health care volunteer in nepal

A lack of health care education, medical services and resources in Nepal has lead to much unnecessary suffering. In Nepal, there is an average of one doctor for every 12,612 Nepalese. Without adequate time and resources, local doctors are unable to effectively treat all of their patients. Volunteers for health care projects assist local doctors and medical staff with the treatment of patients. Volunteers are also involved in other hospital activities such as record keeping, sanitation, nutrition, and patient education. Volunteers interested in Health Care programs must currently be a doctor, nurse, medical student, or hospital employee and must demonstrate an appropriate level of training and experience in the medical field.

Eligibility: Volunteers interested in Health Care programs must currently be a doctor, nurse, medical student, or hospital employee and must demonstrate an appropriate level of training and experience in the medical field. All applicants should have: a desire to help the people of Nepal, flexibility, self-motivation, openness to a new culture and a willingness to learn.

Pre-Departure Information: Before participants embark on their trip abroad, they will be provided a pre-departure handbook that includes important details about their experience abroad. In addition, volunteers may contact World Endeavors any time prior to departure with questions.

To better prepare volunteers and to make their experience more enjoyable, each volunteer placement of 6 weeks or longer begins with a two-week Nepali language and culture orientation stage. Week one includes intensive language and cultural training in the capitol city of Kathmandu. Week two provides volunteers with hands-on cultural learning through a home stay in a rural ethnic minority community and participation in various cultural activities. This is a fun and effective way for volunteers to adjust to a new environment before volunteering begins.

Food: Food is provided as part of all volunteer placements. Traditional Nepalese food is served to volunteers three times a day.

Activities:

Many unique activities are included in volunteer placements of 6 weeks or longer: village visit and hiking, cultural dance, white water rafting, and a visit to Royal Chitwan National Park and elephant safari.

Village Visit and Hiking
Starting from a picturesque village in central Nepal, volunteers will begin a one-day hike through several nearby villages. Far from the typical tourist destinations, volunteers will pass through verdant hills and valleys, magnificent landscapes, and experience the authentic rural life of Nepal.

Cultural Dance
One of the most effective ways to learn about a new culture is through local music and dance. Volunteers will be treated to ethnic music and dance performed by a local cultural dance group. If they wish, volunteers can join the cultural dance program and dance with the local people.

Royal Chitwan National Park and Jungle Safari
Volunteers will visit Royal Chitwan National Park in the sub-tropical lowlands of the inner Terai, where they will participate in many incredible activities. On an elephant-back safari, volunteers will pass through dense jungle in search of exotic birds, antelope, rhinos, crocodiles, and Bengal tigers. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the local Tharu people through a visit to the Tharu village, the Tharu Museum, and a Tharu cultural dance program.

Before you apply, please consider the following:

• Can you camp?
• Can you live without modern plumbing, hot water and electricity?
• Are you aware that most volunteers experience illness at some point during their stay?
• Are you open enough to accept and respect a culture no matter how different it is from your first culture?
• Are you comfortable with yourself? At times you may feel isolated, particularly when you arrive in a village knowing no one.
• Are you hungry to learn? You'll learn a new language, a new culture, a new way of life.
• Can you handle culture shock? The moment you step off the plane you will be in a world where very little is familiar.
• Are you flexible? Developing countries, and Nepal in particular, are not as obsessed with time as the US or Europe. Often, schedules are ignored or appointments begin later than arranged. You may also encounter corruption in government officials and local administrators.

If you decide to volunteer in Nepal, you are opening the door to the possibility for a personally enriching and life-changing experience.

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