Our Nepali and UK volunteers create real and lasting change.
Our volunteers work with local communities to improve access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and economic opportunity. At the same time our placements create space for volunteers to grow and learn skills that will allow them to become more active citizens in their own communities. The programme is led by Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and funded by the UK Government.
How does it work?
ICS pairs local Nepali volunteers with UK-based volunteers. All volunteers participate in a foundation training that lasts 10 days. In this time they cover all the essential information and skills that they need to be effective volunteers in their host and home communities. This includes how to support ICS project activities, and understand how they contribute to the greater picture of development work.
Volunteers work in their placement sites in rural areas for 10-12 weeks. The UK and Nepali volunteers live together and work as a team to become integral parts of the community. They collaborate on impactful and valuable projects that have been developed in partnership with the target communities and are a part of a wider development program. Our programme staff and the ICS Team Leaders support both the UK and Nepali volunteers throughout their experience.
Photo Credit: Andy Aitchison / ICS
Each ICS programme is based on the needs of local communities and designed by in-country Nepal staff, and covers one of the following three areas.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Our volunteers work with communities to raise awareness about water, sanitation and hygiene so that they can design and implement relevant solutions. Volunteers also work on waste management projects, leading activities like setting up dustbins, mobilising communities for litter pick-ups, and promoting waste segregation.
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
These activities focus specifically on the health of young women and girls, covering topics including promoting menstrual hygiene and making alternative sanitary pads, destigmatising menstruation in rural areas and sharing information about healthy pregnancies.
Photo Credit: Suraj Shakya
Livelihoods
Our volunteers working on livelihoods projects engage young people aged 12 to 16 in planning for their future, making responsible livelihood choices and setting employment goals. Through learning and teaching about financial literacy, life skills and exploring career options, ICS Volunteers connect personally with Nepali youth to set livelihood goals and take steps to achieve them, whether they be further education, vocational training, finding jobs or creating businesses.
Photo Credit: Andy Aitchison.
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