The Himalayan Exchange

An exclusive community service, cultural exchange, learning and fun-based student exchange program conducted in needy areas of Nepal.

Live with the families in local style, exchange your cultures, have fun as you explore the country and gather life-long memories and learning.

Typically a month or 6 weeks long program which includes both mission and tourism activities but can be modified as per your requirements.

As community service, you can organize awareness campaigns, school classes, medical camp, do internship in related field etc.

As you live authentic local Nepali life, share your food, sing and dance along, discuss technologies, and exchange ideas with locales.

Spend your weekends in Pokhara, Bandipur, Chitwan, Kathmandu etc.- places known for natural beauty, glorious history, ancient cultures and civilization.

The first two batches (Parbat, 2017, Gorkha 2018) with students from Telecom ParisTech, Edhec Business School, and ITECH Lyon provided computer lessons to underprivileged students.

The 2019 batches from Audencia Business School and Telecom ParisTech taught in local schools, raised environmental awareness, helped the local farmers and set up a library in Rasuwa.
Overview
INTRODUCTION
The Himalayan Exchange is an exclusive cultural exchange, community service, learning and fun-based exchange program. Conducted by Global Fellowship Nepal (GFN) for international students, it is organized in typical villages and needy areas of Nepal.
As the participants live with the families in local style, they also exchange their culture with the villagers, have fun as they explore beautiful country Nepal during the weekends and gather life-long memories and learning. It is typically a month or six weeks long program which includes both mission and tourism activities but it can be modified as per the requirement of the students and universities.
SAMPLE PROGRAM STRUCTURE*
Day 1: Arrival at TIA, Kathmandu, check in at hotel and welcome dinner
Day 2: Kathmandu city tour and preparation for the village
Day 3: Departure to the village
Day 4 – 27: Teaching/ cultural exchange activities/ outing**
Day 28: Return Back to Kathmandu
Day 29: Free day for shopping/ roaming around Kathmandu by self
Day 30: Departure from TIA, Kathmandu
*Please me advised that this is a sample only and based on 30 days long program. The duration, schedule and activities may change as per your institution’s requirements. ** There are three outings under the standard plan- Kalinchowk Mountain View Point, Bhote Koshi River Side and Chitwan National Park (for the year 2020).
ACTIVITIES DURING THE PROGRAM
Community Service: The activities are designed on the basis of your interest and skills, the needs in the villages and the nature of its sustainability. The first two batches of the program provided computer science classes in schools in the villages to both the students and the teachers. Apart from this, mini community projects like cleaning campaigns, awareness activities, distribution of stationary materials, etc were as well organized.
Cultural Exchange: You observe and experience a rather happy life amid limited resources in the villages located in the lap of the Himalayas. You experience an entirely unique and authentic village life along with novelty in food, language customs, music, culture, and traditions. In the meantime, you are encouraged to prepare dishes, perform music and dance and discuss new ideas native to you with the students, teachers and villagers.
Adventure and Fun: You do not want you to miss out the reasons that bring around a million tourists to Nepal every year. That’s why, we tour to the cities such as beautiful and exotic Pokhara; classic Bandipur; wild Chitwan besides sightseeing historic and religious Kathmandu. What’s more?The host villages demonstrate that beauty themselves and we often go for hikes to local hill stations on off days.
DIFFERENT BATCHES OF THE HIMALAYAN EXCHANGE:
BE A PART
MORE DETAILS FOR INSTITUTIONS – 2019
Fellow Alumni
Travelogues
I wish you could see this with your own eyes. The grass was the greenest I had ever seen, the dirt was of a vivid red and there were layers of mountains covered in trees all the way up to the horizon.
Read moreTestimonials
“a fulfilling experience.”Louis, 2017 (The Himalayan Exchange)
“I loved living in the family, the organisation of extra activities, discovering Nepali culture and education”Margaux, 2018 (The Himalayan Exchange)
“..had an amazing and humbling experience teaching Nepalese kids, living among locals”Kim-Anh-Nhi, 2017 (The Himalayan Exchange)
“I absolutely loved peoples’ kindness, landscapes and teaching the kids.”Sophie, 2018 (The Himalayan Exchange)
“Cheerful and trustworthy team. I spent a month under the care of those young and motivated people who have helped me to discover Nepal and its fantastic culture. I highly recommend”Alban, 2017 (The Himalayan Exchange)
Frequently Asked Questions
Count Me In
Registration form for the 2020 batches is given below. More specific details shall be updated in the form and be emailed to you.
Do get in touch with us if you would like us to make special arrangements for your institution beforehand.