Int’l Internship & Volunteer Network Discover Infinite Possibilities   Discover Nepal Inclusive Internship Programs   Experience the most of what the spiritual and enchanted land of Nepal has to offer!  The Himalayan Kingdom can offer you exciting days, moments of true relaxation and more!   For many of us the Himalayan Kingdom conjures up images of snow-capped mountains and rolling green hills. Indeed, eight of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders lie in Nepal, making it a mountaineer’s dream! Nepal has more to offer than just the high Himalaya. As small as the country may be, the land is diverse geographically as well as ethnically. You will find rich cultures and vibrant traditions, exquisite temples and monuments, as well as fast flowing rivers and tropical jungles teeming with wildlife, making your trip unforgettable!  It is a country where people of different races and religions live in relative harmony.   ~ ~ ~   Program & Placement Opportunities Program Requirements Applicant Requirements Start Dates & Program Duration Inclusive Program Fees & Inclusion Pre-Med Programs Application Process ~ Benefits of Participation Other Important Information   ~ ~ ~

Program & Placement Opportunities In addition to offering placements in the fields listed below,  Participants may also take part in one of the following additional program options.  Please select your link of interest for further details.   Option A – Human Rights Internship and Research Program Option B - Journalism Option C ~ Teaching English at School/Monastery Option D ~ Working in an Orphanage   ·         Adult Education ·         AIDS ·         Arts/Fine Arts ·         Childcare ·         Community Development ·         Community Health ·         Counseling ·         Culture Education ·         Economics ·         Engineering ·         English Teaching ·         Environmental Management & Studies ·         Fashion Business & Design ·         Finance ·         Gender Issues ·         Hospitality/Hotel/Restaurant ·         Human Rights – Participants have an opportunity to work at Human Rights related NGOs, for two (2) to twenty (20) weeks, to study human rights issues and situations in Nepal, and pursue short- or long-term research on relevant issues. ·         International Relations ·         Journalism and Photo Journalism– Participants may work at a vast array of national daily newspapers and magazines. A minimum of one month is required for our Journalism Programs. ·         Law/Legal ·         Liberal Arts ·         Linguistics ·         Marketing/Advertising/PR ·         Nepali Music ·         Orphanage - There are more than two hundred orphanages in existence in Kathmandu valley alone. We are happy to customize an opportunity for you with one of our orphanages based on your interest.  Placements may also be arranged in rural areas of the country. ·         Pharmaceuticals ·         Photography Pre-Med; including Health, Health Care, Health Education, etc - Medical/nursing students will work as volunteers at government and private teaching hospitals and clinics. *Pre-Med programs in Nepal exceeding 4 weeks will be charged an additional $250 per week up to a maximum of five (5) months. ·         Primary & Public Education ·         Recreation ·         Social Services/Social Work; including Social Development & Integration ·         Teaching & Tutoring - Students in this program live in a certain village or town and teach at local schools, monasteries or orphanages. Placement is fixed by mutual arrangement and correspondence.  A minimum of one month is required for our Teaching Programs. ·         Technology ·         Tourism ·         Urban & Regional Planning ·         Sports ·         Street Children ·         Wildlife Sciences ·         Women’s Issues ·         Youth Development ·         Zoology ·         and many more… If you do not see your field of interest listed above, just let us know what you would like to do, where you would like to go and how long you would like to stay.  It would be our pleasure to work with you to customize an opportunity that would meet your needs!  ~ ~ ~

Program Requirements   International Internship & Volunteer Programs, along with intercultural travel, share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. Our Discover Nepal Programs are designed for proactive individuals. Naturally, the schedule and activities of our programs are subject to change. At times, alterations in activities are due to changes in local conditions, wheather, etc. This is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that it is. Participants of our Discover Nepal Program must ensure they are realistically prepared for, and able to cope with, the following:   Living without modern plumbing, hot water and electricity. Many participants experience an illness during their stay.  We strongly recommend you contact your primary care physician to ensure you receive all necessary immunizations/vaccinations, prior to departure from your home country. Being open enough to accept and respect a culture, no matter how different it is from the culture of your home country. Understanding that the culture in Nepal is not as obsessed with time as the US or Europe. Often, schedules are ignored or appointments begin later than arranged. You may also encounter corruption in government officials and local administrators.   Choosing to participate in a program in Nepal opens the door for a personally enriching and life-changing experience!  ~ ~ ~

Start Dates & Program Duration   The majority of our Discover Nepal Programs are offered year-round and start in Kathmandu.    The standard IIVN Program Fee applies to a program duration of 4 weeks.  Participation may be extended up to a maximum of 5 - 6 months, depending on program, for an additional fee per week.   Start dates for our Discover Nepal Program are noted below:   ·         January 7, 2008 ·         February 4, 2008 ·         March 3 & 31, 2008 ·         April 28, 2008 ·         May 26, 2008 ·         June 23, 2008 ·         July 21, 2008 ·         August 18, 2008 ·         September 15, 2008 ·         October 13, 2008 ·         November 10, 2008 ·         December 8, 2008     Journalism Programs will start the 1st of every month, year round.  The minimum program duration for these programs is one (1) month.   Pre-Med Programs start every Monday, year round.  The minimum program duration is two (2) weeks and maximum is five (5) months.   Teaching Programs are not available in October, due to the number of festivals interrupting the school schedule.  Teaching programs are offered the 1st Monday of every week and are available year-round.   ~ ~ ~

Option A - Human Rights Internship and Research Program: Nepal is in the peace process after a decade-long Maoist conflict. National and Int’l Human Rights organizations are actively watching and monitoring the rights situation in the country. At the same time, we have launched an internship, volunteer and research program in this field. We hope that it may help eager participants to gain exciting experience and knowledge in the field of human rights in a conflict-affected third world country. Participants work at an NGO or other organization, to familiarize themselves with current issues and simultaneously develop ideas for news, features, research work related to human rights. Participants may be asked to submit brief periodical reports, outlining his/her works and professional achievement, so that he/she could be assigned for writing on appropriate issues in a more relevant perspective. It is published in a human rights media which is our partner organization. Although such a report may not always be deemed necessary, especially when intern/volunteer is in regular touch, they may also be asked to present their works orally to the team. After becoming more familiar with the issues and situations at hand, participants may be asked to write news, feature articles or take photos of events for the media. Participants who are Journalism Students, photographers, or individuals with a keen interest in media writings are best suited for this type of placement. Participants who have a background or interest in sociology, anthropology, psychology, political science, or any other related subjects of humanities, may be more interested in research projects.  Participants must have an academic and practical credential to support his or her research plan.   Option B - Journalism: We are proud to offer an exciting opportunity to journalism participants who are interested in exploring Nepal's great culture, beauty, people and media, working as a journalist with Nepal's leading national newspapers and magazines. Participants may work in reporting, editing, photography in daily, weekly, biweekly or monthly magazines. All assignments are with English language publications.  For those familiar with the Nepali language, opportunities with Nepali publications are also available.  Participants will be given standard journalism assignments and will obtain a press pass from the publication prior to the commencement of your assignment. Participants will work with the Chief Photo Editor directly and will have an opportunity to schedule a meeting with the Chief Newspaper Editor during the program, if they wish.   Media types: ·         Publications: Daily, weekly, bi-weekly and monthly publications. Daily newspapers The Kathmandu Post The Rising Nepal Weekly Newspaper People's Review The Spotlight Monthly Magazine Nepal Post (political) New Business Age The Boss (economy) Fame (fashion, art, music, entertainment) Life (social) Kathmandu Info Tiser (youth) VOW-Voice of Women (women) VOC-Voice of Children (Children) Nepal Traveler (Tourism) And more.... Online Media NepalHumanRightsNews.com ·         TV Stations: Nepal Television, Kantipur Television, Channel Nepal, Image Channel.  Opportunities available in Reporting, Editing and *Photography. Work as an assignment reporter, to cover the stories or photo stories around the country, spend time working the news desk, or serve as an assistant editor. *Note: Photography participants will not receive payment for their photos as the publication reserves the right to use your photos during the course of your program. You retain all rights to your photos following the completion of your program.     Work Week: Sunday through Friday Working Hours:  Participants will work 5-7 hour days, depending on publication type and assignment. Hours may vary per assignment. (Participants may choose to part-time or full-time.) Rights to photo: Participants retain all rights to their photographs. Publications reserve the right to use the participant’s photos in the assigned publication, however the images will be otherwise used through participant’s permission only. Photo assignment: Participants will be working with one of the photo journalists employed by the publication and as a photo journalist, the participants assignments will be photo stories.

Option C - Teaching English at School/Monastery: Nepal is one of the most beautiful mountainous countries in the world and our Teaching Program is an excellent opportunity to work and travel the home of Mount Everest. Working as an English-speaking Teaching Assistant, participants will work with underprivileged children and help to give them opportunities they may not have had before, making this an extremely fun, rewarding and worthwhile experience! Participants in this program will teach English at either a Nepali public or private school, depending on the demand for participants at the time of their program. Opportunities are also available with either non-profit schools or a Buddhist Monastery! Non-profit schools often have limited resources - inviting you to teach creatively. The children are both dedicated and respectful, and with your lessons planned you will be free to teach. Fridays are reserved for games, or enjoying a day to yourself. For those wanting a more cultural immersion, take a unique opportunity to teach Buddhist monks in a monastery. In addition to working on their English language skills, you may also be leading games and activities. Female volunteers will also be accepted to teach at the monasteries. The majority of the time, participants in teaching projects will work as instructors and are more than welcome to participate in other school activities while they work at the school.  Your project supervisor will assist with teaching methods, advice with solutions to communication barriers (both with students and colleagues), and provide curriculums to follow.  We welcome participants with a working knowledge of English, as well as the desire to share their knowledge with students who are eager to learn. Typically, participants teach two to three hours a day, for six days a week, year-round. For the most part, children range in age from 6 to 13 years old and placement locations include the Capital City of Kathmandu and surrounding towns or villages. Teaching is not available in October due to the number of festivals interrupting the school schedule. Qualifications – Teaching Participants must have… ·         A desire to work with and help children. ·         Flexibility ·         Self-Motivation ·         An openness to new culture and a willingness to learn. ·         English teaching or ESL experience or certification is helpful, but not mandatory. ·         Be fluent in English     Option D - Working in an Orphanage: There are more than two hundred orphanages in existence in Kathmandu Valley, in addition to rural areas of the country. An important skill that participants are able to provide while at an orphanage is basic English language teaching to the children. Besides teaching, volunteers often assist with things such as games, nutrition and sanitation. Many orphanages welcome active participation in administrative work, health education, games, and drawing and painting creatively with the children.  The assistance that our participants provide to these poor and underprivileged children changes the meaning and perspective of the life that these orphans grow up with.   Some orphanages are less formal and basically serve as informal education training centers.  Not only is working an orphanage a life-changing experience for the volunteer, it also changes the lives of the children they help.       ~ ~ ~

Following is a sample of how your four (4) week program may be scheduled.  Visit one of the following links below for further information on each option;   Week 1 – Orientation/Introduction Weeks 2 & 3 – Internship Program Opportunities Week 4 – Holiday Week     ~ ~ ~

Week 1 ~ Orientation/Introduction Duration: 1 week Location: Kathmandu 2008 Program Start Dates:  January 7; February 4; March 3 & 31; April 28; May 26; June 23; July 21; August 18; September 15; October 13; November 10; December 8 & 31. The Orientation is the first step for a successful stay in Nepal!  Therefore, the first week is dedicated to getting to know the country and customs, meeting other participants, and experiencing the best that Nepal has to offer. You also have an opportunity to learn about the basic Nepali language, religion, music and much more! Be immersed in the culture, lifestyle, language, food and traditions during one of our Discover Nepal programs in Kathmandu.  Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal and is enriched with temples more than homes and festivals exceeding the number of days in a year. The whole valley with its seven heritage sites has been enlisted in cultural World Heritage Site list. The place, which blends cultural vigor with modern facilities possible on earth is place liked by tourists been here. The place has more to offer and it is not only administrative capital of the country but to the fullest extend capital of traditional culture and physical resources. Three Durbar Squares - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath, Swoyambhunath and Changunarayan are the places most revered by the Kathmanduities and whole world. Kathmandu is not big when one compares it to other cities in South Asia. Kathmandu is a fascinating old city today where pagodas, narrow cobbled lanes, old carved windows, and stone shrines are backdrops to the drama of life that continues unhindered. Here the experiences are amazing, views fascinating, and the climate charming. Our Orientation schedule will be flexible but all introduction weeks usually consist of… Nepal: Culture, religion, habits, customs, history, social issues, are some of the topics that we will introduce you to through group discussions, workshops and visits. Language Skills: A first contact with the Nepali language and you will learn a few phrases to get by. Projects: If you proceed to do a volunteer project, we will give you an overview of the ongoing projects we support and send volunteers to, and an explanation of your particular placement. There will also be a project visit on site. General Information: Many new things will be introduced to you through some sessions on yoga, cooking, team work, project work, customs, habits, behavioral aspects, dos & don’ts, and emergency preparation. Cultural: Site Visits and meeting people will acclimatize you culturally. We will also do a One Day Trek up to 2000mts as an outdoor activity. You will have the opportunity to visit market places, and natural sites in groups or individually during free time. Participants are asked to bring small items from their home country (photos, music, food, etc.) and share their culture with the locals and other participants. Orientation/Introduction Food and Accommodation: The participants will be staying together in our center in shared bedrooms, and will partake all three meals together. The food is generally traditional Nepali and is a variety of dishes made of rice with sauces and vegetables. Meat is also served, especially chicken. All participants are expected to be environmentally responsible and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to play your part to keep the accommodation neat and tidy.     ~ ~ ~   Weeks 2 & 3 – Participants May Experience Nepal at its Fullest by taking part in one of the program options above:   ~ ~ ~

Week 4 ~ Holiday Week Customize your final week in Nepal by enjoying one of the following options…   Option A ~ Trekking Option B ~ Culture & Trek Option C ~ Meditation Week   ~ ~ ~    Option A – Trekking: Duration:  1 week Location:  Pokhara 2008 Program Start Dates:  Every Monday, Year-Round Participants are guided on a breathtaking trekking journey for seven days.  A visit to Pokhara, the western city of Nepal, is the highlight of this trip.  Pokhara is famous for its pristine lakes and mountains and is an unforgettable experience.   ~ ~ ~           Option B – Culture & Trek: Duration: 2 weeks Location: Pokhara, Chitwan & Surrounding Areas 2008 Program Start Dates:  January 14; February 4 & 25; March 17; April 7 & 28; May 19; June 9 & 30; July 21; August 11; September 1 & 22; October 13; November 3 & 24; December 15; During these two weeks you will be busy doing a trek in the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), touring the Pokhara valley and go wildlife spotting on a Jungle Safari in the Royal Chitwan National Park. You will also have the possibility to do a white water rafting in Trisuli River. The Itinerary will be adapted to the season.   Food and Accommodation:The participants will be staying together in various guesthouses and will partake all three meals together. The food is generally traditional Nepali and is a variety of dishes made of rice with sauces and vegetables. Meat is also served, especially chicken. All participants are expected to be environmentally responsible and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to play your part to keep the accommodation neat and tidy. Our Program Coordinators will take care of all activities and sessions for the entire orientation week.     Information on the Location: Kathmandu: Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal and is enriched with temples more than homes and festivals exceeding the number of days in a year. The whole valley with its seven heritage sites has been enlisted in cultural World Heritage Site list. The place, which blends cultural vigor with modern facilities possible on earth is place liked by tourists been here. The place has more to offer and it is not only administrative capital of the country but to the fullest extend capital of traditional culture and physical resources. Three Durbar Squares - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath, Swoyambhunath and Changunarayan are the places most revered by the Kathmanduities and whole world. Kathmandu is not big when one compares it to other cities in South Asia. Kathmandu is a fascinating old city today where pagodas, narrow cobbled lanes, old carved windows, and stone shrines are backdrops to the drama of life that continues unhindered. Here the experiences are amazing, views fascinating, and the climate charming.   Annapurna: The most popular trekking route in Nepal takes you through some of the most stunning scenery on earth. You will be walking through rhododendron forests over the foothills of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges and through the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest in the world. Treks to the Annapurna region start from the lake-side resort town of Pokhara. Maximum elevation 3,939m.   Royal Chitwan National Park: The Chitwan National Park (RCNP), covering an area of 932 km², is the oldest national park of Nepal. Established in 1973, it was granted the status of a World Heritage Site in 1984. The RCNP is located at the foot of the Himalayas in the Terai region, and the park is rich in flora and fauna, which include one of the last populations of single-horned Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the Bengal tiger. The area used to be known as the Chitwan Valley. It was a place for big game hunting and until 1951 it was a hunting reserve. At the park there is canoeing, elephant rides, and guided jungle walks. . The Chitwan National Park is home to at least 43 species of mammals, 450 species of birds, and 45 species of amphibians and reptiles. Elephants and Indian rhinos are the largest species found in the park, but a lot of other large herbivores are found in the park, gaur, sambar deer, Indian muntjac, chital, hog deer, mainland serow, chousingha and wild boar. Three large predator species, tigers, leopards, dholes prey on them and carrion eaters like striped hyenas are also found. Sloth bears are among the main attractions of the Park. Smaller carnivore species are golden jackal, yellow-throated marten, ratel, smooth coated otter, small Indian civet, large Indian civet, spotted linsang, common palm civet, binturong, small Indian mongoose, Indian grey mongoose, crab-eating mongoose, leopard cat, marbled cat and fishing cat. Further mammal species found in the park are rhesus monkeys, hanuman langurs, Indian pangolin, northern palm squirrel, red giant flying squirrel, parti-colored flying squirrel, Indian porcupine, hispid hare, Indian hare and Ganges doplhin.   ~ ~ ~ Option C – Meditation:  Duration: 10 Days Location: Kathmandu 2008 Program Start Dates:  January 28; February 18; March 10 & 31; April 21; May 12; June 2 & 23; July 14; August 4 & 25; September 15; October 6 & 27; November 17; December 8 & 31  Prepare yourself to practice meditation techniques at the Vipasana Meditation center near Kathmandu. The Technique: Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was rediscovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art Of Living. This non-sectarian technique aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full liberation. Healing, not merely the curing of diseases, but the essential healing of human suffering, is its purpose. Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind. It is this observation-based, self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind and body that dissolves mental impurity, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion. The scientific laws that operate one's thoughts, feelings, judgments and sensations become clear. Through direct experience, the nature of how one grows or regresses, how one produces suffering or frees oneself from suffering is understood. Life becomes characterized by increased awareness, non-delusion, self-control and peace. The Tradition: Since the time of Buddha, Vipassana has been handed down, to the present day, by an unbroken chain of teachers. Although Indian by descent, the current teacher in this chain, Mr. S.N. Goenka, was born and raised in Burma (Myanmar). While living there he had the good fortune to learn Vipassana from his teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin who was at the time a high Government official. After receiving training from his teacher for fourteen years, Mr. Goenka settled in India and began teaching Vipassana in 1969. Since then he has taught tens of thousands of people of all races and all religions in both the East and West. In 1982 he began to appoint assistant teachers to help him meet the growing demand for Vipassana courses. The Courses: The technique is taught at ten-day residential courses during which participants follow a prescribed Code of Discipline, learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results. The course requires hard, serious work. There are three steps to the training. The first step is, for the period of the course, to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual activity, speaking falsely, and intoxicants. This simple code of moral conduct serves to calm the mind, which otherwise would be too agitated to perform the task of self-observation. The next step is to develop some mastery over the mind by learning to fix one's attention on the natural reality of the ever changing flow of breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. By the fourth day the mind is calmer and more focused, better able to undertake the practice of Vipassana itself: observing sensations throughout the body, understanding their nature, and developing equanimity by learning not to react to them. Finally, on the last full day participants learn the meditation of loving kindness or goodwill towards all, in which the purity developed during the course is shared with all beings. Food and Accommodation: Accommodation will be at the Vipassana centre in dorm style rooms. Food will be very simple and basic vegetarian. No meat is allowed.   ~ ~ ~

Other Important Information     Climate:  Nepal's climate is typically monsoonal with a wet and dry season. The dry season runs from October through to May, with the monsoon season lasting the rest of the year. May, and the beginning of June, is the hottest time of the year. The temperature in Kathmandu often reaches as high as 30C and in some places the mercury can rise upwards of 45C. During the winter, temperatures may still be as high as 20C but, beware of near freezing conditions once night falls. Even though Nepal is well known for the Himalayan mountain range it never actually snows in Kathmandu.     Immunizations/Vaccinations:  We recommend you personally contact your primary care physician to determine exact vaccinations that are required for your trip. Diphtheria and Tetanus Polio Hepatitis A & B Typhoid Yellow Fever (not necessary unless you are coming from or going on to countries where a Yellow Fever certificate is required.) Tuberculosis Malaria (needs to be closely discussed with doctor.) Many of the above vaccines may be taken in oral form.  Please discuss with your primary care physician to determine what is best for you.       Visa:  Participants may purchase a Visa (US$30 for a two (2) month visit and extensions are US$30 for 30 day extensions) at Kathmandu airport upon arrival.  Participants may stay a maximum of five (5) months per year in Nepal.