Volunteer Information > What it takes > UK Volunteers (2000-2001)

1. Background to the project:

Sermathang: Perched 2700 metres up in the Himalayas, Sermathang is 70 miles from Kathmandu. It is a day's bus ride to the end of the road and then a 15 mile climb through some of the most beautiful trekking scenery in the region. Sermathang is a traditional mountain village with about 80 houses. Farming is the main occupation. The only electricity is via a solar panel and water is collected from springs. There is a mobile phone in the village for urgent calls.

Yangrima School: The school was set up in 1987 by the village community to improve the children's education without having to leave the village. Volunteers started going to Yangrima in 1989 when the school was in a small run-down building. It has now been rebuilt on a hilltop ridge, a short walk from the village, with 10 classrooms, a library, staff room and basic sports facilities. Yangrima now has over 180 pupils, aged from 4 to 17 years old.

A boarding house has been built to accomodate children from surrounding villages and more space is now needed to cope with the increasing demand that the school's success is generating.

The challenge: Volunteers are needed to teach subjects such as English, Geography. Maths and Science, and to run sport and other activities. You will be a full time member of staff with a normal teaching load. This is unpaid but the rewards are enormous. The older children’s English is good and all the children are eager to learn. There are currently nine Nepalese teachers.

You will live in the village, normally in the guesthouse. Most of the children live with their families locally or in the boarding house, so it is easy to become involved with the community. Being part of a different culture, with its own religions and festivals, has been a great experience for volunteers.

A video has been made of the school and village by one of our previous volunteers. Please watch a copy if you have not already done so. To order a copy, please send a cheque for £30 to our UK address.

Past volunteers, having gained so much from the experience, have set up a project to provide funding for Nepalese teachers as well as to continue sending young volunteers to teach at the school. Volunteers are normally placed in pairs. Terms are from Feb-April, April – July, July – September and October – Christmas. Exact dates are notified on acceptance of the placement.

There are opportunities for holidays during the stay and travel further afield is possible before and after the placement.

2. Support for Yangrima Volunteers:

Over 40 young people have completed placements at Yangrima and several parents of volunteers have been to the village. They can be contacted by prospective volunteers and their parents. You will be briefed by a past volunteer and/or a parent supporter before departure, as well as on site in Nepal. A briefing pack will be provided to successful applicants, with advice on health and travel, as well as cultural background, language, information about the project itself, teaching aids etc.

Our Nepalese project manager, Mr Gopal Lama, is in charge of the school and has supervised this project since 1990. His address in Kathmandu is in the Briefing Pack.

Insurance must be taken out before departure. A detailed briefing pack is provided for selected volunteers before departure.

Accommodation and board is available at very low cost in the village. Along with the orientation, this costs £100. In addition, volunteers are expected to raise £700 before departure to help fund local teachers and to help us with school running costs. Many returned volunteers and their parents help raise funds for the school and for various village projects. You will be a valuable link in maintaining continuity with these projects. Ideas for fund raising can be given.

NOTE: ALL MONIES RAISED THIS WAY GO STRAIGHT TO THE SCHOOL. NO ADMIN COSTS HAVE EVER BEEN AKEN OUT OF THE FUNDS!

4. Outline of costs:

Much depends upon the individual’s travel arrangements but here is an indication of costs: * flight to Kathmandu £475-550, * School donation £700, * insurance £90, * board & lodging in village £120, injections £60, * visa approx. £50. All these vary depending upon time to be spent in Nepal.

We need to select volunteers who have initiative, are resilient and will be able to cope with the challenge of living in a relatively isolated environment! If you are interested in this project, email me at info@yangrima.org or call me on 01604 858617. Those candidates who seem to fit the requirements will have a chance to meet one of our Sermathang Group for a more detailed discussion. References will be needed for successful candidates, eg from their school.

Please remember that if you are offered a place, you will have made a very real contribution to the school and to the village as a whole.

GOOD LUCK!

Anthony Lunch

If you would like to work at Yangrima School, or would like to find out more about the project, please use our contact page to contact us directly.

PS The Sermathang Project was set up as a charitable organisation in 1990 after my wife and I visited the village when our son was working there as a volunteer. It has steadily grown through support from many friends in UK and abroad and has been responsible for the building of the new school as well as the funding of many of the Nepali teacher salaries.

The Sermathang Project is grateful to Clare College & Queen’s College Cambridge, the Gurkhas, Anderson Consultants, Business Link and many individuals & trusts for their financial support.

Whilst this project only concerns one village, GAP Activity Projects have placements in other parts of Nepal as well as in many other countries. Contact them on 0118 9594914 or at their website http://www.gap.org.uk