ABOUT NEPAL

Pokhara is a lively city in western Nepal, beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Phewa and at the foot of the Annapurna Himalayas. In and around Pokhara, you will be supporting our local team, which runs sports classes for children and young people in the neighbourhoods and surrounding villages. Many children here enjoy playing sport, but have few opportunities to train in an organised setting.

Although children often get PE at school, many cannot take part in structured sport after school. A lack of facilities, equipment and coaching makes it hard for sport to become a lasting part of their daily lives.

As a sports coach you get the chance to inspire and motivate these children to stay active and develop a healthy lifestyle. By teaching the sport they enjoy most, you contribute not only to their physical health but also to their confidence, discipline and social skills (life skills).

Our projects in Pokhara are supported by local sports students and young coaches. This makes it easier to connect with the children and young people in the programme and creates a great opportunity for cultural exchange both ways. It is also a valuable chance for local young people to practise their English, while you make new friends of your own age in Pokhara.

Pokhara offers an inspiring and varied setting for your stay. The city is known for its impressive nature, relaxed atmosphere and welcoming community. With views of the Himalaya and life around Phewa Lake, Pokhara is a special place where you can not only make an impact but also have an unforgettable experience yourself.

Pokhara is a bustling tourist centre. Our project focuses on the surrounding neighbourhoods and villages, where organised youth sport is still in its infancy. For many children, this means they have very little access to sports facilities or organised sporting activities.

By working together with local organisations and schools, you can make a positive difference to these children’s lives. At the same time, you’ll learn valuable life lessons yourself and create memories that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Together with local schools and organisations, you’ll ensure that the children of Pokhara are active and enjoy sport every week.

Sport in Nepal

Sport plays an important role in daily life in Nepal, especially among young people. Despite limited resources, there is a great passion for sport and exercise.

Football is the most popular sport in Nepal and is played everywhere: in the street, in school playgrounds and on open fields. Cricket is quickly gaining popularity, partly thanks to the national team’s growing success. Volleyball is often seen as Nepal’s national sport and is accessible and widespread in both urban and rural areas.

Basketball and athletics are also becoming more popular, especially among young people in cities such as Pokhara. Traditional martial arts and forms of self-defence are part of the country’s cultural and physical traditions.

Thanks to its mountainous landscape, Nepal is known worldwide for trekking, mountaineering and other outdoor sports. In and around Pokhara, activities such as running, hiking and outdoor training are closely woven into daily life. This varied sporting culture reflects both Nepal’s rich traditions and its natural surroundings.

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Choose your sport

Four sports, you choose where you stand

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Sport 1 of 4 · Pokhara

Football coach

Football is loved all over the world, and in Nepal too the sport plays an important role in the daily lives of many children and young people. In and around Pokhara, football is played with great enthusiasm in school playgrounds, on open fields and in the neighbourhoods. The enthusiasm is huge, but good coaching and structure are often missing.

With the football project in Pokhara you contribute to the grassroots development of football in Nepal. You coach children and young people at local schools and in neighbourhoods with few sporting opportunities. Many participants grow up in challenging circumstances. Sport offers them a positive and safe environment in which they can work on confidence, discipline and teamwork.

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Sport 2 of 4 · Pokhara

Basketball coach

The basketball project in Pokhara, Nepal focuses on setting up basketball training sessions and creating safe places to play for enthusiastic children and young people in and around local neighbourhoods and schools. Participants are mainly between 8 and 16 years old. Basketball is still developing in Nepal and gets less attention than sports such as football or volleyball. The basic rules and techniques are therefore not always known.

This is precisely where your expertise can help the local coaches. Through your commitment, you not only help to grow the sport of basketball, but you also have a direct and positive impact on the children and young people taking part in the training sessions.

Sign up for basketball
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Sport 3 of 4 · Pokhara

Volleyball coach

Volleyball is also a sport that keeps developing in Nepal. Interest is growing in and around Pokhara, especially among young people. Although Nepal isn’t internationally known as a volleyball country, enthusiasm is high and the sport is played more and more at schools and in neighbourhoods. Volleyball is particularly popular among girls, because it is accessible and needs little equipment.

Local schools and sports initiatives in Pokhara play an important role in the development of volleyball. They organise training sessions, matches and small tournaments, giving both beginners and more advanced players the chance to improve their skills and enjoy sport.

An important part of the growth of volleyball in Nepal is the focus on youth. School programmes and after school activities introduce children and young people to the sport at an early age. Besides being active, they learn important skills such as teamwork, discipline and self confidence.

International partnerships also contribute to the development of volleyball in Nepal. Volunteers from different countries bring new ideas, training methods and inspiration. This helps the local volleyball community develop further and encourages players to get the best out of themselves.

Although volleyball isn’t yet as big everywhere as other sports, the motivation and commitment of the local community in Pokhara are promising. The sport not only contributes to an active lifestyle, it also strengthens connection and team spirit.

Sign up for volleyball
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Sport 4 of 4 · Pokhara

Your own sport

We encourage you to introduce your own sport within our projects as well. This is not only fun but also has a big impact: children get to know new sports and enjoy a wider range of activities. The Power of Sports is happy to support you in setting up and introducing your sport. The possibilities are huge and where needed we also help financially to build this sport up in a sustainable way.

The accommodation is in Pokhara-7, Parsyang, close to Smata Chowk. It is conveniently located, with the Jem Shopping Complex, bakeries, cafés and good local restaurants within walking distance.
 
The house has two spacious bedrooms on both the first and second floor, plus a small extra room on the roof. There are three toilets and bathrooms in total.
 
One of the highlights of the accommodation is the two balconies, which offer a pleasant place to relax and enjoy the surroundings. In good weather you can also enjoy a stunning view of the Annapurna range from the roof and from the house.
 
The house has a kitchen and dining area, as well as comfortable communal areas on both the first and second floor. These shared spaces are ideal for group meetings, lessons and getting together socially. The house is equipped with sofas, dining tables, a washing machine and a reliable water supply.
 
Fast wifi is available 24 hours a day throughout the house, which is handy for work, study, keeping in touch and relaxing. Every bedroom and the living areas have fans to keep things comfortable.

Accommodation

ARRIVAL dates

We can pick up volunteers in Kathmandu at any time.

WHY THE POWER OF SPORTS

  • No registration fee and a no-obligation introductory call.
  • The project in Nepal, ‘Khelkhud Ko Urja’ (The Power of Sports in Nepali), was set up by ourselves.
  • Our volunteering abroad is affordable, especially considering what you get for it.
  • As a travel organisation that focuses entirely on social sports trips.
  • We tell you an honest story and assess whether you are suited to the project.
  • Our programmes are run responsibly and have a proven positive impact.
  • All our staff know our programmes abroad well.
  • We offer good personal support, both in the UK and abroad.
  • We are founders and members of the Volunteer Aware quality mark. With this we want to underline that our projects are rooted in a genuine commitment to a worthwhile cause.

How experienced do I need to be to volunteer?

None of our projects require you to hold certificates or to have studied sport. As a volunteer you have a supporting role and you will never be on your own. We are not necessarily looking for Nepal’s next top athlete; we want to help children from all social backgrounds develop socially and build life skills through sport. You give the next generation the chance to play sport in a fun and organised environment. So whatever your background and experience, you can be sure you’ll make a positive contribution by volunteering as a coach in Nepal.

What is important is that you have a basic knowledge of the rules of the sport and above all show lots of enthusiasm. Speaking Nepali is not a requirement either. You can choose to take Nepali lessons, but luckily everyone speaks the language of sport!

I am a vegetarian. Will my dietary requirements be taken into account?
-If you let us know in advance that you are a vegetarian, they can take this into account in Nepal.

Can I only teach football, basketball and volleyball?
– No, in principle you can teach almost any sport. The project in Nepal is still in its infancy, so we’re working hard to expand our programmes. Introducing a new sport might be a great way to add something to the programme!

What are my Nepali lessons like?
The Nepali lessons take place at our centre, every day after dinner. The lessons are taught by a professional teacher and comprise a total of 20 hours. If you’d like to take extra lessons, please let us know and we’ll be happy to organise this for you.

What do I need to bear in mind when travelling abroad?
-Following our no-obligation consultation, during which we’ll go through everything, we’ll also send you a ‘welcome pack’ setting out in detail everything you need to bear in mind, what you need to bring with you, what to watch out for, and so on.

How many other people am I volunteering with?
– There are always other interns/volunteers at the accommodation in Nepal. The size of the group varies between 5 and 15. They do not all come from the UK, but from other countries as well. You can contact us to find out how many others will be there during your stay. We’ll also set up a group chat with other Dutch people who’ll be travelling at the same time. That way, you can get to know each other a bit in advance.

Contact - The Power of Sports

Niraj Adhikari

My name is Niraj Adhikari and I come from Pokhara, in the Kaski district of Nepal. I finished secondary school with English as my main subject.

I am a big sports fan and I have also worked as a trekking guide in Nepal for five years. I guide tourists from all over the world, which has helped me communicate well, be flexible and deal with different cultures. I think it is important that people feel welcome and safe, and I always do my best to help others as well as I can.

I speak and write English and Hindi fluently. People describe me as friendly, reliable and professional. I enjoy working in a team and I value honesty and respect highly.

Nepal
4 weeks of volunteering

€ 850

No registration fee

  • Each extra week € 180

What’s included

Stay

  • Beautiful accommodation
  • Breakfast and lunch
  • Transport to the projects

Support

  • Dedicated coordinator
  • Meet your coordinator before you go
  • Visa advice and support.

Arrival

  • Pick up and drop off, Pokhara airport or train station
  • Introduction and historical tour

Extra

  • Nepali language lessons
  • Group chat with everyone travelling at the same time as you
  • Social activities with other volunteers and interns
  • Free The Power of Sports shirt before you leave

Ready to go? Book a free, no-obligation intake call and we’ll help you plan.

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Volunteer Aware

The Power of Sports is part of Volunteer Aware, the quality mark for fair volunteering abroad.