Building in Nepal School Trips
Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad has worked in Nepal for over 20 years, employing many local staff members. Through the efforts of our local teams and student volunteers, we have achieved much in community development projects, health, and education.One of the biggest challenges came in 2015 when two massive earthquakes hit Nepal, causing a considerable loss of life and devastating effects on buildings and infrastructure.
Following this, we initiated our Building Programme in Nepal almost immediately to provide new and improved classroom facilities for the many schools in Kathmandu whose older and more precarious buildings had been lost.
Projects Abroad worked with engineers and architects to come up with simple designs for classrooms which are more earthquake-proof and can be built quickly, to a simple design, using plentiful materials.
You and your students will work alongside professional builders in constructing a classroom, digging foundations, building the walls and fitting and decorating the interior. You will learn many practical skills and, working hard as a team, have the satisfaction of making a meaningful contribution to the school.
Your students will also engage with the local children, arranging and leading activities while soaking up the Nepali way of life and learning some language from the children.
There is a long list of schools requesting new and better learning spaces, so the project runs in different suburbs of Kathmandu. Your group will have the chance to work in places visitors usually never see, observing and learning about an authentic Nepali way of life.
You will stay in a hotel in the bustling centre of Kathmandu, travelling by minibus to work each day. The hotel will serve as a base for visiting the temples, shopping streets, or just watching life go by in this charming and awe-inspiring country's charismatic and ever-fascinating capital city.
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Example Itineraries
Days 1 & 2
You will land at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, where our local Projects Abroad team will be waiting for you to drive you to the hotel in the city's Thamel district.
After settling in, you will receive a thorough induction on the project aims, expectations, safety and Nepali culture.
You will then embark on a guided walk around Thamel, familiarising everyone with your new environment and day-to-day life in the hectic city. Your group will also visit the building site, discuss plans and ensure that everything is ready to start the work the following day. On the way, you can stop to look at completed examples of classrooms and feel inspired!
Days 3 – 6
Building days – Your group will be split into teams, each working on different tasks under the supervision of local builders and Projects Abroad staff. Working towards constructing classrooms for the local children, you will learn to prepare building materials, build walls, install roofing, and much more!
Everyone will take turns trying their hands at all tasks. The progress is usually visible quickly, which helps build enthusiasm and pride within your group.
There will also be opportunities to interact with the local children at the school. We will schedule activity sessions where you and the students may organise games or sports or support the children in English lessons, which will often become Nepali lessons for your group at the same time.
Throughout the week, Projects Abroad will coordinate your group's late afternoon and evening activities, such as dancing and cooking lessons, henna painting, quizzes, visits to temples, and staff-led shopping expeditions.
Days 7 – 9
Pokhara is a stunning hill town with incredible views towards the Annapurna Ranges of the Himalayas.
You will travel by bus to Pokhara, which is a five-hour drive, stopping for snacks and sightseeing along the way.
After checking in at your hotel, you will start on an orientation around the town.
The group may do activities on the famous Phewa Lake, watch the sunset over the mountains and watch a show.
The following day will be busy with visits to caves, temples, and Sarangkot above Pokhara. From here, you can see amazing views back down to the lake and across to some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas.
After a relaxing couple of days embracing the spectacular mountain scenery, your group will drive back to Kathmandu and spend the afternoon resting or shopping and getting ready for the resumption of building the following day.
Days 10 – 13
Back to your building work, which you should be able to complete during your stay. In the second week, you can start decorating the classrooms' interiors and completing the structure (roofing done by local builders).
There will be more engagement with the local children and more evening activities.
Dinner will be enjoyed at different restaurants, allowing you and your students to sample Nepali cuisine, including the Nepali version of some more familiar dishes.
On day 13, you will attend a farewell party at the school, followed by a last dinner in the city to make some final memories together and reflect on your achievements. There will then be one more debriefing session and a discussion on their stay and the lessons they have learned.
Day 14
If there is time, do some last-minute shopping before the local team takes your group back to Tribhuvan airport in time for departure after a job well done.
As you leave Nepal, please know you will always be welcome back. We look forward to seeing what you and your students accomplish in the future.
You will land at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, where our local Projects Abroad team will be waiting for you to drive you to the hotel in the city's Thamel district.
After settling in, you will receive a thorough induction on the project aims, expectations, safety and Nepali culture.
You will then embark on a guided walk around Thamel, familiarising everyone with your new environment and day-to-day life in the hectic city. Your group will also visit the building site, discuss plans and ensure that everything is ready to start the work the following day. On the way, you can stop to look at completed examples of classrooms and feel inspired!
Days 3 – 6
Building days – Your group will be split into teams, each working on different tasks under the supervision of local builders and Projects Abroad staff. Working towards constructing classrooms for the local children, you will learn to prepare building materials, build walls, install roofing, and much more!
Everyone will take turns trying their hands at all tasks. The progress is usually visible quickly, which helps build enthusiasm and pride within your group.
There will also be opportunities to interact with the local children at the school. We will schedule activity sessions where you and the students may organise games or sports or support the children in English lessons, which will often become Nepali lessons for your group at the same time.
Throughout the week, Projects Abroad will coordinate your group's late afternoon and evening activities, such as dancing and cooking lessons, henna painting, quizzes, visits to temples, and staff-led shopping expeditions.
Days 7 – 9
Pokhara is a stunning hill town with incredible views towards the Annapurna Ranges of the Himalayas.
You will travel by bus to Pokhara, which is a five-hour drive, stopping for snacks and sightseeing along the way.
After checking in at your hotel, you will start on an orientation around the town.
The group may do activities on the famous Phewa Lake, watch the sunset over the mountains and watch a show.
The following day will be busy with visits to caves, temples, and Sarangkot above Pokhara. From here, you can see amazing views back down to the lake and across to some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas.
After a relaxing couple of days embracing the spectacular mountain scenery, your group will drive back to Kathmandu and spend the afternoon resting or shopping and getting ready for the resumption of building the following day.
Days 10 – 13
Back to your building work, which you should be able to complete during your stay. In the second week, you can start decorating the classrooms' interiors and completing the structure (roofing done by local builders).
There will be more engagement with the local children and more evening activities.
Dinner will be enjoyed at different restaurants, allowing you and your students to sample Nepali cuisine, including the Nepali version of some more familiar dishes.
On day 13, you will attend a farewell party at the school, followed by a last dinner in the city to make some final memories together and reflect on your achievements. There will then be one more debriefing session and a discussion on their stay and the lessons they have learned.
Day 14
If there is time, do some last-minute shopping before the local team takes your group back to Tribhuvan airport in time for departure after a job well done.
As you leave Nepal, please know you will always be welcome back. We look forward to seeing what you and your students accomplish in the future.
Which Curriculum Subjects do we cater for?
Cultural
During this two-week programme, you and your students will be fully immersed in the Nepali culture. Our cultural sensitivity training will provide you with the tools and insight about customs and culture you will need during your stay. You will learn more about the local community by working with builders, our Projects Abroad team and the school children.
You will also visit areas of Nepal full of history and learn a new language.
Design Technology
Your students will learn how to plan the construction of an earthquake-resistant classroom before entering the building phase, from creating the structure plans and design to decorating the finished room.
Geography
What better way to study geography than to travel to a different country? Your students will be able to experience a different culture and discover an environment that they have only read about in their textbooks until now. Discover mountain ranges and impressive caves and learn about Phewa Lake, one of the largest lakes in Nepal!
Architecture
Working alongside local builders, your students will work on a renovation project for a school. They will learn how to:
- Create classroom designs resistant to earthquakes and quick to build
- Choose the right materials
- Dig foundations
- Build and fit the walls
- Decorate the interior
Activities
Engage in social and cultural activities on the weekend to learn more about Nepali culture and traditions!
Participate in a cooking class to make Momo dumplings, explore the local area, and learn yoga, making unique memories together as you go.
What size groups do we cater for?
All group sizes of 5 or more. Free staff place for every 9 students.
Access for visitors with disabilities?
Disabled facilities can be offered on request.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
Visitors with special educational needs can be catered for on request.
Anything else?
Projects Abroad provides an individualised service and schedule planning, which is backed up by excellent pre-departure preparation and by a dedicated and highly experienced local team in each destination.
We aim to provide a challenging and rewarding experience for every student, promoting self-belief, resilience, leadership, teamwork, reflection, and a new perspective on the world.
Get in touch today! Our partnerships team are happy to answer any queries and guide you through the process of booking the school trip of a lifetime!
We aim to provide a challenging and rewarding experience for every student, promoting self-belief, resilience, leadership, teamwork, reflection, and a new perspective on the world.
Get in touch today! Our partnerships team are happy to answer any queries and guide you through the process of booking the school trip of a lifetime!
Who are Projects Abroad?
Projects Abroad arrange challenging, meaningful, educational, and safe overseas service and internship programmes.
We have been taking students overseas since 1992 and work in over 20 developing and emerging countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Key to our work is the dedicated in-country staff whose diverse skill sets, local knowledge and love of their community allow us to develop relevant, immersive and worthwhile schedules for school trips which give the students responsibility and teach them to see the world through a different lens.
We offer programmes in community development, conservation, construction, education, sports, empowerment, human rights, and healthcare, among many others. These projects are designed to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, broadening the student experience to see the contribution of a few to a movement for global change.
All school trips are individualised. We realise that each school has its own goals and interests, and the students have their own passions. We work with the school to develop a tailored itinerary that reflects their values and allows the students to make a connection with the community in which they serve.
Teacher Checklist
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