Volunteering Experience in Nepal

My arrival in Nepal was a bit chaotic, but also deeply memorable. My flight from Madrid was delayed, which caused me to miss my connection in Doha. As a result, I had to wait nine long hours at Doha airport before catching the next flight to Kathmandu. Although the airline staff treated me very well, I was extremely tired and could not fully enjoy the flight. However, the moment we began to descend and I saw the Himalayan mountain range from the air, everything changed. Seeing those immense white mountains rising behind the city felt unreal, like an enormous and silent wall watching over Kathmandu. It is a sight I would recommend to everyone at least once in their life.

I arrived in Kathmandu on the afternoon of the 5th, and as soon as I exited the airport, Nabaraj, VIN’s driver, was waiting for me. He warmly welcomed me and drove me to the VIN center. The city was busy and full of traffic, but seeing the architecture and some illuminated temples at night made the journey beautiful and exciting. I also had the chance to meet other volunteers, and from the very first moment there was a great atmosphere among us. I felt lucky to be surrounded by such kind and open-minded people.

The next morning, we walked around the neighborhood to explore some local shops. Later, we had meetings at VIN where we were introduced to the project, and in the afternoon we went sightseeing around the city. Our first stop was Pashupatinath, a sacred Hindu site dating back to the 5th century. Located on the banks of the Bagmati River, it is dedicated to Shiva in his form as Pashupati, the protector and lord of all living beings. It is believed that dying or being cremated there helps the soul to be released from samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation. Witnessing the public cremation rituals was a powerful and emotional experience. The combination of red and white temples, pagoda-style roofs with golden spires, carved wooden figures, bridges over the river, and the spiritual rituals created an atmosphere that was both beautiful and deeply moving.

Afterwards, we walked to the Boudha Stupa, an impressive white dome crowned with a golden structure and the iconic eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions, symbolizing wisdom and compassion. Built in the 6th century, it is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Tibetan Buddhists. The calm and spiritual energy of the place was truly special.

The following day was dedicated to more project meetings, and in the afternoon we had free time to explore the city and buy supplies for our stay in Nishankhe. The next day at 6:30 a.m., we began our journey to Nishankhe, where we will be carrying out the projects with the children. Although the distance was only 235 km, the journey took around 11 hours in three jeeps. Part of the road followed the dry bed of a wide river that floods during the rainy season. The landscapes were breathtaking, but the roads were challenging and sometimes dangerous.

When we arrived at the Community Learning Center, we received a very warm welcome. The interns and other volunteers greeted us with flowers and placed a tikka on our foreheads, a red mark symbolizing the third eye, wisdom, intuition, and protection. Over the next few days, we attended welcome meetings where we learned how everything works here, what our tasks would be, and which schools we had been assigned to. During our free time, we walked around the village, explored the hills, and visited local shops. At the same time, a sports competition between local schools was taking place, filling the village with energy and people. Watching the event allowed us to connect more closely with the local culture and daily life.

Overall, this first week has been intense, emotional, and inspiring. Despite the exhaustion and long journeys, every experience has helped me feel more connected to Nepal, the people, and the purpose of this project.

On Monday the 12th, we accompanied Francesca and Martin, two volunteers who have been here for several months, to the school where they carry out their activities. The journey took about an hour and involved walking through the countryside, almost like a short hike. Along the way, I saw a buffalo on a farm for the first time. They look similar to cows but are bigger and hairier, and here they are mainly used for milk, ghee (butter), and meat, as cows are sacred in Hinduism. When we arrived at the school, we ate from our lunchboxes and observed how the children had organized their own children’s club, with different roles assigned to each member. We also watched them play a traditional local game. After returning to the center, we had another meeting where we were informed about our first day going to our assigned schools and the schedule we would follow. That evening, we had chicken curry for dinner, and it was absolutely delicious.

The next day, I went with my team — Salma, Taina, and the local intern Ramu — to Karkala Basic School, which is about a 40-minute walk from the center. It is a very basic rural school with around 20 children of different ages, approximately between 4 and 14 years old. Manisha also accompanied us, she’s one of the staff members that lives with us at the center. We first had a meeting with the school principal to explain our work. She offered us the opportunity to visit the school twice a week and work with the children for around one and a half hours each day. Our main goals will be to reinforce their English level and help them develop skills that will be useful for their future, such as gaining confidence and speaking in public. Ramu’s role was essential during this meeting, as he translated into Nepali. Afterward, we held an introductory session with the children, where we presented ourselves and played icebreaker games to get to know each other better. They shared their hobbies, interests, and favorite sports, which will help us design a curriculum of activities together. After eating together, we returned to the center.

That evening, we celebrated Sunita’s birthday, one of the organization’s staff members. After dinner, we enjoyed music from different countries, dancing, and an amazing carrot cake baked by Francesca. It was a joyful and warm moment that made us feel like a small family.

The following day, we accompanied the other team — Federico and Kathrin, together with their local intern Raj — to one of their schools. We split into two classrooms and organized different games to practice English. It was a lot of fun. The path to this school was more challenging, as we had to walk down a steep hillside from the center, and the return was even tougher. Still, doing this kind of physical activity every day feels rewarding.

On January 15th, we celebrated Maghe Sankranti, a festival that marks the end of winter and the beginning of longer days. It is celebrated in honor of the Sun god, Surya, symbolizing light, energy, and renewal. Since there were no classes, we visited a large market by the Koshi River, which attracts many people from the region on this day. We crossed a suspension bridge over the river and arrived at the market, where people sold fish, sugarcane, fruit, clothes, and household items. We were the only tourists there, and many people looked at us with curiosity. We also saw women wearing traditional Nepali dresses in scarlet and golden tones, which were beautiful. Experiencing this festival firsthand was truly special and made me feel very lucky to be here. Later that day, Dinesh, VIN’s General Secretary and Volunteers Manager, gave us a meeting where he shared examples of fun and educational activities for the children.

That night, we cooked dinner together: sweet dumplings filled with coconut and caramel, typical of this festival, while listening to music. The next day, we returned to Karkala School, and after the classes, the principal invited us to her home. She prepared a delicious spiced tea and offered us squash and mandarins from her garden. Before leaving, she even gave us lemons as a gift. The kindness and hospitality of the people here continue to surprise me.

Saturday is the day off, so I rested as much as possible. In the afternoon, I went for a walk with two other volunteers, Anna and Alessandra. We went hiking up a nearby hill, walking through a beautiful forest. When we reached the top, we sat on some rocks and took time to enjoy the view. From there, we could see wide fields, farmland, more hills and mountains, and the river at the bottom of the valley. In the evening, we had a barbecue at the center, which felt very special since it is not something common here. We all gathered around the fire, ate grilled chicken with rice, tried some traditional Nepali drinks, and danced together.

On Sunday, we also had no classes. I focused on resting, spending time talking with other volunteers, and catching up with my family and friends in Spain. In the evening, we had a Movie Night at the center and watched Tumbbad, a Bollywood horror film. I went in with low expectations and was surprised, as I actually enjoyed it, although my teammates did not share the same opinion. It was a nice way to end the week together.

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