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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800080;" lang="EN">Hi everyone, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800080;" lang="EN"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This summer I am going to be volunteering in Nepal with a student association called ‘Oxford Development Abroad’ (ODA).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am looking to raise £750 to go towards this project, so it would be absolutely amazing if you could donate some money online!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The money will go directly and exclusively to the project (which is described below), and will <strong>not </strong>be used to fund any personal expenditure such as flights to and from Nepal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So please press the ‘<span style="color: #ff0000;">Donate Now</span>’ button below – it’s quick, easy and secure… I promise!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Also, <span style="color: #ff0000;">please add gift aid</span> – it will increase your donation by 25% with no cost to you). </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ODA is an association which works with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Nepal called "Partnership for Sustainable Development" (PSD).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, there will be four groups of five volunteers sent to Nepal, with each group situated in a different rural community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beginning in early August, there will be four days of training in Kathmandu, followed by five week placement in a community to carry out the project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well as this, volunteers have to attend weekly training sessions before departing to Nepal – this involves intensive Nepalese language lessons, health and cultural lessons, and teaching workshops.</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The project that I will be partaking in will be based in the Baglung district in central Nepal, where previous years’ projects have also been carried out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will work as volunteers alongside local skilled and unskilled workers, offering unskilled work to assist in construction and ensuring that the building work progresses at the desired pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will also be opportunities to teach at the local school.</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the placement, we will be living with a local family. This is a fantastic opportunity to experience Nepalese culture and lifestyle, and the family is likely to be intrigued by our habits and customs.</span><span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The projects are part-funded by two sources: ODA and the communities. This means that the communities have a greater incentive to ensure that the projects are successful as well. PSD receive project proposals from communities and then they carry out extensive research before selecting projects for ODA volunteers. ODA ensures that the selected projects are needed in the communities and that they meet the objectives of ODA. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any donations will be really appreciated! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800080;">Hope you’re having a lovely day,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #800080;">Uma xxxx</span> </p>