We welcome those with helping hands, ideas and enthusiasm who can assist us with the physical, intellectual, moral and personality development of the children. With your involvement, we anticipate that the children will gain self-confidence, self-respect and enthusiasm to learn more.

Responsibilities

Helping the children with their education

Encouraging and taking part in the children’s extra-curricular activities (eg. singing, dancing, drawing and games)

Enriching them with moral and social values

Providing psychological support and encouragement

Working with our staff to maintain adequate hygiene, nutrition and daily childcare in Sonrisa

We currently have one room available for full-time volunteers who would like to be staying at the orphanage. We can take a maximum of two full-time volunteers at one time, in which case the room would have to be shared. Part-time volunteers will have to make their own accommodation arrangements.

Any volunteer will be expected to be staying at least for two weeks. We will not accept volunteers that stay less than that.

If you are interested, please read our volunteer terms and conditions before applying for the placement.

 

Terms and Conditions

PLESASE READ CAREFULLY OUR LEGAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEFORE APPLYING.

By accepting our Terms and Conditions on the website and/or signing the Application Form, you agree to be bound by its terms. If you are uncertain as to your rights under these conditions, or you would like an explanation of any part of them, please contact us. You can also obtain your own legal advice on them, should you wish to do so. We honestly believe that all statements made are factual and correct.

General

Applicants must be at least 16 years old on the day the application is dropped.

Applicants must have never been arrested or convicted of any criminal offense.

Applicants s must be able to speak good conversational English.

Meals will be provided during the volunteer placement as per our daily routine.

We are not obliged to provide accommodation for the part-time volunteers. In placement accommodation, the sleeping arrangement may be shared. The accommodation, bathroom and toilet facilities are of basic standard.

Full-time volunteers need to inform us whenever they want to go out of the orphanage, to make his/her absence does not interfere with the agreed schedule.

Applicants must give proof of good health and requiring no special attention.

All applicants must agree with our rules and regulations.

 

Program

We only take applicants who wish to volunteer with us for a period of at least two weeks and at first phase we only allow for a month long then one can  extend, if both parties are happy.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that he/she has a valid passport and the appropriate documentation. Applicants are responsible for all their travel costs.

For full time volunteer our fee is Rs 500/- (USD $7.0 approximately) per day which is payable upon your arrival at the orphanage.

 

Rules and Regulations

Smoking and drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited within the premises of the orphanage.

Use of any recreational drugs is strictly prohibited.

Any kind of violent activities are not tolerable.

The volunteer should be in Sonrisa the latest by 10:00 pm.

Hash punishment (physical or mental) to the children is not allowed.

Criminal actions like child abuse will be immediately denounced to the authorities.

The belongings of Sonrisa Orphanage Nepal should not be misused.

If you agree with our terms and conditions and wish to apply for the volunteering service, please email us.

What to expect working as volunteer with us

 

Dear Volunteers,

Welcome to Sonrisa!

And thank you for sharing your time and energy with the children and staff here.  We hope it is a wonderful time for you as well as for us!  This introduction is to help you get to know how we operate here at the Sonrisa Centre.

It is better for you and also better for the children, if we are consistent-especially about how we handle behavior and keep to routines that work well for the children.  We do, of course, welcome your input and ideas on how to educate, encourage, play with and entertain the children!

Lots of volunteers have given us ideas as we prepared this document.  We hope it helps!

Number One Tip!

Learning the children’s names takes some time!!  To learn the names of the children there is a poster with names and photos in the hallway, by the children’s sleeping rooms. (Made by volunteer Kristy in December 2010)

We hope you will enjoy your stay at The Sonrisa Centre, have fun with the children.

For any questions or feedback to us and our work please talk to Pamela, Gonga, Bil, Sujit or Bishnu.

Daily schedule for the volunteers, when the children go to school:

(This sometimes varies!)

5.30am   The children awake and get hot milk

5.45   Leave for dance class

7.30   After the children are back from dance (approximately 7.15), they settle down and study the homework that wasn’t finished yesterday

(The volunteer is welcome to help keep order and help the children with their school work)

8.00-8.30 Some days there will be Music lessons (almost every school day a music teacher arrives)

8.30  Breakfast

9.00-9.30 The children get dressed for school (They do it very well themselves).

The volunteer can help the children to polish the school shoes, see to it that each child has their bag with; water bottle, the books for the day, pencil, eraser, lunch box and a ruler.

9:30 Walk to school -(see “Walking to school” below) This is one of the  most important daily tasks of the Volunteer

10.00   School starts -(See “Weekly school schedule” below)

10.00-14.30  Volunteer has free time

Durring the free time volunteer can go out to hang around or down town, shoping but please inform to the office.

14.30   The children are picked up from School – see schedule

15.30   Children get snack when they arrive home

16.00-18.0 Study Time!

- (See “Study time” below)

18:00-19.00   Leisure time for the children

- (See “Leisure time” below)

19.0 -Dinner! (See “Meals” below)

Around 19.30  The children brush their teeth and go to bed

Weekly school schedule:

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday: 10.00 – 15.30

Wednesday and Thursday: 10.00 – 14.30

Friday: 10.00 – 13.30

Saturday: No school

You should leave the Sonrisa Centre 30 minutes before the start of school.

If you are not picking the children up you must inform Pamela, Gonga, Bill or Bishnu. The children are not allowed to walk home without adult supervision.

Jwala and Lakpha (the older children) always start at the same time as the others, but may have a different schedule for when they go home). They can walk on their own from school.

(Prepared by:Pia Brown and Luisa)