Chitwan, Nepal
June 17–July 2, 2010
Looking for an experience that will change your life? Interested in being part of a fun, easygoing team? If so, read below!
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Homeowner Pratibha Adhikari and daughter Sostika in front of their new Habitat house.
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About Nepal
Located in southern Asia and couched between India and China, Nepal contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga—the world's tallest and third-tallest mountains, respectively.
Nepal is as ethnically diverse as its terrain. The Nepalese are descendants of three major migrations from India, Tibet and central Asia. Nepali is the official language, but more than 100 regional and indigenous languages are spoken throughout the country. Religion is also diverse in Nepal; Nepal is roughly 81 percent Hindu, 11 percent Buddhist and 4.2 percent Muslim.
About Habitat for Humanity Nepal
Nearly 90 percent of Nepal’s 22 million people live in the rural plains and mountains, primarily as subsistence farmers. Forty-five percent of Nepal’s population lives below the poverty line, with one infant in every 10 dying before the age of five. A lack of employment and poverty has forced one in 10 of the rural population to migrate to the capital, Kathmandu, and other cities—resulting in a shortage of adequate housing in towns and cities, crowded living spaces and the growth of substandard housing.
Habitat for Humanity Nepal builds in every major geographic area of the country, providing an affordable and decent house using the resources available in each location. This may mean mud-and-brick, bamboo or clay bricks. These houses replace the thatch, straw, mud and bamboo houses that are now just pieced together. HFH Nepal also partners with other nonprofits to help teach families how to build homes, to provide disaster response to help communities affected by flooding and to provide clean water and proper sanitation to families in need.
About Chitwan
Chitwan is located west of Kathmandu and is surrounded by Chitwan National Park, a World Heritage Site that offers views of Nepal’s most famous wildlife.
Types of construction for volunteers
Volunteers may work on new construction or renovation of homes. Construction materials depend upon locally available materials: bamboo, brick, stone, cement blocks, sunburned brick, etc. The construction tasks will vary depending on the stage of construction.
Standard itinerary
Day 1 (typically Thursday): Depart from home.
Day 2 (Friday): Travel day.
Day 3 (Saturday): Arrive in Kathmandu; welcome and general orientation; overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 4 (Sunday): Breakfast at hotel; half-day free time and sightseeing; fly to Chitwan; check into hotel; welcome with local host program staff.
Days 5–9 (Monday–Friday): Breakfast at the hotel; construction and safety orientation; work from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. with lunch on site; free time after work to clean up; dinner; time for team activities.
Days 10–11 (Saturday–Sunday): Free days; cultural activities or day trips.
Days 12–14 (Monday–Wednesday): Breakfast at the hotel; construction and safety orientation; work from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. with lunch on site; free time after work to clean up; dinner; time for team activities.
Day 15 (Thursday): House dedication; farewell lunch; fly back to Kathmandu; free time and overnight there.
Day 16 (Friday): Depart for home.
Note: There will be time for some cultural activities after certain work days to visit a school, orphanage, etc.
Accommodations
Lodging will be provided in a local hotel with participants sharing double-occupancy rooms and a bath. Breakfast will be provided at the hotel. Lunch, snacks and bottled water will be taken on the work site. Dinner will be eaten at the hotel or a local restaurant.
Trip cost
$1,900
Trip cost includes: donation to the Habitat host program and HFHI; meals; accommodations; In-country transport (including domestic air fare); medical emergency evacuation and trip cancellation insurance; some local cultural activities and team coordination and orientation materials. The team leader’s trip cost and estimated air fare may be included in the trip budget. The trip cost does not include trip participant international air fare, R&R activities or visa and exit fees (not applicable for all destinations).
Team leader
Megan Haughey is an experienced Global Village team leader, having led teams to over four countries. For more information about this GV trip to Nepal, contact Megan for additional information at mhaughey24@yahoo.com.