FAQs:
- Where will I be working?
The student/applicant will be working as an intern (unpaid) in the respective hospital according to their relevant schedule. However, as a volunteer your work could be in a hospital or outreach. - What will the environment be in Nepal? Nepal has a typical monsoonal climate, with a dry season from October to May and a wet season from June to September. The main monsoon is from mid-June to September, and the very best times to visit are Autumn (September to November) and Spring (March to May). Obviously, climate charts and temperature extremes differ across the country and temperatures are much colder in the north, and warmer in the south. If you are coming in the winter, please bring warm clothing (think layers), and cool, summer clothing is suitable for the remainder of the year. If you are here during the monsoon, please bring a waterproof jacket and an umbrella.
- How much does it cost? The entire estimation of the cost generally depends on the type and duration of program/project, food & accommodation category, equipment and infrastructure and also transport.
- What is the accommodation like?
The applicants will be allotted in the hotels, hostels or guest house. We recommend notifying the preference of stay a month before the start of the program. - What immunizations/vaccines will I need?
Although you do not officially require any immunizations for entry into Nepal. We recommend to consult your doctor for medical advice and also bring a record of your vaccinations with you. However, GIVS is involved with the highly prestigious healthcare center in where the applicants could certainly get the patient centered medical service/vaccination if required. - Is this a legitimate company?
GIVS is affiliated with Global Healthcare Travel Medicine Center, which is a government registered heath care center and providing service under organization norms and is established by an expert team of medical professionals. - What kinds of programs are available?
The program/Project is basically based upon the curriculum/ interest of the participant in the field of Medicine. We recommend to notify the organization (GIVS) about the program/interest at least three months before the date of start. - Who organizes my visa for my internship/volunteer placement?
You are responsible for arranging your own visa for Nepal. All foreigners, except Indians, must have a visa to enter the country. Visitors to Nepal are allowed to stay on a tourist visa for up to a maximum of 150 days (five months) per calendar year (January to December). Please note that international volunteers who arrive in August can work up to ten consecutive months, split across two calendar years (i.e. August to May). Non-tourist visas are very difficult to obtain.
You can obtain a multiple entry tourist visa from the Nepalese Embassy in your home country or a single entry visa upon arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport or at road borders (you will be asked to fill in an application form and provide a passport photograph).
We recommend that you obtain your visa in your home country, as it saves time and you can avoid the long (sometimes very long) queues at the airport.
If you stay longer than the duration of your initial visa, you will need to obtain a visa extension at the Immigration office in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Please note that your passport needs to have at least six months validity. - How do I get from the airport to the host family or guest house?
You could find one of our staff members who will be holding a placard of the applicant’s name/ names on it outside the airport terminal. He/she will then lead you to the hotel/hostel/guest house. - Where is all the money going?
The moment we get the first term of payment from the applicant we confirm and start organizing the program. We firstly make a strategy to ensure that the applicant successfully achieves the desired result. - How long can I intern/volunteer for?
The duration of stay mainly depends on the duration of the program. - How will I be assisted?
The applicants will be under supervision of a senior doctor or an in charge during internship and an expert medical team during outreach. - Do I need to learn Nepali?
You don not need to learn Nepali unless it is your personal interest. In the hospitals and healthcare centers, we partner with most senior consultants/Staff. So are likely to have a good level of English. - What do I need to bring with?
This will vary depending on the time of year in which you visit Nepal and what additional activities you intend to participate in during your stay in Nepal. It is also a good idea to bring with you a photocopy of your passport and visa, and keep this in a separate location to the original documents. If possible you should also email yourself a scanned copy of important documents before departing for Nepal, as this will facilitate things in the event of loss or theft of the original documents. - Do I have to be from a specific country to intern or volunteer?
No, You can be from any part of the world • What age do I have to be an intern/volunteer?
Participant must be at least 18 years old, there is no upper age limit for volunteers. - How can I communicate with my family back home?
Email and Internet access is widely available in the larger towns in Nepal, and currently costs approximately 100NPR per hour. There is also access to wifi in the hotel/hostels/Guest house. In some cases this may be limited and slower. • What happens if something goes wrong during my stay in Nepal? Global healthcare Travel Medicine Center will be 24/7 in access to provide medical service in the event of emergency medical care/ any health issue.