While landing to Kathmandu, if you are a foreigner you might have noticed, while filling in the immigration card, that, technically speaking, international volunteering in Nepal is illegal.
Then if you look at the reality on the ground, you find international organizations like VSO, Peace Corps, JICA and KOICA and UNV have made international volunteerism one of their core features in their development work in Nepal and they did it with great results.
These organizations mobilize and invest in well motivated, competent individuals who wants to make a little difference not only in their own lives but, most importantly, in the lives of thousands of beneficiaries in the country.
Moreover on top of these more institutionalized forms, there are a huge number of individuals coming to Nepal to learn something and do something useful. Many international students come to Nepal during their summer vacation as part of their “practicum” often in programs organized jointly by their universities and local counterparts. Is this practice also illegal?
To my understanding, international volunteerism not only has contributed to tangible and measureable outcomes in the overall development process of the nation but also has proved to be an effective way to promote bilateral people to people relationships among north and south of the world.
For sending nations, international volunteerism is a sort of smart diplomacy that plays a key role in enhancing a sense of good will among locals in relation to the country of origin of the volunteers.
From the perspective of a receiving country instead, international volunteerism positively impacts to a certain, although limited extent to national development goals plus it also makes economic sense as international volunteers spend money in the country.
Then why should the government have adopted such a position towards international volunteerism?
I came up with a couple of assumptions.
Assumption number one: international volunteerism does not contribute to the overall development of the country. Assumption number two: the legislation attempts to curb illegal practices of overstay in the country that are carried out in the name of volunteerism.
Let’s start with assumption one. Volunteerism in general is a “give” and “take” and probably There is probably no better example than international volunteerism when the “take” side is actually bigger than the “give”one.
In few words international volunteers own a great deal of gratitude to the people of Nepal because actually by coming over, they can learn so many things and they go back home as better persons.
A bit of introspection, look at myself. If I am what I am it is because of my international volunteerism in Angola, Brazil and South Pacific. Through these trips I came to know the world and this greatly opened up my mind.
I am sure my contributions during these exciting experiences were really minimal, let’s say nonexistent in terms of social development of the communities where I served. Was this harmful or detrimental? I bet they weren’t and local communities appreciated my enthusiasm and willingness to engage and trying to do some stuff.
I do understand that measuring the impact of international volunteers, taking into consideration that the sector is very diversified and varied, remains paramount and challenging.
How can we compare the impact of a VSO volunteer, all with fantastic track records of past work experience with the service of a recent graduate coming over for gaining some exposure, trying to understand the world a bit better and hopefully doing something useful ( this could have been me when I was an international volunteer) ?
Surely it is hard job but certainly it is even harder to prove that all of these experiences are harmful to the country.
Of course you might have cases of fake volunteers with a hidden agenda or simply desperate to stay over because they love the country. Here we touch the second assumption.
Recently the Government showed a strong drive in cracking down on illegal immigrations and I am sure that there are many foreigners dishonestly staying in Nepal in the name of volunteerism.
While we praise the determination shown by the government to shun illegal stays, Nepal should adopt a more pragmatic approach towards international volunteerism. Why punish all international volunteers who in the great majority are genuinely interested in helping the country?
Moreover even volunteerism promoting organizations with long standing traditions of support to Nepal are facing lots of constraints to get visas for their volunteers. I feel this is totally unfair.
Then how do we really determine if a tourist staying in the country for five months is not involved in a community volunteering project? If by coincidence this happens, is it that bad? Does it pose a national security threat? I guess pragmatism and common sense should prevail.
The Government of Nepal, while encouraging national volunteerism and expecting that international volunteering organizations to also put efforts in promoting what I called the volunteerism inspired society among locals ( this is what we are trying to do at ENGAGE), should also clearly state that international volunteerism can be truly beneficial to the country.
If well regulated, it can truly do wonders. Millions of Nepali citizens are aware of this. Why denying the evidence?
Note: The next article will be looking at some ideas to regulate international volunteerism in the country.
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