Welcome to the Earthbag Project!

Travel the World. Make a Difference. Earthbag Project 1

Welcome to the Earthbag Project! Build Abroad s mission is to build and repair communities in developing nations by providing socially conscious construction volunteering. To achieve this goal, we connect volunteers to those in need. We feel volunteering is one of the best ways to make a difference in the world. Aside from the physical accomplishments, our construction volunteers bring home an insight about a different culture. Changing the world starts with changing the way we think! Table of Contents About The Construction Project About Nepal Pre-Departure Sample Packing List Pickup, Accommodations & Meals Itinerary Safety Get in Touch 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 2

About the Construction Project For our Build Abroad Earthbag Nepal program, we help Nepalese families rebuild their communities using earthbag technology. Our program helps educate volunteers as well as the local community about the benefits of building with earthbags over typical construction using mud or clay. Volunteers will take part in a building workshop before starting their work on the construction site, where they will be working along side of an English-speaking supervisor and local village labor. This volunteer program is a very raw and authentic experience. Volunteers will be staying with a local family, who all live in very basic, seemingly temporary structures. In some cases, the volunteers will actually sleep in a tent. When we are not working on housing projects, we will work on building toilets for the community. Why Build with Earthbags? In most developing countries, rural areas typically build with mud, stone, or clay because these materials are cheap and readily available. Unfortunately, these materials succumb easily to natural forces such as erosion, flooding and earthquakes. The alternative would usually be building with cement bricks (otherwise known as CMU), steel and wood. However, these materials require delivery to a remote job site which can be inaccessible due to poorly maintained roads. Furthermore, the fabrication and delivery of these materials are not sustainable. Earthbag construction is a perfect compromise. It allows rural villages to use local materials while offering a structurally sound, time-tested building technique. Not to mention Earthbags are extremely sustainable, affordable and easy to work with! 3

A Little About Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country located in South Asia. The mountainous north of Nepal has eight of the world s ten tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest. Nepal is a developing country with a low income economy. It continues to struggle with high levels of hunger and poverty. Despite these challenges, Nepal has been making steady progress. Himalayan Villages On May 15, 2015, a devastating earthquake hit Nepal. Since then, the world has been sending aid in the form of supplies and in-country volunteers. As an international volunteer organization, Build Abroad has decided to take part in this aid by sending volunteers to rebuild in Kathmandu and the surrounding Himalayan villages. Now that most of the disaster relief has been completed, we have turned our efforts to post disaster relief and long term development in the mountain villages. These villages are more remote and therefore have less access to supplies and labor. Volunteers can expect beautiful scenery as they trek through the Himalayas to build schools and homes. 4

Pre-Departure Information Visas A passport and visa are required to both enter and exit Nepal. It can be obtained for 15, 30 and 90 days from any Nepalese Embassy or Consulate. You can also get a visa at the entry points in Nepal. PLEASE NOTE: It is the responsibility of each Build Abroad volunteer to do their own research on visas before traveling. Passport A passport will be required to travel to Nepal. Make sure you make copies of this before you leave home. Leave one copy with family at home and take one spare copy with you for your travels. Travel Insurance Travel insurance is required for all Build Abroad trips. You can purchase travel insurance online from a number of companies, such as World Nomads. When you travel, make sure you bring a printout of your travel insurance or policy number. Vaccines Pre-Departure Checklist Book your trip on Buildabroad.org Pay remainder of trip fees Fill out volunteer form Sign release form It is the responsibility of each Build Abroad volunteer Get travel insurance to do their own research and consult their doctor Research vaccines and visas before traveling abroad. Make sure passport is current Electrical Outlets Scan and send passport to us Nepal uses 220 volt electricity, which is different from the 110 volt in the US. To operate small U.S. and European appliances (like phones, hairdryers, and electric shavers) you may need a voltage converter. To avoid damage to your electronic appliances, be sure to check each appliance for acceptable voltages before you plug them in. Electrical outlet sockets in Nepal will be type D with 3 round plugs. Sockets will also usually take type C plugs with two round pins and type M. In Kathmandu local electrical shops will sell cheap adapters. 5

Sample Packing List The most important piece of advice we can give to people packing for the Nepal trip is to pack for a variety of conditions. The evenings in Nepal can get cool, while the middle of the day may be hot and humid. Also, depending upon the time of the year, there may be days of rain. As with any trip, remember to bring any essential toiletries and clothing that you would use on a day to day basis. Below is a sample packing list of things that you may not have considered. Essentials Spending cash Reusable water bottle Sleeping bag The sleeping arrangements in rural Nepal will likely be on a sleeping cot or mat. It is important to bring your own sleeping bag Waterproof jacket Swim suit Packaged energy foods for snacking For example: granola bars, trail mix, raisins, candy bars Camera or smartphone Tent (optional - if you do not have a tent, you will be provided one) Paperwork Passport Printed copy of passport Health insurance Travel insurance On The Job Site Gym shoes or work boots Sunglasses Hat, cap or bandanna Work gloves Health Prescriptions you usually take Any special prescriptions for your trip Tums or other indigestion chewables These are helpful if your stomach becomes upset from the change in diet Insect repellent Anti-itch aide for insect bites SPF 15 or higher sunscreen A Note on Clothing Nepalese culture has more conservative dress standards. While working, men and women should both wear jeans or work pants. Avoid wearing revealing articles of clothing such as tank tops during the day. Wearing shorts to dinner will be fine but please dress more conservatively. Anti-bacterial wipes 6

In-Country Information Airport Pickup Build Abroad will provide airport pickup upon arrival in Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Transportation In-Country During the week, volunteers will take local transportation to the villages and job site. It is important to be patient when dealing with transportation as there may be traffic jams in busier parts of Nepal. Our in-country staff will be with you when you travel. *You may also rent private transportation, but this will of course cost extra. Meals Local Nepali food is provided at least twice daily at your home-stay. Nepali food is heavily influenced by Indian culture. Most meals consist of rice and vegetables. Meat is usually served once a week and will be either chicken, goat or buffalo. Beef is not eaten in Nepal as it is considered sacred. Accommodations Living accommodations during the week will be in mountain villages outside of Kathmandu. These villages are located in a very rural part of the Himalayas and do not have access to many modern amenities such as running water, higher voltage electricity, and internet access. Expect to be staying in either a tent or with a local family that is living in a very basic structure. Again, we consider this type of volunteering very rustic/raw if you do not feel comfortable bathing outside, sleeping on basic mats, or require internet access, this program may not be for you. Communication to the Outside World Cellular reception is available in most of the villagers with very small local providers, however the data may not always work. If you really need to communicate, there will always br a way, however for data/internet, you may need to go to another village or 7

Sample Itinerary Volunteers for the Build Abroad Earthbag Nepal program should arrive over the weekend. The first day will be earthbag training in Kathmandu and the remainder of the week will be volunteering on site. Typical Volunteer Day 7:00 AM: Breakfast 8:00 AM 11:00 AM: Volunteering on Earthbag project 11:00 AM 12:00 PM: Lunch on site 12:00 PM 2:30 PM: Volunteering on Earthbag project 2:30 PM 3:00 PM: Tea break 3:00 PM 5:00 PM: Volunteering on Earthbag project 6:30 PM: Dinner Nearby Attractions Experience life in the beautiful country of Nepal through the eyes of the locals. You will also visit Mayan ruins and walk the streets of the picturesque colonial town of Antigua. Boudhanath Stupa Durbar Square Everest Region The Boudhanath Stupa is one of the holiest and most recognizable sites in Kathmandu. Boudhanath is the religious centre of Nepal s Tibetan/Buddhist community, and is surrounded by around 50 monasteries and shops selling Tibetan artefacts. Even though the Nepali royal family moved from the Hanuman Dhoka palace about a century ago, Durbar (Palace) Square remains the tourist heart of Kathmandu. Most visitors are surprised by the sheer number of temples surrounding the square, and the two adjoining squares, The 1,500 mile long Himalaya range contains every one of the world s fourteen 8000 meter peaks. The Everest region is accessed by a 30 minute flight in a tiny plane. From there, visitors trek for two days to the main town in the Everest region. 8

Safety Alcohol and Drugs The drinking age in Nepal is 18 years old. Volunteers are allowed to consume alcohol during our trips while they are not working. You will need to be respectful of your host family, as some of them do not allow alcohol in the house. Alcohol consumption before volunteer work will not be allowed. Illegal drug use of any kind is strictly prohibited. If you are found to be using drugs on the trip, you will be immediately removed from the program. Food and Water It is recommended to stick to the food that is prepared for you or any packaged snacks you bring along with you. (We recommend bringing these to fuel you through hard work days!). We advise against eating any street food and ask you please do not buy any food from street vendors. For fruit and vegetables, we recommend only eating them if you peel them yourself. Raw fruit/ vegetables or pre peeled fruit/vegetables are very hard to clean well. As for water, rural villages usually drink straight from the source (streams or waterfalls). You can do this as well, but you may want to bring your own filters or boil water before consumption just in case. Elevation Sickness Because of Nepal s elevation, altitude sickness can be a potential health risk. Kathmandu has an elevation of 4,600 feet/1,400 meters, with surrounding areas at much higher altitudes. It is best to allow your body to adjust. If you feel any symptoms immediately after landing, there is a medical station nearby, and of course our in-country partner organization is always available to help you. We have a lot of experience getting participants well again. Sun and Bugs/Animals Since volunteers will be working outside for most of the day, it is very important to be conscious of the sun s UV rays. Even on cloudy days, you can get burnt. Use sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and other wear clothing to protect your skin. Bugs (such as ticks and mosquitoes) can spread a number of diseases, so it s important to use repellent with between 20-70% deet. There will be more mosquitos when not located at altitude. Also, there will likely be some stray dogs and cats walking around Nepal. Please control any instinct to pet them. Stray animals can have rabies which can be deadly. If bitten, immediately wash the wound with soap and water. It will be important to quickly make it to a place where you can get a rabies shot. There is not a high malaria risk in Kathmandu, Pokhara or the mountain trekking areas. 9

Malaria does exist in the southern belt of Nepal (the Terai) and risk is highest in the months of June, July and August. Hepatitis A and Typhoid are recommended for most travelers. Taxis and City Information You should not have to take any taxis when on your trip and please avoid getting into any cars that are not provided through the program. As always, please stay aware and with the group at all times. Be especially careful when getting money out from your purse or pocket, and be careful with your cell phone or camera when in urban areas such as Kathmandu or other cities. Get in Touch How to Apply Apply on buildabroad.org by navigating to Projects > Nepal (Earthbag Project). Contact us for Additional Information If you need any additional information please contact info@buildabroad. 10