What types of accommodations are available for the placement?

There are basically three types of accommodation available for the placements: – Tented, Homestay, and Base Home. Depending upon the availability/non-availability of a suitable house, home stay accommodation or a suitable/secluded land area for tenting, at the outreach village, we decide the type that may be made available for the particular outreach project. In ideal conditions, the Dental Outreach being a group activity, we have a base home in the outreach village, which serves as a communal programme house. All non-clinical social activities are presented at the venue which serves as a hub of activities. The standard is basic and simple, yet clean and in a traditional Nepalese setting. Normally the best house in the village is turned over to us for the makeover to welcome the visiting volunteers. However, when we have homestay arrangement with the host families, we have a long and laborious processes of selecting the suitable host family, training them for basic sanitation and also imparting them cultural sensitizing. Only after proper evaluation, the families may be ready to welcome the international visitors into their family. This offer a unique opportunity for the volunteers to experience an insightful encounter with a wonderful Nepali way of life. Nepalis are innately shy but friendly and extremely hospitable.

Our placements are intended to give dental students and professionals alike the opportunity to learn about oral healthcare provision in unfamiliar environments and cultures through exposure to the temporary dental clinics in villages near Pokhara and Kathmandu. We provide a comprehensive support package that is designed to make these opportunities as accessible as possible – but what you get out of your experience at the Dental Outreach clinic will depend on what you put in.

As the outreach village comes to get a feel for your presence in the community, you will watch the true Nepali spirit and generosity flourish. Their genuine gratitude often permits insight into some of the oldest traditions on earth, to which many volunteers will testify is a humbling and memorable experience that is difficult to describe!