Our volunteering projects in Nepal
BRCS aims are to mobilize international and national volunteers in Multi-Purpose Himalayan Volunteering Program in Nepal in the following fields.
- Teaching English in schools
- Teaching computer in School
- Orphanage
- Women’s issues
- Peace and Development
- Health sector health camp and working hospital for poor people
- Nepalese language and culture
- Cultural, traditional exchange, and family stay
- Trekking, hiking, and rafting
- Eco-tourism
- journalism
- Handicraft
- Buddhism (and many others)
- Natural healing and meditation
- Environment and conservation
- Livelihood program
- Scholarship program
- School Construction
- Agricultural Research
- Website design and maintenance
- Family or homestay
It also focuses on group volunteering. With the aim to make volunteers stay fruitful, we manage different cultural and traditional sharing programmes, sightseeing, observation of the historical places and many more.
Beside your volunteering work you can get new experiences in following Activities
- Wedding Ceremony
- Death Ceremony
- Traditional Culture Ceremony
- Witch Doctor ( Shamanism ) Ceremony
- Village activities ( you can see real Nepalese life stander of rural people
- Village short trekking
- Visiting of naturally beautiful places in Himalayan Mountain area and
- Historical Places ( World heritages listed area
Program Fees
- For 1 month = 450 Euro
- For 2 month = 650 Euro
- For 3 month = 850 Euro
- For 4 month = 1050 Euro
- For 5 month = 1190 Euro
The program fee covers
- 2-3 days stay in Kathmandu before placement area manages lodging and accommodation.
- Child sponsorship program at Saubhagyodaya Secondary School
- All administration cost
- Transportation airport-placement-airport
- Expenses for sightseeing transportation only.
- Accommodation and meals during placement
- Regular support and from BRCS staff
- Scholarship for students
- Saving for upcoming BRCS program
- Advertisement cost for the organization
- School building support
Should I bring some extra money?
We manage food and accommodation for volunteers from the first to the final day of the program so there will not be need of extra (lots of) money. You may need some extra money if you plan to take part in activities outside the organization or if you just want to buy some souvenirs. You must also remember the VISA fee depending on the length of stay if you plan to obtain a visa upon arrival; please find visa fee details in the pre-departure guide. There is also an airport tax, which you pay upon your departure, details costs are in given pre-departure guide.
Where and how do I exchange my money?
All major banks in Nepal change convertible currencies into local currency. There is an exchange counter in the airport for you to start off. The US dollar is the most widely accepted currency. Do not exchange more money than necessary for usage in the next couple of days because exchanging local currency back to hard currency is not easy: it can be done only at the airport before you leave, and only a certain fraction of what you originally exchanged into local currency can be re-converted.
Please retain your exchange receipts in order to apply for visa extension and re-conversion of left-over local currency when you leave the country.
What about the credit cards?
Many tourist trades have started accepting payments for credit cards. It is, however, a recent phenomenon, and cards other than Visa and Master Card may not be accepted in most places. Remember that usage of credit cards in developing countries can cost you an extra three to five percent in transaction costs.
Are there ATM machines?
Many commercial banks have installed ATM machines in some major part of the cities but you may or may not be able to draw money from these machines depending upon the type of machine.
REGISTRATION, PROGRAM FEE, REFUND, SECURITY & CANCELLATION
How far in advance should I book my volunteer program?
It is better to book your volunteer program well in advance to reserve your placement. It is advised that you book at least two months in advance and allow yourself plenty of time for final arrangements.
Will I get a discount if I join BRCS volunteer programs for the second time? In comparison to other volunteer organization, we have provided least affordable fee so we could not give you the discount but in some cases, we may consider.
How do I make payments for my program fee? What forms of payment do you accept?
You can pay your program fee either by wire transfer or by using major credit cards. Once you pay the program deposit ($150), you can pay remaining program fee upon arrival in Katmandu.
Will my personal information be protected? Is my money safe?
Definitely! Our software uses 128-bit SSL encryption to protect all personal identification information that you submit, including your name, address, e-mail address, login ID and password, credit card and bank account details. So no unauthorized person can ever see details of your transaction. Payment details for each transaction are encrypted and stored for your convenience. Details on how your information is protected are provided in the Privacy and policy governing this service.
What is your refund policy?
We will refund 70% of your total program fee excluding registration and bank charges if you cancel less than 4 weeks prior to the start date of your placement. Similarly, you will receive a 50% refund if you cancel your placement less than 2 weeks prior to your start date. There will not be any refund if you cancel your placement less than 7 days before you start or after you begin your placement.
Are there any extra costs?
During your volunteering period, you will be provided food, accommodation, training, project equipment and support. The only extra money you will need will be to spend for yourself and if you think of buying some gifts and souvenirs for your host family. Our program fee does not include flights, departure tax, travel insurance, internal transfers, and any other medical inoculations.
Can I raise fund?
Yes, with prior planning and hard work you can raise all the money for your volunteer expeditions. We can also send you our fundraising tips which can help you to dig the money at the right place.
How does BRCSmake sure I am safe while I am in the field?
We give first priority for the safety of our volunteers. We work hard to ensure the safety of our volunteers on many levels.
Orientation: we discuss safety situations, field conditions, local do and do not, and local culture during orientation. So you will understand most basic stuff before your join volunteer program
Offers volunteers opportunities for learning local culture, ways of life, language etc before the start of the project.
24/7 hotline: volunteers can reach our coordinator at any time. They are ready to support you whenever it is needed
Regular supervision/meetings: We visit our volunteers in every 2 weeks to make sure that things are going well for them.
Visa, Customs, and Immigration
On-arrival Visa: Volunteers can get a tourist visa upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, in Kathmandu. One can get 90-day entry visa costing US$ 100, – CASH (no traveler checks, no credit cards accepted) and two-passport photos are required. Our volunteers join our program having a tourist visa and one has to extend the visa every month. NVCYE Program does not manage working visa for volunteers.
For tourist visa
1-15 US $- 25
3o days US $- 40
90 days US $- 100 and the extension per month US$ 60
VISA EXTENSIONS: A tourist visa can be obtained from the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu telephone +977-1-4223590,42225453, and Pokhara +977-61-465167(office hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 am-3: 00 PM) Extensions are valid for 30 days (whether you need for a day, a week or a whatever) and cost in Nepalese rupees the equivalent of US$ 60 at the government exchange rate. You must pay for visa extensions.
You are allowed to stay up to 150 days on a tourist visa around the year. If you hit the next calendar year, you can stay another 150 days with normal visa extension. This way a volunteer can do his or her volunteering for 10 months maximum on a tourist visa. This is the policy of Nepal government. If someone likes to join for six months, they should come in Nepal first of December and for 10 months in August. This is how it works.
Theft
Though the chances of a theft are rare, just in case of a mishap, go to Interpol (ph: 412602) at the Police Headquarters in Naxal, Kathmandu
Tourist Police
A special unit of the Nepal Police, the Tourist Police is trained specially to assist visitors with security and travel related problems. An English-speaking officer on duty is just a call away between 11 am and 5 pm at 4 -247041. These officers are also stationed at all the major tourist sites, and their blue van is always on constant patrol.
As a foreign visitor, one must be careful to respect local customs in order not to cause offense. The following are some local conventions it is advisable to adhere to: never step over the feet of a person, always walk around; never offer food and drink which is ‘polluted’, in other words, food that you have tasted or bitten; never offer or accept anything with the left hand, use the right or both hands. It is rude to point at the holy statue with a foot. Often when people shake their head, it means ‘yes.’ Shoes and footwear should be removed when entering houses or shrines. Kitchens and eating areas of houses should also not be entered with footwear, as the hearth of a home is sacred. Shaking hands is not a common form of greeting; the normal greeting is to press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture (Namaskar). Casual wear is suitable except for the most formal meetings or social occasions. Men only remove their shirts when bathing. Overt public displays of affection, especially near religious places, are inappropriate. Seek permission before entering a temple, some do not allow westerners or non-Hindus to enter. Do not take leather articles into a temple. Nepalese cities are generally safe but take sensible precautions with personal possessions.
Photography: Please always take permission first before taking pictures. In general, it is allowed outside temples and at festivals, but not at religious ceremonies or inside temples; however, there is no hard and fast rule and the only way to be sure of not giving offense is to ask first and accept the answer.
VISA, CUSTOMS, AND IMMIGRATION
Do I need a visa? What do I have to do to obtain a visa for my volunteering country?
All foreigner travelers need the visa. You need a valid passport including two passport size photos and visa fee. Though it is possible to get a tourist visa (of Nepal) upon arrival, we strongly suggest volunteers get a visa in their home country especially if you are traveling to India. It saves your time and hassles. The visas to Tibet can only be obtained from Chinese consulate. Please contact us if you need any further information on getting visas and you can also find more information in the pre-departure guidebook.
Is there any other important information that I should be aware of before arriving in my destination country?
Make sure that you get arrival/departure stamps on your passport at the entry/exit points to avoid further legal complications. Please do not seek support from any unauthorized people. Please don’t take out the visa stickers from passport and do not try to temper printed matters in the passport.
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Where does money go?
Our program fee is 60-100% less than most national and international volunteer organizations.
Today, there exists fierce competition between professional volunteer, internship, and study abroad programs. Even though our office is located in Asia, we cannot recruit volunteers unless we advertise heavily in the United States and Europe. Advertising companies in the US and Europe are expensive.
Moreover, BRCS is a self-reliant, independent, and non-profit organization. We do not accept or receive funding from any religion. Therefore, we must charge our participants a reasonable fee in order to keep our program running effectively.
All of BRCS programs solely rely on program fees. With the fees volunteers pay to enroll in the program, BRCSis able to attain its goals, thus empowering local communities and allowing Westerners to participate directly in Eastern traditions. Ultimately, BRCS, its diligent volunteers, and its hopeful grassroots organizations are able to work toward deeper cultural understandings.
Read about our community efforts. (Financial support for these community development projects is derived from the program fee)
Allocation of program fee
- Office space, utilities, and maintenance of national and international offices
- Communication with local partners when volunteers are in the field
- International travel to monitor projects
- Indirect expenses such as accounting and legal fees, payroll taxes, computer types of equipment, credit card processing, program development and management, outreach, volunteer coordination, orientation for in-country staffs, etc.
- Telephone, Internet, fax, e-mail, and web site maintenance.
- Utilities
- Local advertising and printing materials
- Government taxes
- Bank receiving charges
- Daily field expenses including utilities, transportation, fuel costs, etc.
- Program coordination with local, national, and international partners
- Volunteers Welcome, Nepal Gift, and Fare wale
- Fees
BRCS is a non-government and non-profit organization and is always working hard to raise funds, through various activities and fundraiser’s, and trying to coordinate programs with like-minded organizations. Thus, we charge our volunteers a nominal amount for raising funds needed to carry out all of our projects. However, BRCS keeps the cost as lowest as possible, a difficult task in itself. BRCS volunteering programs in Nepal are the most affordable in Nepal. The volunteering period can be arranged from 1 Month to 6 months and fees range from Euro 400 to 1450 Euro, depending heavily on the program and the length of stay. Certain programs follow a stricter schedule and include a good deal of traveling, trekking, and other activities. These programs are thus slightly more expensive, in order for BRCS Nepal to provide all travel arrangements and accommodations. The volunteer fee is to be paid upon arrival in Kathmandu.
Other Costs
Apart from the fees, other costs, which you should expect to pay, include
Flights from your home to Kathmandu.
Visa ($40 USD for the first two months (to be paid at the airport upon arrival) and $40 USD per month thereafter Your visa can be received at Kathmandu airport and is payable in a number of foreign currencies.
Travel insurance.
Sundries whilst in Nepal. A weekly budget of up to US$ 20 should be sufficient cater for all your other expenses like bottled water, personal items, beverages, and entertainment.
Airport tax. This is payable upon leaving Kathmandu airport and is approximately US$ 23.
Vaccinations. Please check with your General Practitioner or local travel clinic to ensure you have the appropriate vaccinations.
