Nepal, a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multilingual state, is endowed with an equally diverse geography. Situated along the southern slopes of the Himalayas, Nepal is home to some of the main tributaries of the Ganges River as well as eight of the ten tallest mountains in the world. Rich in natural resources and fertile lands, almost 70 percent of the Nepalese population earn a living by working in agriculture. However, many local farmers still struggle to maintain their livelihoods and are unable to produce an adequate supply of food for their families and communities. To help combat this, volunteer travelers will assist a local family with small-scale farming tasks, learning traditional Nepalese farming practices while introducing newer farming techniques and agribusiness principles to boost sustainability and financial security for the family and their broader community. Travelers spend two days in Kathmandu for orientation then travel to their rural location where they stay in a homestay with a local family to experience the Nepalese way of life. On weekends, volunteers can explore their local town or the rest of Nepal where one can find exceptional hikes in the Himalayas, whitewater rafting, temples, pagodas and shrines, an astonishing array of wildlife and interesting cuisine.
This is a minimum 3-week and maximum 12- week experience and costs $545 for three weeks ($26/day).The trip is led by IVHQ, a volunteer travel company with 338 projects in 50 countries, rated #1 Volunteer Travel Company by Go Overseas 7 years in a row. It is a cost-effective option with some programs as low as $20 per day with accommodation and meals included. They are a Certified B Corporation, 100% carbon neutral and every project aligns with a UN Sustainable Development Goal.