NEPAL

Nepal is facing a concentrated HIV/AIDS epidemic within groups that practice high-risk behaviours. Nepal's poverty and gender inequality, combined with low levels of education and literacy present challenges in tackling this epidemic. However, SPW is mobilising young volunteers to encourage rural young people to take action to safeguard their own and their communities health and environmental resources.

Programme Facts:
Community Youth Empowerment Programme - Working where?

• based in Terai (the Southern belt of Nepal)
• volunteers placed in mixed-nationality and gender groups of 2-4
• live and work in rural communities with the school as a base
• placements are in areas with very basic facilities such as electricity, communication and transportation
• volunteers live with Nepali families or in local hostels
• most placements have public telephone booths and email services are available from most of the district HQ

You and your partner(s) will live and work in the community.
The activities of volunteers on the HEP include:

• teaching formal and non-formal timetabled lessons in schools (Health / English)
• forming and/or strengthening a youth group (Green Club) and establishing or strengthening a school library
• conducting extra-curricular activities involving non-formal education techniques, (e.g. games, drama and art) to explore sensitive topics with young people
• establishing links between the youth club, the local health post and local medical personnel
• conducting exposure visits to district health clinics and services for local youth
• assisting youth club to organise outreach activities (e.g. street dramas, rallies, health camps) that raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, adolescent sexual and reproductive health
• linking youth clubs with other community-based organisations and with local and district services
• ensuring that activities involve girls as well as boys
• ensuring that outreach health efforts involve school teachers, head-teachers, community based organisations, local government health officials, health practitioners and service providers
• building the capacity of selected youth club members to lead as peer educators on health issues in future

Programme structure of CYEP
Initial 4-week training period covering:

• teambuilding skills
• cross-cultural awareness
• basic development theory
• general and Nepal-specific knowledge of key health issues
• NFE (Non Formal Education) Techniques
• Participatory Rural Appraisal Techniques
• (TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreigh Language - for international volunteers)
• language training

Placement stage (7 months)
District Orientation (2 days)
Mid-Term Review (3 days)
Mid-placement training

• additional training occurs on a needs-based manner (usually after the Mid-Term Review)

Country Information

Background:From the heights of the Himalaya to the southern Terai region, Nepal is a colourful, vibrant country, whose cultural diversity blends into one bustling metropolis in its capital city, Kathmandu. Nepal is renowned for the friendliness of its people.

Language:Nepali and English.

Religion:90% Hindu, 5% Buddhist, 3% Muslim, 2% other.

Food:

• Staple - dal, bhat and tarkari, literally meaning lentils, rice and curried vegetables
• Meat - masu is meat with spices and gravy, usually served with rice. Nepalese eat chicken, mutton, buffalo and pork. Most Nepalis do not eat beef.
• Vegetarianism - accepted easily, potatoes, lentils, rice and vegetables are plentiful
• Other - to quench your thirst a lassi is perfect, a drink made of curd and water

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