What to Bring

There are not many things that a volunteer would need that is not available to buy once in Nepal. No matter the time of year, no matter the climate there will be clothing that will suit the weather and that will be very cheap to buy.

Many volunteers bring materials for the children such as art materials, children's clothes and teacher's manuals. All these are very much appreciated and are a great help. In particular children's underwear, socks and boys trousers are appreciated.

Bringing a stock of activity ideas is a great asset to volunteers during their stay here. Games or activities that require very little to no materials, or are very cheap are great. Volunteers may be placed in a house with up to fifty children so the simpler the better.

The children will be curious about where the volunteers come from, about their families and life back home so bringing pictures of home countries or post cards can be a nice gesture.

Well the best thing a volunteer can bring to Umbrella is an open mind, a helping hand and a good sense of humour!

Health and Safety

Recommended vaccinations

Volunteers are urged to please contact their own GP or Tropical medical Bureau for further recommendations and advice.

Nepal does not officially require any immunisations for entry into the country, but the further off the beaten track a traveller goes, the more necessary it is to take precautions. Travellers who have come from an area infected with yellow fever are required to be vaccinated before entering the country. Record all vaccinations on an International Health Certificate, available from a doctor or government health department.

Plan ahead and schedule vaccinations as some require more than one injection, while others should not be given together. Note that some vaccinations should not be given during pregnancy or to people with allergies. It is recommended that volunteers seek medical advice at least six weeks before travelling. Discuss requirements with a doctor, but vaccinations that should be considered for this trip include the following:

• Diphtheria & tetanus
  
• Hepatitis A
  
• Hepatitis B
  
• Influenza
  
• Japanese B Encephalitis (JBE)
  
• Meningococcal Meningitis
  
• Polio
  
• Rabies
  
• Tuberculosis
  
• Typhoid
  
• Yellow fever
  

Malaria

Most malaria in Nepal is the so-called benign vivax malaria and principally occurs in areas far from those frequented by tourists. Extremely small risk is present in some areas of Chitwan National Park during the monsoon; there is no risk in Kathmandu, Pokhara, or typical Himalayan trekking routes.

All volunteers should practise mosquito-bite avoidance (use of netting, repellents, etc) and engage in prompt evaluation if any fever develops after travel to such areas.

Medical Checklist

Following is a list of items should be considered for inclusion in medical kits - consult a pharmacist for brands available in your country.

It is worth noting that most of these medicines are available to buy in Nepal. If a volunteer is used to a particular medicine or are on any type of prescribed medication they should bring these with them. All necessary prescriptions should also be brought.
 
Volunteers should please consult their doctor or pharmacist about what medication they would recommend.

• aspirin or paracetamol (acetaminophen in the USA) for pain or fever
• antihistamine for allergies, eg hay fever; to ease the itch from insect bites or stings; and to prevent motion sickness
  
• cold and flu tablets, throat lozenges and nasal decongestant
  
• multivitamins for long trips, when dietary vitamin intake may be inadequate
  
• antibiotics, particularly if intend on travelling well off the beaten track after completing the volunteer programme; see a doctor, as antibiotics must be prescribed, and carry the prescription at all times
  
• anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen) for muscle and joint overuse and pain; also for headache and fever
  
• loperamide or diphenoxylate 'blockers' for diarrhoea
  
• prochlorperazine or metoclopramide for nausea and vomiting
  
• rehydration mixtureto prevent dehydration, which may occur, for example, during bouts of diarrhoea
  
• insect repellent, sunscreen, lip balm and eye drops calamine lotion, sting-relief spray or aloe vera to ease irritation from sunburn and insect bites or stings
  
• antifungal cream or powder for fungal skin infections and thrush
  
• antiseptic (such as povidone-iodine) for cuts and grazes bandages, crepe wraps, Band-Aids (plasters) and other wound dressings
  
• water purification tablets or iodine scissors, tweezers and a thermometer, noting that mercury thermometers are prohibited by airlines
  
  

Airport

Extra Baggage

Successful applicants will be sent a letter that they can present to their travel operators or airline companies and request extra baggage allowance with out being charged for excess baggage. It is up to the airlines discretion whether or not to make this allowance so it is advised to contact them in advance to avoid disappointment or delays at the airport.

Airport to Umbrella

Due to the increased number of volunteers who arrive every month, sometimes many in the one week it became impractical for us to provide an airport pick up service. We now ask that when a volunteer arrives they take a taxi.

Successful applicants will be provided with detailed instructions or reaching the office and will be given instructions written in Nepali to present to the taxi driver.

Visas

On arrival in Kathmandu Airport it is possible to process the visa. There is a choice of a 30 day visa for $40 or a 90 day visa for $100. There are no ATMs at this point of the Airport so cash should be ready in advance.
2 passport photos are also required, it is possible to get them in the airport, but easier if arranged before departure as it speeds up the process.
The visa application form is available in the airport and can be filled out on arrival.

Officially people are not permitted to volunteer on a tourist visa so we recommend that tourism is the stated 'reason for stay in Nepal'
Visa extensions are available from immigration offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara only and cost US$60 (payable in rupees) for a 30-day extension and US$30 for 15 days. Every visa extension requires the passport, money, photos and an application form.

The maximum duration of stay in Nepal is 150 days in a calendar year on a tourist visa.
Up-to-date visa information is available on the website of the Department of Immigration (www.immi.gov.np).

Money

ATMs

Standard Chartered Bank has ATMs in Kathmandu and Pokhara; cash advances on both Visa and MasterCard are available 24 hours a day, though travellers have reported that these machines don't take cards that run on the Cirrus system. Other banks, such as the Himalaya Bank, also have ATMs but some only accept local cards. Using an ATM attached to a bank during business hours will minimise the hassle in the rare event that the machine eats your card.
Travellers travelling with a PLUS or CIRRUS card should not find it a problem to use ATMs in Kathmandu.

Changing money

Official exchange rates are set by the government's Nepal Rastra Bank and listed in the daily newspapers. Rates at the private banks vary, but are generally not far from the official rate.
There are exchange counters at the international terminal at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan Airport and banks and/or moneychangers at the various border crossings. Pokhara and the major border towns also have official money changing facilities, but changing travellers cheques can be difficult elsewhere in the country, even in some quite large towns. The best private banks are Himalaya Bank Nepal Bank Ltd and Standard Chartered Bank. Some hotels and resorts are licensed to change money but their rates are lower.

Credit cards

Major credit cards are widely accepted at midrange and better hotels, restaurants and fancy shops in the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara only.

Nepali Language

The language is not too easy to pick up. Successful applicants will receive a six page introduction with some of the key words you may need.

The children all attend English medium schools so will communicate with you in English, please note that many of the children's level of English is not very high and a certain level of patience, understanding and good humoured sign language is a big asset! Most people volunteers meet in Kathmandu will have a high level of English making it very easy to get by.