Volunteering at Happy Home a Childcare house

Added: (Sun Sep 11 2005)

Pressbox (Press Release) - My experience with INFO Nepal has been safe, enlightening, and very enjoyable. Nepal has a very rewarding cultural environment. The initial culture shock is quickly turned into a sense of belonging. I have never once felt anything but at home and completely welcomed.

I was placed in the Kathmandu Happy Home with children ranging from six years old up to twelve years old. Although my stay was very short in Nepal I was completely accepted as part of the family. The children are supremely bright and receptive. It came to my attention that they had only been introduced to English 10 months earlier, which was shocking because of their comfort and ability with the language. I will miss their melodious singing, spelling out every word and everything that passed us by on our walks... “L-O-V-E, love.” Never have I known children that are so interested in learning and reading.

The training program is very good (ramro chha) even if your length of stay is short. The organization is centered around hands on training. If you are not comfortable with something, they will make the necessary changes, and that is something worth praising.

This was my first time traveling outside of America to volunteer and I think that I was very lucky with my experience and placement. I was shown the truly beautiful side of Nepalese culture and geography while helping just a little bit. I feel more confident in traveling to other countries and in bringing my family back to Nepal for trekking and rafting in the future.

Antoinette Branson, USA