Advanture and Volunteer program in Nepal

Added: (Sun Jan 21 2007)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Volunteer in Nepal 2006 - Steve Glynn - Australia


I arrived in Nepal in April of 2006. I was excited and nervous at the same time as I exited customs with my large back pack. I easily saw Raj who was holding a large clear sign with my name. He took good care of me, riding with me on the bus into Thamel.

It was in the middle of the revolution and curfew had been imposed so we walked the last part of the way through the small streets and laneways that would soon be familiar to me. The sights, sounds and smells of Kathmandu were completely foreign to me making me confident that I was about to start a great new adventure.

After a night to settle in, I met up with Rob and Maggie, the other volunteers starting with me. Another volunteer took me for an orientation walk around Thamel and showed me where is the best place to eat, to shop and was a great help. We were all then taken down to Happy Home. We were all amazed at the great positive attitude and playful nature of children that had already experienced such hardships.

We were given Nepalese/English lessons by my now good friend Bicky and told what to expect when living in a Nepal community. The language skills were invaluable and his lessons were fun. Not long after that I was out at my placement at the Dipendra Police School. This was a good experience and I made a good friend there. I took some great photo's and met the villagers in the hills. I hung around with them in the afternoons and drank a bit or Raksi and had fun.

After a couple of weeks there I moved to Shree Purna School in Dhulikhel. This was a fantastic experience. I lived with a family near the school and I hired a motorbike (with Bicky's help - cheaply) and travelled to and from school and the surrounding districts. Living and eating with my host family was a great experience although I found it difficult to go back to living in a family situation. Being older and having lived alone for a long time my host family's care and concern was at times restrictive. Their intentions were very good though. I ate the local food, and played with the children of the family and surrounding home. Watching the family unit function I was sometimes happy and other times sad at how lucky and at the same time disadvantaged the people of Nepal were.

It was my time teaching at the school that I enjoyed the most. My area co ordinator Rajesh was great support and helped me enormously. He helped me in and out of the classroom. With typical Nepalese hospitality he took me to his home and introduced me to his family. This was common wherever I went in Nepal. I taught English to classes ranging in age from 6 to 16. Sometimes classes of 70 kids. No electricity, little chalk, and understaffed schools highlighted to me how important a role a volunteer can fill. At the school I was fortunate to find two students who touched me deeply and I was compelled to help Puja KC to go to private school, she was very intelligent, very hardworking and a beautiful young girl. She now has a top education, new uniforms and books (for little cost) and I hope will be able to attend university. This is just one of the many ways a volunteer can make a huge difference to not just an individual, but to a family and community. Puja is an example of how the people of Nepal can endear themselves to you and inspire you to take positive action. The opportunity to work at a classroom level with the students is very special. It gives you a great insight into their hopes and dreams, as well as their fears and concerns.

Also during my trip I got the opportunity to head south to the Chitwan National Park, I would recommend this trip to everyone. The swimming with the elephants was fantastic. It was my intention to head back there but unfortunately my trip was cut short by an illness back home. I will definintely be heading back to Nepal as soon as I can.

INFO Nepal, Asim and Bicky as well as all the other volunteers are great support. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to have a great experience. Expect some hardship and frustration, expect to miss things and expect to be confronted by many unfamiliar things. I found the whole experience challenging and rewarding and can truly say it was life changing.



Steve Glynn

Australia

steveglynn@dodo.com.au

Mob:0412 966 969