About VIN

Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) is a non-governmental, non-for-profit organization which was founded in 2005 by a diverse group drawn from development workers, educationalists, social activists and other professionals. VIN is officially registered under the Society Act with the District Administration Office Kathmandu (Reg No. 147/062/63), and is also affiliated to the Social Welfare Council Nepal (SWC) (Affiliation No. 20910). VIN focuses on community-based projects involving local volunteers backed up by international volunteers.

Mission

VIN’s mission is to empower marginalised communities, with a focus on women and children, through enhanced educational programs and community training to promote equality, economic wellbeing and basic human rights.

Objectives

VIN aims to give people the right tools and knowledge to help themselves. The focus is on helping women and children through special educational programs and community training projects conducted independently and/or in association with like-minded organizations.

Specific objectives include:

• To help make women self-reliant through a number of initiatives including literacy classes; income generation projects; savings and credits groups and raising awareness on health, sanitation and the environment.
• To support and provide facilities for early childhood development, encouraging a good, basic foundation for young children at the start of their education.
• Provide a platform for children to participate in non-formal creative activities, as well as making them aware of their basic rights, through the establishment of Children Clubs in schools.
• To help children who have suffered as a result of the conflict to regain access to education.
• Provide sponsored education to disadvantaged children including orphans, conflict victim children and children from very poor and marginalized families.
• Provide community youths with English language classes; a youth club forum in which to enhance their social and professional skills and with the opportunity to volunteer within their local community.
• Raise awareness of the need for English language skills and to facilitate the teaching of English within schools, monasteries and nunneries.
• Help ensure the quality of education being provided, through conducting teacher training workshops, seminars and exchange visits.
• Provide resources and healthcare professionals to assist the health post, which services the local community.
• Raise awareness of the benefits of good sanitation and provide education in personal hygiene.
• Offer support in the establishment of a Community Learning Center (CLC) to provide learning platforms for eliminating illiteracy and for developing the professional capacity of community people.
• To support orphanages through offering financial assistance for education, food and clothing, and through the placement of volunteers.
• Introduce volunteers to the richness of Nepali culture and ensure a safe and memorable stay in a supportive environment.

Volunteer Programs

Since its establishment in 2005, VIN has been offering extremely competitive and affordable fees for volunteer opportunities in Nepal. VIN has been mobilizing international and local volunteers in its various programs, helping make a sustainable difference in the most marginalised communities and improving the lives of Nepali people.

VIN has been deploying volunteers in its own community projects. Volunteer Program includes: women's empowerment, teaching in schools, teacher development, health and sanitation, child and youth development, English teaching in monasteries, language and culture, environment and community education, teaching computer science, Construction and other material support, working in orphanages and rehabilitation centers, cultural exchange and home stay. Through our international allian

ces, we work together to help communities meet local needs and some of the goals of the United Nation's Millennium Declaration.

VIN offers an affordable volunteering opportunity for those who want to enjoy trekking and tremendous beauty of the Himalayas. They will experience the great nature, distinct culture, and lifestyle in one of the most beautiful countries of the world. Its volunteer programs are located at out skirt of beautiful valleys and villages all over Nepal, where volunteers contribute to the development of Nepali communities and enjoy a unique opportunity of travel, adventure and exploration. VIN could be your best help for voluntary work in Nepal. We have our own established projects for Summer volunteer as well.

Adventure Program

With many volunteers' request, VIN now also organizes affordable adventure programs, e.g. Trekking, sightseeing, Bunge Jump, White water rafting, Jungle safari through our partner institutes. The cost will be a way cheaper and it also gives a little money for the organization's projects in the community. So you can make many things in one with VIN. We ensure your memorable and life changing experience with us. Watch Our Children's Dance Here

ART TRAINING FOR FSP CHILDREN

Released On: 10 / 8 / 2007
VIN has conducted one day Art Training for FSP Children at Gongabu on 29th July, 2007. Our VIN International volunteer, Ann-Marie from Canada facilitated the workshop. There were 25 participants altogether including children, class facilitator, Educational volunteers and VIN staff. The participants at the training said- it was really an interesting way of making children's learning more joyful and creative. VIN is replicating these ideas to other children's clubs as well. Thank you Ann-Marie for helping us conducting such a useful training!

School Health Camp

Released On: 29 / 7 / 2007
VIN conducted school health camp on 29th July at Mahadevsthan Primary School, Jitpur Kathmandu. The children's club of Mahadevsthan received the MEDICAL TEAM with flower bouquet. The camp was conducted in partnership with Social Action Volunteer (SAV). There were15 people in the team from SAV, including 5 doctors, 7 nurses and 3 GAA personal. VIN volunteers, children club and school teachers played active role during the programme.

More than 300 people benefitted from the program. Out of them 170 were the school children and 130 plus were the community people. Most people who were deprived of medical checkup get checked and received the medicine. The community people participated the program with happiness. We would like to thank SAV for working in partnership with VIN.VIN will continue the school health camp for all of its working schools and communities. Anybody interested to support school health program can contact VIN.

TEACHERS' TRAINING on USING ART WORK for JOUFUL LEARNING

Released On: 19 / 7 / 2007
VIN conducted a one-day workshop for teachers of English on 17th July at Jitpur, 15 km away from downtown. There were 15 participant teachers from 6 schools: Jitpur HSS, Thulagaun SS, Kalikasaran PS, Khadawalkot PS, Mahadevesthan PS and Saraswoti PS.
The theme of the workshop was USING ART WORK for JOUFUL LEARNING. The facilitators of the workshop were Ann-Marie from CANADA and Bhupendra Ghimire. All teachers were very excited to the ideas. They said they enjoyed the training a lot. This is something teachers can use in their class and can make their lessons more joyful and ultimately can be more productive.
Playing with English words using colours is really a fun activity for children. We are planning to supply some materials to these schools. Thinking that whether teachers can encourage children to use these ideas in their learning! We need some funds for this. If you have any ideas for collecting funds, please let us know. With just $70 we can furnish with materials!
We are planning to conduct one training programmes for teachers of English in September. The theme of the training will be STARTING ENGLISH LESSONS USING JOYFUL APPROACH.

Flexible Schooling Programme (FSP)

Released On: 16 / 6 / 2007
VIN has been conducting various activities to support the government to help achieve the goal of "Education for All" by 2015. VIN has set up a Flexible Schooling Programme Class (FSP) at Gangabu, Kathmandu for the children aged 8-14 with no access of formal schooling. This programme has been implemented in partnerships with CASP/JICA and DEO. There are 22 children benefitting from the programme. All of these children are either victims of conflicts or orphans or house workers. They have to work hard to survive. They come to the class with no textbooks or any stationaries and uniforms. The class has been very supportive for them since they can come to the class in their own time (now afternoon 1:30-5:30) for 4 hours. This programme is for 3 years and after they complete 3 years, they will be admitted to grade VI in a public school (mother school) nearby.

VIN has been conducting different activities (mass communication, drama, door to door visit, and children’s club, youth development) to mobilize the community so that they would be aware on the importance of education and nobody would miss education. VIN has some financial constraints to support these children for uniforms and stationary.

If you are interested to support these children, then you can make donations either using our website DONATION BUTTON or mailing at donate@volunteeringnepal.org.
Thank you for your time and contributions!

Child Development Centre

Released On: 13 / 3 / 2007
VIN has set up Child Development Centre (CDC) at Panchmane Community, Kathmandu We have 20 children, aged between 4-5 have been benefiting from the programme. The Centre will have to be equipped with child friendly furniture and the materials for the children. This Centre has been implementing in partnership with District Education Office (DEO).
VIN also supports 6 CDCs based on 6 schools. At least we need 350 US dollars for each Centre to be well equipped.
Any individual or organization interested to support anyway for this purpose is welcome. You can send us your donations at: donate@volunteeringnepal.org or use our DONATE button.

Literacy Classes
Released On: 2 / 3 / 2007
we aim to promote literacy rate in the community and our volunteers now have been running literacy classes for women. There are 20-25 women in one class. We have been running this programme with the technical support of DEO, Kathmandu. The women have been very encouraged to learn basic mathematics and nepali alphabets reading.
We have mobilized the local volunteers for the purpose but we cannot afford even substance allowances. So if you want to support our local volunteers to promote their work, please contact at: info@volunteeringnepal.org
Thank you for reading and understanding us.
Income Generation Programme for Women

Released On: 2 / 3 / 2007
VIN has formed 9 groups of women at Jitpur for Income Generation Programme. We have been running this programme in association with District Education Office (DEO) Kathmandu. DEO will provide the technical support and VIN will do the rest. For the purpose, each group has to raise 10,000 Rupees ($150) and we will have to match the funds i.e. VIN will add 10,000 rupees to their funds. Our volunteers’ team have been conducting different activities to prepare for the programme.
The women have to be busy only in their household chores and they do not have any sources of income. They have to be dependent on their husband. Their husbands also do not have any good source of income and spend their time all day gambling. Their children do not have education materials they need and do not attend school regularly. VIN therefore aims to promote women's skills for generating income providing essential skills, e.g. mushroom production, candles making, incense making, bee keeping, and goat keeping.
The difficulties of the programme is that the women are financially so poor and they have said they cannot collect that much money. VIN therefore request individuals or organizations to support on the endeavor. Your small contribution will help the women in the community to develop their skills for income generation and can initiate their small business on their own and can support their children education.
If you are interested, please contact VIN.

Community Work

Released On: 1 / 3 / 2007
VIN runs its programmes only after the research in the site and projects are developed based on the research reports. Now our local and international volunteers are collecting data from the community involving the community people. We collect data using the PLA tools. Community Mapping, Focus Group Discussions, Interviews, Problem Tree, Participants Observations have been some of the tools for our staffs and volunteers to use. This picture shows one of the events in the community mapping. Community representatives have been involved in the process so that they know the process and can continue later ever after the projects are over. Our team will finish the first phase of data collection by March and we will have detail project planning in April gathering all possible community stakeholders, e.g. leaders, teachers, students, Head teachers, parents, women and local government in the new site.
We provide most opportunities for local people and youths. If we need experts then we recruit the outsiders otherwise only the locals. This has proven the good records for sustainable thoughts of development.
Come and give your hands for developing the marginalized communities.

Local Youth Development Workshop, 7th Feb to 14th Feb, 2007

Released On: 23 / 2 / 2007
Volunteer Initiative Nepal (VIN) conducted a week long Local Youth Development workshop for the youths of Jitpur Village Development Committee from 7th Feb to 14th Feb, 2007. There were 20 youths, 19 females and one male. One of them was the international volunteer from the US.
The Theme of the workshop was: Youth Volunteers for Community Development. The contents of the workshop were: Volunteerism, Making Change Happen, Facilitation Skills, Community Mobilization skills, Communication and Feedback skills, Child Rights and Participation.

The participants were very happy with the contents and techniques covered in the workshop. VIN aims to conduct workshops for teachers, children, Head teachers, Schools Management Groups, Community people in different area shortly.
We are not funded by any organization. If individual or organization is interested to help in these training programmes, we would be grateful and the marginalized groups of people would be advantaged.

Thanks for reading and understanding us.

Programmes Available Teacher Development, Teaching English in Schools, Volunteer for Child Development, Teaching English in Monasteries, child sponsorship, Health Sanitation and hygiene, Constructions and manual work, Environment and Agroforestry, Teaching Computer Science, Orphanages homes, Cultural Exchange & Homestay Program, Volunteering with Deaf  and disabled people.
Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) Contacts Mobiles: 00977 98510 70477
Tel: 00977 1 4362560
Fax: 00977 1 4362560
Email: info@volunteeringnepal.org / info@vinnepal.org
Post Box No- 19877
Kathmandu, Nepal