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Introduction to Fundraising
The cardinal rule of fundraising is that if you don’t ask, you won’t get anything. Who do you know? Ask anyone and everyone you know and don’t know to contribute to your cause. One of the best ways is to actually go through the formal process of listing everyone you know.
1. Demonstrate the immediate impact of your donor’s dollars: Explain how the donation will make an impact.
2.Keep it Short and Simple (KISS): Although you want to educate your donors about the type of work you will be doing, try not to tell them too much. If your information is too complicated they will get bogged down in details. Many of your donors will know nothing about third world development; they are more interested in contributing to a good cause (poverty, housing, environment, children, etc.). Too much information could alienate a potentially good donor. Keep your letters to one page.
3. Identify your support system: Some people will be extremely supportive and share your enthusiasm and excitement. Others will not understand why you or anyone else would want to work in a developing country. Still there are those who think that Westerners should stop trying to help disadvantaged people in other countries and concentrate their efforts on improving the quality of life at home. Talking to people serves as an informal polling process which allows you to investigate your potential funding sources. The various reactions you receive allow you to measure the level of interest and support your friends and family members have in your future endeavor.
4. Ask for specific amount of money: When you say “contribution” some people are thinking $5 while others are thinking $5,000. Make it easy for them. Tell people how much you want. Your more established professional friends or parents’ friends can contribute more money than those who are still students or perhaps work in the nonprofit sector. Don’t be afraid to ask your established friends for $100, $200, or even $500.
5. Treat your potential donor as a purchaser or investor: Let potential donors know what they are “buying.” Tell them that a $100 contribution will cover your housing costs for three weeks, or that $100 will cover your transportation expenses for the trip and allow you to travel to the work site where you are needed. Someone may want to pay for your plane ticket, medical insurance or vaccinations. Remember though, that by giving you money, your donors are essentially investing in you.
6.Convey a sense of urgency and immediacy: They must act now! “People are struggling every day in Bolivia where I will be a volunteer.” This limits their time to forget about giving you a contribution. Instill a sense of urgency.
7.Make it convenient for them to give you money: “If you don’t have the money now why don’t you post date a check?” The more flexible you are, the more money you can make. Whatever you do, get a commitment for payment rather than a promise. Ask them to fill out a sponsorship form and then get back to them at a designated time. If they tell you “I’ll send you the check when I get paid,” chances are, you will never see that money.
8. Give incentives or premiums: Even when you are fundraising for a good cause, it can be beneficial to you to offer creative incentives in return. For most people contributing money, it often is recognition and praise they want. Host a small open house before you leave to publicly recognize and thank your supporters. Write a thank you letter which includes a printed list of your supporters’ names. This makes them feel appreciated and more likely to support you in the future.
9. Promise an educational presentation: Promising to speak to groups of show slides when you return can be a great way to secure funding from religious organizations, civic groups, alumni associations and educational institutions. For example, as an incentive, one volunteer promised to send all her supporters a “newsletter” from overseas. Tangible evidence of your actions abroad helps people “see” where their dollars have gone. Other visuals, such as pictures of you in your respective country can be good reminders of how they have helped. Remember, often the prime motivation for giving is how it makes the giver feel, not how it makes the receiver feel. Hopefully, your supporters will feel good each time they look at your picture or receive an update from you.
10. Expand your base & build your network: The more contributions the better! Your fund raising resource pool is limited only to the number of people you contact. To increase the volume of your contributions it is necessary to expand beyond your inner circle of close friends and immediate family members.
11. Always follow up: You have to get on the phone with the small businesses, the civic and religious groups, even with your friends and relatives, to let them know that you really do need their support, and that you were not sending that letter just to keep the post office in business. One follow up call can make the difference between them sending a check and pushing it to the back burner and never getting to it.
Fundraising Activities
Letter Writing
One of the most effective ways of fundraising is to do a letter campaign to as many relatives, friends, former teachers and professors, former co-workers, etc. as possible. Sending a detailed letter to over 100 friends and relatives explaining the program and what you hope to accomplish while you’re on it will help you reach your goal.
Ask for a specific amount of money – $50 is a nice round figure, but for older, more established relatives and friends $100 is not too much to ask; for peers and fellow students, perhaps $25 to $35. You may want to break your potential supporters into two, three or more groups, sending a custom letter to each group based on your relationship with them or the amount of money you are requesting.
If you send out 100 letters asking for $50 on average, and one-half respond, you have raised $2,500. Often a few people will be very inspired by what you are doing, and may give much more.
“Buy – A – Something” Campaign
Another to way to request for general donations is to tie it into a campaign such as “Buy-A-Brick to Help Build a School in Bolivia” or “Buy-A-Seed to Help Plant Trees in Chicago.” Make sure you have some literature to give people as well as a registration form that includes name, address, and how many bricks the person purchased. This is important to keep a record of who gave, because they might give again the following year. This is part of the institutionalizing the fundraising.
One key element to this type of fundraising is making your donation request appropriately affordable. By doing a Buy-A-Brick campaign, you should set the value of the unit, in this case a brick, low enough that your friends, relatives, classmates, or professional associates would be willing to buy one or two. People, especially students, will be more apt to buy a $3 brick than a $10 brick.
For your acquaintances who may have a little bit more disposable income, you want to make sure that they know whether or not their donation to your cause is tax deductible. This is a very important legal issue. You need to make sure you check with both your school and the collaborating organization(s).
University Funds
If you are a student, one major source of funding is your own college or university. Many school clubs are allocated a certain amount of funds through student activities. See if your club is eligible. Many departments also have discretionary funds for projects and programs. If your trip can be integrated into an academic or service learning course, there may also be some course funds that could be used for the trip.
One of the best resources on campus may be your University’s development office. Their sole purpose is to raise money for the university and university programs. The alumni office may also be able to help especially in identifying potential alumni volunteers.
Grants
One of the most common ways to raise money is through grant proposals. Though a grant proposal is very simple to write, getting it accepted is extremely difficult. The Ford Foundation receives over 1,000 proposals a day requesting money. Also, grants are often time sensitive in that foundations have deadlines and funding cycles.
If you are going to go apply for grants, it is best to follow the “Who Do You Know” principle. One of the most comprehensive books on foundations is the Foundation Directory which is available at most libraries. In the Foundation Directory, it lists the board members of all of the foundations. See if someone you know is on the board of a foundation that might give to your cause. (The Foundation Directory also lists what types of projects foundations fund). Local businesses are far more likely to support you than large corporations. The key is to make a linkage between the owner of the business and you or someone close to you. You may want to approach the businesses with a letter first, enclosing all relevant material and a pledge form, the follow up with a phone call. Asking for $100 or more is not unusual. If you are a student, make sure you have the approval of the university when writing grants on behalf of your university program. Contact your school’s development office for policies and procedures.
Service Clubs/Places of Worship
Service clubs such Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimists, fraternal organizations such as Elk and Moose clubs, as well as churches and temples are excellent sources for fundraising. Most service clubs donate money. Follow the “Who Do You Know” principle. Is someone you know a member or know of a member?
The best course of action is to contact as many clubs in your area as possible and ask to give a presentation to their club. Many clubs have breakfast, lunch, or dinner meetings which may last anywhere from 1 – 2 hours. If you get accepted to speak at a club, be prepared to speak for 15 – 20 minutes. If you’re fundraising with a group, we suggest sending two speakers (preferably 1 male and 1 female), but no more than three. This is your chance to sell your program. Visual aids such as slides and videos help tremendously. Remember, you are not asking for money for your vacation, you are asking for a donation to a charity and to make a difference in the world. Also, let them know that you would be willing to come back and show them slides or a video of the program.
How much should you ask for? Many of these organizations get inundated for requests for money. If you try to ask for $2,000-$4,000, the chances of them donating it to you are very slim. It is our suggestion to ask for $200-$400 which is much more reasonable. After the meeting, write a follow up letter thanking them for letting you speak and reiterating your request for money. Be specific on how much money you are requesting and how it will be used. Instead of directly asking for money, you may want to ask if they will help you in a joint fundraising event. 2-3 weeks after the meeting, if you have not heard from them, give them a call. Be persistent, but not pushy.
When you give a post-program presentation make sure that you explain how their money helped achieve something worthwhile. Also, if you are fundraising as a group, ask for them to consider making an annual gift to your club next year. This is part of the institutionalizing of your fundraising. Hopefully, every year your club can count on a donation from that organization – the only cost to your club will be sending speakers twice a year. (Plus, the speakers will get a free meal and meet some very nice people).
Events
When designing an event, make sure that the expected amount of income from an event is worth the amount of time and money put into the event. If you spend 80 hours and $500 to raise $1,000, is it worth it? Simplicity and efficiency should be your guiding rules.
Sales – One of the traditional ways to raise money is through bake sales, candy sales, garage sales, etc. Some sales such as candy sales cost money (i.e. you buy the candy for $.25 a bar and sell it for $1.00). One warning with sales (especially candy) is to be careful not to eat your profits. Often sales can be associated with holidays – pumpkins for Halloween or flowers for Valentines Day. One of the easiest and most profitable sales is setting up a table outside a very busy intersection on campus and selling coffee and soda. Another easy sale which has little overhead is to have a rummage sale. As with any sale, make sure that you have the university’s approval.
Raffles – Often groups can get items donated to them from local stores and restaurants which they can use to raffle off – usually at a larger event such as a dance. Use the “Who Do You Know” principle. If there are no larger items to raffle, sometimes groups buy something like a television as a “grabber” to get people interested. This is fine as long as the raffle brings in well over the amount of the item(s) purchased.
Parties, Dances, Music — These can range from gala black tie affairs to simple pizza parties. Again, I suggest simplicity. Use the “Who Do You Know” principle. Do you have a friend in a band? Do know the owner of a bar or restaurant? Some simple events include having a band play at a club, and your group gets the cover charge or a percentage of the drink sales.
Chances are a restaurant or bar won’t be willing to just give you food and drink, but if you can make it worth their while, they would be happy to accommodate you. For example, offering an all you can eat buffet at a restaurant for $15 where you get $7.50 and the restaurant gets $7.50.
These types of events can be very labor intensive or not at all. Be careful on how you structure it, and be clear on your expectations.
Concessions — This is in a different category than sales because it refers to your club to be an agent for another organization. There are many types of concessions that your club can participate in such as selling soda at a sporting or music event to cleaning up the stadium after the event. Instead of asking a company to pay you for your labor, they donate a portion of the profits (i.e. 10-15%) of that event to your cause.
Unusual Events — There are some companies that rent out items such as rock-climbing walls, sumo-wrestler body suits, Velcro suits and walls, as well as a myriad of strange other items that can be used for special events and fund-raising.
Media — Do not overlook media outlets as a potential fundraising source. A good article in a local paper or an appearance on a local radio show can go a long way in generating support. Just produce a simple press release and send it to every newspaper, magazine, radio and TV station in your local area. Be sure to follow up a few days later.
Conclusion
Though we’ve provided just a few suggestions, it is important to remember why you are raising the money. Remember to be persistent. You will probably get a lot of doors slammed in your face and pretty discouraged at times, but there will also be a lot of people who you will find that support you and will help you. Most of all remember to have fun.
Source : IVPA
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Training Courses
Training Course on Participatory Rural Appraisal
 Participation is an essential key to sustainable community development. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is a way of learning from and with community members about their life and community as an integrated system. It tackles development issues in partnership with the communities involved, and it most often used to access community needs, priorities, attitudes and behaviours. It aims to investigate analysis, and evaluate constraints and opportunities, to create sustainable solutions that involve all the key stakeholders, and enable informed and timely decisions regarding development projects.
PRA has been adopted by several international organisations such as the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the united Nations Development Programme, the United States Agency for International Development. Similarly, in Nepal NGOs, INGOs and Governmental organisations have been applying PRA in their day to day activities. A network of PRA professionals including institutional members called Nepal Participatory Action Network (NEPAN) has already been established.
PRA/PLA (Participatory Learning and Action) is a widely accepted approach in sustainable community development processes. Its main aim is to empower local people to share, enhance and analyse their knowledge and life situation in order to plan, act, monitor, evaluate and distribute the results in an equitable basis. We have developed PRA training module/package to enable participants to understand and apply PRA.
Training Courses
- Orientation Course – 3 Days
- Basics on PRA – 6 Days
- Advanced Course on PRA – 10-12 Days
Objectives of the Course
The main of the PRA training is to enhance and improve conceptual and practical understanding of PRA of the participants so they can apply it in their own area of expertise.
Participants
We organise all the three module. The orientation and basic course are geared mainly to decision makers, managers, development workers and the people who can not afford much time in field. The advance course is the detailed course with 4-6 days of field visit. In each course, a maximum of 20 participants can participate.
Flexible Contents
Each course can include a combination of the following modules. The level of detail of each segment depends on the duration of the course.
Module 1
Conceptual Understanding on Development of the following modules. The level of detail of each segment depends on the duration of the course.
- Present development process and PRA/PLA
- Poverty and PRA
- Philosophy of Participation
Module 2
Basic Understanding of PRA and Important Qualities of Development Workers
- Development paradigms and history of PRA/PLA
- Differences between PRA and PLA
- Definition and basic principles of PRA
- Participatory attitude, behaviour and change
- Rapport building
- Qualities of PRA practitioners or development workers
- Limitation of PRA practitioners or development workers
- Dangers of PRA
Module 3
Theoretical Understanding and Class Room Exercise on PRA Tools and Technique
- Time Line
- Mobility map
- Resource Map
- Venn Diagram
- Well-being ranking
- Daily schedule
- Seasonal calender
- Seasonal calender
- Problem trees (cause-effect analysis)
- Livelihood analysis
- Focus group discussion
- Time trend
- Social map
- Transect walk
- Flow diagram
- Preference ranking (pair-wise ranking and matrix ranking)
- Ethno history
- Pie chart
- Semi-structured interview
- Direct observation etc.
Module 4
Field Visit to observe PRA in action followed by group reflection (not) or orientation course, 1-2 days for basic course and 4-6 days for advanced PRA training )
- Intensive field exercise of the selected tools and techniques
- Reflection of the field exercise
- Evaluation
- Analysis and presentation of the information in the field.
- Action plan/commitment of the trainees
Fees
Each three day course costs US$ 50/participant for Nepali Citizen and US$ 80/participant for Non -Nepalese Citizen. The six day course costs US$ 90/participant for Nepali Citizen and US$ 150/participant for Non-Nepalese Citizen. The ten twelve day course costs US$ 190/participant for Nepali Citizen and US$ 280/participant for Non-Nepalese Citizen. The cost for field visits includes lodging, food and travel. The fees also include a comprehensive workbook, snacks, and program instruction.
Training Course on Facilitation Skills
 Public participation is a critical component of any development activity. People are the resources of Knowledge, capacities, ideas and action. It cab be difficult to tap individual creativity in an effective way, because we are often caught up in our usual patterns of behaving. However, if we can clearly understand group process and master the skill of effective and facilitative leadership, we can utilise the individual’s resources fully for better group results.
Technology of Participant (TOP) or Facilitation Skills, are tools that enable individual’s ideas and capacities to come forth, leading to enhanced group results. They consist of different methods for creating shared awareness, shared decisions and shared action in groups. These methods have proved effective for organizations and community groups large and small.
Five day long facilitation course will train you to be competent in using the facilitation tools that are taught and practised in all over the world. The core of the course consists of four tools: Focused Conversation Method, Workshop, Workshop Method, Action Planning Method and Participatory Strategic Planing Method.
Focused Conservation Method (ORID)
The Focused Conservation Method enables group member to reflect on an event or commonly shared experience and derive common meaning. It provides a structure for effective dialogue in groups, gently leading the conservation from individual observations, to feelings and ideas, and eventually to a shared understanding and group response.
The method is based on the natural process of human mind, which takes group members through four levels of awareness, from a superficial observation of an event to an in-depth understanding of what has happened and how to respond. These four levels are called: objective level, Reflective level, Interpretive level and Decisional level.
Have you noticed how often a group discussion can go around in circle and never come to clear conclusion ? The Focused Conservation Method provides a highly structured and productive approach, which gives all individuals a chance to express their feelings and ideas and always ends in some kind of decision and conclusion.
Workshop Method
The workshop method helps a group to be creative and to reach consensus quickly about issues which are important for the group. It taps each individual’s ideas and brings together them all together into a shared group result, which will form the basic for action.
Through this process, individual’s capacities and ideas are tapped fully and are integrated into the group’ end result. It is a very active process, in which people feel empowered and appreciated and will be motivated to participate actively in group’s activities.
Action Planning Method
Through this method, a group can design a very detailed implementation plan for a their common activity or project. The group is guided through a process of creative thinking, realistic analysis of the situation and finally making a well-thought out plan of action, including a timeline and division of tasks. The process involves identifying the types of activities needed, a vision of the ‘victory’ key actions, calendar and assignments and concludes with reflection.
Participatory Strategic Planning Method
Planning is like the steering-wheel of an organisation, and this method enables long term planning to be done successfully. It takes the group through a process of building a shared vision for the future, looking at problematic issues that are challenging the group and identifying strategic directions for tackling these issues. As an end result, the group divides into task forces each with a shorter-term goals.
This tool provides groups with a clear framework of where they are heading, ensuring everyone is aligned on the vision, and motivated to participate in making it happen. It helps them to make strategic decisions and to translate these into a practical implementation plan.
Course Overview
Day 1
- Introduction to the Course
- Role of Teacher/Trainer/Facilitator/Animator/Coordinator etc.
- PRA/ZOPP/Animation/Appreciative Inquiry/ TOP Method
- Focused Conservation Method
- ORID
Day 2
- Workshop Method
- Action Plan Method
- Victory
- Key Actions
- Calender and Assignments
Day 3
- Participatory Strategic Planning
- Course intro, Overview and Focus Question
- Vision Workshop
- Contradictions
- Demonstration
Day 4
- Strategic Actions and Directions
- Implementation
Day 5
- Practice
- Applying Facilitation Skill
- Course Evaluation and Reflection etc.
Fees
The fee for this course are US$ 80/participant for Nepali Citizen and US$ 130 for Non-Nepalese Citizen. This includes tea, snacks, training manual and stationery.
Training Course on Project Proposal Writing and Fund-raising
Nepal’s communities need sustainable and effective development activities. For the financing of these development projects, organizations are usually dependent on foreign donor agencies. The quality of development projects is of the prime importance for Nepal’s future and at the same time competition for funds is growing. Therefore, the art of project proposal writing and fund-raising becomes a more and more important skill for development organisation.
Although the main focus of this three day course is on development projects and NGOs; the basic structure of a project proposal is also suitable for different types of projects or activities, e.g. for seminars or commercial activities that require funding.
- How to plan for an effective development project ?
- What are trends in development aid ?
- How to describe a problem situation clearly ?
- How to present project ideas clearly?
- How do I know my project proposal is good ?
These and other question will be addressed in Training course on Project Proposal Writing and Fund-raising.
Objectives
The general objective of this course is to develop capability in to:
- Sessions of different topics are as practical as possible. Most of the training sessions will be carried out in the whole group. Some activities will be done in small groups.
Participants
A maximum of 20 participants who are directly or indirectly related with project proposal writing and fund-raising activities are expected to participate in the course.
Trainers
There will be 2-4 trainers. The trainers are highly trained in the field of project proposal writing and fund-raising activities and have several years of training experience in Nepal and around the world.
Course Overview
According to our tradition, the training methods are varied and participatory. The course is conducted using various methods such as lectures, demonstration, brainstorm, role play, small group assignments, workshop, small group presentation and energisers. During each day there will be some room for working on your own project proposal. Participants can also bring a draft proposal to improve during the course.
Day 1
- Development Aid Introduction
- Proposal Format
- Proposal Assessment
- Contradiction with Donors
Day 2
- Needs Analysis
- Project Goal, Objectives and Activities
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Project Budget
Day 3
- Development Concepts and Donor Jargon
- Improve your own proposal
- Logical Framework
- Presenting your organization
- Building Relationship with Donors
Course fees
Each three day course costs US$ 50/participant for Nepali Citizen and US$ 80/participant for Non -Nepalese Citizen. The cost for field visits includes lodging, food and travel. The fees also include a comprehensive workbook, snacks, and program instruction.
Participatory Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
The training will be conducted by using various methods such as lectures, demonstration, brainstorm, role play, small group assignments, workshop, small group presentation, energisers, etc. All possible methods for OOME will be used in this course in such a way that facilitators learn how to use them in them in their own working areas.
Participants
A maximum of 20 participants who are expected to have experience as a front line worker will participate in this course.
Tentative Contents:
The course will include different aspects of participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation. There will be ample opportunity for practice and hands on experience. The tentative content is as follows:
First Day
- Philosophy of participation
- Facilitation for PPME ( ORID, Workshop, Facilitation Skills )
Focused Conservation Method (ORID) allows group members to reflect on an event or commonly shared experience. It helps group members in sharing individual observations, feeling and ideas and in this way to reach a shared awareness as a basis for a group response.
Second Day
- Participatory Planning Cycle
- Vision based Planning
This method is a tool for a structured planning for the longer term. It takes the group through a process of building a shared vision for the future looking at issues that are challenging the group and identifying strategic directions for tackling these issues. As an end result of this planning process, the group will be divided into task forces with each a shorter-term planning, heading towards the identified long-term goals.
This tool will provide a group with a clear framework of where they are heading towards collaboratively. It helps them to make strategic decisions and to translate these into a practical implementation plan.
This tool will provide a group with a clear framework of where they are heading towards collaboratively. It helps them to make strategic decisions and to translate these into a practical implementation plan.
- Vision Workshop
- Contradiction
- Strategic Actions and Direction
Third Day
- Systematic Actions
- Implementation
- Development of Indicators
- Commitment
Fourth Day
In every project, monitoring and evaluation play an essential role. Proper monitoring during the implementation of an activity or project is essential, in order to be able to see whether the project is still on tract towards the set objective and whether adaptations should be made. However, monitoring can be very powerful tool, not for improving the implementation of a project, but also as learning and empowering activity for project staff and project beneficiaries in itself. In participatory monitoring, the beneficiaries themselves monitor the project on the basis of indicators that they themselves find important. Participatory evaluation is a powerful tool realistically looking at the results and value of what has been done, as well for creating team sprit and motivation a group to continue working collaboratively in future.
Wall of wonder for Broad Evaluation
Interactive Interview
PRA Tools ( Thematic Group Discussion, On-site Observation, SWOT analysis, Self-evaluation, Venn Diagram)
Logical Framework Analysis
Fifth Day
The participants will have ample opportunity to learn practical aspects of planning monitoring and evaluation.
Fees
The fee for this course are US$ 80/participant for Nepali Citizen and US$ 130 for Non-Nepalese Citizen. This includes tea, snacks, training manual and stationery.
Note: We follows tools and technique developed by ICA.
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Photography Aid Program: Nepal has always been the place for scenic beauty with its mountain ranges and lakes. The people here have always welcomed their guests with a smile and there hospitability cannot be described in words. So visiting Nepal and working here would always be a pleasure. But this beautiful place is emerged in many problems which have to be dealt early so that the culture of the place is restored. Volunteer Aid Nepal operate techno-volunteering program. This is a unique program to make community develop. The volunteers of Photography Aid Program don’t pay their time in any construction works for the community. By the use of Camera, they can work to make community develop.
The photo and video production is more effective to flash out the core problem of community. The photo and video production will be produced for public to show the problem of community that help to make the plan to solve the problems of any community. Through this program, the policy makers, government head, political leader and NGOs professional will be conscious about problems. Volunteer Aid Nepal makes documentary to promote voluntary service and to keep the history of Voluntary service in Nepal. We are also planning to make educational documentary films for the mass of Nepal.
Photography Aid Program – info
- This program is held at rural area but organizes and shows program at capital city.
- This program is best for short time volunteering
- Volunteers must have their own camera
- Volunteer Aid Nepal will organize Show Program and will invite journalist, leader, policy makers etc
- Volunteers will get opportunity to face Nepali media
- Volunteer Aid Nepal gives the volunteers the issue to be photographed
- photo shoot will take place in certain rural or marginalized area
- This program is economically expensive. Volunteers are requested to Fund raise before Volunteering.
- We give priority to Student of Photography and those people having experience or knowledge or interest in photography
Structure of Photography Aid include volunteer orientation training
- Cross-cultural awareness
- Information about Subject matter
- language, Culture and Rural livelihood information
- Placement period (minimum one week to three week)
Program and Language Orientation (1days)
Preparation period (1-5 days)
Show program (1 day)
Program Requirements
Volunteers for program must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have no major health problems
- Some related knowledge on photography
- Be eligible to obtain a tourist visa to Nepal
- General knowledge of English Language
- Flexible, committed and adjustable
Volunteer Aid Nepal welcomes your application for volunteering in Nepal. You may wish to offer to be an Active Volunteer of Photography Aid Program. The online application form is open for international Volunteers. You can also contact us at info@volunteeraidnepal.org or Complete the Application form . Thank you.
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Publication of Research Report on the status of Nepalese Women
 Name of Book : Nepalese Women
Catagory : Research Report
Publication Year : 2010
Published by: Volunteer Aid Nepal, Social Research Program
Nepal has always been a land of enchantment where a lot of traditions and culture have been in existence with almost perfect harmony with each other. The ancient traditions and culture have been followed by the people of Nepal for centuries which have helped in the preservation of the heritage of Nepal, intact. There are different facets to these traditions but the most intriguing facet is the attitude of Nepalese towards women. Nepal is a principally Hindu nation; and from a religious point of view, the women are considered to be sacred and a part of the God who created life. However, in practice the women are taken as the subordinate members of the society who are merely confined to their duties within the household. This attitude towards Nepalese women has fascinated a lot of researchers and a lot of conclusions have been drawn. But still there is more to this aspect which is yet to be explored. This research makes an attempt to determine the current situation of women and their struggle to cope with it.
Sanitation in Nepal – A Research Report
Name of Book : Sanitation in Nepal
Catagory : Research Report
Publication Year : 2011
Published by: Volunteer Aid Nepal, Social Research Program
This study was carried out in Sangla VDC, Kathmandu Valley. The village is located about 10 kilometers north of Kathmandu. As is typical of the demographic profile of Nepal, various ethnic groups reside together in the area. The caste structure is also still apparent, but traditions favoring the isolation of so-called lower castes (for example, not using water which has been touched by this sector of society) are gradually decreasing. The major religions in Sangla are Hinduism and Buddhism. As is also typical, most people in the village do farm work as their major occupation, although the village is also home to a small proportion of workers and businessmen as well. The education level of the inhabitants varies in different wards of the village, but a useful generalization that was observed was that the higher the altitude of the ward, the lower the average level of education was likely to be.
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 Ever since leaving University 6 years ago,.I’d been working in England as an independent filmmaker running my own video production company. Working primarily for corporate and educational clients, I’d begun to feel that my work had become artistically and ideologically uninspiring. I decided to research some possible opportunities and came across Volunteer Aid Nepal which was offering the chance to make an ethnographic documentary in rural Nepal. I jumped at the opportunity, booked my flight and began planning the logistics to get myself and my camera equipment to one of the poorest countries in the world.
I was met by Bhuvan and his colleague who introduced me to Katmandu and Nepali culture. It was a wonderful assault on the senses with people, animals, rickshaws and cars all vying for space on the capital’s narrow, potholed streets. Life spills out from makeshift houses onto the pavements and streets with a communal quality quite unlike Western countries. After a few days of acclimatising to the Nepali way of life and feeling more comfortable in interacting with the people, Bhuvan and I made the 8 hour trip to his home village of Lahachok. Lahachok is a beautiful village, 10km from the traveller’s mecca of Pokhara, lying at the base of the Himalaya and accessible only by jeep or by foot.
As a filmmaker there were both many challenges and delights to working in such an exotic, rural and alien culture. The first was transporting the equipment – carrying 6 cases worth of professional video recording equipment, through the second rice paddies, up steep mountain tracks and across gushing ravines was an arduous task. The second difficulty was re-orientating myself to the culture which was almost entirely different to my own and took me completely out of my comfort zone. Nepal is very communal society, where everything, including space is shared, a quite different approach to the West, where belongings are very much owned and personal space is expected and respected. Before long, however I was relishing in the Nepali system and invigorated by its values. The local cuisine was also a challenge. Each morning we would wake at 5am and take tea and biscuits before setting out to film. The first meal of the day would come at around 9am and consisted of rice and vegetables. Usually we’d film until early afternoon when the weather would turn and we were forced to seek shelter. The next meal did not come until just before bedtime – at about 8pm, a hearty meal of rice and vegetables again.
After a few days living in the village I began to grasp the nuances of the culture. Perhaps the most memorable experience was when we went to film the sun rising over the Himalayas. To do this we awoke at 4am – 2 hours before the sun would rise and then began the hour-long trek up the mountain, with all of the camera equipment, to the top. We made it just in time, as the sun was breaking above the snow-topped peaks of the Annapurna mountain range. It was an awe-inspiring sight, the sky shifting through a myriad of colours as the sun rose quickly in the sky.
Our focus for the film was a lower caste family and the inequalities they endured living in the caste system of Nepal. Their quality of living was quite different to the upper caste families. The house was small, with the bedroom sharing the same place as the kitchen which bore an open fire upon which they would cook. There was no chimney and so the room hung heavy with the thick smoke from the fire. There was a wealth of interesting activities to document but the most enduring moments for me were when the camera was switched off and I could relax and interact with the family and their friends, sharing food and simple jovialities.
Nepal is an absolutely fascinating country for filmmaking with breathtaking scenery and a people who are some of the most pleasant, honest and happy people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and working with. With rich colours, textures and photogenic faces at every turn, there was always an interesting shot to compose. In addition, the history, current political climate and myriad of tribes and sub-cultures within Nepal mean that the country is alive with stories to deliver on-screen for either the budding documentary filmmaker or true industry professional. Just remember to always ensure your batteries are charged and you have enough tape, because you really won’t want to miss a shot! “
- Tim Webster 25th March 2010
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 My experience working with Volunteer Aid Nepal was wonderful. My project consisted of visiting 30 schools in villages surrounding Pokhara and collecting data information about the school and the students while photographing the school and its facilities, the students, lessons being taught and the scenery the school is set in. Prabina, a young Nepali girl, acted as my assistant, translator and ‘expert of the region’. For the duration of the project I often stayed with Prabina and her family. My experience on this project can be split into two parts: the project itself and also the friendship that formed between Prabina and myself and also with her family. Some of the schools that I visited were better off than others, however, virtually all of them suffered from the lack of something – teachers, teaching materials, sufficient space for learning, sports equipment, books and libraries, and some even clean drinking water and toilets. The emphasis on the importance of education, however, was still a theme that I saw reflected in each of the schools that I visited. Those who worked at the schools, the teachers and principals, were very welcoming to myself and Prabina, and happily filled out the data collection forms we brought and allowed us to look around the school and take photos. They often expressed their appreciation that someone was taking an interest in their school. I felt a real sense of accomplishment when the project was completed. My experience working on this project was complimented by the friendship that developed between Prabina and myself. Her and her family were extremely welcoming and took me into their home as if I was another one of their daughters. Prabina called me “Dee Dee,” or sister. I participated in family activities and daily routine in their house. Prabina got married partly through the time that I was staying with her and I got to attend her wedding; this is an experience that will stay with me forever. I learned many traditions and experienced the way of life for those in rural villages in Nepal.
The month that I spent working on this project gave me a real insight into Nepali people and culture. While life may not always be easy and many people have little, all those who I met were very generous, welcoming, and kind. I had many laughs with my new friends and they are friendships that I will maintain. I plan to go back to Nepal in the not too distant future and look forward to seeing everyone again. ”
Steph Ferry, Canada
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 When I arrived in Nepal to volunteer as a photographer, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I had never been to a place like this, and not surprisingly, was a little shell-shocked my first few days. But as the weeks wore on, my internal monologue drifted away from the differences between Nepali people and my countrymen, and landed on the similarities. And as I write this, on my last day in Nepal, I am struck with a saddening reminder – I have to go home. Never in my life have I met a People so entirely joyous and hospitable; I like to think it has rubbed off on me. As uncertain as I was when I arrived, I leave with the memories of a thousand enduring moments, cascading in my mind like a colorful picture-book. And I can’t help smiling.
I can assure you that volunteering with Volunteer Aid Nepal will be more than a photo album and a slew of fond memories. Volunteering will change you, and I think you’ll like who you’ve become.”
- Peter Hamre, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.A.
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Education Aid Program: Shree Navadurga Primary School
 Background of the School: Shree Navadurga Primary School is located in Lekhnath Municipality of Kaski district. This municipality is a one hour bus ride away from Pokhara. The school was established 33 years ago in BS 2034, in the initiative of Mr. Bhim Bahadur Gurung. For the first two years, the classes were conducted in the field but the establishment of this primary school provided the children with an opportunity to study. Before this school was established, the children of this area had to go very far away for school. Even though the residents of this area are quite welthy, they don’t provide any support to the school. There is majority of students from very low economical backgrounds.
Status of the School: The school is providing education to 66 students. The total number of the teachers in the school is 3, and 1 administrative employee. The ratio of student to teacher is 22:1. The only facility available in the school is that of drinking water. This school has been visited by volunteers from 2 volunteer teachers from America in 2004 A.D. who taught the students for a year.
The school has been running primary level classes since its establishment so the school plans to elevate the level of the school to lower secondary in order to benefit more students of the locality.
Problems being faced by the School:
The school is facing the problem of lack of funds. The school also lacks a compound in order to mark the boundary of the school and there are not enough classroms. The school has been unable to provide toilets, library, and computer facility to the children. The school also lacks any means of communication.
How the school can be helped:
The ways to help the school can be summarized as follows:
Allocation of funds.
Provision of funds or volunteers for the construction of a compound for the school premises.
Donation of educational materials such as books for library and computers.
Join Teaching Aid Program to became a Volunteer Teacher
Sponcer a child – reading in this school
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Education Aid Program: Shanti Udaya Higher Secondary School
 Background of School : Shree Shanti Udaya Higher Secondary School is located in Bharat Pokhari Village Development Committee (VDC), Kaski district. The VDC, Bharat Pokhari, lies in a hilly region. The main occupation of the inhabitants of this VDC is farming. The school was established 50 years ago in BS 2016, and is being managed by the society itself. The school was certified by the Government of Nepal as secondary level school in BS 2024 and the higher secondary level in BS 2065. The school is conducting classes for commerce and humanities faculties for the higher secondary level. Shree Okhaledanda Bhumikot Secondary School has been serving the communities of various economic backgrounds.
Status of the School: The school occupies almost 100 ropanies of land. The school is providing education to 496 students. The total number of the teachers in the school is 21, and 2 administrative employees. The ratio of student to teacher is 14:1 for nursery level and the ratio is 28:1 for the higher classes. The school has one library and a computer and a telephone. There is also a facility of drinking water and toilets. The school has also been running a children’s club, Red Cross Society. The school also conducts local competitive programmes like games, singing and dancing competitions.
The school has the plan of constructing a RCC building. The school also plans to improve the condition of drinking water and provide clean drinking water. The school has a plan to build a better library and a computer lab.
Problems being faced by the School:
The school is facing the problem of lack of funds. The school also lacks a compound in order to mark the boundary of the school.
How the school can be helped:
Allocation of funds.
Provision of funds or labours for the construction of a compound for the school premises.
Donation of educational materials
Join Teaching Aid Program to became a Volunteer Teacher
Sponcer a child – reading in this school
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Volunteer Aid Nepal – Power point presentation 
