Whether it's the majestic vistas of the snowcapped Himalayas, the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, the peace of the Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries, the wildlife in Chitwan National Park, or a visit to another World Heritage Site, trekkers and world travelers alike have long been making their way to Nepal to witness its beauty and learn of its rich culture and history.

But despite its fame and beauty, Nepal is still among the poorest nations in the world. And while its cities are burgeoning, the country is still largely an agrarian society. There are many opportunities for volunteers to get involved in the work for sustainable development in both Nepal's urban and rural communities.Nepal's recent years of political stability have also encouraged more people to visit. (2007 was Nepal's best year in terms of tourism since 2000.) The Maoists signed a peace treaty several years ago, ending Nepal's 10-year civil war, and the country had its first democratic election in April 2008.

Nepal's myriad volunteer opportunities offer ways to appreciate and learn about the different aspects of Nepal's culture, such as preserving its monasteries and ancient artifacts, and the challenges of poverty present in Nepal's urban and agricultural communities. Below are examples of international volunteer organizations working in Nepal.

Cultural Restoration Tourism Project

A wholly unique volunteer organization, the Cultural Restoration Tourism Project (CRTP), invites volunteers to help restore cultural artifacts that are in danger of extinction. The buildings restored by CRTP do not become museums but functional buildings in the communities that want them restored, therefore becoming a renewed economic base for the local community.

Each of the projects is initiated by the community. The Nepal project currently under way, which began in 2003, is at Chairro Gompa, a 300-year-old Buddhist monastery and religious center. It fell into disrepair when China closed its border to Tibet, and certain trade routes through northern Nepal were abandoned and closed off. Located in the Mustang area, Chiarro Gompa is off the beaten track of the typical visit to Nepal.

Anyone from any background can participate, though the work does involve some moderate physical effort. Volunteers receive professional instruction and guidance from Lama Sashi Doj, a world-renowned painter and Buddhist monk, whose family has ties dating back five centuries to much of the artwork within the monastery. That the teams of volunteers are comprised of both international and local Nepalese is one of the most unique aspects of CRPT, offering volunteers wonderful access to real relationships with locals.

Cost and suggested stay: The cost of the trip is $2495, which includes ground and air transportation within Nepal, meals, and in-country permits specific to the program. This fee is tax-deductible. Volunteers will need to arrange their own transportation to Nepal, secure their own visas, passports, and travel health insurance. Most trips run for 12 days, though they do allow for six-day volunteer trips.Accommodations: Volunteers stay within the community at guesthouses and homestays. It should be noted that CRTP does include a sleeping bag on their suggested packing list. Check out Donald's personal story [1] on his experience working in Nepal with CRPT for more details.

For more information, please visit, www.crtp.net [2], or if you have any questions, you can e-mail Mark Hintzke at mark@crtp.net [3].

Village Volunteers

True to its name, Village Volunteers (VV) works in partnership with various village programs in Kenya, India, Ghana, and Nepal in order to achieve a community's objectives. VV strongly believes that communities know what they need in order to improve their lives and achieve sustainability.

The projects in Nepal give a good idea of the breadth of volunteer work. In the Pokhara region, located northwest of Kathmandu, volunteers work with the Sustainable Agriculture Development Program. Many projects involve teaching and implementing organic farming techniques and soil preservation to farmers and to farming communities, but there are also literacy and education projects for local farmers, micro-credit education, health care opportunities, orphan care, elderly services, work in a local Tibetan refugee camp, teaching at the Gandaki Association of Deaf, and care and education of HIV victims with the Friends of Hope organization.

Cost and suggested stay: Village Volunteers is set up to accommodate volunteers from 2 weeks to 3 months, depending on the site and the need. Costs range from $1430 to $2830, depending on the site and length of stay. Costs include cultural orientation, meals and accommodations, transportation within Nepal, and post-program assistance. It is also notable that a portion of your fee goes toward the partner organization with which you are working. VV fees do not include airfare to the host country and they do not include travel health insurance (though VV does require that you have this). The fee is typically tax deductible, but VV suggests contacting your accountant to be certain.

Accommodations: In Nepal, volunteers stay in guest rooms or guest huts, most of which are double-occupancy. Some are small, but they all offer Western-style beds with linens and mosquito nets. Some bathroom facilities have flush toilets, but most are outdoor pit latrines. Bathing typically involves a shower room and a basin of warm water. Accommodations do vary depending on the site, but VV promises that they will be safe, modest, and clean, and that there will be clean drinking water and electricity.

For more information, visit www.villagevolunteers.org [4].

Asha Nepal

"Asha" is the Nepali word for hope, and Asha Nepal, a UK-registered charity, works with local organizations to give a sense of hope to Nepalese women and girls whose rights have been compromised or abused. Sex trafficking, forced prostitution, sexual and physical abuse, child labor, and discrimination due to gender, caste, and HIV/AIDS are all issues that face women and girls in Nepal.

Asha Nepal offers a safe haven for girls who may have been abused and neglected by their families, counseling and therapeutic care, rescue from brothels in India, health care, legal support, education and job training that will assist the women and girls to re-enter society and to live normal and productive lives.

Because of the nature of their work, Asha Nepal typically only takes on volunteers who have useful expertise in the specific field that will help their cause, so it is important to keep in mind that volunteering with Asha Nepal may not be for everyone.  General volunteers can be helpful if they are fluent in Nepalese (Asha-Nepal cannot offer translators at this time).

For information on specific volunteer placement, cost, and suggested stay, please contact Asha Nepal directly at: admin@asha-nepal.org [5]. For more information, visit www.asha-nepal.org [6].