By applying you have to accept our Terms and Conditions. Once accepted the mentioned Terms and Conditions you are bound by them. If you are unclear about any term or condition please contact us. To work as a volunteer in a developing country you bear certain risks. You must acknowledge and accept these risks associated with the volunteering placement. CEN is not liable for any loss or harm you might suffer. The risks and perils include but are not limited to the following:

• Loss of life
• Loss of limb, sight or hearing
• Loss or theft of property, including money
• Acts of terror
• Disease
• Injury or death as a result of natural disaster
• Injury or death as a result of air or land transportation
• Random acts of violence
• Food poisoning
• Drug complications
• Reproductive issues
• Abduction

After you paid the program fee we are going to send you a separate waiver of liability which you will have to sign.

Placement and Location

You should be aware that as a volunteer in Nepal you have to live under basic facilities which require a certain amount of flexibility from you. This flexibility is a condition of the booking. The descriptions of the placements we provide on our homepage are factual and correct. If you are not happy at all with the placement offered we try to find a suitable alternative.

Generally we cannot be held liable for any incidents in the placement area which are outside our reasonable control.

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided for every program. Please note that in most cases you have to share a room as well as the bathroom and toilet facilities. You should be aware that the standards of hygiene in Nepal are much lower than in Western Countries. Most of the facilities are only of basic nature.

Travel

The journey to Nepal has to be arranged on your own. Once you are in Nepal we will arrange the journey to the placement area for you. The organisation of all other trips you want to undertake is your responsibility. However, we will be pleased to help you with the travel arrangements for treks, rafting etc.

Airport pick-up

We will arrange airport pick-up for you. One of our employees will wait at the exit of the terminal airport holding a sign with your name on it. The driver will bring you to the Hotel "Encounter Nepal" in Kathmandu where you will meet the volunteer program director to discuss further procedure. Please note that we can only arrange airport pick-up if you send us your detailed flight itinerary (date, flight no. etc.) early enough. The cost for the pick-up is included into the fee and won´t be charged extra.

Payment Mode

All payments have to be done before the start of the program. Monthly instalments are not accepted. If you want to exceed your committed period we kindly ask you to inform us in time and pay accordingly.

Expenses

Additional expenses, such as snacks or phone calls etc. you have to pay on your own. The program fees only include the services mentioned in the respective programs, which is usually airport pick-up, the first night in the hotel, transport to placement area, accommodation in placement area and during the training as well as two main meals a day in the placement area.

Travel Insurance

You should obtain a comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you are travelling to Nepal. Make sure that the policy you conclude covers all the activities you plan to undertake in Nepal, e.g. trekking, climbing, rafting etc. Some insurance policies do not provide cover for extreme sport activities. We advise you to choose an insurance which covers full medical treatment, any accidents, evacuation by helicopter and legal liability and expenses.

It is your responsibility to arrange a travel and health insurance which is sufficient and appropriate for your stay in Nepal. CEN cannot take responsibility for the financial compensation in case medical assistance is required, during your placement. You are required to provide CEN a copy of your insurance as soon as possible.

Passport & Visa

You can travel only with a passport valid at least another 6 months after your departure to Nepal. For Nepal a visa is required. You may obtain the visa either prior to your journey in your home country or purchase them upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at the following land border points of entry: Kakarvitta, Jhapa District (Eastern Nepal); Birgunj, Parsa District (Central Nepal); Kodari, Sindhupalchowk District (Northern Border); Belahia, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi District, Western Nepal); Jamunaha, Nepalgunj (Banke District, Mid-Western Nepal); Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali District, Far Western Nepal); and Gadda Chauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur District, Far Western Nepal).

The prices for visas upon arrival are as follows:
15 days multiple entry visa $ 25
30 days multiple entry visa $ 40
90 days multiple entry visa $ 100

When entering Nepal either by land or air, all visitors are required to fill out a kind of immigration card giving passport details and planned length of stay.

Nepal does not issue special visas for volunteers. As a volunteer you have to obtain usual tourist visa as non-tourist visa is very difficult and time-consuming to obtain as well as twice as expensive. As a tourist you may stay in Nepal no longer than 150 days in one calendar year. Actually, nobody is permitted to work in Nepal without work permit; however, as you are not paid for your work, it is widely tolerated. Up to the current moment we do not know cases where volunteers had problems with immigration authorities.

Upon departure from Tribhuvan International Airport, all foreigners must pay an airport exit tax (currently NPR 1.700 = USD 22), regardless of the length of the stay.

Problems during your Placement

In case you are confronted with unsolvable problems in your placement area we kindly ask you to contact CEN in Kathmandu. CEN tries to provide help and assist in the underlying matter. However, it is part of the program that you learn to deal with problems on your own through flexibility and initiative. CEN take all the steps to arrange a safe and convenient placement for you, however, as CEN is not in the placement area itself, we do not have fully control over your placement and level of work. You are requested to contact CEN immediately in case you face severe problems. We do not want you to get dissatisfied and unhappy with our placement. In case you face serious medical problems, you should immediately tell the host family as well as CEN and leave the placement area without any delay.

Your Obligations

During your placement you must behave properly according to local customs and behaviour. You are required to follow any reasonable instruction of your immediate superior or coordinator. You have to take care for the materials provided by your placement. You are responsible for any damage or loss caused to these materials, either directly or through neglecting behaviour. You are also responsible for any damage caused to your accommodation caused either by you or your guests.

Program dates

Program dates are agreed on prior to your arrival to Kathmandu. You have to pay in advance for the program period agreed on. If you leave the program earlier no refund is made. You can extend the program if you inform CEN early enough and under condition that your placement is not already occupied by a later volunteer.

Cancellations and Refunds

Generally we do not refund the program fee once you decided to take part in the program and paid the fee. However, if you have to leave because of unavoidable circumstances (such as death of a family member, illness etc.) we refund 25 % of the fee for the outstanding period. No refund will be made if a volunteer leaves the program on his or her own decision.

Food

You receive two main meals a day throughout your placement. The food served is mainly Nepali food, e.g. daal bhaat tarkari (lentil soup, rice and curried vegetables). If the served food is not sufficient for you and you want to buy additional food you have to bear the expenses for it by yourself. Food and accommodation is provided only for the period agreed for your placement and training.

Code of conduct

You are expected to behave in a proper manner. You are staying in a foreign country and should respect the country´s cultures and beliefs. Illegal or violent behaviour will result in immediate dismissal from the program and no refunds will be made.

Volunteers agree to follow the rules of the host family, the policy of the community in which they volunteer and generally the laws of Nepal.