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Be a Climate Ambassador!

Join our Himalayan voluntourism and
trekking programme

Overview

Join our 2, 3 or 4 weeks Uttarakhand Himalayan volunteer and Himalayan trekking programme. Once in a lifetime opportunity, you will have the chance to volunteer, immerse yourself in culture, study the local language, help the villagers, clean the Himalayas and venture out on stunning treks and outdoor adventures. You will embark on a volunteering journey in Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world, you will experience the joy of sharing the love by serving at the remote Himalayan villages through various activities.

It will be an enriching experience for you, and you will be able to make a difference in the lives of the villagers. This programme is meant for all those adventurous souls who are looking forward to experiencing the picturesque countryside and gaining first-hand international work experience as well. Whether you are a high school or college student, or a gap traveler, this will surely be one of the best experiences of your life!

Program Requirements

Volunteers must be at least 15 years old at the time of joining the project. You need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference. Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the programme. Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check report. A parental consent form shall be required for under 18 years old participating in the program.

Where are our projects
located?

Lying in the northern part of India amidst the magnificent Himalayas and dense forests, Uttarakhand (until recently known as Uttaranchal) was formed on 9 th  Nov 2000 as India’s 27 th  state. The state borders Himachal Pradesh in the north-west and Uttar Pradesh in the South, and has international borders with western Nepal and China. The city of Dehradun, has been declared as the interim capital of the new state. Dehradun is situated at the Himalayan foothills in the fertile Doon Valley, which is well known for its pleasant climate and natural beauty. The population of the state is around 7 million. The State, which covers 55,845 sq.km, is mostly hilly (approx. 88 percent) and the remaining 12 percent falls in the plains. It is rich in natural resources with many glaciers, rivers, forests, and well-known mountain peaks including Nanda Devi, Kedarnath, Trishul, Bandarpunch and Mt Kamet. We are currently supporting a very remote village Loharjung in this region. This assignment is best suited to students, couples or a very self-sufficient individual.

Help raise awareness among Indian Himalayan villagers on important issues such as environmental care, climate, recycling and sustainability. Join us for 2, 3 0r 4 weeks of special volunteering and trekking in the Himalayas program and volunteer as a climate Ambassador. As a volunteer you will give workshops at villages, youth clubs talk with villagers and set up awareness and cleanup events in the area, help constructing or renovating houses for villagers and teaching English in village schools. Do you want to make the planet a better place? Then this will be an incredible experience for you.

What is the environment in Uttarakhand Himalayas like?

Urbanization, development and tourism increases the production of waste in Uttarakhand Himalayan region. Unfortunately, Uttarakhand does not yet have all the systems in place to cope with this increase. Waste is either burnt, leading to bad air quality or dumped haphazardly. This is having a serious effect on the health of local people on its land and water resources. There has been little education among the village people about the influences of climate change, waste, littering and effects of burning of plastics. Therefore, in many neighborhoods. You see people littering and throwing garbage on the streets. However nowadays, you see among the youth that there is a will to change things, but they don’t know where to start.

What does a climate ambassador do?

“Trek the Himalayas” is looking for people who want to share their knowledge about climate change with our projects in Uttarakhand. TTH started a project to educate and work together with youth clubs and schools in one area of Uttarakhand Himalayan region. The Goal is to create awareness among youth and villagers to teach them about the influence of climate change, littering, plastic etc.… And of course, to make them ACT upon this!

As a Volunteer you will:

Do I need any specific skills
or qualification for this placement?

You just need to bring your skills and knowledge of the environment that you have learned since you were a kid. You need to be a proactive person with lots of good ideas to get a community and or group of youth interested in a common goal. Of course, the TTH volunteer team will help you with this.

And last but not the least, you will need to be culturally sensitive with strong interpersonal and communication skills and the confidence to create positive relationships in very diverse working environments.

Orientation

Once you arrive, we organize an introduction for you. We deem this to be highly valuable and it’s a program valued by many volunteers in the past. By means of an introduction, you can acclimatize and prepare for your volunteering. You can begin your project rested and prepared. In this way you can be really effective.

Arriving to work in a foreign country can be a nerve-wracking experience, this is why we provide a friendly and in depth welcome. The in-depth welcome encompasses basic language training. Cultural training and sight-seeing through Rishikesh and surrounding. This is what we can expect from the moment when you touch down at Dehradun airport. The programme may vary depending on your time of arrival. We will manage to include all below mentioned activities in your introduction program.


Comfort

You should not expect luxury on your stay in Himalayan village. These mountain foothills are a developing region and may well be different from what you are used to at home. However, your accommodation will be comfortable.


Food

On placement you will eat with the family and share the same food as them. All three meals a day are provided for you while volunteering. The usual meal times are 8am – 10 am, 1 pm 2 pm and 6 and 8 pm. You will usually be served the national local cuisine which is a tasty and filling plate of rice vegetable curry, lentils, egg and pickles. It may occasionally have meat such as chicken or lamb in it, although if you are vegetarian this can easily be explained. This may be supplemented occasionally by noodles, eggs and other snacks depending on your host family.

Accomodation

While you volunteer with TTH you will be staying with TTH guest house, Home stay, Camping and local host family. By living with a local family, they gain a greater insight and understanding of Garhwali culture. You will be a part of a local family, eat together with the family and play with the children.

The standard of lodging will depend on whether you are in a rural or urban area. In a rural area the facilities will be basic with minimal running water and squat toilets. In an urban placement you will have a flushing western style toilet and a shower. All of your food will be provided for your home stay and you will be close to your accommodation. All our host families have conducted training regarding hosting volunteers adequately. They know how to ensure hygiene and provide security. They will treat you as a member of the family.

When you arrive on placement you will be introduced to your host family by the TTH representative and given a full tour of premises. Many of our host families have children and many of our volunteers help them with their English, learn to cook Indian food and mix in with their life. The other way around, we experience volunteers learning a lot from the host and children regarding life in the Himalayas.


Electricity

The electricity supply in all areas is good. But sometimes there is a power cut which can last a few hours. Some places have backup batteries that will run low power bulbs in keyrooms, but in the rural areas you can expect to use candles. A hand-torch is a useful thing to bring.

Water

Your host family will provide you with clean drinking water

Location

Base Village - Lohajung

Located in Chamoli district in Garhwali Himalayas of Uttarakhand Popularly known as the base village of Roopkund and Brahmatal treks.

Lohajung is a paradise with big peaks and infinite mountain ranges decoder everywhere - for a peaceful life experience while staying in this beautiful village.

Altitude

2330 m

Nearest Railway Station

Kathgodam Railway Station or Haridwar Railway Junction

Nearest Airport

Pantnagar or Dehradun Airport

Nearest Market

Pantnagar or Dehradun Airport

Mobile networks

Airtel, Jio, Vodafone, Idea

ATM

The nearest ATM is in Dewal around 25 km from the guest house

Temperature

24-16 degrees in the day and 9 to 2 degrees in the night

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I carry my own backpack?
Will I get altitude sickness?
What specific things do I need to bring?
Are there any ATM/Banks there?

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What happens if I get sick?

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Do I get a certificate?

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What will be my usual working hours?

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How safe is India and Loharjung in general?

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Would I have free time during my program? Can I do sightseeing during my program?

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What if I do not speak the local language? Would that interfere with my volunteering experience?

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How long will it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted?

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I have not traveled or volunteered abroad before. Can I still be a part of the TTH volunteering project?

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Will I be covered by some insurance during the stay?

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Can I come with a friend, my family or in a group?

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Where do I obtain the Visa for my trip?

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RECOMMENDED VISA

TOURIST VISA 18 Eligibility A Tourist visa is granted to a foreigner whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, attending a short term yoga programme, short duration medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine etc. and no other purpose/ activity. [Short term yoga programme means a yoga programme not exceeding 6 months duration and not issued with a qualifying certificate/ diploma etc.]

What about my laundry?

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RECOMMENDED VISA

TOURIST VISA 18 Eligibility A Tourist visa is granted to a foreigner whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, attending a short term yoga programme, short duration medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine etc. and no other purpose/ activity. [Short term yoga programme means a yoga programme not exceeding 6 months duration and not issued with a qualifying certificate/ diploma etc.]

What's NOT included?

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RECOMMENDED VISA

TOURIST VISA 18 Eligibility A Tourist visa is granted to a foreigner whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, attending a short term yoga programme, short duration medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine etc. and no other purpose/ activity. [Short term yoga programme means a yoga programme not exceeding 6 months duration and not issued with a qualifying certificate/ diploma etc.]

Program Cost

2 weeks US$ 800

3 weeks US$ 1100

4 weeks US$ 1650

Please note: - An application fee US$ 100 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment (A 4% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment.)

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Thank You, Vinod

We'll get back to you at the earliest.

Trek the Himalayas is pleased that you have decided to join us to experience the life of a volunteer in the most beautiful Himalayas of Uttarakhand. We are committed to working with you to make your time a lifetime experience in the Himalayas.

Please send us

  • A brief resume along with a scanned small sized photo
  • Cover letter mentioning the program and why you want to be part of this
  • Duration of stay and preferred date to sbfrancis@trekthehimalayas.com or apply now using our online application from below. We will get back to you as soon as possible with availability, options and answers to any questions you may have before confirming your departure and joining details.

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