Kim (Nepal)

I have been out to Nepal with HELP (Helambu Education and Livelihood Partnership, who are supported by MondoChallenge Foundation) 3 times for a total of 5 months. I keep going back because volunteering with HELP is a truly rewarding experience, both in terms of teaching and the level of integration into village life. I taught in a village called Tartong, which has 22 houses and roughly 200 people. The school is relatively small, with only five classes and 60 children altogether. However, it still manages to have a very lively and dynamic atmosphere!

During my stay, I taught a mixture of English, Maths and Creative Arts lessons. It was great to see the students getting fully engaged in a more interactive style of learning and seeing their progression over the course of my placement. The best part of teaching was working with the local English teacher on longer-term projects for the students, such as writing local newspapers or introducing the kids to debating.

For me, the most unique part of the experience was becoming integrated into the community. My host family consisted of 10 individuals, and we all lived together in one room. Eating, sleeping, socialising and working together, meant that I quickly become part of the family. I also got to know most people in the village and, by the end of my trip, I had nearly been invited to every house in the village for either tea, dinner or a party! One of the best parts of village life was attending all their local festivals, including two weddings, four death ceremonies, a New Year’s celebration and many local shamanic ceremonies. Overall, my trips to Helambu have allowed me to build lifelong friendships with people and get to know a whole new community.

Going back in summer 2015, was naturally very different because of the earthquake. All the houses had been destroyed, and everyone was living in temporary shelters made from plastic sheets and metal roofing (paid for by MondoChallenge Foundation) At first, I worried whether I would be more of a hindrance than a help, but I saw and was told that volunteers can provide a welcomed connection to the outside world and a sense that they have not been forgotten. This last trip, in the saddest way, was the most rewarding because the village really appreciated the fact we had come and it felt like the work HELP was doing was more important than ever.

In between going to Nepal, I have tried to get involved as much possible with the charity. I have joined the committee of the Cambridge University student society that works with Mondo and HELP to send volunteers out to Nepal. In 2014/15, I was the Volunteer Trainer and in 2015 I have taken on the presidency of the society and am enjoying every minute of it!