Nepal Visitor Information Center

Summary of Project:

     This program was started to support existing non-profit organizations in Nepal. No other organization has been tapping into the huge potential of short-term volunteers in Nepal. We started the Volunteer Visitor Center in March 2007, in answer to the need for visitors to the country to be able to locate short-term volunteer positions. Their donated labor helps to strengthen the community of charitable organizations in Nepal.

     Our goal is to contribute 40,000 hours of volunteer labor per year to Nepal, which is worth, at porters wages, $300,000 USD.

Total Funding Goal:

$3,000 USD

To help cover administrative costs for one year

How You Can Help:

•  $30 pays for internet service for volunteers and computer upkeep
  
•  $50 pays the salary for one part-time coordinator to help volunteers
  
•  $100 pays one full time volunteer coordinator to support volunteers in finding good places to work
  

More Information About This Project:

     Volunteerism accounts for 5% of Nepal’s GNP. This is a staggering number when you stop to consider it, and we think the surface has barely been scratched for what’s possible. With peace in the country, Nepal can soon expect tourist visits to reach nearly 500,000 people per year. A great many of these visitors come to trek or climb the beautiful mountain regions of Nepal. It seems to happen quite often, however, that once a trekker sees Nepal and enjoys the awesome hospitality of the Nepali people, he or she is suddenly moved and motivated to spend a few days doing some volunteer work.

     Until the creation of The Mountain Fund's Visitor Information Center, finding a short term volunteer position was difficult. There are thousands of NGOs (nonprofit organizations) and it was difficult if not impossible for the short term volunteer to locate, contact and actually give some time to an organization all in one trip.

     Now, The Visitor Information Center provides a single source of contact for immediate placement in a volunteer capacity for almost any interested tourist. You can walk into our beautiful center, choose something that interests you, complete an application and be introduced that same day to a local organization which needs your help. The Center is truly a unique and innovative program which we’ve launched with the financial assistance of the Tessa Horan Memorial Fund. Tessa was a Peace Corps Volunteer at the time when she died, and so helping to fund a project which encourages volunteerism seems a fitting tribute to her.

     For volunteer opportunities in South America, CLICK HERE to visit the website of our partner organization, the South American Explorers' Club.

More About The Center:

     The center has moved to a new location: Across from K.E.E.P. in Thamel.

     Hours of operation in the off-season are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday. In the trekking seasons, we are also open on Saturdays. Use of this center is free to all Mountain Fund members and to anyone who is currently working as a volunteer in Nepal. This is your home office in Kathmandu, if you are traveling to Nepal, please come by, see our center, and say "hello" to the staff.

Where This Project Is Located:

This Project is located in Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Nepal Facts:

• Total population about 29,519,114 (est. July 2008)
• Literacy rate of ages 15 and over, who can read & write is 48.6%
• Human Development Index - Nepal is 0.534, just above sub-saharan Africa and below Bangladesh, to put it in perspective. HDI measures life expectancy at birth (62 in Nepal), Adult literacy (48% in Nepal), School enrollment levels (48% in Nepal), and GDP per capita ($1550 in Nepal) - Overall, Nepal is 84th on a list of 108 developing countries.