Volunteer Information > What it takes > Worldwide Volunteers

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 130 pupils aged from 4 to 17 years old.

The challenge: Volunteers are needed to teach subjects such as English, Geography. Maths and Science, and to run sport and other activities, both at Yangrima and at other local schools in the region. You will normally be a full time member of staff with a normal teaching load, although other projects in the village may also be available. 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 six Nepalese teachers.

You will live in the village, either with a family or in a rented house. 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 past 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. (Send $50 for a copy. It is on VHS format).

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, from September to December or from February to July. 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. 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. Briefing in Nepal is provided by our Nepalese project manager, Mr Gopal Lama, who is in charge of the school and has supervised this project since 1990. His address in Kathmandu is in the Briefing Pack.

3. Administrative Details:

Insurance must be taken out before departure.

Accommodation and board is available at very low cost in the village. However, volunteers are expected to raise US$1000 before departure to help fund local teachers and to assist with school running costs. Many returned volunteers and their friends help raise funds for the school and for various village projects. You will be a valuable link in maintaining continuity with these. Ideas for fund raising can be given.

4. Outline of costs:

Much depends upon the individual's travel arrangements but here is an indication of costs: * flight to Kathmandu (this is £475-550 from London), * School donation $1000, * insurance approx $160, * eating & living in village $160, * injections $130, * visa approx. $160 (for UK citizens; you need to check with your nearest Nepalese consulate).

Note: All these may vary depending upon time to be spent in Nepal. The above are based on a three-month stay.

5. The next step:

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, write to me at the address below or fax me on 00 44 1604 859323 (tel 858225 at office). Those candidates who seem to fit the requirements will be asked for references, prior to final selection.

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

Chairman, Sermathang Project

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.

PS: 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