The DV work for one month to five months depending on the nature of volunteer work in  Nepal. HCS makes the best fit between the partner organization and the volunteer's background, skills, and interests.

To prepare them for their volunteer work experience, the volunteers participate in a one-week to two weeks orientation program at the Organization in Kathmandu. This Development Volunteers Programme is unique in terms of what it offers the participants who are preparing for a work placement in developing country Nepal.

 During the in-Kathmandu portion of the program volunteers have access and exposure to:

§    HCS staff, who represent a collection of experienced and dedicated development professionals,

§     NGOs  leaders from around the  country who share their residence and classrooms with the volunteers for two weeks prior to the volunteers' departure a comprehensive pre-departure orientation program

§    At the time of their departure to their respective country each of the volunteers will participate in a week departure and debriefing program at HSC.

Objectives of DVP

• To increase their understanding of development issues and participate in their roles as global citizens.
• To broaden work view by experiencing another culture in-depth.
• To refine important professional skills.
• To improve intercultural interaction and rapport building skills.
• To build a network of international friends.
• To share the benefits of skills and knowledge.
• To carry out research for academic purpose and action research for first hand experience.
• To gain international living and work experience allowing to better compete in today's job market.

What DV can Do ?

Research and Study: DVs can apply their knowledge and skills in he field of development in the community and also carry out action research on the same. DV can carry out research for the academic purpose and prepare dissertation as part of the fulfillment of their graduation/ post graduation/Ph.D degree.

Peace through Understanding; Understanding through Volunteer Service: DV can initiate inter-cultural friendships, respect and understanding as foundational to the world peace. DVP aims to peace and friendship by facilitating mutual international understanding working with different traditions, religions, and ethnic heritages.

Work with Teens and Adults: DV can work with our community to match especially skilled volunteers with local people so that pressing community needs can be met together.  If DV have a specific interest in working with teens and adults, DV can select from a variety of projects in many locations in Nepal including teaching, health care, and counseling to displaced and insurgency victims.

Serve Host Community: DV can care for and engage older local people in formal and informal settings so as to help indigenous societies retain their cultural roots, passing along traditions to younger generations. DV can help build and repair safe housing, engage elders in activities such as singing, dancing, playing games and developing arts and crafts projects, and assisting them on recreational outings.

Care For Children at Risk : Work with vulnerable infants and youth worldwide. Provide care for physically - and mentally-disabled children, some who have been abandoned, and "at-risk" teens. DV can work with the displaced children due to one decade conflict in Nepal.

Health Care Service: Health care professionals can provide health care to impoverished children and their parents as access to medical services in Nepal is limited; health-care volunteers are needed to provide basic services such as diabetes screenings, tooth extractions, well-baby checks and pre-natal exams in local clinics, village dispensaries, and in homes through outreach programs.

Teach Conversational English  to Children, Teens and Adults: DV can help teaching conversational English language skills to Children,  Teens and Adults Increasingly to success in virtually any profession, as it is regarded the international language of commerce, technology and opportunity .

Background for Development Volunteer (DV)

We are looking for volunteers who want to gain development experience to enhance their career development. The most important personal qualities are flexibility, cross-cultural sensitivity, positive attitude and initiative. The volunteers should have usually a mixture of people with various levels of understanding of development and travel experience. Volunteers must be in good health and have the mental and physical capability to function as a team member.

People of all ages and from all walks of life can be valuable resources on our DVPs. DVP designed the volunteer model to be easily accessible to most open-minded individuals.  Each volunteer selects a volunteer programme that best employs their experience and interests, and a program where the volunteer feels engaged in a community project of lasting benefit.

The program is open to any applicant who sincerely wants to share his/her experience and skills. The professionals, retired people, students , researchers who wants to apply their expertise in the field of development and research in the developing country like Nepal all are welcome to apply. Suggested minimum age is 19 year though there is possible flexibility when experience, maturity and other factors permit.

Development Partner (DP)

NGOs having experience in the field of development is taken as DP for the DVP. The DPs, NGOs  are required to propose the local community to work with the DVs.  Provision of local coordinator is made to assist the DVs during their placement and to continue the activities upon completion of the volunteer placement in the community, initiated by their counterpart. DPs are selected as per the need of the DVs. Development Assistant/Resarch Assistants/Enumerators are arranged as per the need of the DV and likewise the interpreter in case of need.

We chose our DPs thoughtfully and place our DVs carefully. We request volunteer works that could be accepted by local people, evaluated frequently, and sustained over the long term.

 DVP is led by experts grounded in development and intercultural administration. This means:

• We translate volunteer strategies into  long-term development goals of the community
• We preserve volunteer program integrity by providing technical support to volunteer work  undertaken by DV .
• We carefully monitor volunteers' experiences and evaluate volunteer program outcomes.
• Our DP staff and consultants work with DVs to adjust volunteer work for maximum benefit.

Always working at the invitation and under the direction of local people, we celebrate people-to-people initiative. The underpinnings of Develo0pment Volunteers' Philosophy of voluntarism lie in the certainty that volunteers, working alongside local people, and within a structured DPship, can make a genuine, lasting contribution to the communities they serve.

• DVs may choose either or both the field and preferred location options of the Program.
• Possible fields of interest include social work, education, tourism, cultural work and research.
• While most of volunteer works take place in rural parts of the Country, there are also volunteer works within the periphery of the city.

The commitments Need

Minimum time needed for the program is 4 weeks. The maximum period of volunteer work will be 20 weeks. There is a mandatory language study period of one week and a minimum volunteer work period of 3 weeks. If volunteer is thinking of participating for a period of longer than 16 weeks, we recommend that to extend the language study period.

A minimum of 4 weeks is needed to complete the total commitment of the volunteer program. The first one week is dedicated to study and the volunteer placement continues for 3 weeks more. During the Nepali language study phase volunteer can choose to stay in a hotel in Kathmandu. During the volunteer work phase DV will be staying at the host family with the Development Partner NGO.

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We make a difference so you can make a difference.

 To be consistently helpful in another culture requires expertise in program management, micro-human and economic development, and volunteer coordination.

 This means in our volunteer  work:

• We protect host community independence
• We guard against exploitation of local people
• We are vigilant in monitoring our cultural impact
• We provide appropriate technical support
• We employ experts in development and service
• We choose our NGO partner and community  carefully

The application process

We need to receives applications three month in advance. The HSC makes the best fit between the counter part NGO and the Volunteer's  background, skills, and interests. If you are successful in getting into the programme , you will be asked your preference if case of physical inability.

Devendra Kumar Aryal
DVPs Co-ordinator
MBA, CICS CANADA
E-mail: devendra@hons.com.np, or devendra_aryal@hotmail.com

SIX EASY STEPS TO SERVING

1. Select the type of volunteer work  or community  in Nepal that most interests you.
2. Check your calendar. Select dates most convenient for you.
3. Submit your application  and send it in by e-mail or fax. You may submit your $   200  deposit Through PAYPAL
4. We will send you a "DV Manual" and email you informational forms to complete. Complete and return the forms. Upon receiving the requested information and personal references, we will accept and process your application.
5. Renew your passport, if required, and make your travel arrangements. You can use your own travel agency.
6. Pay the balance of your program fee, due one week prior to your departure.

If you have any questions, please contact us, we would love to hear from you.