Volunteering And Community Services

Today, you'll have an engaging day in Kathmandu. In the morning, the group will gather at the ACE office located in Thamel, near your hotel. Here, you'll receive a crash course in the Nepali language, focusing on essential words and phrases to facilitate daily conversations and interactions, especially while teaching in the village. The length of this language session can be adjusted based on the group's comfort and progress. Afterward, we'll embark on a half-day sightseeing tour of Boudhanath and Pashupatinath Temple.

Boudhanath Stupa, situated in the northeast of Kathmandu, is a renowned attraction in Nepal. The stupa features a large pair of Lord Buddha's eyes, reminiscent of the Swayambhunath Temple. King Songstan Gampo of Tibet built it and is a popular pilgrimage site.

Pashupatinath Temple, located near Boudha and a short drive away, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of Nepal's oldest Hindu temples, built during the Lichhivi Kings' period. Families and devotees gather here to worship Lord Shiva, with heightened activity during the "Maha Shivaratri" festival, the Night of Lord Shiva. On this day, people from various regions visit Pashupatinath to offer their prayers.

After the sightseeing, we will return to the hotel.

Overnight stay in the hotel. [B]

After a hearty breakfast at your Kathmandu hotel, you'll embark on a journey to Gorkha, approximately 138 kilometers away. The drive to Gorkha takes around 6 to 7 hours, and you'll travel in a 4WD vehicle. As you approach Gorkha, you'll reach a point where the vehicle can't proceed further. From there, you'll begin a trek on foot to reach the selected villages. The specific villages you will focus on are Aruchanaute, Arbang, Manbu, Thumi, and Arupokhari. Depending on the group size and logistics, you'll decide whether to visit one or multiple villages during your Gorkha stay.

Overnight stay in tents. [B]

Today, you'll commence your full day of community service, primarily focused on rebuilding houses in the village. This is a crucial part of your volunteering experience, and the rebuilding activities will continue for a total of three days. During this phase, you'll actively participate in the village's restoration efforts. It's important to note that you won't be required to perform specialized technical tasks initially. Instead, you'll engage in various activities supporting the construction and renovation process. These activities may include transporting housing materials like timber, stones, sand, cement, tin, iron rods, and aluminum sheets, mixing sand and cement, painting house walls, and more. Your willingness to assist with a range of tasks, whether simple or specialized, is highly valued and contributes significantly to the project's overall progress.

Overnight stay in tents. [B]

Continuation of rebuilding activities in Gorkha village.

Overnight stay in tents. [B]

Further engagement in rebuilding activities in the Gorkha village.

Overnight stay in tents. [B]

Continued efforts in community service, focusing on rebuilding activities in Gorkha village.

Overnight stay in tents. [B]

On the eighth day, you'll return to Kathmandu, covering the 138-kilometer journey that takes approximately 6-7 hours. In the evening, a farewell dinner will be arranged for you at a Nepali restaurant, accompanied by a cultural performance. This dinner program is organized to bid you farewell and express gratitude for your noble contributions to the Gorkha village rebuilding project.

Overnight stay in the hotel. [B]

Early in the morning after breakfast, we will arrange your transfer to the airport for your onward journey. [B]