Summer Volunteer Programs in Kathmandu, Nepal

Agriculture is the single largest employer in Nepal, providing livelihoods for 68 percent of the population. However, many local farmers struggle to make a profit and produce an adequate supply of food for their communities. As a volunteer on the Sustainable Agriculture project in Nepal, your focus is on providing support to small-scale local farmers, resulting in improved livelihoods for farming communities and more resilient and sustainable agriculture practices. Volunteers are placed with a local family to provide assistance on a farm, learning traditional Nepalese agricultural techniques and practices while also introducing knowledge of newer farming methods and market opportunities. You can expect to be involved in tasks such as clearing land, cultivating and harvesting crops.

Participating in a Medicine & Healthcare Internship in Nepal is a unique experience, wherein you will learn from some of the most skilled practitioners in the country. Internships in Nepal are based in and around Kathmandu and in the region of Chitwan. The facilities are generally quite basic when compared to facilities in the West. You will intern on social and health development projects focusing on providing medicine and healthcare to the underprivileged. This is a particularly important service in a country such as Nepal where the National Health System provides for only 21 percent of the population. Interns work at a variety of placements in hospitals and rehabilitation centers for children with disabilities in the Kathmandu Valley. This can involve a unique combination of working with doctors and being involved with care activities and is particularly relevant for those who wish to specialize in pediatrics. Some of our placements are leading referral centers for the functional mobility of children with physical disabilities. Most of the cases are neglected orthopedic conditions such as tuberculosis, polio, post-burn contractures, and cerebral palsy.

Sign-up for our medical volunteering programs abroad if you are a medical or healthcare student who is aspiring for a medical career but needs real-time training and mentoring. You don’t necessarily have to have a medical degree, as requirements are different for each program. There are even pre-med volunteer abroad programs specifically for school leavers who are considering studying medicine in the future. We also offer customised placements for those seeking medical electives or medical internships abroad. Most of our medical electives abroad placement require that you spend 5-7 hours at our partner hospital or clinic as an observer of the daily routines of medical staff. You will be assigned a doctor or a department who will mentor you and may call upon you to assist with basic tasks such as taking vitals and treating minor wounds under the supervision of the local doctors. Our medical electives are offered in developing countries such as Philippines, Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Peru and Costa Rica.

World Endeavors offers exciting programs that allow participants to experience Nepal while contributing to the community in a meaningful way. Volunteers can choose from a variety of immersive, unique, and rewarding community engagement projects across numerous fields like Healthcare - related to Dental, Medical and Physical Therapy, Monastery Teaching, and Women Empowerment. Namaste and welcome to Nepal, a country of high Himalayan Mountains, artistic monuments, exotic wildlife, and diverse cultures. While small, it has the greatest latitudinal variation of any country. The land rises from the southern plains of the Terai, barely above sea level, to the top of Mt. Everest - the highest peak on Earth, in a distance of less than 130 miles. Most volunteer projects are available in Kathmandu, the capital and largest city in Nepal. Even from the bustling city center - filled with historic temples and carved statues - views of the snow-capped peaks of the majestic Himalayas emerge against the intense blue skies.

During the first week of this program, you will take part in a mandatory culture week designed to help you understand local customs—an essential foundation when working with vulnerable communities. Many women in Nepal leave rural areas to seek employment in cities, hoping to improve life for their families. Often, they have little or no formal education and work as housemaids, making it difficult to access better job opportunities in a society where education—especially in English—is crucial for advancement. You will play a key role in expanding their opportunities through structured English lessons and everyday conversation. All higher education in Nepal is conducted in English, making your teaching especially valuable. A trained teacher will support you in planning your lessons, with a focus on inspiring women of all ages and helping them rediscover their strengths. You will teach groups with varying educational backgrounds, using a provided course book as a guide, particularly helpful for first-time educators. Creative methods are encouraged to make learning engaging and meaningful.

The basic need for a children's development program stems from the following facts about Nepal. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, with approximately 25% of its population living below the poverty line. Therefore, the fundamental rights of many community children are often not met. Most children in rural communities aged 3 to 5 lack access to quality education. Approximately 5% of children never attend school. The children who attend school often drop out before completing high school. Only 46.2% of children complete their high school education. They instead help at home, support household chores, and babysit while their parents work on the farm. 37.4% of children aged 5 to 17 are involved in agricultural labor, with a significant proportion working on their family farms. 26.3% of children aged 10 to 18 are married or in a union with their partner. So, the children’s development is not well in place.