Ace the Himalaya Community Service Volunteer Program is primarily designed to bring forth coordinated efforts of all the experts and individuals in different areas under one platform and thereon work towards achieving its common goal and mission. It provides a unique opportunity for volunteers to live and work in Nepal. Upon selected for volunteering, an individual gets a chance to make a contribution for the sustainable development of Nepal especially in Gorkha district (Arupokhari, Aruchanaute and Ratmate villages).

Through our placement of the volunteers into the homes of Nepalese families, where they share in the daily life of the average Nepalese while working in the community, we have found that the experience is life-altering and affirming for both the Nepalese and the volunteers. Teaching is more than reciting knowledge; it's about giving a part of you over to the local people you work with and students. It is about building bridges, creating links, it's about inspiring, it's about sharing and more than anything it's about giving.

Volunteers are required to contribute in the areas like school education, health, community development, forest conservation, agriculture, culture preservation and fund raising and maintenance of the drinking water resources.

TYPES OF VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMS 
Volunteers are placed in schools, health post, local village and other project implementing areas in Gorkha district in accord with their interests and abilities. The volunteer program provides following options for volunteers:

1. Teaching

Volunteers will teach for three to five hours per day.
Schools are open six days a week, Saturday being the day off.
You will need a good command of written and spoken English, plenty of enthusiasm and a lot of patience.

You don't need previous experience but you will need to be creative to make learning English fun for the children, past volunteers have taught by:

-Using word association games
-Drawing pictures of animals/people
-Singing (eg "head shoulders, knees & toes!")

Bhairabi Primary school (students age from 4 – 12 years ) - Minimum Duration of volunteering – One Week.
You can teach English, Math, Physical education (sports & exercise) Social Studies & Environment (Focusing on values and the culture of Nepal) or Creative and expressive art. As a volunteer you can teach one or more subjects. Keep in mind that the facilities are poor and you have to maintain child-friendly environment. You must adopt result-oriented creative teaching methods. Class sizes range from twenty to thirty students.

Dharapani Secondary School (student age form 6 – 18 years) Minimum Duration of volunteering – One Week.
Depending upon your areas of expertise, you can choose to teach many subjects; English, Physical exercise, Social Studies (more focused on different cultures), Science (Chemistry, organic science & Biology combined) Moral education, Population & Environment, Agriculture and Computer class. If you do not possess a teaching degree, you will be only permitted to assist a teacher.  However, if you volunteer for a longer period say more than a few weeks, you will definitely be capable enough to conduct such classes independently in a short time.

A professional English teacher (Minimum duration of volunteering: 6 months, one year is preferred)
Dharapani Secondary school in Gorkha district needs a long term English teacher. If you bear an University degree and have work experience as a English teacher you are eligible to teach students of 8th, 9th and 10th grade. Even if English is your second language, we are still eligible for this position.  You are required to work for 3-5 hours a day teaching school students of the school and some interested villagers. Meals and accommodation will be provided in a ‘Nepali Home stay’ (see further on this page).  You are expected to bear your own flight ticket, insurance. Visa will be arranged by the Ace the Himalaya.

2.  Working in Health Camps (Minimum duration of volunteering: one week, longer is preferred)
Our Health Program mobilizes volunteers experienced in medical and health areas, to the rural area where the government is unable to provide a formal health institution. Many rural Nepali people are unable to make the time or they don't have resources to go to the hospital and other modern health services because of orthodox thinking, superstition and other cultural influences. Some Nepali people may visit a witchdoctor when they are suffering from an illness, some die as a result of avoiding modern medications. By living and working with rural communities, Health Program volunteers also increase the exposure of rural Nepali people to modern medicine.

Ace the Himalaya welcomes all interested and experienced medical and health personnel, students including students, professionals, organizations, associations and other groups to volunteer their services in our Health Camps Clinic.

Join us to organize a Health Camp to increase public awareness relating to hygiene, nutrition, immunizations and to pay particular attention to educating women and school children:

NOTE: You won’t be working in established health post, so you are require to bring all the medication and other relevant equipments for general check up of the local patients.

We are looking for supporters (contributors) to build fully equipped small health post where the future volunteers can stay and work, this will benefit more than 3000 local people from thirty different villages. Please contact us for the more information.

3. Live as a farmer (Minimum duration of volunteering – one day)
Volunteering as a farmer or volunteering to live with farmers is an option provided for you in Gorkha district. This will let you experience how it is to rely on weather just the way local farmers do in their practical life; using non-mechanical tools most of the time and especially learning how to grow different crops.

Where it is and how to get there?
Gorkha is located North West from Kathmandu while the Arupokhari, Aruchanaute and Ratmate villages are located in the Northern part of the Gorkha district. You can travel there only by road. A local public bus from Kathmandu leaves everyday from morning 6.30am till 11.00am We will arrange all your road transportation and our representative will be at Arughat, Dhading Besi or Gorkha Bazar to meet with you and guide you to the village area.

You have two options in which to reach the area of Arupokhari, Aruchanaute and Ratmate villages to see our projects.

Option One
142 kilometers concrete road the drive from Kathmandu will take you 5 hours and leads you to the main town of Gorkha Bazar, which is headquarters of the whole Gorkha region. From Gorkha Bazar it's a 42km dirt road drive by bus or 4wd it will take 5 hours to reach Arughat via Khanchowk and Ghyampeshal.

During the monsoon season from end of May to end September there is no access from Gorkha Bazar to Arughat due to the roads becoming unusable, but if you are taking 4wd it may be possible, but there are no guarantees, it depends on the recent weather conditions.  During the monsoon season you will need to walk from main town of Gorkha Bazar to village, which would take you a good 8 hours.

During the month of October to end April the local buses are available everyday leaving from New Bus park in Kathmandu to Arughat directly from 6.30am to 10.00am. If you don't get direct bus to Arughat you can still travel to Gorkha and try to catch another local bus or truck to Arughat, if not you may have to stay overnight in Gorkha.

Once you arrive in Arughat Bazar you travel in a west direction by climbing the stairs at the top Arughat Bazar and then across the bridge and Stiull khola (Stiull River) you will ascend up, to reach the village, the hike will take you around 2 to 3 hours all the way up. At first you will reach Dharapani Lower Secondary School at Dharapani Village, from there it's another hour walk to Ratmate village where Bhairabi School and Health Post is located.

If you don't want to walk up hill there is another option. You travel from Gorkha Bazar to Ghyampeshal by bus which is about 3 hours, then the walking is easy from there flat and downhill, it will take you 2.5 hours to reach Ratmate village and Bhairabi Primary school.

The dirt road drive is very adventurous but it is safe, you can also walk from main town of Gorhka Bazar to village, which would take a good 8 hours.

There is also the option of taking 4WD drive but this will cost you US$200 each way. If you are interested in the 4wd option please contact us, we are happy to make the arrangements for you.

Option Two
92 kilometers concrete road the drive from Kathmandu will take you 3.5 hours and leads you to the main town of Dhading Besi Bazar, which is headquarters of the whole Dhading Region. From Dhading Besi it's a 37km dirt road drive by bus or 4wd it will take 4 hours to reach the market area of Arughat (Bisal Nagar) Dharding separate by the Budi Gandaki River. Upon reaching the market you travel in a west direction across the bridge and ascending up the stairs, to reach the village the hike will take you around 2 to 3 hours all the way up. At first you will reach Dharapani Lower Secondary School at Dharapani Village, from there its another hours walk to Ratmate village where Bhairabi School and Health Post is located.

During the month of October to end April the local buses are available everyday leaving from Dhading Bus park in Kathmandu to Arughat directly from 6.30am to 10.00am. If you don't get direct bus to Arughat you can still travel to Dhading Besi and try to catch another local bus or truck to Arughat, if not you may have to stay overnight in Dhading Besi.

During the monsoon season from end of May to end September there is no access from Dhading Besi to Arughat due to the roads becoming unusable, but if you are taking 4wd it may be possible but there are no guarantees, it depends on the recent weather conditions. During the monsoon season you will need to walk from main town of Dhading Besi to village, which would take you a good 8 hours.

There is also option of taking 4WD drive but this will cost you US$200 each way. If you are interested in the 4wd option please contact us, we are happy to make the arrangements for you.

Cost and Travel
Cost US$70 per week (US$10 per day) per person.

Where your money goes
70% of the volunteer costs go to the family that you are staying with for your expenses. The other 30% is going towards building a Volunteer house. In future we don't want to burden the local family's precious time for them to look after you as they have to work long hours each day to survive. The cost will even decrease once the volunteer house has been built. We know you’re donating your valuable time therefore we are trying to offer volunteering as cheap as possible.

Your added donation is always greatly appreciated, please contact us if you want to know the financial structure to build volunteer house.

The cost includes meals, accommodation with hot tea, local bus transportation to and from villages.

Accommodation
Accommodation is in a traditional Nepalese Farmhouse, you will be provided a basic bed with a mattress and a quilt or blanket, although its recommend to take your own sleeping bag.

Toilet Facilities
Most village families in Nepal don't have a flushing toilet that is connected to a sewage system. All toilets are squat toilets either made of a few planks precariously positioned over a hole in the ground or made of stone with a bucket and/or tap. There is a water supply next to the toilet which is used for flushing the toilet. You need to take your own toilet paper with you as its not common practice to use in remote areas and you don't get them there.

Bathing
In the village area there are no private facilities for bathing, there are only the local spring water areas that are very much out in the open and all local village people use them too. Bathing can be done at any time and you are recommended to wear something at all times as Nudity is not acceptable. It is ok to use soap in the water streams when bathing.

Meals
Typically you will eat Nepali food with your home stay family twice a day (around 9am and 7pm but you can ask them if you want to eat late or early) Dhal Baht consisting of Rice, Lentils, Potato and/or Spinach. Tea is served in the morning and in the afternoon, either black or with cow or buffalo milk. They also offer popcorn, wheat, millet and corn breads around 3 PM in a day. You can also cook yourself in the local Nepali kitchen, if you are non-vegetarian you can try to get local chicken in village, if you are vegetarian please let the family know.

Laundry Options
Washing facilities for clothes is the same area that you bath in and there is normally a line to hang your clothes on outside of the traditional house that you are staying at.

Cultural Tips/Considerations
• The traditional Nepalese greeting, by placing your palms together in a prayer position and say "Namaste" or "Namaskar"
• We recommend you to purchase a Nepalese Phrase book, as they speak little English in the village, it will come in handy to refer back to student or patient in Nepalese.
• Dress appropriately - Shorts, lycra, and revealing clothes are unsuitable for men or women.  Its not acceptable to walk around with no shirt on.
• Nudity - is unacceptable ANYWHERE even when bathing.
• Always remove your shoes before entering a Nepali home
• Avoid "polluting" food by inadvertently touching it or bringing it into contact with a used plate or utensil. Using your own fork or spoon to serve more food is not acceptable; always wait to be served.
• You are expected to wash your hands and mouth before dinning
• Nepalese can drink from a cup or water vessel without letting it touch their lips, if you are using the same container, pour into a cup but don't put your mouth on the vessels.
• Public displays of affection are frowned upon. No kissing or hugging in public.
• Raising your voice or shouting is also not acceptable.
• It’s bad manners to step over someone's outstretched legs or to touch someone's feet.

What to bring?

The Essentials

1. Sturdy walking shoes.

2. Sandals are also useful.

3. Clothes appropriate for the weather. (A warm coat in winter and an umbrella during the monsoon are essential).

4. A towel and washcloth.

5. Toiletries (soap, shampoo and laundry detergent powder or bars can be purchased from Arughat market).

6. A good flashlight.

7. Camera and Spare batteries for camera.

8. Sleeping bag is preferred but not required as they will offer clean blanket for you.

9. Any personal medication that you may need along with the travel basics like pain relievers, diarrhoea medication, antacids, Band-Aids and first aid cream.

10. Sunscreen.

Optional Extra's
1. Snacks and foods such as cheese, pasta, jam, ketchup or other commodities can be purchased in Kathmandu to sooth any cravings.

2. Photos of your family and friends are always appreciated and are an easy way to help villages get to know you better.

3. A musical instrument, if you play one, will win you many friends.

4. Small items such as stamps, postcards and trinkets from your home country make appropriate gifts. Teaching materials or Medical books can also be donated to the school, health post for future use.

Please Note: You are traveling into a remote area of Nepal that has no proper shop facilities for two hours of where you will be staying, therefore if you desperately want something make sure you take it with you.

Who can Apply
We work together with individuals, business owners, Schools, Universities, Hospitals, Health Posts, Sporting and church groups, along with those that have a desire to make a difference.

If you are teaching in a local school you should have basic English skills with good grammar reading and writing. There are no specific educational levels required.
If you are volunteering for the Health Post or Health Camps, you should be trained or associated with the related Sector in your home country. To apply we require at least one document such as a certificate, id card or letter from your related association, school or University that can prove you are qualified to deal with people’s health requirements and medication.

How to Apply
To apply, please contact us minimum ten days before your arrival so that we can make the necessary arrangements and secure your placement.