN believe that youth
are the future of the nation, they can be a role model for the community. Youth
activation Nepal is a youth leading organization supported by a diverse group
drawn from development workers, educationalists, social activists and other
professionals. YAN Is officially registered under the Society Act with the
District Administration Office Kathmandu (Reg No. ), and is also affiliated to the Social
Welfare Council Nepal (SWC) (Affiliation No.
). YAN focuses on community-based projects involving local volunteers
backed up by international volunteers in Nepal. It aims to tap the youth,
school kids and community people to make them involved in national development.
Nepal
is a geographically and ethnically diverse country located in South Asia,
bordering Tibet to the north and India to the south, east and west.
Throughout
most of its history Nepal has been a monarchy, but it is now officially a
federal democratic republic since the end of the decade long Maoist revolution.
The capital city is Kathmandu, and there are 14 zones, 75 districts, 3914
Village Development Committees and 58 Municipalities. The population of Nepal
is approximately 30 million.
Nepal
is predominantly Hindu, but the minority faith of Buddhism is linked
historically to the country, as it is the birth place of Siddhartha Gautama
who, as the Buddha Gautama, gave birth to the Buddhist tradition.
Although
only 147,181 square kilometers, Nepal’s landscape encompasses the mountainous
north (including eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, including the
highest, Mount Everest), to the flat Terai plains in the south, with an
altitude range from near sea level to 8,850 meters above sea level. This huge
altitudinal variation results in an incredible variety of ecosystems and a
dazzling array of wildlife and vegetation.
As
well as the amazing geographical and wildlife diversity, Nepal also hosts an
amazing ethnic and cultural diversity.
However, it
is also one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. An
estimated 30% of Nepalis live below the poverty line – some 82% of Nepalis live
on less than US$2 per day.
Nepal
is a mostly rural nation with 85% of people living in the countryside. It is in
these rural communities that development issues such as poor education, health
and sanitation are most acutely felt. Gender and social inequality are also
part of daily life here too.
For
more information on Nepal, there are plenty of informative guide books, such as
the Lonely Planet’s Guide to Nepal and the Rough Guide to Nepal.
No,
you can volunteer with Youth Activation Nepal (YAN) from any part of the world.
You
must be at least 18 years old to volunteer; there is no upper age limit.
Volunteers should be in good health however.
Unfortunately
we are not in a position to offer any financial support. Our
programs operate through the kind support and cooperation of our
volunteers and donors. You should find the funds to support your volunteer
program.
Q 6. What vaccinations will I
need?
Although
you do not officially require any immunizations for entry into Nepal, you should
seek medical advice from your doctor or an international travel clinic before
traveling, to see which vaccinations are recommended and check if your prior
vaccinations are still up-to-date.
As
a guide only, the following vaccinations should be considered for Nepal:
Diphtheria
and Tetanus
Hepatitis
A
Hepatitis
B
Japanese
B Encephalitis (risk dependent on time of year and location)
Polio
Rabies
Tetanus
Typhoid
You
should plan your vaccinations in advance, as many require more than one injection.
Please
note that if you are entering Nepal from an area infected with yellow fever,
you are required to be vaccinated before entering the country.
You
should bring a small first aid kit with you, and if you are taking any
medication we suggest you bring a full supply from your home country, along
with the prescription.
Pharmacies
are available for over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, cough
syrup etc.
Yes,
it would be helpful if you speak English, even if English is not your first
language.
When
you arrive in Nepal you will be provided with an intensive language course on
basic Nepali phrases that you may need while volunteering here.
Your
living accommodation during the duration of your volunteer placement is
arranged by YAN, and is included within your volunteer program fee. During your
volunteer induction / training, you will stay in a guest house in Kathmandu,
and thereafter you will be placed in accommodation either in the community
(with a host family); at an orphanage or at a Monastery or Nunnery depending on
your selected volunteer program.
For
volunteers who arrive earlier or who want to stay longer, it is not possible
for YAN to arrange and provide accommodation, but we will help volunteers to
find a reputable, inexpensive place to stay.
Please be prepared that your accommodation will be of a Nepali
standard, and will not have the same facilities and utilities as you may be
used to, such as a western style toilet or a hot shower. Although your
accommodation will be basic, it will be clean and hygienic.
You
are responsible for organizing and paying for your flights / travel to and from
Nepal.
Your
volunteer fee only covers the cost of food and accommodation for yourself,
during your volunteer placement. You will be responsible for paying any
additional costs for accommodating your family members in Nepal. Some volunteer
placements may not have additional housing available, so you should discuss
your requirements with YAN before confirming your placement.
You are
responsible for arranging your own visa for Nepal. All foreigners, except
Indians, must have a visa.
Any
visitor to Nepal is allowed to stay on a tourist visa for up to a maximum of
150 days (five months) per calendar year (January to December). Please note
that international volunteers who arrive in August can work up to ten
consecutive months, split across two calendar years i.e. August to May).
You can
obtain a multiple entry tourist visa from the Nepalese Embassy in your home
country or a single entry visa upon arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan
International Airport or road borders (you will be asked to fill in an
application form and provide a passport photograph).
We
recommend that you obtain your visa in your home country, as it saves time and
you can avoid the long waiting lines at the airport.
If you
stay longer than the duration of your initial visa, you will need to obtain a
visa extension at the Immigration office in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Please
note that your passport needs to have at least six months validity.
Email
and Internet access is widely available in Kathmandu and the larger towns in
Nepal, and currently costs approximately 100NPR per hour. There is also access
in smaller towns, but this may be more limited, slower and expensive.
It
is also easy to make international calls, either at one of the numerous private
call centers or via an internet phone, which is the cheapest option.
The
easiest way for volunteers to receive important post / packages from friends
and family abroad is to use the YAN postal address in Kathmandu, and you can
then pick up your mail from our office.
This
will vary depending on the time of year in which you visit Nepal and what
additional activities you intend to participate in during your stay in Nepal.
With
the exception of some medicines and high-tech trekking gear, you can buy
everything that you would need for your placement in Kathmandu (and it is
likely to be cheaper than in your home country). Here are a few
suggestions on what to bring:
Recommended:
·
Basic
First Aid Kit
·
A
full supply of any medication which you require for the duration of your stay,
along with the prescription.
·
Torch
/ Flashlight (a head torch is especially useful during power cuts)
·
Sleeping
Bag / sleeping bag liner (depending on season)
·
Hiking
boots
·
Flip
flops
·
Waterproof
jacket (a lightweight fold-away jacket is fine)
·
Fleece
jacket (during winter months)
·
Light-weight
cotton clothing
·
Mosquito
repellent
·
Sun
cream
·
Sunglasses
·
Water
purification tablets and/or high quality water purifier
·
Face
mask (depending on the time of year, Kathmandu can become very polluted and
dusty).
Optional:
·
Photos
of your family / friends / home
·
Souvenirs
from your country for your host family etc
·
A
few examples of your local currency
·
Basic
Learner's English/Nepali dictionary
·
Coloured
pencils and pens, drawing books, stickers
·
Books
on teaching English/English Grammar for your reference
It
is also a good idea to bring with you a photocopy of your passport and visa,
and keep this in a separate location to the original documents. If possible you
should also e-mail yourself a scanned copy of important documents before
departing for Nepal, as this will facilitate things in the event of loss or
theft of the original documents.
If
you wish to get a Nepali SIM card for use during your stay in Nepal, then you
can bring an unlocked mobile with you from your home country.
14. What should I bring for my host family?
The
Nepali people are very friendly and generous, and giving gifts to volunteers on
their day of their departure is common. If you would like to bring gifts from
your home country for your host family, below are some suggestions (but this is
not compulsory):
·
A
small photo album with pictures of you and your family/friends from home
·
A
'coffee table' book of your home town or country
·
Posters,
stickers or magazine pictures from your country
·
Children's
books from your home country
·
T-shirts
(new) from your country
·
Flags
Alternatively
many volunteers choose to take and print photos of their host family as a gift
at the end of their stay.
Nepal
has a typical monsoonal climate, with a dry season from October to May and a
wet season from June to September. The main monsoon is from mid-June to
September, and the very best times to visit are autumn (September to November)
and spring (March to May).
Kathmandu
is not as cold as many people think. Even in the winter months (December to
February) the day time temperature in the sunshine can reach a pleasant 20
degrees, but night-times can fall to near freezing. In the summer the
temperatures in Kathmandu climb to 30 degrees and above.
Obviously
climate charts and temperature extremes differ across the country and
temperatures are much colder in the north, and warmer in the south.
If
you are volunteering in the winter, please bring warm clothing (think layers),
and cool, summer clothing is suitable for the remainder of the year. If you are
here during the monsoon, please bring a waterproof jacket and an umbrella.
If
you are planning to go trekking, it is possible to hire cold weather clothing,
such as down jackets etc.
We
advise female volunteers not to wear sleeveless tops, shorts, or short skirts
in villages. Although Kathmandu is becoming more progressive and attitudes are
shifting, most Nepalese people dress modestly and cover their bodies.
We
would be very grateful for educational resources (e.g. books on grammar, TEFL,
science, health, illustrated books and children's books) and donations of
clothes and stationery are also very much appreciated.
In
addition, if volunteers have any old laptops which they no longer require YAN
would really appreciate these and can put them to very good use.
It
is not essential for volunteers to have formal qualifications, but we do ask
that all volunteers have a genuine desire to help people, and a commitment to
seeing work through to completion. A positive and flexible attitude will also
help you to get the most out of your volunteer work.
If
you are applying to teach English or train teachers, a strong command of the
English language is a necessity. Similarly, if you are interested
in volunteering at the Health Post, prior medical experience is
needed. For some specific programs such as teaching computer skills,
environmental awareness programme etc you should possess the skills and
knowledge necessary to work within these programs.
The
following attributes are essential for volunteer work, regardless of the
program:
·
Independence
·
Patience
·
Good
problem-solving skills
·
Sense
of humor / ability to laugh at yourself
·
Tolerance
·
Willingness
to share
·
Flexibility
·
Self-motivation
·
Open-mindedness
·
Enthusiasm
to learn about new cultures
With
regards to volunteer work in general, it is useful to come with an
open mind, and be realistic in your expectations of volunteering, as it is
impossible for the projects and work here to be as structured as what
people are used to in the west. It helps to be flexible and adaptable in
how you work, and understand some of the constraints in terms of language,
resources etc.
how much volunteers contribute and the exact work they undertake can largely depend on where they feel their skills can best be utilized, and on how proactive they themselves are
how much volunteers contribute and the exact work they undertake can largely depend on where they feel their skills can best be utilized, and on how proactive they themselves are
YAN
does its utmost to ensure your safety during your volunteer placement in Nepal,
and to make sure you are placed in a safe environment while volunteering.
Attacks
against tourists are extremely rare.
Politically
Nepal is continuing to undergo a period of change, and in light of this you
should avoid large gatherings and demonstrations. Bandhas (shutdowns), rallies
and demonstrations can cause widespread disruption as they are often called at
short notice, and disrupt transport. However, in general YAN volunteers are not
impacted by these types of demonstrations, as their site of volunteering is in
close proximity to their accommodation.
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