Chitwan-Madi Jungle Village

The HFN offers volunteers the chance to join the village community in a village in Chitwan-Madi near the jungle and border with India. Volunteers have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in Nepali culture living with a Nepalese family.

Volunteers can learn about traditional farming, enjoy some jungle treks, help in the village school and experience the genuine hospitality of the local people. The local people would welcome sharing skills e.g. health, cooking, arts and crafts, construction etc. This is a chance to get involved, join the local people and help where you can.

Volunteer Roles
1. To get immersed in Nepali culture
2. Share skills – cooking, arts & crafts, construction, health & welfare
3. Eco- farming -to observe, help and develop new solutions
4. Eco-tourism – To get involved in latest project-jungle walks, picnics, etc
5. To research the needs of the people, identifying problems possible solutions and reporting back

A visit to Chitwan Madi can also be linked in with a Visit to Chitwan National park where you can explore wildlife and the Chitwan Jungle (this would be costed separately)

Sindhupalchok Himalayan Foothills

In a village in the Himalayan foothills, the HFN is helping the community rebuild and recover from the 2015 earthquake. The area is of outstanding beauty nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, but it is extremely poor. Tin houses have been erected, replacing the more traditional two storey houses and many families are now cramped into bedrooms with 4 to 5 people in each room.

The main work in the villages is building houses, and agriculture terraced farming. The people need help with agriculture, there is a shortage of labour, no money for investment, and everything is done by hand.

Volunteer Roles

1. Building work e.g. Helping to put a ceiling in the church roof
2. For a woman to follow another woman and help with everyday tasks from, helping with the baby/young child, working in the fields, cooking, cleaning, fetching water.
3. For a man to team up with a family helping with agriculture, building work and animals.
4. To get immersed in the day to day life in Gunsa and choose an area to explore, helping and coming up with ideas to improve conditions
5. To introduce any skills you may have to help these people earn a small income.
   eg. Cooking and healthy eating, teaching how to knit, wood work , crafts etc

A placement in this village would give opportunities to highlight community needs. There is also the opportunity to hike to the neighbouring villages, walking and exploring these is incredible, as the landscape is stunning, and each village has its little quirks and the people are all so friendly. For the more adventurous 2-3-day trekking can be arranged with a local guide who knows the hills and all the trails.

A trip to Gunsa is not for the faint hearted. The journey can be tough and the roads are in accessible in the monsoon season. Accommodation for volunteers is very basic. Community projects are being planned and need developing. A trip here as part of a program could be an invaluable experience.