Heritage preservation and cultural exchange in Sankhu
Sankhu 7 projects of 2 wks from May to April
Volunteer project: Sanku is a beautiful historic and religious small town in Kathmandu district, about 20 km South West from Kathmandu central. Sankhu is a popular destination for international volunteers. Major attractions of Sankhu are the rich Newari culture and the friendly local people. Sankhu is located in the northeast Kathmandu Valley, close to the Sali Nadi River. It is listed as a World Heritage of UNESCO and is famous for the Swastani temple and the Holi river, and for the Hindu and Bajrajogini temples.
Sankhu has faced substantial challenges since being added to the tentative World Heritage List in 2008. The 2015 earthquakes inflicted catastrophic damage, destroying over 65% of its buildings, displacing more than 2,000 residents, and exacerbating an ongoing trend of outmigration. Although some restoration efforts have been undertaken, much work remains to revive Sankhu’s cultural heritage and restore a sense of community. The preservation of its unique history and architecture is crucial for the long-term resilience of this significant site.
Objectives of the project:
• To foster intercultural exchange, dialogue, and understanding between different cultures.
• To enhance international volunteers' knowledge of living conditions in other parts of the world.
• To improve participants' understanding of development projects.
• To encourage volunteers to share their experiences about different cultures, living conditions, and development projects in Nepal.
• To provide Nepalese youth with the opportunity to learn from international volunteers about life, culture, and academic/technical knowledge.
Volunteer activities:
• Cultural exchange program: High school students will engage in a cultural exchange with the volunteers, fostering mutual understanding and sharing experiences.
• Exploration of Newari traditions: Participants will learn about the traditional Newari lifestyle, enriching their cultural understanding.
• Environmental awareness initiatives: Programs will address environmental issues like global warming. Volunteers will organize paper and plastic collection drives and teach the local community about proper waste disposal methods.
• Heritage site cleaning: Volunteers will clean the Bajrayogini and Shree Swasthani Temples to promote cultural heritage preservation.
• Day hiking to Nagarkot: Participants will enjoy a hike to Nagarkot, experiencing rural life and the stunning Himalayan view.
• Educational exchange: Nepalese students will gain insight into international education systems, while both Nepalese students and international volunteers will participate in cultural, dance, and art activities.
Language: English
Free time activities: Participants will enjoy a number of sightseeing opportunities: Sali Nadi, Shree Swasthani Mata Temple and Bajrayogini Temple, Sankhu city, a one-day hike
Accommodation: In a community center room or a homestay with local people. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag. Volunteers will get three meals a day including the Nepalese dish called Dal Bhat, i.e. Dal (soup of lentil or beans) and Bhat (cooked rice) with Tarkari (cooked vegetables). This is the staple diet of the Nepalese.
Arrival and orientation: Volunteers are requested to arrive in Kathmandu one day before the project starts. Details about the local host, the project and the travel arrangements will be provided. Volunteers will travel together from Kathmandu to the project site in Sankhu by bus.
Location: Sankhu, Kathmandu district
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 275 Euro
Transportation from Kathmandu to the project site by bus is included.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.
All available dates for this project:
May 1 - May 14, 2025
June 1 - June 14, 2025
August 1 - August 14, 2025
September 1 - September 14, 2025
October 1 - October 14, 2025
November 1 - November 14, 2025
April 16 - April 30, 2026
School renovation and teaching in Daman
Daman, Makwanpur 8 projects of 2 wks from May to February
Volunteer project: We have been operating in Daman since 2012. Daman is quite isolated and most people are farmers, living a traditional life, as they have done for generations. However, times are changing and the community has a severe lack of funds to keep up with the rapid changes that Nepal is undergoing.
Knowledge of other cultures and the ability to speak English are vital skills for young Nepalese people. Many look forward to a future in the tourism business, and therefore the ability to communicate effectively with foreigners will increase their chances of having a better life once they leave the village.
We also believe that our volunteers benefit a lot from staying in Daman. Living in a completely different culture with local hosts and adjusting to their conditions is an unforgettable experience. Teaching locals to think in new and different ways is to their benefit, learning from their unique way of life is yours.
Our main aim is therefore to make life easier and more enjoyable particularly for the youth in Daman by giving them better prospects for the future through improving the facilities and the teaching at the local high school, where volunteers will mainly paint and decorate classrooms. Besides the educational and manual work in the school, the volunteers will also help with some construction and agriculture tasks in the community.
Language: English
Free time activities: Daman offers beautiful nature, inviting you to take a hike for some spectacular views. While trekking the Daman Hill (about 2500 m), you can see more than 10 peaks of the Himalayan range. Volunteers can go hiking to the local hilltop Patal or to Markhu to enjoy the Himalayan panorama. They can visit neighboring villages and temples, the historical Chitlang palace, or Chitwan national park (150 km from Palung).
Accommodation: In Daman, the volunteers have the unique opportunity to stay with a local family. This is great way to gain an insight into the Nepalese culture and enjoy the friendliness of the people here. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will have three traditional meals a day, mostly the Nepalese national dish Dhal Bhat and Tarkari. Showers with cold water are available. You can enjoy probably the finest view of the Himalayas extending on a good day from Dhaulagiri in the west to Mount Everest in the east.
Arrival and orientation: Volunteers are requested to arrive in Kathmandu one day before the project starts. Details about the local host, the project and the travel arrangements will be provided. Volunteers will travel together from Kathmandu to the project site in Daman by bus.
Location: Daman is a small village in the Thaha Municipality, Makwanpur District, Bagmati Province in central Nepal. It lies about 100 km southwest of Kathmandu, at an elevation of about 2,322 meters (7,620 feet) above sea level. Daman is renowned for its panoramic views of the Himalayan Mountain range, providing visitors with stunning vistas of peaks like Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Dorje Lakpa, and others on clear days.
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 275 Euro
Airport pick-up and transportation from Kathmandu to the project site by bus is included.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.
All available dates for this project:
May 16 - May 30, 2025
June 16 - June 30, 2025
July 16 - July 30, 2025
August 16 - August 30, 2025
September 16 - September 30, 2025
December 1 - December 14, 2025
December 20, 2025 - January 3, 2026
February 16 - February 28, 2026
Construction and community development with the local people of Banepa
Banepa, Kavre 3 projects of 2 wks from July to March
Volunteer project: The project activities take place around Banepa - a beautiful town at 1500m altitude, surrounded by the green hills and panoramic views of the Himalayan range, just an hour bus ride from Kathmandu. Nature is all around and the air here is far better than in the bustling capital. Still Banepa offers amenities like restaurants with Wi-Fi, pharmacies, grocery stores and to top it all off, a beautiful old town. From here, field trips to a variety of places are possible, for example ancient Hindu temples, various trekking opportunities and all the sights of the Kathmandu valley are not far away.
In this project, we are helping the forest community and the Senagal village of Kavre district nearby Banepa. After the earthquake, a lot of buildings were destroyed, and the local population needs help in rebuilding the village. We'll be assisting in developing effective agricultural methods; we will do environmental awareness and forest conservation work; we'll work together with local people to build a multi-purpose community house that can be used for various activities or for shelter in case of emergency.
Volunteers will have different construction, renovation and educational tasks:
- Construction of senior homes and organizing daily activities such as creating a garden, to support the aging community members.
- Help women prepare for the job market
- Creating a fire line (fire break) surrounding the community forest
Language: English
Free time activities: There are many ways to explore the surrounding area during your free days. You can visit the temples in Panauti city which is listed as one of the World Cultural Heritage Sites by UNESCO, or visit Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel and many other surrounding places. Another opportunity is to take a two-day trekking trip to Namobuddha or Nagarkot.
Accommodation: Simple accommodation with a local family. Volunteers will enjoy three traditional meals a day, mostly the Nepalese traditional Dhal Bhat and Tarkari. Showers are available with cold water. Please bring your sleeping bag.
Arrival and orientation: Volunteers are requested to arrive in Kathmandu one day before the project starts. Details about the local host, the project and the travel arrangements will be provided. All volunteers will travel together from Kathmandu to Banepa. Banepa is one hour away by bus.
Location: Banepa is a municipality and historical town in a valley situated about 1,500 m above sea level in central Nepal, about 25 kilometers east of Kathmandu, and at the time of the 2011 Nepal census had a population of 55,528.
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 275 Euro
Airport pick-up and transportation from Kathmandu to the project site by bus is included.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.
All available dates for this project:
July 1 - July 14, 2025
December 16 - December 30, 2025
March 1 - March 14, 2026
Educational activities and renovation of classrooms in Lumbini
Punarbass, Lumbini 2 projects of 2 wks in August and September
Volunteer project: The project takes place in the village of Punarbass, 200 km south-west of Kathmandu, not far from the Indian border in the flatlands of the Terrai, and 50 km east of Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha.
Volunteers will work at the local secondary school located in Bardghat municipality. The focus of this project will be World Peace - we would like to send a peace message all over the world and an appeal for eliminating nuclear weapons.
Volunteers will work on the renovation of classrooms including painting and decoration. Furthermore, educational activities based on the individual skills of each volunteer will be organized. Such activities could include teaching a subject, like English or Sports to the students or sharing information about environmental awareness with the villagers. The local school and the villagers are the main beneficiaries of this project.
Language: English
Free time activities: In the leisure time volunteers can do field trips, for example they can go to Lumbini.
Accommodation: Simple accommodation in a local family. Volunteers will have three traditional meals a day, mostly the Nepalese national dish Dhal Bhat. A camping pad and sleeping bag are needed. Showers with cold water are available.
Arrival and orientation: All volunteers are requested to participate in an orientation meeting in Kathmandu on the day before the project starts. Details about the local host, the project and the travel arrangements will be provided. All volunteers will travel together from Kathmandu to the project site by bus.
Location: Punarbass, Lumbini
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 275 Euro
Airport pick-up and transportation from Kathmandu to the project site by bus is included.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.
All available dates for this project:
August 5 - August 20, 2025
September 16 - September 30, 2025
Support for elderly people in Pokhara
Pokhara, Kaski 4 projects from September to February
Volunteer project: Pokhara is located 200 km (120 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu. The city is on the shore of Phewa Lake, and sits at an elevation of approximately 822m. It is the country's largest metropolitan city in terms of area. The city also serves as the headquarters of Kaski District.
Volunteers are needed to support the daily tasks at an old age home, located 25 km from the city center of Pokhara. Volunteers will engage in various activities for the benefit of the elderly residents including manual work, construction tasks, cleaning the home, preparing food, cultural exchange, all the while connecting with the local community. Join us in the breathtaking city of Pokhara to make a difference and create unforgettable memories!
Language: English
Accommodation: Simple accommodation with a local family. Volunteers will enjoy three traditional meals a day, mostly the Nepalese traditional Dhal Bhat and Tarkari. Showers are available with cold water. Please bring your sleeping bag.
Arrival and orientation: Volunteers are requested to arrive in Kathmandu one day before the project starts. Details about the local host, the project and the travel arrangements will be provided. All volunteers will travel together from Kathmandu to Pokhara by bus.
Location: Pokhara is a metropolitan city located in central Nepal, and serves as the capital of Gandaki Province. It is the second largest city after Kathmandu and is known as the country's "capital of tourism".
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 275 Euro
Airport pick-up and transportation from Kathmandu to the project site by bus is included.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.
All available dates for this project:
September 20 - September 30, 2025
October 20 - October 30, 2025
January 20 - January 30, 2026
February 1 - February 10, 2026