Volunteers are a vital part of life at Aishworya, and provide much-needed help around the house, as well as a regular source of income. Volunteers are able to provide support to Aishworya in a number of different ways, including helping the children with their homework and chores around the house, including cleaning, washing clothes and cooking.
Without volunteers, Aishworya would not be the warm and loving home it is today, and we are deeply grateful to each and every volunteer that comes to stay with us and enriches our lives.
Volunteers are always welcome, and we encourage new volunteers to join us, whether is is for a week or a year. We charge a small fee (2,000 rupees per week) to stay with us at the orphanage, including two meals of dhall bhaat a day and a bed in a shared volunteer dormitory.
Aishworya has recently developed a number of improvements in our home to ensure that we are able to offer a valuable volunteering experience, whilst keeping the safety of our children a priority. We operate within Nepali laws regarding child safety and volunteering, and have regular visits from social workers to enhance our transparency and ensure the rights of the children are being firmly upheld. We have a designated, separate living space for volunteers within the home, and drawn up a set of rules and guidelines for volunteers, which you can download here (Guidelines for volunteers), as well as a Aishworya Children’s Home Volunteer Handbook designed to make sure that our volunteers get the most out of their experience and are able to have fun!
If you are interested in volunteering with us, or would like to get in touch with previous volunteers at Aishworya, please contact us at: ach.nepal@gmail.com
Volunteers Past and Present
Kati
January – May 2006
Kati was one of the first volunteers to come to Aishworya, shortly after the orphanage opened.
Kati is from Finland, and is still in touch with the orphanage, and continues to offer advice and support.
She said “I remember how the children loved to study. Sometimes it was even difficult to get them to sleep, because they were so eager to study.”
Rosie (Rekha)
January 2007 – May 2007
Steph (Maya)
August 2007-May 2008
Stephanie (26) is a volunteer from the UK. She came to Aishworya in August 2007 and stayed with us for 10 months. She did a lot of fundraising to help get the children back into school, including organising our first public fundraising event, and taught them basic English and Maths in the home. Her favourite part of the day was cooking dhaal bhaat with Jack and Marich every morning.
She misses the children a lot and has stayed in touch, visiting us again in June 2010, and helping us by doing some part-time voluntary work on the newsletters and website from the UK, as well as managing our finances and account-keeping. You can see more information on the work that she does on our “Staff” page.
Karita (Sapana)
December 2007-June 2008
Karita (24) is a volunteer from Finland.
She came to Aishworya in December 2007 and stayed here for 7 months.
She bought all of the children new maths books for Christmas and was also responsible for organising HIV and Hepatitis tests for all of the children, which we are extremely happy to announce all came out negative! She was also a huge help in planning and organising our first public fundraising event.
She also returned to visit us in December 2009, and helped us to once again ensure that the children had a fantastic Christmas.
Anne (Laxmi)
February 2008 – June 2008
Anne (36) is another volunteer from Finland.
She arrived in January 2008 and stayed with us for 5 months altogether.
She helped to teach the children Maths and English while the children were out of school, and helped us to organise our first fundraising event. Once the children were back in schook full-time, Anne particularly enjoyed walking them to school each day, and helping them with their homework.
Kathrin
May 2008
Kathrin is a volunteer who came to us in May 2008 and stayed for 3 weeks. She is from Germany, and she had a wonderful time at Aishworya. In particular, she enjoyed playing with the children, and helping them with their homework.
Jennifer
July 2008
Jennifer is from Sweden, and spent 4 weeks at Aishworya in July 2008.
Jennifer loved to take the children out, and she arranged lots of trips to restaurants and the swimming pool for the kids.
Jennifer came back to Aishworya to visit us again in July 2009, and has stayed in touch with us and done a lot of fundraising for the orphanage. We are extremely grateful to Jennifer for all of her hard work!
Anne (36) is another volunteer from Finland.
She arrived in January 2008 and stayed with us for 5 months altogether.
She helped to teach the children Maths and English while the children were out of school, and helped us to organise our first fundraising event. Once the children were back in schook full-time, Anne particularly enjoyed walking them to school each day, and helping them with their homework.
Kathrin
May 2008
Kathrin is a volunteer who came to us in May 2008 and stayed for 3 weeks. She is from Germany, and she had a wonderful time at Aishworya. In particular, she enjoyed playing with the children, and helping them with their homework.
Jennifer
July 2008
Jennifer is from Sweden, and spent 4 weeks at Aishworya in July 2008.
Jennifer loved to take the children out, and she arranged lots of trips to restaurants and the swimming pool for the kids.
Jennifer came back to Aishworya to visit us again in July 2009, and has stayed in touch with us and done a lot of fundraising for the orphanage. We are extremely grateful to Jennifer for all of her hard work!
Alex
February – May 2009
Alex (21), is a volunteer from the UK who stayed at Aishworya for 4 months in 2009. Alex was a huge help during his stay at the orphanage, and the boys in particular were very happy to have a male volunteer, or “big brother” to play with! Alex taught the boys how to box and played lots of sports with them, which they enjoyed immensely.
Faran
June 2009
Faran, (20) is from Luxembourg, and came to stay with us at Aishworya for a week.
She adored playing with the kids and seeing how we do things at the orphanange.
The children especially enjoyed learning all about Luxembourg!
Alex
Alex (21), is a volunteer from the UK who stayed at Aishworya for 4 months in 2009. Alex was a huge help during his stay at the orphanage, and the boys in particular were very happy to have a male volunteer, or “big brother” to play with! Alex taught the boys how to box and played lots of sports with them, which they enjoyed immensely.
Faran
Faran, (20) is from Luxembourg, and came to stay with us at Aishworya for a week.
She adored playing with the kids and seeing how we do things at the orphanange.
The children especially enjoyed learning all about Luxembourg!
Kimberley (Kalpana)
June-July 2009
Kimberley is from New Zealand and she loved spending time at Aishworya.
“I really miss all the children and staff at Aishworya – I had an amazing time and I hope to get back there soon! If anyone is interested in volunteering and would like to ask questions, feel free to drop me an email: smythkimberley@gmail.com”
Kimberley is from New Zealand and she loved spending time at Aishworya.
“I really miss all the children and staff at Aishworya – I had an amazing time and I hope to get back there soon! If anyone is interested in volunteering and would like to ask questions, feel free to drop me an email: smythkimberley@gmail.com”
Danielle
July 2009
Danielle is from California in the United States,and she stayed with us for 1 week in July 2009.
Danielle enjoyed helping the children with math and reading. She loved to help out in the kitchen with the meals and even made popcorn one evening for the children. Those 38 children have touched her life forever. She hopes to return soon. Her mission for the Aishworya Children’s Home for the past two years has been to supply funding for new school shoes for all the children, and we are so grateful for her continued support in this area.
Kaisla (Kalpana)
August 2009 – May 2010
Kaisla is a 20 year-old university student from Finland who came to volunteer at Aishworya for ten months from August 2009 to May 2010.
She was a huge help to us and taught the children a lot about Finland, as well as helping the children with their homework and helping around the house.
She says:
“I have been very happy to stay here in Aishworya family, and am already waiting for when I can come back.”
Petri (Bicash)
August 2009 – May 2010
Petri is a 20-year-old student from Finland.
He and Kaisla came to Aishworya at the same time to volunteer for 10 months.
He says: “I am studying NGO and youth work, but my studies also include child care and social work. I specialize in special education. For 10 months, this children home is my work practice, so I’m studying at the same time I’m doing voluntary work. This has been a huge experience for me, and Aishworya is my second home and second family.”
Marianne (Bipana)
September – December 2009
Marianne and Outi came to Aishworya together and stayed for 4 months from September – December 2009. They are both from Finland, and they both study in the University of Applied Humanities, NGOs and youth work. The time that they spent at Aishworya was part of their University field work. Marianne’s studies include art and cultural education and her project at Aishworya was about storycrafting.
She says “I learned so much from the children. Mostly about extreme community living, how more than 40 people can live happily under the same roof and share all! I was also amazed by their enthusiasm to dance, they taught me the Nepali-moves and twists too. The children are so beautiful, funny, lovely and kind. And they all are unique individuals with their own style, it is great how they are let to be like they are, supporting what they themselves find interesting. I think Aamaa and Pramila has made very good job with this home. I wish all the best and happiness. I hope to visit again after some years!
Outi (Sapana)
September – December 2009
Outi and Marianne came to Aishworya together and stayed for 4 months from September – December 2009.
They are both from Finland, and they both study in the University of Applied Humanities, NGOs and youth work. The time that they spent at Aishworya was part of their University field work.
Outi loved spending time with the children, and she and Marianne have worked hard since returning to Finland to promote Aishworya and raise awareness and funds.
Maluz (Sharmila)
November – December 2009
Maluz is 31 years old and she is from Panama. She stayed at Aishworya for 1 month from November 20th 2009 until December 20th 2009.
Maluz really enjoyed her time at Aishworya, and has stayed in regular contact since she left, helping us with the newsletters and fundraising.
Maluz says:
“I had the opportunity to spend an amazing time in Aishworya. I participated in fundraising activities that were really nice and fun. I especially enjoyed staying with the kids before they went to bed, we shared really nice stories! I can’t wait to visit Aishworya again.”
Molly
December 2009 – January 2010
Molly is 19, and she is a volunteer from the USA who came to stay with us for three weeks over her winter holiday.
She says: “As it was the children’s winter break from school as well, I mostly read stories with the children, played a lot games, drew pictures, and danced! I learned a lot of Nepali dance moves from the kids. I really miss all the children and staff.”
Josefin (Juneli)
April to June 2010
Josefin is 22, and she is from Sweden. She stayed at Aishworya for 3 months in 2010, and says: “I had a great time at Aishworya children home, sweeter and nicer kids are hard to find and I learned some much from them and the entire experience. It was such a great sense of community, I think the kids really liked it there. I have a lot of good memories, especially of the kids singing and dancing, so much talent there. It was really inspirational seeing people with such kindness and will to help and people from tough backgrounds who’s risen above it and still have love in their hearts. Will never forget you! 
Love Juneli/Josefin”
Carla
June – July 2010
Carla is a volunteer from the UK who stayed at Aishworya for 7 weeks in June and July 2010.
She really enjoyed her time at Aishworya and took the children on some lovely excursions, including a trip to the swimming pool.
The children loved asking Carla questions about her background and home life, and learning more about the UK.
Halbera
June – July 2010
Halbera is a volunteer from Iceland who stayed at Aishworya for 6 weeks in June and July 2010.
Halbera loved playing with the children and especially liked traditional Nepali clothes.
She was a great help to us, and taught the children a lot of interesting facts about Iceland. The children always love to learn about new countries and cultures, and are very lucky to have so many volunteers from all over the world visiting them!
Veronika
June – July 2010
Veronika is a volunteer from Slovakia, and she stayed at Aishworya for 2 months in 2010.
She was a huge help around the home and especially liked to help in the kitchen, learning to cook Nepali food and teaching the children how to cook Slovakian food too!
She enjoyed learning about Nepali culture, and especially enjoyed the opportunity to attend a traditional Nepali wedding with Nirmala’s family.
Annukka (Pooja)
August 2010 – January 2011
Annukka is a volunteer from Finland. She came to Aishworya in August 2010 and is staying with us for 5 months altogether.
Annukka has been a huge help to us, and has raised funds to buy the children new school bags and clothes. She has also been busy knitting socks, gloves and hats for the children, and is busy helping to prepare some wonderful Christmas presents and surprises for the children.