Don Miller- This is the project overview information that All Hands And Hearts sends out to prepare the volunteers for what to expect:
MAKWANPUR, NEPAL EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY
Volunteer Information Packet
Location: Hetauda, Makwanpur District. We recommend you fly into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu, located 87.4 km from Hetauda (4hrs by Sumo vehicle)
Cost: Free to stay on base and meals included on work days
Work Days: Sunday – Friday
Accommodation: Communal style with bunk beds
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included on work days. Vegetarian diets can be accommodated.
WiFi: Not provided on base (purchase SIM and data before arriving)
Access: 30 minute drive to downtown Hetauda, where you can find shops, hotels and ATMs.
Contact: NepalEarthquakeRecovery@allhandsandhearts.org
Note: We are excited to be able to start scheduling volunteers for our next Nepal Earthquake program! With a few months before the first of our volunteers arrive, our Program Development Team is working to finalize the remaining details.
Disaster Profile
The 2015 Nepal Earthquake killed over 8,000 people and injured more than twice as many. The earthquake occurred at 11:56 am on Saturday, April 25. With a magnitude of 7.8 and a maximum Mercalli Intensity of IX (violent shaking), it was the most powerful disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal-Bihar earthquake. Thousands of people were left homeless, with entire villages flattened across many districts in the country.
A second major earthquake occurred at 12:50 pm on Tuesday May 12 with a magnitude of 7.3. At least 153 people were killed by this second earthquake and more than 3,200 were injured.
Work Activities
We will be working on Manakamana Basic School which accommodates around 140 students in grades ECD to Grade 8. We will be rebuilding six classrooms including the office and computer room, as well as building a kitchen. We will have a highly experienced team of construction and engineering specialists who will ensure that the school is built to the highest standards.
Typical Workday
Each day depends on the scope of work the school you are placed on requires. Typical tasks include digging, rebar bending and tying, formwork, sand sifting, wheelbarrowing, site development, carpentry, painting and supporting our amazing local workers. Don’t worry if you have never done this before—we will teach you everything you need to know when you get here. The work day is typically from 7 AM – 4 PM, however these hours change depending on the needs of the program. After you return home from the worksite, you will have a chance to unwind, relax and reflect on your day as a part of our nightly team meetings. Check out some pictures of the work from last year’s program to get an idea of what to expect!
PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP
We effectively and efficiently address the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters. By listening to local people, and deploying our unique model of engaging volunteers to enable direct impact, we build safe, resilient schools, homes and other community infrastructure.
We do not charge a fee for volunteering. Volunteers are responsible for funding their travel to and from the program. We provide basic communal accommodation and three meals on work days. Please make sure to budget accordingly for extras such as meals on your days off, snacks and required breaks if you’ll be staying over 30 days.
We strongly encourage volunteers to be supporters of our organization. It costs to cover shelter, food, tools, materials, transportation and management that make your stay possible. Starting a personal fundraising page is a great way to help us offset those costs, and it gives everyone you know a way to donate to the great work being done in Nepal. We pride ourselves on being financially responsible; if you have any questions about how donations are spent, review our financials. Want to help more? Get started with fundraising!
Weather
October and November: With monsoon season coming to a close, there is less humidity but still some rain. The days are normally quite pleasant but nights are starting to get colder! Average weather during this time is 48°F – 75°F (10°C – 24°C).
December, January, February: Winter in Nepal can be extremely cold; mornings and evenings are cold, however day times are generally still warm and sunny. Average weather during this time is 37°F – 66°F (3°C – 19°C).
March and April: During the Pre monsoon, days and nights will be warmer and the temperature will gradually increase. Thunderstorms are quite common at this time of year and are sometimes combined with short bursts of heavy rain. Average during this time is 54°F – 86°F (12°C – 35°C).
Packing List
Shopping is best done at home, so please come prepared. As this is a disaster recovery program, you will be working with mud, rubble and cement. Be prepared for any clothing you wear on the work site to be destroyed. Proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is a requirement for volunteers. Please see the following lists for required and recommended items:
Required
- Passport/Photo ID
- Construction safety glasses (sunglasses will work)
- Work gloves
- Mosquito net and repellent – Dengue Fever is present in the Makwanpur area, these items are required as a preventative measure. We recommend using repellents with high DEET. This is hard to purchase in country.
- Long-sleeved shirt and pants – to be worn at all times to protect against mosquitoes
- Work boots. These should be sturdy work boots or hiking boots, they must be closed toe. Puncture-proof soles and steel toe boots are recommended (no Converse or running shoes allowed on site)
Our generous partners at KEEN offer a 40% discount to our volunteers on their work boots. All you need to qualify is a confirmed spot on our of our programs and a shipping address in the U.S. or Canada. To retrieve this code, email volunteer@allhandsandhearts.org and you can use it to purchase your new boots immediately!
Recommended
- Mattress and sleeping bag/sheets. We do not provide bedding
- Work clothes. We provide short sleeved work shirts, but you should bring durable and comfy long shorts (no shorter than three fingers above the knee), pants or leggings
- Unlocked smart phone
- Water bottle
- Long-sleeved shirt for pouring concrete
- Lots of socks (these tend to disappear in a communal living environment)
- Normal clothes (for after work, days off and community events)- Shoulders and knees should always be covered to respect local customs
- Personal first aid kit, including any medication e.g. paracetamol, oral rehydration salts, anti-diarrheals, etc. (we are unable to provide any medication) – We do not recommend that you use Ibuprofen or Aspirin as these drugs can cause side effects if used while infected with dengue fever.
- Personal medication: this can be hard to access in Nepal. Please bring enough for the duration of your stay on program. Note that shipping medications to Nepal is unreliable.
- Personal cash and ATM/credit card
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Personal items, toiletries, towel
- Tetanus shot
- Sharpie (for marking your belongings)
- Lightweight jacket or sweater for the rare chilly nights
- Vitamins, electrolytes, food supplements, comfort food
- Power adapter (power sockets are of type C, D, and M)
- Earplugs and sleep mask
- Backup battery charging pack
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Tampons/sanitary products
- Sunscreen
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- Sense of humor!
Bringing Donations
As an individual, it is impossible to bring enough to make a positive impact after such a large-scale event. Giving to some and not others is unfair, instead please consider making a general donation or setting up a personal fundraising page to directly fund the projects we’re working on.
We try to purchase all our materials and tools in the community where we work to support the local economy and ensure the cultural relevance and appropriateness of our purchases. Some items cannot be sourced locally; however, we put together a wish list for our incoming volunteers! All the items on this list help us to move forward with our work; if you’d like to bring something along the project would truly appreciate it!
LIFE ON AN ALL HANDS AND HEARTS BASE
The Local Area
We are in the Makwanpur district of Nepal, 30 minutes outside of the town of Hetauda (approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes outside of Kathmandu). Hetauda is home to your basic necessities such as hotels, hospitals, ATM’s, shops and restaurants where you are able to purchase last minute items before completing the journey to base. Please come prepared to make the most of you volunteer experience.
Next to our base there are a couple of small shops where you can buy snacks (chips, sodas and fresh fruit/vegetables). On Saturdays (our day off) small groups of volunteers will often buy food to cook together. The nearest town, Hetauda, is 25-30 minute drive so there is always the option of exploring the town on day off.
There is a religious temple called Sano Manakamana near the base with a peaceful environment to visit. Drinking, smoking and any other culturally inappropriate activities are strictly prohibited in the temple surroundings.
Accommodation and Facilities
Our base is located across the street from Sano Manakamana Temple. Our base is indoors, and there will be bunk beds for all volunteers. You should expect to stay in mixed gender dormitories with upto 8 people per room. You will need to bring along your own mattress, sleeping bag/blankets and bedding.
Camping is permitted within an allocated section on the base, but this is subject to acceptable weather conditions. During stormy periods the camping area will be closed for safety and could be closed for sustained periods of time. As a guide, based on weather patterns, we would anticipate that camping is permitted most nights from October – January and will be limited or closed from February to April.
We will provide you with clean drinking water and toilet and shower facilities, on past programs this has been compost toilets and bucket showers.
This will be communal living at its finest. You’ll live together, work together and eat together with your fellow volunteers, and moments of privacy are rare. Please remember that we are living in an area recovering from a disaster so these facilities are by no means luxury. Some would call it rustic; we call it home!
Still have questions about accommodations and facilities? We’ll add photos of our base once we finalize details.
Food
We provide volunteers with three meals a day, six days per week. Breakfast includes fruit, bread, jam, peanut butter, oats, eggs, instant coffee and tea. Lunch and dinner are simple and delicious traditional Nepali food such as rice, lentils, vegetables and salad. No meals are provided on Saturday, our day off.
Vegetarian diets can be accommodated, but vegans and celiacs are advised to supplement what we can provide with items they bring or source and purchase themselves.
Internet Access/WiFi
We do not provide WiFi on base, and our connectivity is limited. If you need to let loved ones know you have arrived or are ok, you will be able to borrow a staff laptop during free hours. If you require regular internet access, please purchase your own SIM card and data pack before arriving on base (available for purchase in Kathmandu). The best option is to bring an unlocked phone and purchase a local SIM with data package on arrival. The best network for the area is NTC. We are also able to provide a phone number for friends and family to contact us on.
In Nepal the power plugs and sockets are of type C, D and M. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. If necessary, please ensure you purchase a power adapter to charge your electrical items. Power outlets are limited so solar chargers and power banks are recommended.
Daily Schedule
6:00am: Eat breakfast, wash your dishes and get ready!
7am: Work begins on site
11:30am: Lunch
12:30-4pm: Work and clean up
6:00pm: Evening meeting
6:30pm: Dinner
8:00pm: Curfew! All volunteers and staff must be on base–no exceptions.
9:00pm: Quiet hour, lights out, fire out!
Breaks/Time Off
All volunteers staying long-term will be required to take a minimum 3-night break away from the project every 30 days and a minimum 7-night break from project every 90 days. These breaks will be scheduled with the Volunteer Relations Coordinator. Volunteers are responsible for all mental health break expenses, so budget accordingly if you plan to be here a while.
JOINING AS A DAY VOLUNTEER
As a Day Volunteer you will join the team for the duration of the work day, to ensure we are able to complete that day’s work activities with a full team, and then head to your accommodation at the end of the day.
What to Bring
You will need to bring a day bag packed with a water bottle, lunch and snacks to keep your energy up. We will provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as well as an All Hands and Hearts work shirt, and be prepared for any clothing you wear on the worksite to be destroyed. Heavy hiking boots/work boots are required on site, no exceptions.
Schedule
You’ll have two, 15-minute breaks throughout the day and an hour for lunch. Around 4:00pm, teams begin packing up and head back to our base. You are welcome to join us for our daily meeting at 5:00pm and stay for dinner; the whole team would love to meet you and this is a good opportunity to introduce yourself.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
At the Base
We continuously monitor security alerts and are prepared to respond if a security issue develops. We’ve found that establishing a positive reputation and tight relationships in the community where we operate is most effective. We place a responsibility on individual volunteers to practice the awareness and good decision-making to keep themselves and their fellow volunteers safe each day.
On the Worksite
We aim to provide an experienced Team Leader for volunteers new to certain tasks; this is a great way to safely learn new skills. Accidents can be avoided by taking precautions and staying alert to your surroundings.
Volunteers are required to provide their own high-quality work gloves and eye protection. Worksites are full of hazards such as wire, broken timbers, sharp rusty nails, corrugated iron sheets and rebar. Sturdy work boots or hiking boots are required. Puncture proof, steel-toed boots are recommended. No other shoes or sandals are allowed on site and you will not be permitted to work if you do not have suitable footwear. Converse and running shoes are not allowed on the worksite. First aid kits are always available at work sites, in case of any accident.
Mental Health
Working in a post-disaster environment and communal living situation is tiring and stressful. The work is full of its own rewards, but do not compromise your mental health or the safety and effectiveness of the work by ignoring your limits.
We know that disaster environments can be tough on your mental health. To support the well-being of our hardworking global team, we have partnered with Aetna to provide an Employee Assistance Program. This resource is available to you as a volunteer on program to support you in managing and maintaining your well being.
Through the confidential EAP, you can access the helpline 24 hours a day for in-the-moment emotional well-being support and up to 6 counseling sessions per issue each year. Counseling sessions are available face-to-face or online with televideo. Services are free and confidential. Just let them know you are with All Hands and Hearts. Contact details can be found on base.
Physical Health
Volunteers should be in good physical health, as most of the work on this program will involve manual labor in a very hot climate. Remember that frequent hand washing and good hygiene is the first line of defense in staying healthy and productive. Incoming volunteers should consult a travel medical professional for advice on vaccinations to make decisions based on your individual needs.
There has been a recent outbreak of dengue fever in Nepal that affects the Makwanpur region. The peak time for Dengue is expected to be between August and November. We require all volunteers wear long sleeves/pants and to use mosquito nets for sleeping under, as well as taking precautions such as mosquito repellant minimize mosquito contact. We also advise that you do not bring Ibuprofen or Aspirin as these medications can cause severe side effects if used while infected with dengue fever.
Our Code of Conduct
We welcome and host both volunteers and staff from all over the world. You will be exposed to different cultures, social etiquette and personalities. It is critical that regardless of who you meet or where you come from that you respect each individual, as well as their personal belongings. The organization adheres to a zero tolerance policy around harassment (sexual or otherwise), violence and theft. Please read our Code of Conduct before applying to volunteer.
HEALTH INSURANCE
The nearest hospital is a 30 minute drive away and has the facilities to treat minor illness or injury. In the event of a medical emergency we will use Hetauda City hospital which has facilities to treat medical emergencies.
We have an organizational medical insurance policy, which covers any international volunteer under the age of 76 in the event of any injury or illness while you are with us on our program. This includes medical evacuation in the unlikely event of a serious incident. If you have any questions about our insurance policy, please do not hesitate to ask and we will be happy to help. We have provided answers to some frequently asked questions to help you:
When am I covered under the AHAH insurance policy? You are covered once you arrive at the base and have filled in your paperwork.
Does it cover me if I lose or break my phone? The policy only covers you in the event of an illness or injury. It does not cover any loss or damage to personal items under any circumstances.
What if I injure myself and need to be evacuated, am I covered? Yes. The safety and wellbeing of our volunteers is our absolute priority. For this reason, our medical insurance policy includes medical evacuation to the closest hospital in the unlikely event of a serious illness or injury.
How long am I covered for? The policy covers you for up to 160 days while volunteering with us in Nepal.
Am I covered whilst I’m on break? The insurance will cover you while you’re on your allotted break; however, it will not cover you if you are traveling after you leave project and before you head home.
Who do I contact if I need hospital treatment while on the program? Speak to the Program Director and they will start the process of implementing our insurance policy where needed.
Will I need to pay for my treatment myself? If you receive medical treatment at a facility which doesn’t have an agreement with our insurance provider, you may have to pay for care up front and will have to submit a claim online for reimbursement. International volunteers aged 76 and over should purchase emergency medical insurance and provide details on their arrival to the program.
For more information please review the Aetna World Traveler document and reach out to NepalEarthquakeRecovery@AllHandsandHearts.org with any questions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I bring anything for the program? We have a wishlist where you can find all our most needed items!
How many volunteers are on base at once? Up to 65 volunteers are housed on this base at any one time; this can vary over the course of the program.
Do I need any vaccinations? We strongly recommend our volunteers consult with their travel medical professional before travelling. As every individual has their own health needs and levels of acceptable risk, we encourage you to work with your medical professional to decide on the best preventative measures for you.
How do I confirm my spot on Nepal Earthquake program? To confirm your spot, please fill out our online Waiver in your invitation email.
Can I extend my stay once I’m there? We encourage you to extend your stay with us. Initially, we will invite volunteers for a maximum of eight weeks, however, if after some time on the program you decide you would like to stay longer, providing there is availability, you are welcome to extend. If this is something you may be interested in, consider initially purchasing a one-way ticket to Nepal, or a flexible return ticket.
How do I exchange money in country? You can withdraw currency from local ATMs across the country. Exchange rates are competitive and ATMs are accessible in the city. Fees from the ATM and your home bank may apply.
