Teaching in schools and working in an orphanage in Pokhara, Nepal is an ideal
combination for a rewarding and enjoyable gap year or career break. Volunteers are needed to work in
schools teaching English, swimming, singing, art, sports and dancing.
Description of Project
Pokhara is probably the best centre for trekking, white water rafting and canoeing in Nepal. The
Himalayas form the highest, sheerest mountain range on earth and this is particularly evident in
Pokhara. The town is in a warm, sunlit valley that sweeps down to the lake shoreline. The skyline is
dominated by the summits of Annapurna and Machhapuchhre. It is one of the liveliest Nepalese towns but
infinitely more tranquil than Kathmandu. There are beautiful day walks and longer treks into the
Himalayas, the best known of which is probably the trek around Annapurna.
There are several little orphanages and two schools in the town that would like volunteer teacher
support. The Mount Everest Orphanage is in a tranquil setting on a hillside overlooking the lake,
surrounded by trees and rich vegetation. There is a spacious building which provides a home for 11
children aged between 5 and 13. Another lovely little home for ten children is in a beautiful
setting overlooking Pokhara, surrounded by little gardens and rice beds rich in produce. The office
is a mud floor shack with no electricity and basic conditions but the warmth and care given to the
children is second to none.
The schools in Pokhara are a short walk from the orphanages in a quiet, peaceful community on the
outskirts of town. A dirt track runs past the school gates and is frequented more by oxen, porters and
goats than vehicles. Animals graze on the playing field and brightly coloured saris are draped over
the basketball court to dry in the sun. The snow-capped Himalayas tower in the background but the town
is warm and just a short walk from shops, tea houses and the hustle and bustle of city life.
Summary
Project Code: N7
Main Activity of Project: Teaching English / Art / Computing / Sports /
Dance / Singing.
Minimum Period of Stay: One month.
Cost: One month: £1305. Three months: £2515. For full details of our prices please see our costs page.
Volunteer Responsibilities / Activities
The support you offer depends on your interests. The children are of both primary and secondary
school age and would love a career break or gap year volunteer to organise activities such as singing,
dance, gardening, teaching English, teaching swimming, and teaching art. Volunteers also help to walk
the children to and from school and with domestic duties such as cooking, washing clothes and shopping.
The children at the orphanages go to school from 10:00am – 3:30pm. There would be plenty of work to do
in their absence but we encourage volunteers to teach at the schools that your children attend. In the
school holidays you would need to spend the whole day at the orphanage. Some of the homes would also
like a volunteer to design them a website to help achieve sponsorship and funding.
We only support teaching projects in poor schools where volunteers are really needed. Most subjects
are taught in English. This makes it easier for you as a volunteer to work effectively. English is the
most important subject and you would be asked to teach English to all the students and also some of
the staff. Some speak it fluently but others struggle and need as much help as the children. It would
also be hoped that you would teach sports, teach art or teach music and any subject that you might
have studied at A level. Volunteers with no teaching experience are initially given support from the local
staff. Artistic volunteers can help the children to create teaching resources which are greatly lacking
in these schools. The staff are wonderfully welcoming and eager to have volunteer support.
Parents put a high value on education and make sacrifices to send their children to these schools.
They thoroughly support the idea of having Outreach International volunteers helping their children.
In most cases volunteers will live at the orphanage in their own private room. This gives volunteers every
opportunity to enjoy a traditional Nepali lifestyle as you will be introduced to friends and relatives of
the orphanage directors.
You could make a real difference – to others and yourself!
Outreach International need volunteers to work abroad in schools,
hospitals, orphanages, with the disabled, animals and animal rescue, wildlife, physiotherapy, medical projects, sports and on humanitarian and conservation projects in South America, Central America, Africa and Asia, including Ecuador, Mexico,
Costa Rica, Cambodia, Nepal, the Galapagos Islands, Kenya and Sri Lanka. We're always looking for Gap Year students or anyone who wants to take a career break, Summer holiday, Easter or Christmas vacation break or a few months or a year out volunteering
overseas.
