Involvement Volunteers International WHY we need you in Nepal
- Around 25% of the population in Nepal are living below the poverty line.
- Malnutrition is particually evident in children under 5, with 36% enduring stunting.
- Children from poor families have low attendence at school, with 1 in 4 of the poorest not going to school at all.
- Nepal can experience natural disasters, such as earthquakes. This can severly impact the local structures and roads.
- Much of Nepal's population lacks access to basic medical care.
HOW can you help?
- Work on renovation and construction projects to improve school facilities
- Learn basic carpentry, painting, and building techniques
- Collaborate with local communities and fellow volunteers
- Make a visible, long-term impact on students' learning environments
WHAT you can do?
- Demolishing broken structures to prepare for new construction
- Building walls using materials like cement, sand, and bricks
- Painting classrooms, furniture, and murals
- Basic carpentry work, such as repairing desks and benches
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity
- Over 30 Years Expertise Globally
- Low Program Fees - From US$295
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
LOCATION: POKHARA, NEPAL
START DATES: WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
ACCOMMODATION: VOLUNTEER HOUSE (SHARED ROOMS)
MIN DURATION: 1 WEEK
MIN AGE: 16+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Criminal background check required
Overview
Make a meaningful contribution to schools in Pokhara by joining our renovation and construction program. You’ll help enhance learning environments for local children by working on much-needed infrastructure improvements. This hands-on experience lets you collaborate with the local community to create safer, brighter, and more engaging school spaces.
Your daily activities may include both indoor and outdoor tasks—from painting and carpentry to constructing walls and installing fences. The work varies in intensity, but you’ll enjoy plenty of teamwork, memorable experiences, and the satisfaction of seeing your impact firsthand.
Ideal for practical, adventurous volunteers, this program blends physical work with cultural immersion in the scenic surroundings of Pokhara.
Program Highlights
- Contribute to school improvements through renovation and construction work
- Learn hands-on skills such as painting, basic carpentry, and bricklaying
- Collaborate with local residents and fellow volunteers
- See the direct impact of your efforts on students’ daily lives
- Enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty of Pokhara
Volunteer Tasks May Include
- Clearing damaged structures to prepare for new builds
- Constructing walls using cement, sand, and bricks
- Painting classrooms, murals, and school furniture
- Repairing desks, benches, and other fixtures
- Installing fencing to enhance school safety
- Mixing materials for construction (e.g., cement and sand)
- Moving building materials like rocks and bricks to project sites
Location
Pokhara, which is located 200km West of Kathmandu, is a popular tourist destination in Nepal and one of the main starting places for the stunning Annapurna trek. The surrounding areas have spectacular views of snow-capped mountains. Set amongst the foothills of the Himalayas, there is plenty for adventure lovers here, from white water rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding, some of the best trekking in the world, caves, museums, lakes and so much more!
Project Tasks
- Painting classrooms, furniture, and murals
- Basic carpentry work, such as repairing desks and benches
- Fencing the school premises to improve security
- Mixing cement and sand for construction projects
- Shifting materials like rocks and bricks to support building efforts
Food & Accommodation
Your accommodation will be at a volunteer homestay in Pokhara, located in a calm and peaceful neighbourhood. You will stay in shared single gender rooms with shared bathrooms, 2-4 people per room. The house is complete with living areas, dining areas and a balcony overlooking the mountains.
Fans, mosquito nets, cold showers, wifi, lockable rooms, and bed linen are provided with laundry facilities at an extra cost. There are ATM’s close to the house, and local supermarkets close to the house.
Three meals per day during weekdays and two per day on weekends. The meals are Nepali food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can expect to have a chicken dish about twice per week. You can also use the kitchen facilities to cook for yourself.
*Accommodation may be in our local centre or in close proximity, depending on availability and time of year.
Standard
Projects
- Cultural Orientation Week Kathmandu
- Stray Dog Rehabilitation Kathmandu
- Community Construction Kathmandu
- Construction, Pokhara
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1 Week - $460
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2 Weeks - $580
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3 Weeks - $750
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1 Month - $940
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2 Months - $2100
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3 Months - $3140
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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Airport Pickup
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Local Transportation
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1 Day Orientation
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24/7 In-Country Support
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Project Materials & Equipment
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Pre-departure Expert Advice
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Preperation Tools & Checklists
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Certificate of Completion
Testimonials...
FAQ
Due to the active nature of this program, a decent level of fitness is required.
- Accommodation
- 3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
- Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
- Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
- 1 day orientation
- Daily transportation to project
- In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
- Fundraising support
- University course credits (where applicable)
- Certificate of Completion
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
You will be picked up at Kathmandu airport and spend the first night (Sunday) at the accommodation in Kathmandu. On Monday you will have an orientation day in Kathmandu (no orientation is offered in Pokhara). On Tuesday, you will be transferred to Pokhara, before starting your project on the Wednesday.
Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.
A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). You must arrive between the hours 06:00 to 24:00 on Sunday.
If arriving outside the pickup times, you can book a private transfer or extra night for an additional fee.
Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).
From the airport to Kathmandu accommodation, it takes 45 minutes by taxi.
Monday to Friday
The activities vary depending on the needs at the time. However, the main tasks are the following:
- Bringing down broken structures
- Building walls using cement, sand, stone, bricks, etc.
- Painting
- Basic carpentry work
- Fencing the school premises
- Preparing mixtures of cement, sand and water
- Shift rocks from one place to another
***This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.***
Pokhara is an adventure lover’s paradise with plenty of adrenaline activities for all. You can also spend time wandering around the stunning lakes, visiting museums, caves, markets, go for a bike ride and so on. Of course, there are plenty of hiking opportunities around to suit different levels.
Additional Requirements
Due to the active nature of this program, a decent level of fitness is required.
Additional Equipment
Clothing
- Modest clothing (covers knees and shoulders)
- Comfortable walking shoes, sandals, water shoes
- Sun hat, fleece sweater, windproof rain jacket (depending on weather)
Documents
- Passport
- Flight info, insurance, vouchers, visas, and vaccination certificates (with photocopies)
Health & Safety:
- Hand sanitizer, face masks (if required)
- First-aid kit (medications, sunscreen, insect repellent, rehydration tablets)
Essentials:
- Toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc.)
- Day pack, small travel towel, reusable water bottle
- Moneybelt locks for bags
- Personal entertainment (books, cards, music player)
For information on holidays and any programs affected, please see the following link: NP – Holidays – All Programs
Nepal is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich countries in the world. Nepal first opened its borders to outsiders in the 1950s. It is home to Mount Everest, the birthplace of Buddha, and an astonishingly beautiful landscape, ranging from the well-known peaks of the Himalaya to the low-lying regions of the Terai.
The Nepali people are as diverse at the geography, with over 70 languages or dialects and scores of traditional festivals celebrated throughout the year.
However, Nepal is also one of the most under-developed countries in the world, with low rates of literacy, high rates of poverty and a persistent gender imbalance. The government is frequently unable to provide adequate education and health facilities throughout the country and both urban and rural areas are forced to live without necessary resources to promote growth and development of their communities.
Nepal is a year round destination, and the cliate can vary between the North and South regions. The best overall times to visit are during spring and autumn (particually for trekking).
December to Febuary is winter, and it can get extremely cold in the mountains (down to sub zero). Summer in this region has a pleasent temperature but still bring some warmer clothing for the evenings.
Summer in southern Nepal can get extremely hot (plus 40°C) in some areas. Winter temperatures in this area can range from 7°C to 23°C.
Kathmandu has a pleasent climate on average. The monsoon rains start from June to September in Nepal.
The majority of Nepalis are either Hindus or Buddhists, but there are many other religions here too like Islam, Christianity, Jainism and Sikhism. You will find many temples and monasteries around Nepal. The right hand is used for important things such as passing money, eating and the giving of gifts.
Nepalese people love their food and much of it has been influenced by Indian and Tibetan cultures. Nepali people have a lot of respect for elders and will call each other didi (“older sister”), bahini (“younger sister”), etc, even if they are not actually related. The family unit is very strong and having a close knit family is important for the local people.
30 Years Non Profit Experience
IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.
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