Volunteer

CDO invites you to become part of the organization by working as a volunteer.  This will enable you to personally get to know the various programs of CDO and to contribute to them according to your own talent, interest, and time.  Your work will support CDO’s mission not only directly but also indirectly, by helping spread the word about itin different parts of the world.  You, in turn, will profit by experiencing in a very direct way the Nepalese people with their rich and diverse culture, as well as the beautiful Nepalese nature with its varied types of landscapes.

1. Possible volunteer opportunities include:
   Helping in administration: Correspondence with sponsors, writing of reports and newsletters.
   
   Requirements: Willingness to stay for at least 2 months; good command of the English language; working with your own laptop; preferably a professional background of some sort.
   Benefits: Directly getting to know the various programs of CDO; experiencing Nepalese culture; getting to know Nepalese people.
    
2. Photographic documentation:
   Documenting in pictures the different activities of CDO for reports, newsletters, or fundraising events.
   Requirements: Willingness to stay for at least 1 week; good photographic skills; knowledge of editing the photographs on your own laptop.  No requirement, but an added benefit would be some knowledge in producing documentaries.
   Benefits: Directly getting to know the various programs of CDO.
    
3. Teaching English:
   Volunteers fluent in English could assist the regular teachers in CDO’s Children Development Program (CDP), as well as in formal (community) schools.
   Requirements: Willingness to stay for at least 1 month; good command of the English language; preferably a professional background in teaching.
   Benefits: Integration in a professional setting; extensive contact with children and teachers.
    
4. Working in health care/health training/awareness raising programs:
   Participation in such programs in the brick factories and/or in villages.
   Requirements: Willingness to stay for at least 1 week; a medical or related background (physician, nurse, health worker, etc.)
   Benefits: Integration in a professional setting; extensive contact with the people targeted by the programs.
    
5. Skill development/income generating programs:
   Any skills that could be used in the Women Empowerment Program are welcome.  This might involve teaching the production of certain handicrafts or of any other skills usable for income generation.
   Requirements: A length of stay as needed for the teaching of a particular skill; experience with the production of the respective handicrafts. No requirement, but an added benefit would be an idea of how to market the produced goods.
   Benefits: Extensive contact with the women targeted by the program as well as learning about their socio-economic conditions.
    
6. Fundraising:
   Any ideas concerning fundraising in your own country are welcome. At CDO, you might work with children of theChildren Development Progam (CDP) or ofthe Scholarship Program to produce certain items (handicrafts) that could be used for fundraising in your country (and/or in other countries).
   Requirements: A length of stay as needed for the production of the respective items; experience with the production of these handicrafts; ideas of how to use the products for fundraising.
   Benefits: Potentially long-term collaboration with CDO’s management in matters of fundraising; extensive contact with children and teachers during the manufacture of the handicraft products.
    
7. Other:
   You are also most welcome if you want to visit CDOand don’t fit into any of the above-mentioned categories.  Please contact us and tell us what you would like to learn during your stay and how you might be able to contribute to our programs.

Lodging for volunteers is possible in the house of Arati Basnet.  The volunteers are encouraged to take their meals together with the family.
   
Program Cost: A contribution of $20 per day covers food and lodging expenses (Nepali style food) for a short-term visitor.  For long-term visitors, the volunteer’s fee will be negotiated.  

If you are interested in volunteering with CDO, please fill out the Volunteer Application Form by clicking on the link.

Comments by volunteers about their experience at CDO:

Shoki (Japan); has worked as General Volunteer for 4 days every year since 2010:
“Coming to CDO was eye opening to me.  All the staffs of CDO are very cooperative and work very hard to reach the goal of projects.  I am always lucky and feel proud to be part of CDO and will come every year for the volunteer in CDO. IT IS LITTLE CARE THAT GOES A LONG WAY……...  We have precious experience”.





 

 Dan (U.S.A.); volunteered in Health Education for 12 days:
“Over just a short period of time that I was able to volunteer with CDO I gained eye-opening insight into the world of a brick factory worker.  This organization provides aid to those who lack the education and means to afford it.  They do extremely amazing work and it was a privilege to lend a hand for their cause. In a sea of hardship and misery, CDO is the raft which helps prevent the underprivileged from drowning.I want to thank them for allowing me the opportunity to learn about their organization and the great work they continue to do for disadvantaged people in Nepal. This was an experience that will stay with me forever.  The issues of Nepal are vast and we all need to do our part to help.

Chris and Mike (U.S.A.); volunteered as Artist and Developer of Water Purifiction Systems, respectively, for 10 days:
“As the children of the brick yard finish their lunch outside the school, their backs are turned away from the harsh realities of their family’s life. At the CDO Children Development Program (CDP), the children play and learn in safety under the caring supervision of their teachers.  In the rooms crowded with children, they sing songs in English and Nepalese and play games familiar to any primary school.  Beyond this oasis on a hill, is life in the brick yards. Families sometimes have 14 people living in one room with only a door for light.  They live without clean water or electricity and work in the unending sun, heat and dust for six months a year.  Early in the morning, before the sun lights the sky, you can hear the steady beat of the brick making.  But for the children of brick yard, their CDP and their teachers are a light and perhaps a way out.  We feel fortunate that we were able to visit the children and their teachers and share some time with them.”Photo needs to be inserted in text

 Eva (Austria); worked as Volunteer in Administration for 5 months:
“During my time at CDO, I got to know most of their programs.  I can attest to the dedication and the professionalism of all of the CDO staff.  They really spend donation money very prudently.  On a personal level, I have profited tremendously from my experience as a volunteer with CDO in Nepal.  Living with a Nepalese family helped introduce me to the Nepalese way of thinking and living, and the Nepalese people I met – no matter how poor they might be – impressed me by their dignity, gentleness and joy of living.”