4 - 21 weeks
from € 1.150
Nepal

Volunteering in paper recycling project in Nepal

  • Right in the national park
  • life in the village community
  • High recreational value

Volunteer for a creative project and make environmentally friendly paper products. You will be involved in all work steps from production to processing. Here you have the opportunity to contribute your own ideas in a variety of ways and at the same time help to actively and sustainably protect the environment.

Location icon Chitwan National Park
Minimum age icon from 16 years
Icon Duration 4 - 21 weeks / from €1.150
Departure days icon Wednesday, Sunday
SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
Sustainable consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Project ID : FA-NE184

As a volunteer
Nepal

4 - 21 weeks / from €1.150
to the cost overview

What's the matter?

The Elephant Dung Paper Mill is located in a small village in Chitwan National Park. It is a manufactory that produces 100% recycled and environmentally friendly, creative paper products, such as calendars and paper bags, from elephant dung in elaborate manual work.

An elephant eats around 200-250kg of food every day and produces around 50kg of dung, which mainly consists of plant fibres. This dung is collected, the plant fibers are washed, boiled, cut, spun and then processed into paper in several steps.

Your place of work is a social business that primarily supports women. In the project, they are given the opportunity to gain employment by learning how to make paper, how to process it and how to sell it. You can lend a hand and be part of all manufacturing processes. Volunteering at the Recycling Project in Nepal will have you helping out with everything from collecting dung to designing the end products. As a volunteer, you can get involved here with new creative ideas for products made from recycled paper. About six villagers are permanently employed in the manufactory, who will explain everything to you and help you with difficulties.

Your tasks as a volunteer

Papermaking requires your skill and creativity. You can think about different designs and possible paper products in advance and then implement them. Depending on your needs, your work can also focus more on the creative design of the products than on the production itself.

If you have some business skills or good ideas for sale, you've come to the right place. Because another important field of work in this project is sales. The finished products should not only be offered at the village's own sales stand, but also be sold beyond the borders of Nepal.

In this volunteering project you will not only learn a lot about the production of environmentally friendly paper, you will also have the opportunity to work closely with the elephants. In the morning, at noon and in the evening you help to prepare the food and take care of the pachyderms.

You usually work 4-7 hours a day in a 6-day work week. If you want to greet the elephants in the morning, you have to get up early. These make their way into the jungle in the early hours of the morning. In the evening and possibly at noon you can then help with their care. In between, you help out in the paper factory.

Accommodation Catering

Accommodation in Chitwan

In Chitwan you have the possibility to choose between three different types of accommodation:

  • host family
  • Volunteer House
  • Hotel

You live with a maximum of one other volunteer in a host family. Since all of the host families are in close proximity to one another, all of the participants are, so to speak, neighbours. The houses of our families are very simple, partly built with clay, but clean.

You also have the option of being accommodated in a volunteer house with a maximum of six other participants or, depending on availability, in a small hotel. Both buildings are on the same property.

You have to wash the laundry yourself or hand it in for a fee for hand washing. We provide you with internet access via a small hotel in the same village. You can also buy a SIM card for your mobile phone. The best thing to do is to ask our team on site.

Important for you to know: The electricity is regularly shut off nationwide for up to 12 hours. In addition, there is only water from a pump and showering or washing is usually done in the open air in a bush shower.

During your volunteer work or your internship abroad, you will receive two meals a day. There is usually no breakfast in the traditional sense in Nepal. Tea is drunk in the morning and around 9 o'clock there is a simple meal of rice and vegetables, sometimes with chicken. In the evening around 19 p.m. you also get a dish of rice and vegetables. At lunchtime, tea is mainly drunk. In the school projects, it is possible to buy lunch in the canteen for around 10 rupees. Otherwise, most RGV participants eat cookies and fruit they have brought with them for lunch.

Location

Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park in southern Nepal was established in 1973 as the country's first national park. It lies in the foothills of the Himalayas on the border with India and covers an area of ​​almost 1000 square kilometers. Due to the countless native wild animals, the park was already a popular hunting ground for the Nepalese nobles in the 19th century. 

For those wild animals, the park is now, a few hundred years later, one of the most important protected areas in the region. Animal species found in Chitwan include rhinos, leopards, bears and the 'king of the jungle', the Bengal tiger. Rare species of snakes and lizards as well as a huge variety of insects can also be found here.

Free time in Chitwan National Park

Your free time in Chitwan National Park

The opportunities you have to spend your free time there are just as diverse as nature in Chitwan. The national park offers you unique insights into the nature of Nepal. In addition to rare birds and reptiles, with a bit of luck you can also discover large mammals such as bears or even tigers. You can also explore the jungle on various safaris by jeep or on foot. 

Another way to discover the wild landscapes of Chitwan National Park is by rafting or canoeing on the region's rivers. The various restaurants and bars in the region are also ideal for trying out Nepalese cuisine. 

On-site procedure

Arrival in Nepal

Arrive in Nepal and onward journey

You will be picked up by our team at the airport in Kathmandu and taken to your accommodation. Lively Kathmandu is your home for your first night in Nepal. We bear the costs for the overnight stay in Kathmandu as well as for the transfer. 

Orientation in Chitwan

Your orientation program

Even before you set off on your project in Nepal, you will get to know the two main people responsible for the NGO during a video call. Here you have the chance to ask questions and clear up ambiguities. You will also receive all the information relevant to your volunteer work. You will get to know your tasks on site by accompanying the employees in Nepal to various activities and letting them instruct you in your activities.

project in Chitwan

Your first day in the project

After the introductory program, you will start your work on the project. You will be instructed in the individual activities by one of the team members or an experienced volunteer and can then support you with the various tasks. Our team will create the exact daily plans together with you as soon as you are on site. You can use the rest of the day actively and, for example, explore the area with other volunteers. 

Pricing

  • base fee
    € 1.150, -
    4 weeks of participation
  • extension week
    € 150, - / week
    up to 17 weeks respectively

included
Services

Before departure

  • Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
  • Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
  • Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
  • Non-binding flight advice
  • Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
  • RGV t-shirt

On site

  • Orientation program with the team on site
  • Support and guidance from the on-site team
  • RGV 24h emergency number
  • Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities
  • Airport transfer on the agreed arrival and departure days
  • Accommodation in a volunteer house, with a host family or in a hotel
  • Meals: Breakfast and dinner

After return

  • Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
  • Reflection course on your experiences abroad
  • Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion
useful additional services

not included
Services

  • Round trip
  • Private expenses on site
  • Excursions with microlight flights
  • Travel and cancellation insurance
  • Visa and Vaccinations
  • All nights outside your agreed accommodation
  • Public transport and extra transfers
  • Daily drive to the project
  • Drinks

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Picture must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

Flight booking icon
" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Flight offers with maximum flexibility

Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.

The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.

These special tariffs give you special added value:

  • maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
  • generous baggage allowance
  • Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Insurance icon
" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
The 4 in 1 insurance cover for volunteers and internships abroad

You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.

The following building blocks are included:

  • Health Insurance
  • Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
  • Travel insurance

Chitwan National Park Team
site

Namaste - Welcome to Nepal!

Here our RGV team is led by the brothers Sher, Shiri and Hom. They all speak German, English and Nepali. Sher is a local and trained travel guide. Him and his wife Will support you in the first days in Kathmandu.

Shiri manages with his wife Sushil accommodation in Chitwan National Park. They will be there to help you with your volunteer work in Nepal. Hom also works for the brothers' tour operator and runs a hotel in Pokhara. Him and his wife Bandana are your contacts in Pokhara.

For many years, the brothers have been committed to local development and support their village community wherever possible.

Portrait team in Nepal

Volunteers talk about their experiences Joint commitment - big impact!

Testimonials

My time in the elephant ship paper mill in Nepal

Overall, I was very impressed by the country of Nepal with its culture, landscape and people. The mentality is hospitable, open, relaxed, helpful and you always feel welcome.

More testimonials
Browse our magazine

RGV FAQ
to the project

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

What visa do I need for Nepal?

You need a tourist visa (for 30 days or 90 days) to enter Nepal. You will receive this directly at the airport upon arrival. You can also fill out the application online in advance. The fees are then paid at the airport.

What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need?

If you are traveling from a yellow fever area, you need a yellow fever vaccination. Otherwise there are no compulsory vaccinations.

We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.

You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.

What language skills do I need for the project in Nepal?

Good knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of Nepali is also helpful - we therefore recommend taking a Nepali language course on site.

What are the requirements for the environmental project?

No special prior knowledge is required to participate. Motivation, good health, the ability to work in a team, fun working outdoors and an interest in environmental issues are important.

What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?

Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.

For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to get involved as a volunteer in Nepal? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

Gallery Impressions &
Impressions

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With RGV you achieve flexible volunteer work in different countries worldwide. Maybe there is one too Internship abroad the ideal choice for you to gain valuable experience abroad.

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