Volunteering Experience and contribute whilst on a budget in Nepal
Added: (Mon Feb 16 2004)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Asim's Word: It was really wonderful for me to have a break from the rigors of the Kathmandu INFO office, and spend a month in Ganganagar library with my family. There, I worked with some volunteers and host families, and also began the process of setting up the Ganganagar Eco-tourism Development Committee. Since INFO built a Golghar (a round cottage) in Sitamai, the people have found that Sitamai can be developed as a tourist destination. The Golghar also serves as a meeting house for nineteen meetings so far and as a place to hold social gatherings, like the thirty-seven picnics that have been held there in the last year. This created an open environment for people to discuss the possibility of tourist development in the area. As a result, last month, INFO organized an Eco-tourism Development Committee in Chitwan, and is currently working out a plan about how to spend their hard-earned 50,000 rupees fundraised last month.
Bicky is back from China! Thanks to Susan (Former Volunteer from Australia) and Liana for providing the scholarship for two poor, landless girls from big families in the Tharu village in Ganganagar. These girls show tremendous talent and have much potential.
Congratulation Susan!, being a Successful IELTS examiner.
Thanks to Sharon's friend Sarah Gourdie, a teacher from Durango High School, Houston, Texas for sending the prizes for the students and penpal letters. Ganganagar library senior students have started learning computers in library class. There are now two computers in the Ganganagar library. This provides an excellent opportunity for our library students and host families to learn email/Internet technology in order to be able to communicate with past volunteers.
Current volunteers update: Noemi [Spain] is organizing a great conference of farmers in Pathiani after doing research with one hundred buffalos in the area. It will be a one day conference on how to take care of buffalo's health, milk products, and proper animal nutrition. There will be fifty farmers from Pathiani present to participate in this conference. We wish her all the success in her veterinary studies. Also, Noemi is organizing a sports competition with seventy school students of Pathiani. It will begin on February 3rd. The sports include volleyball and football competitions for the school students, and other competitions include carrom-board, chess, chunge, and cycling (both slow and racing), open to everyone. Lisa [Australia] has created a fantastic environmental program at the government school in Krishnapur. There, students are not only picking up paper and recycling it now, but also taking care of two beautiful gardens. This will give the students ideas for how to keep their village environment clean. Janet [South Africa] is teaching computer education and English in the Ganganagar library, as well as personal hygiene to the children of the Tharu village. Kristalia [Austria] will be back on the 15th of February from her break in Myanmar to continue her teaching in the Pathiani library. Darren [UK] and Lucia [Slovakia] are having a great time in Pokhara teaching English in a government school. Delphine [France], a nurse, is working in the health post in Pokhara. Kirsty [Scotland] will be placed this week in Bhaktapur teaching English in the government school.
Past volunteers update: Tammie and Anne Marie [Canada] have already finished their time in Ganganagar library, and were replaced by Geri [USA], who taught the senior class there and worked in Pathiani health post. Peter [Ireland] helped us out with maintenance and aesthetic construction of the bamboo fence at the Ganganagar library. Jens [Holland] has now finished his health post project in Chormara, and last night flew back to Holland. Rosemary [Canada] did a great job teaching English in Chandranagar library. After finishing their placements in Nawalparasi library and Parvatipur library, Margot [USA] and Stacey [New Zealand] are now traveling in India before heading back to their respective countries. We express sincere gratitude to all the past volunteers for their valuable contributions, and wish them luck in their future endeavors.
Surendra's Success Story:
Most of the past volunteers know Surendra, the youth club president of Pathiani. A member of one of INFO's most welcoming host families, Surendra is a young, intelligent man who really takes initiative. Two months ago, he left the youth club, and since then, he has started a hotel business on the highway from Kathmandu to Chitwan. Surendra says by working with INFO Nepal and its volunteers over the last two years, he has developed self-confidence and management skills. He says he has learned about how valuable time is, and how to use that time wisely. This is why he is now taking time to earn some money, to ensure security for his future life and marriage. INFO supports this kind of initiative and go-getter attitude; thus, INFO has leant him a sum of money to help his business get off the ground. INFO is also helping to promote the popularity of his hotel and restaurant by bringing customers and contributing to the already high reputation of his establishment. Both Surendra and the village people are extremely grateful to INFO - Surendra feels that if not for INFO, he would still be hanging around the village, accomplishing nothing, and spending too much time smoking and drinking. Now, since INFO trusted him with the responsibility of Pathiani library, coordinating the placements of the volunteers, and distributing necessary emergency supplies during the flooding of Chitwan in 2002, Surendra is now recognized as a leadership figure all over Chitwan. He, too, recognizes his potential and is more aware of his social responsibility as someone children of the village look up to. INFO wishes him the best of luck in continuing to develop his business, and volunteers can look forward to an interview with Surendra on how his life is going in the next newsletter.
Volunteer worker in Nepal
I arrived at Nepal the 24th of October 2003 with my friend Kristalia, a beautiful girl from Austria 27 years old who is computer programmer. Raj came to look for us to the airport and we went to the hotel by taxi. After some minutes in the hotel, Asim and Rabyn from INFO NEPAL came to introduce themselves...really very nice people.
We contact with them by e-mail, I explained to Asim that i can not teach English language because is not my first language and i proposed them to work with farmers and contact with some veterinaries in Nepal because I am so curious and I wanted to know how is the situation in Nepal in this sector. They don't have knowledge in veterinary staff but they help me to find the way for contact with them. Previously i had made contact by e-mail with Dr. Rabati Man Shrestha and he was the first person who i was to visit. I have had and have all the help that i need from the NGO. Also I was lucky because two weeks after arriving there was a National Veterinary Conference in Kathmandu, so, I went and i can meet with many veterinaries.
Kristalia and me had decided stay in Nepal during seven months, we need learn Nepali and after speaking with Asim and Rabyn we decided to make a training more long than it is usual. Krisna was our teacher, the best in the world, she had many patient with us and she explained us small things "women to women" very important in this culture, also she was with us to buy some clothes typical Nepali, Kurta and Sari. I can not forgot this day, we enjoy a lot, I´ve never liked to go to buy cloths but this day was very funny. Krisna is the best teacher in the world, i love her, she taught much more that is written. Meanwhile, Asim was looking a family for us, we wanted stay near one each other and also in special conditions because i needed stay near farmers and Kristalia near computers because she wanted to teach computers, Asim found for me the most perfect family for my aims, Ishwari Baral, my father, works like veterinary in Patihanani area, Chitwan district, and i said "like" because here the vets are organizing in different way that i know. In any way, perfect, I love my family, Sushila the wife, Susma 14 years old, pretty woman, Karuna 10, sweet, sweet, sweet, and super Davis 9, the most intelligent goblin that I've never known. (smile). Sometimes i go with my father to visits some farmers, we speak in English, he is teaching me Nepali and I am teaching him English, and we can speak about work, about disease, treatments, prevention, management, he are giving me many many information about the reality situation of the farmers in Nepal, i am learning everyday. Also Asim was perfect selecting this family because it is near the Veterinary School in Rampur, so i can visit them when i need it.
I had meetings with some of the teacher in the school, i wanted to know the situation, also i can know some veterinaries who works in the field and i went with them in some occasions, very interesting visits. I have had to look for the contacts and INFO Nepal help me every time. Now i am involved in three different projects, one research about buffalos and housings, one research about buffalo milk in Nepal and also i am organizing a seminar for farmers because i can not forget that i am here like volunteer worker and i want to make something useful for them. I am living like Nepali people not like tourist. I am glad to be here with this NGO. We live with the reality, we can see what is going on everyday, everything is interesting and beautifully different. There are magical places close the river Monari, the sound of jackal in the night, grandiose mountains...in clear days we can see the Annapurna from Chitwan, it is a pleasure to see the red mountains when the sun is going down. I want to visit Pokhara in February when finish the seminar and i will try to do the same there with the farmers and of course i will do some trekking around.
There are so many small daily experiences that i cannot describe in English, everything is new, just take a shower or go to the toilet, just make food because "Aamaa" has the period, just eat papaya in some house because someone invites you and try to speak Nepali, just see the faces of the kids when you play with them, just the close contact with the people...Nepal is different. Rose Mary, a volunteer from Canada who was here a short time wanted make some tourism around but when she meet with my family for a few days she forgot the trekkings because she said "here everyday is an adventure". I am totally agree.
If you want to know more you can write to me: repetimos8@hotmail.com it will be pleasure answer your questions. Thanks for spend your time reading my experience.
Noemi Guerra Villagrá
León. Spain
Age 33
Profession: Veterinary
MY Experience
Admittedly, I was pretty terrified to come to Nepal, but I now believe it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The warnings put out by the US Consulate and other governments are a little worrisome right now, but in 5 weeks here, I didn't encounter a single Maoist or really scary situation, and I did a lot of Travelling. As a pre-med student and EMT in America, INFO Nepal gave me the opportunity to learn and observe in a rural developing world environment, in conditions unlike any I had ever witnessed. The people who run INFO Nepal are some of the friendliest, most caring and understanding people I have ever encountered - they take care of you when you get ill (Nepalese food is fantastic, but expect a little, umm, adjustment period for your stomach), they listen to you when you're homesick, and they truly make you a part of their family. I finally made it to Ganganagar, a small village in Chitwan, where I stayed with a really amazing family who taught me everything they knew about cooking Dal/Bhat, making exceptional tea, doing laundry in the well, churning butter, making straw mats, and being extremely generous and welcoming. At first, I was a little uncomfortable with the lack of privacy in the village (everywhere you go, Nepali people will stare at white people, expect it and get used to it), but then the fascination wears off and you can really immerse yourself in the culture. I worked for an hour a day with ten hard-working senior students in the Ganganagar library, where we worked on making their English sound fluent, but my real purpose in Chitwan was volunteering at the doctor's office in Patihani. The importance of rural health posts became clear to me immediately - even though there was a lack of diagnostic equipment and sterility in the office, the doctor did an incredible job with what he had. Hundreds of patients would go untreated if not for him, as the next closest medical treatment is 16 km away in Narayanghat, and the only method of transport many people have is tying their child up in a shawl and riding their bicycle to the doctor's office. I don't think you can come to a country to volunteer expecting to make huge changes in a short period of time - and I don't think you should. The Nepali culture is amazing, and I wouldn't change it for the world. But if you can teach all the kids one new word per day in English, if you can make sure that all your patients get fresh needles, your contribution will be invaluable. As a side note, if you're going to be working in a health post with INFO, some useful things to bring are your own stethoscope, latex (or non-latex) gloves, antibacterial soap/sterilization fluid or equipment, and any posters/references you can find on Nepali words for anatomical terms. Sometimes, the language barrier can make you a little lonely, and sometimes you'll long for the luxury of a hot shower - but if you open your heart, and make the effort to understand the circumstances of Nepali life, you'll find no better country to fall in love with. Though I leave Nepal in two days and I'm so excited to go home to my boyfriend and family in America, I will DEFINITELY be back to Nepal - I'm very sad to leave. The relationships I've formed here, even in a short time, I will remember forever, and my time here has strengthened my resolve to do more volunteer work abroad.
Geri Ottaviano
06glo@williams.edu
2458 Baxter Hall
Williamstown, MA 01267 USA
413.597.2777
Loic's Experience
There are a vast number of organisations offering projects in Nepal but none seemed to offer what I was looking for to fill the months before going to university, that is, until I found INFO. I wanted an organisation that was based in the country and was cheap while including some training, flexibility and one that would really allow me experience Nepali life. Eventually my month with INFO provided all of these things.
I knew that a month was a short time so I was determined to try and leave a mark quickly. The four days of training were exactly what I needed to learn the basic Nepali that I was to improve as the month went by. I then went off to Godawari for two days where I met my first family. I immediately felt at home with my many sisters who constantly wanted me to dance, teach English games and carry them around. I was also able to see how villages functioned and get used to eating Dal Bhat, using Nepali toilets while witnessing the incredible views on the lush green valley, a huge contrast to the deserts of the United Arab Emirates from which I had come. Perhaps even more interestingly, my visit coincided with a huge Buddhist festival in the village, celebrated only every 12 years. I therefore had the highly amusing experience of jumping into an ice cold pool of water that came gushing out of the mountainside with 100s if not 1000s of laughing Nepalis. By the time I left the village I already felt I'd been there a week.
The next day however, I began the highly stressful experience of traveling to my placement along the monsoon furrowed and constantly collapsing road in a bus even more full than usual because of the road having been shut for a while due to a particularly large landslide. When I eventually reached Narayanghat I was almost as surprised as I was relieved. Finally, after a short distance on the back of Asim's motorbike I reached my family in Patalahara. It was of course a little awkward at first, but as soon as I brought out my photos from home we were united.
From then on I began to work as hard as possible. My plan was to attempt to train teachers, firstly, because this is where most of my experience lies and secondly because by doing this, my work would carry on after I left. Most of my work was with Dipak, an 18 year old whom INFO pays to go into the local Tharu (native people of the Terai) village and teach two classes of about 20 students every afternoon. When I observed the lesson I was shocked by the Nepali teaching methods (or lack of them). It confirmed to me how worth while projects like this could be. So there began the arduous task of changing the methods completely; no more recitations of "C - A - T = Cat" by three year olds who couldn't even hold a pencil and no more physical punishment. Instead praise for good work, competitions, drawing, showering and tooth-brushing, and more discipline for the uncontrollable kids who had no idea what waiting your turn or putting your hand up was and perhaps most importantly a structure to lessons and aims and objectives for the class. The eventual reward? Parents who started to come to lessons to help, permission from the neighbours to use their pump to shower the children, increasing class sizes and a faceful of Tika on my last day. All hugely worthwhile and though at times indescribably frustrating, ultimately, truly rewarding. On top of this work I also compiled some research on health conditions in another village (and started to train a teacher, Anil, to go there), helped out in the school and INFO library and helped repaint the classroom in another INFO library. During this time, I also had time to get closer to my family, go for walks, visit Pokhara for three days and watch several rhinos and an elephant. By the end of my stay I felt like I knew Nepal in great depth, I could sustain long conversations in Nepali and I was left with an irrepressible desire to return to Nepal this coming summer.
Loic Menzies
loic.menzies@magd.ox.ac.uk