Two words for your next foray into... feeling good.
Volunteer. Nepal.
Several programs today reflect a growing trend among exotic travel junkies. The volunteer experience. Forget trekking for yourself, it's time you trek for your fellow man. Or in this case, a beautiful Nepalese family, an orphaned child, or a village of farmers. You need them and they need you (and your soon-to-be-semi-expert guidance on health or the English language). You could certainly learn a thing or two about nature, living with less, and the human experience, right?
Nepal, with it's ever-reaching Himalayan mountains, is one of the poorest countries in the world.
Through Volunteer Nepal, volunteers in schools and orphanages in Nepal offer short stays and 2-5month programs that cover all food, accommodation, orientation courses, lessons in Nepali, tours, lectures, and social events. As they say, with little contact with the outside world, you, the volunteer teacher, will form an intimate relationship with the students and their culture, while you also learn what it's like to be freed from your Western attachments.
In addition to volunteering at an orphanage, you can study/volunteer in the following areas:
Environment & Community Education
Language and Culture
Construction
You can even teach in a monastery!
Program fees for schools/orphanages placement are as follows:
1-2 weeks US$ 300
3-4 weeks US$ 400-$500
For each additional month US$ 200
www.volunteer-nepal.org
Another feel good program, Volunteer Society Nepal, offers stays from 1 week-5 months and fees that range from $300-$1150, depending on the program and length of stay. You can choose different areas that interest you like:
Health
Teaching
The Environment
Women's Issues
www.vsnnepal.org
Want a few more options to make sure the program, and the group, is right for you? See below and fulfill what your heart and soul is really craving.
The Global Volunteer Network
www.volunteer.org.nz/nepal
Transitions Abroad
www.transitionsabroad.com
So, really... next time you want to galavant around the globe and make out with every Tomas, Ricardo, and Horacio, remember to make out with the greatest lover of all...
Enlightenment.
