Thousands of Nepali children are orphans, and the numbers have continually rising. ELI has been working closely with several orphanages in the Kathmandu Valley. Our orphanage volunteers work as activity coordinators: Playing with the children, coordinating games, teaching English, math or art classes, and giving these children some much needed attention. The children range in age from toddlers to teenagers. This is a great placement for independent, upbeat volunteers.

"I wanted to find out if I could see myself doing international aid work. And now I think I can. [In college] I’m also studying poverty issues, and it was fascinating to see principles that we talk about in class and see how they play out in real life. In class they seem very straightforward: you do X, Y and Z and fix everything. And then you go to a place like Nepal and see things are a lot more complicated than that..." -Zack, 2011

Read Zack's complete interview here.

Medical
It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Nepali people, especially women and children, suffer unnecessarily due to a lack of basic medical care. Interning at a hospital in Nepal provides participants an opportunity to learn about healthcare in a developing country and about tropical diseases. Pre-meds with relevant completed coursework, nursing students, medical students, and medical professionals are welcome to apply. This placement is ideal for students who wish to learn about medical care in a developing Asian country. Students are sometimes invited to observe surgeries. This program fills up during the summer, so we recommend applying early for May, June and July arrival dates.

Dental
ELI has partnered with a prominent dental school and dental hospital in the heart of Kathmandu, offering ELI interns a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn alongside Nepali dental students. These positions are open to dental students and junior/senior level undergraduates who have some related experience/education and plan to pursue a career in the field. From time to time interns are also invited to assist with free dental camps for the poor.

"I met some amazing people while in Nepal and got to see a lot of things I would not have seen otherwise. I would definitely recommend that if a person were going to volunteer in Nepal to try to stay at least 4 weeks in the country. I could not because of a previous commitment, but I would have otherwise! ...Had I stayed longer, I think I would have considered doing another volunteering placement – either another hospital or perhaps teaching English." -Rami, Medical Intern 2011

ELI Medical Intern Ben completed a photojournal, check out his adventure here.

Our partner organizations work tirelessly for the promotion of gender justice, non-discriminatory and rights-based behaviors and practices. Among the thousands of individuals who are trafficked across Nepal’s borders every year, the majority are women and children. It is estimated that Nepali women aged 15-30 make up 2.8% of the women in Indian brothels, and the numbers are sharply rising. 

These placements are open to participants holding a BA in a relevant field or those with significant NGO experience who are motivated and do not require a lot of supervision. Participants in this program often assist with research, reports, and grassroots projects as needed. Volunteers and interns must be able to commit to at least 6-8 weeks. 

See Jen's Photo Journal for more information on the day to day activities of this project.

For highly motivated participants, ELI offers a dual program: Volunteers spend 3 sessions a week teaching English classes at a monastery, and  spend off mornings and afternoons at a nearby orphanage leading activites, mentoring and tutoring children.

Schedules of course vary, but here's a snapshot of a  typical day:

7 AM – 8 AM: Breakfast time at the orphanage. Volunteer can distribute food for kids and help in kitchen. Volunteers take breakfast after the children.

8 AM-9AM: Time for kids to go school, volunteer can help kids to get ready for school (sanitation, dressing, packing).

9 AM-10 AM: Volunteers take kids to school or make sure they get on the bus.

10 AM- 3 PM: Teaching at Monastery – English class, sometimes a basic computer class.

4:30 PM - 6:00 Kids comes back from school, volunteers bring kids back to orphanage safely. Help them to change and tidy their rooms.  Homework and play time before dinner. 

Minimum time requirement is one month, as to disrupt the classrooms at the monastery as little as possible.

Teaching English can be a rewarding way to get to know the community and help children learn a very useful skill. Public education is a relatively new concept in Nepal - it began in 1951 and continues to face challenges. Teachers and community members have been working hard to ensure the success of their education system but they lack funds. Volunteers are an invaluable asset to these institutions. Children's programs are fun and they are a great way to make a difference in the lives of little ones. Everyone can contribute! Volunteers in these programs live together in the volunteer house and teach either at a public school or a school for HIV+ children. ELI teachers teach English vocabulary, lead basic writing exercises, and coordinate activities and games.