About RCDP
The Rural Community Development Programme, (RCDP) is a non-profit, non-governmental volunteer organisation, whose mission is to encourage international volunteers to contribute to community development and nature conservation activities.
RCDPs objectives are to offer meaningful volunteer abroad experiences to international volunteers in Nepal and promote grassroots community development programs. Realising the value of quality planned volunteer opportunities RCDP has expanded its volunteer programs in the neighbouring countries of India, Tibet, and Sri Lanka
History
RCDP was established in 1995 and has since become one of the most reputed international volunteer organisations to offer volunteer opportunities in four different Asian destinations (Nepal, India, Tibet, and Sri Lanka). Every year almost 300 international volunteers participate in the RCDP program, making RCDP the largest volunteer operating organisation in Nepal. In 1999, RCDP-Nepal and local villagers of the Rampur village reached an agreement to develop the Rampur community forest as a Model conservation programme supported by international volunteers and the local community in Nepal. There are five village-based nurseries involved in the scheme.
RCDPs Achievements
Since its establishment in 1995 RCDP has arranged placement and projects for more than 2,000 international volunteers, 10 international development groups, and 15 college student groups. These volunteers have constructed and renovated 10 elementary schools to offering educational opportunities to rural children of Nepal. Five village-based plant nurseries have been development allowing the distribution of thousands of seedlings to local villagers to support the conservation efforts in Nepal. RCDP was the first Nepali organisation to run youth exchange programs in Nepal, Asia, and Europe and now works in association with more than 12 international volunteer organisations, conservation groups, universities, and colleges.
BTCV and RCDP
BTCV and RCDP have worked together running conservation holidays since 2001. Our early partnership helped establish the framework and mechanisms for quality volunteer projects in the country and enabling RCDP to become the largest and most effective volunteering organisation in Nepal. BTCV and RCDP have continued to work together, even through recent years of major political instability in the country and have together developed a multipurpose community plant nursery in Rampur in order to foster conservation.
Joint Achievements
Nepals environment has been deteriorating day by day under the growing demand for trees. In the past few years, thousand of hectares of land have disappeared. To promote conservation work in Nepal, RCDP and BTCV have been working together developing the first volunteer-supported eco-tourism project in 750 hectares of land in Chitwan. There are 5 village-based nurseries involved in the scheme and the seedlings produced are later distributed to local schools, communities, and villagers for planting in community fields.
