Introduction to Nepal

The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is a landlocked, sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India.

With an area of 147,181 square kilometers (56,827 sq. mi.) and a population of approximately 30 million, Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation's capital.

Nepal has a rich geography. The mountainous north has eight of the world's 10 tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, called Sagarmatha in Nepali (translated as "goddess of the sky,"). It contains more than 240 peaks standing 20,000 feet (6,096 meters) above sea level. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized.

We are happy to announce that RYS is continuing its efforts to promote peace and harmony through its service projects in Nepal and is organizing this year’s service project in Lumbini.

Located on the South-Western Terai (flat plains) of Nepal in the foothills of the Churia Range, Lumbini evokes a kind of holy sentiment in the millions of Buddhists all over the world, just as Jerusalem does for Christians and Mecca for Muslims.

Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini in 623 B.C. His birthplace was rediscovered in 1895 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

During the Nepal project, RYS participants will be involved in the following activities.

• Main service project
• Education
• Interreligious visitations
• Dialogue
• Seminars
• Volunteer services that engages/facilitates community interaction

Community Service Project

Participants will work on the building of the proposed community school for the children of poor families.

Currently in this area, there are more than 500 children who are being educated without the benefit of any building to gather together in.

In another words, this is a school without a building. Instead of being able to attend classes indoors, children are forced to learn in the scorching sun, sitting on the ground with only a single piece of paper to write on. During the rainy season, holding class is impossible.

Providing a uniform education is already difficult since the local community is ethnically diverse, not to mention the added difficulty of not having a building where students can gather to attend classes.

Interreligious Visitations

During the RYS project, participants will be able to visit a number of spiritual sites in and around Lumbini to better understand the different faith traditions, teachings, and adherents of different religions, e.g., Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, etc. In this way, the participants will be able to experience inspirational interaction with the various communities.

Education

The educational component allows all the participants to have ample opportunity to learn and share with one another, and to build oftentimes unforgettable friendships. Participants will also be engaged in leadership activities and discussions.

We cordially invite dynamic, local and international youth volunteers to this service project. Participants should be between 16-35 years old.

Registration Fees

We are requesting all participants to contribute to the implementation of this RYS international project.
*  International participant: USD $100
*  Regional: USD $50
*  Local: Rs 1000

RYS Nepal will provide the domestic transportation, food and lodging during the project. Please feel free to contact us for further information.

Contact Address
Piya Ratna Maharjan, Project Director
Peace Embassy Building
Bhagavati Bahal, Naxal-1
Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: 977-1-4444871, 4444872
Fax: 977-1-4444818

E-mail: rysnepal@yahoo.com