Nepal

Mountainous terrain, lack of access to resources, and poor infrastructure contribute to Nepal’s high poverty rate, especially in rural areas; over 40% of Nepalese are malnourished, and almost 50% of children suffer from stunted growth. Half the population lives on less than $1 a day.

The infant mortality rate is high, with 65 infant deaths in every 1000, but the birth rate also averages 4 children per woman. The life expectancy is 60 years. Agriculture provides the livelihood of 3/4 of the population. The GDP per capita is $1500 USD, although most people make less than $200 per year. Nepal’s annual economic growth rate is less than 2%, and the unemployment rate borders on 50%. Due to the civil war, many people feel unsafe in villages, causing many to flee to the cities in search of employment, but life in the cities is expensive and jobs are scarce.

A recent coup in the government has led to thousands of enforced “disappearances.”
Gender-based violence has also been a big problem in Nepal, with the authorities often turning a blind eye on domestic abuse, sex slavery, and abuse of gay and transgendered people as well as HIV/AIDS outreach workers.

Women are still barred from owning property and have few rights when it comes to marriage and divorce. For the past eight years, a brutal civil war between government forces and Maoist rebels has resulted in over 12,000 deaths and countless incidences of abuse and torture. Those caught in the middle of the conflict, which can be practically anyone, suffer abuse at the hands of both sides.

Recently, the King did reinstate a Parliament and acknowledged the “spirit” of the popular movement.

AIDS is a growing problem in Nepal. An estimated 62,000 people(.5% of the population) are living with the disease, although government data puts that number at under 6,000, indicating the government’s lack of concern for the problem. Without proper treatment and prevention, AIDS could be the leading cause of death in the country by 2010. Very few patients have actually received treatment through government-run clinics and hospitals, and many have formed their own support groups to help each other cope. The current civil war is probably contributing to the rise of HIV/AIDS by causing massive displacement and migration for work as well as decreased access to resources.

No major health study of Nepal has been conducted since the 1960’s, so current information about other diseases is not readily available. At the time, goiter(a disease associated with iodine deficiency) was prevalent in some villages, as well as leprosy. Malnutrition was and still is a huge problem among children, especially in the Hill and Mountain regions which suffer from food shortages.

By 1980, Nepal had lost half of its forest cover. Since then, modest efforts have been made by the government for sustainable logging and education on the issue of deforestation. It, along with the subsequent soil erosion, agricultural encroachment, and air and water pollution, have deteriorated Nepal’s environment.

At the present rate of depletion, forests will be wiped out by 2015. The lack of resources for alternative energy sources leads to much of the country’s population using traditional sources such as firewood and petroleum-based fuels.

One-third of urban and two-thirds of rural inhabitants do not have pure water, mostly due to the problem of untreated sewage. Although efforts have been made to increase efficiency and sustain the country’s resources, much more needs to be done to curb the current destruction.

As of 1991, the literacy rate was estimated to be about 33%. With the establishment of an education system in 1951, efforts were made to educate more of the population, and public education is technically free, but many families cannot access schools. Families with higher social standing sometimes have the money and/or connections to send their children abroad for study, a highly sought-after option. Education is still mostly accessible to those with money in urban areas. Any schools that have been built in rural areas are poorly run and lack adequate facilities, well-trained teachers, and school supplies.

100 Friends Project - The 100 Friends Project is a small, informal grassroots project dedicated to helping people in Third World Countries facing myriad problems. 100 Friends collects the donations (a little as $1 and as much as $500) from approximately 100 people and then takes the money overseas to distribute as directly and intelligently as possible.

Eco-Friendly Nepal - ECON aims to promote sustainable development in the Himalayan regions of Nepal through the identification, testing, and exchange of mountain knowledge.

Forum Against Corruption and Turmoil - Its mission is to support, develop, and implement programs to combat corruption and turmoil in Nepal through non-violent social movements. Furthermore, FACT is dedicated to exposing corrupt behavior to society at large.

Global Vision Nepal - The aim of GVN is to provide opportunities for the involvement of volunteers in the development process, and to practically contribute towards the socioeconomic development of the country. The main objectives of GVN are: to help minimize the health problems in the country, to conduct and help conduct various educational and awareness programs and different levels in order to uplift the present standard of education, to help preserve arts and culture of the country and help revive and promote them in national and international levels, and to represent and participate in any national and international programs conducted by any organization with similar objectives of this organization.

Help for the Helpless Foundation of Nepal - a non-governmental, non-partisan and non –profit making, independent organization established with a mission to helping the rural people for the betterment of their living standards.

Nepal Earth Society: works for the socially disadvantaged, attempts to make South Asia free from nuclear weapons, conducts research activities for improving and maintaining the environment for making earth as a better place.

Nepal Jagaran Manch: a non-partisan, non profit making, non-governmental social organization working actively to combat poverty, deprivation and social marginalization in Nepal.

Nepal NGO Society - seeks support from various national agencies, individuals, governmental and non-governmental donors to extend their support to fight for humanitarian cause aimed at boosting the living status of more needy and poor people.

Partnership for Sustainable Development - SD is dedicated to the alleviation of poverty of rural children, youth and communities of Nepal.

Samaritans Nepal: The primary aim of the Samaritans is to provide confidential and emotional support to those who are passing through depression, distress including those which may lead to suicide. The Samaritans also seeks to alleviate human misery, loneliness by listening to and befriending those who feel that they have no one else to listen, understand and accept them. This organization is unique because its service is available 24 hours through day and night all the year round. This organization provide free medical assistance if required.

Social Services Academy: aims to help rural as well as urban poor people through identification of their problems or difficulties and running different programs in varieties of field, such as education, health, and sanitation, women development, agriculture, upliftment of deprived society and so on to solve or overcome the challenges.

Socus Nepal - This organization is in the field of raising awareness towards environment, formal and non-formal education, racial discrimination and gender equality. It is also dedicated to uplift the deprived groups in Nepal. SOCUS Nepal arranges fund by seeking subscription from donor bodies or individuals to deserving, poor, disadvantaged and socially excluded group and students facing difficulties for their further studies after completion of school level.

Third World Craft - Third World Craft strives to promote Nepalese handicraft, furniture and agro based products to markets both local and overseas, thereby supporting the grassroots artisans/producers of the informal sector having difficulties accessing the global market.

Annapurna Friendship Organization - provides volunteers with community support and cultural experience through carefully organized programs in villages and urban areas. In addition, participants can have some time for adventure and exploration.

Dreams to Reality Foundation: carries out its programs and activities in order to lead a fraction of our social system towards completeness, sustainability and self-reliance through various well-designed set of educational and economic development projects accompanied with social welfare activities specially for the women of the most disadvantaged and underprivileged communities of Nepal.

Galaxy Volunteers - Galaxy Volunteers Nepal is a Nepal-based charity established by ex-volunteers and their Nepali host to provide genuinely non-profit making volunteer placements in schools and orphanages in the Kathmandu Valley. Volunteers will live in the households of Nepali families as we feel strongly that this uniquely affords the opportunity to experience fully the culture of Nepal during their stay.

Helping Hand Club - HHCN is committed to improving the lives of rural people through conduting programs, researches and training in the areas of education (teaching English), health, agriculture, housing, business skills and environment. For a small monthly fee, volunteers participate in service projects and live with a host Nepalese family during their stay in Nepal, gaining a more genuine understanding and appreciation for the culture and the people they are helping.

INFONepal - provides volunteer opportunities in various areas such as teaching English, Job-Training, Environmental Awareness, Primary Healthcare, Computer Literacy, assisting at Orphanage home and Income Generation. We also provide Cultural Exchange and Homestay programs. Volunteer opportunities are available all-year-round, to individuals or groups, in locations throughout Nepal.

Inter-Cultural Friendship - Inter-Cultural Friendship Nepal heartily welcomes interested people from all part of the world who dream of seeing and experiencing the natural beauty, language, culture, friendly atmosphere and unique geographical position of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. ICF Nepal was founded by a team of very experienced and professional Nepali personnel, who have several years experience in organizing and providing all the necessary support to overseas volunteers.

Relationship Nepal: provides shelter, daily meal, primary education, medical treatment for 25 children (aged from 6 to 15) those are street, helpless, orphan, dysfunctional family children. Conducts technical training like as sewing , arts, painting for 50 women Also conducts open sensitization program about health, education, family planning, transmission diseases HIV/AIDS.

Social Development & Voluntary Service - Social Development and Voluntary Service Nepal (SDVS NEPAL) is founded by dedicated, experienced young local Nepali people who worked in different NGO’s, INGO’s and GO’s with the objective of social upliftment, economically deprived and downtrodden segment of the society.

Swogun Nepal - The primary mission of Swogun is to improve the living standards of impoverished communities located in remote areas of Nepal, and through our training programs we provide people with equipment and skills allowing them to create an income on their own.

Volunteer for Community Development - Our mission is to increase awareness of the importance of the English language in Nepal, and to facilitate the learning of English. We arrange placements of English teachers in rural government schools and communities. We also send trained volunteers to remote parts of Nepal to promote community awareness with regard to environmental and primary health issues, income-generating activities and sanitation.