Support Learning, Communication and Inclusive Education
The Volunteer with Children with Autism in Nepal program offers volunteers an opportunity to support children and young people attending specialised schools, learning centres and community-based organisations in Kathmandu and surrounding areas.
Local teachers, therapists and caregivers work to help children develop communication, learning, social interaction, independence and everyday life skills. Volunteers join these existing teams and provide additional support through educational activities, creative play, classroom assistance and structured recreation.
This program is especially suitable for students and professionals interested in special education, psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language development, social work, education and child development.
The role of a volunteer is to support qualified local staff—not to provide therapy, diagnosis or treatment independently.
Program Objectives
The program aims to:
- Support inclusive and specialised education
- Assist teachers and caregivers with classroom activities
- Encourage communication and social interaction
- Provide creative and recreational learning opportunities
- Support the development of everyday life skills
- Encourage confidence and participation
- Promote understanding and acceptance of autism
- Provide meaningful cultural and professional exchange
- Strengthen existing local programs rather than replace professional staff
What Will Volunteers Do?
Activities depend on the children’s needs, the volunteer’s experience and the guidance of local staff.
Volunteers may assist with:
- Classroom learning activities
- One-to-one learning support under supervision
- Reading and storytelling
- Basic English-language activities
- Drawing, painting and arts and crafts
- Music and movement
- Educational games
- Puzzles and matching activities
- Sports and outdoor recreation
- Sensory-friendly activities
- Supporting daily routines
- Organising teaching materials
- Helping prepare classrooms
- Supporting social and group activities
- Gardening and simple practical activities
- Assisting teachers during excursions or organised events
Every child is different, so volunteers should remain patient, flexible and willing to follow the individual approaches recommended by local professionals.
Educational Support
Volunteers can help teachers create enjoyable and structured learning opportunities.
Depending on the student’s ability and learning plan, activities may include:
- Recognising letters and numbers
- Reading simple words
- Basic mathematics
- Matching colours and shapes
- Communication games
- Vocabulary practice
- Fine-motor activities
- Drawing and colouring
- Using educational cards and visual materials
- Developing attention and concentration
- Practising simple daily routines
Volunteers should not introduce new teaching or behavioural methods without discussing them with the supervising teacher.
Communication and Social Activities
Some children may communicate verbally, while others may use gestures, pictures, communication devices or other approaches.
Volunteers may support activities that encourage:
- Taking turns
- Following simple routines
- Group participation
- Expressing choices
- Listening
- Sharing
- Creative expression
- Appropriate social interaction
- Confidence in familiar activities
Volunteers are expected to respect each child’s preferred communication style rather than forcing eye contact, speech or physical interaction.
Creative and Recreational Activities
Creative activities can provide enjoyable opportunities for participation and self-expression.
Volunteers may organise or assist with:
- Painting
- Drawing
- Clay and craft activities
- Music
- Singing
- Dance and movement
- Storytelling
- Simple drama
- Indoor games
- Outdoor games
- Ball activities
- Gardening
- Nature activities
Activities should be planned with staff so they are appropriate for the children participating.
Daily Living Skills
Some centres also help children and young people develop greater independence in everyday activities.
Under staff supervision, volunteers may support practice involving:
- Personal organisation
- Cleaning up after activities
- Preparing simple snacks
- Organising personal belongings
- Basic hygiene routines
- Gardening
- Sorting and arranging materials
- Simple craft or vocational activities
The level of support required will differ for every participant.
Who Can Join?
This program is particularly suitable for:
- Special education students
- Education students
- Psychology students
- Occupational therapy students
- Speech and language therapy students
- Social-work students
- Nursing students
- Child-development students
- Teachers
- Therapists
- Experienced childcare professionals
- Gap-year volunteers with a genuine interest in inclusive education
Professional qualifications are not required for all volunteer roles.
Volunteers without relevant professional training can assist with classroom, recreational, creative and organisational activities under supervision.
Applicants with specialist skills should clearly explain their qualifications and experience when applying so an appropriate placement can be considered.
Professional and Clinical Boundaries
Volunteers must remain within their qualifications and experience.
Unless appropriately qualified and formally authorised by the placement organisation, volunteers must not:
- Diagnose autism or other developmental conditions
- Recommend medical treatment
- Provide independent occupational therapy
- Provide independent speech therapy
- Design behavioural-treatment programs
- Change prescribed routines or therapy plans
- Administer medication
- Use restrictive or physical interventions
Any professional or therapeutic activity must be approved and supervised by appropriately qualified local staff.
Program Duration
We recommend a minimum placement of two weeks, although longer placements are strongly encouraged.
Possible durations include:
- 2 weeks
- 3 weeks
- 4 weeks
- 6 weeks
- 8 weeks or longer by arrangement
For volunteers working closely with children, longer stays can provide greater consistency and allow time to understand routines and communication styles.
A Typical Day
A normal volunteer day may look like:
8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM – Travel to the placement
9:30 AM – Morning classroom activities
11:00 AM – Educational or creative activities
12:30 PM – Lunch break
1:30 PM – Games, life-skills activities or individual learning support
3:00 PM – Finish placement
Afternoon/Evening – Free time or preparation for the following day
Schedules vary according to the school or centre and may change during public holidays, school breaks and special events.
Placement Location
Placements are generally arranged with autism-support organisations, specialised schools or learning centres in Kathmandu Valley.
Depending on availability, opportunities may also exist with community-based organisations outside central Kathmandu.
The exact placement is selected according to:
- Volunteer background
- Skills and qualifications
- Program duration
- Requested dates
- Current needs of the organisation
- Safeguarding requirements
Orientation
Before beginning the placement, Gap Bridge Nepal provides an orientation covering:
- Introduction to Nepal
- Nepalese culture
- Placement expectations
- Understanding the volunteer role
- Child safeguarding
- Appropriate communication
- Confidentiality
- Photography rules
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Health and safety
- Emergency procedures
At the placement, local staff will explain classroom routines and the appropriate way to support individual children.
Child Safeguarding
The safety, dignity and wellbeing of children are our highest priorities.
Volunteers must:
- Treat every child respectfully
- Follow the instructions of teachers and caregivers
- Maintain professional boundaries
- Avoid being alone with a child where this is not permitted
- Never use physical punishment
- Never shout at, humiliate or threaten a child
- Avoid unnecessary physical contact
- Never remove a child from the centre without authorisation
- Never give medication
- Keep personal and medical information confidential
- Avoid giving money directly to individual children
- Follow all safeguarding procedures of the host organisation
A criminal-background or police check may be required before the placement is confirmed.
Photography and Social Media
Children’s privacy must always be respected.
Volunteers must not:
- Photograph children without appropriate permission
- Publish children’s names or private information
- Share identifiable educational or medical records
- Post photographs on social media without authorised consent
- Use children’s stories for fundraising or promotion without permission
Volunteers should always ask the placement coordinator before taking photographs.
Accommodation
Volunteers normally stay with a Nepali host family, in a volunteer house or in suitable guesthouse accommodation.
Accommodation generally includes:
- Private or shared room
- Bed and basic furniture
- Bathroom facilities
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Wi-Fi where available
- Local support
Living with a Nepali family can also provide an opportunity to experience local culture, food and everyday life.
Meals
Breakfast and dinner are normally included.
Typical meals may include:
- Dal Bhat
- Rice
- Lentils
- Vegetable curry
- Roti
- Eggs
- Noodles
- Seasonal vegetables
- Other traditional Nepali foods
Vegetarian meals can generally be arranged.
Volunteers with allergies or important dietary requirements should inform Gap Bridge Nepal before arrival.
What Is Included?
The program fee normally includes:
- Pre-arrival support
- Volunteer placement arrangement
- Airport pickup
- Orientation
- Child-safeguarding briefing
- Accommodation
- Breakfast and dinner
- Introduction to the placement
- Local coordination
- Program support
- Emergency assistance
- Certificate of participation
- Assistance with optional sightseeing or trekking arrangements
Exact inclusions will be confirmed before booking.
What Is Not Included?
The program fee normally does not include:
- International flights
- Nepal visa
- Travel and medical insurance
- Vaccinations
- Personal medication
- Lunch and snacks
- Personal transportation
- Personal expenses
- Optional tours
- Trekking
- Donations
- Teaching materials purchased voluntarily
- Additional hotel accommodation
What Should Volunteers Bring?
Useful materials may include:
- Comfortable clothing
- Notebook and pens
- Drawing materials
- Colouring pencils
- Simple puzzles
- Flashcards
- Educational games
- Children’s books
- Craft materials
However, please speak with Gap Bridge Nepal before bringing donations. The placement organisation can advise what is genuinely useful.
Responsible Volunteering
Gap Bridge Nepal believes that volunteers should strengthen existing local services rather than replace trained Nepalese teachers, therapists or caregivers.
Volunteers should:
- Listen to local professionals
- Follow established routines
- Respect individual differences
- Avoid assuming that practices from their home country are automatically better
- Share skills only when appropriate
- Work collaboratively
- Be patient when communication is different from what they expect
The goal is mutual learning and responsible support.
What Can Volunteers Learn?
This placement can help volunteers develop:
- Understanding of autism and inclusive education
- Cross-cultural communication
- Patience and adaptability
- Classroom-support skills
- Awareness of different communication styles
- Understanding of disability support in Nepal
- Teamwork
- Creativity
- Professional boundaries
- Greater cultural awareness
Students studying education, psychology, social work or therapy-related subjects may find the experience particularly relevant to their academic interests.
Combine Your Placement with Other Programs
Volunteers may combine this program with:
- Teaching in schools
- Childcare and community support
- Medical electives
- Rural healthcare volunteering
- Construction volunteering
- Monastery teaching
- Cultural tours
- Meditation experiences
- Himalayan trekking
Gap Bridge Nepal can help design a personalised program according to your interests, qualifications and available time.
Apply to Volunteer with Children with Autism in Nepal
When applying, please tell us about:
- Your educational background
- Any experience working with children
- Relevant qualifications
- Experience with autism or disability support, if any
- Preferred program dates
- Length of stay
- Skills or activities you would like to contribute
Gap Bridge Nepal will review your application and match you with an appropriate local organisation based on your experience and current placement availability.