Volunteering Experience in Nepal

Week 2

This week was the beginning of activities for all the volunteers. However, Nepali schools were closed for an undetermined period that’s why, instead of going into schools to deliver our lessons, children from the surrounding areas came to the center: it was the Summer Camp at the CLC.

The program included a variety of activities based on themes such as Sports, Arts & Crafts, Life Skills, Language, and so on. It’s really enjoyable to work with the different volunteers, as everyone brings their own ideas. That said, the organization was a bit challenging at first, particularly with the Nepali interns we are supposed to collaborate with. Indeed, as we don’t necessarily share the same schedules, it makes it harder to prepare the activities, especially since all of them need to be properly documented.

As for the implementation of these activities, the first day of the camp was also somewhat difficult. We welcomed around twenty children to the center, but they varied widely in both age and level of English, which made communication more complicated, requiring us to rely almost always on native speakers to translate. However, as the week went on, interactions became smoother and it was also easier for us to adjust the activities to the different number of kids who were coming. For instance, we played several sports games, tried to do a spelling game in English, made them draw their family, etc.

Week 1

This week marked the start of the volunteer program, with my arrival in Kathmandu on Tuesday morning. That very afternoon, along with a few other volunteers, we went to Bhaktapur to celebrate the beginning of the year 2083 (indeed, the Nepali calendar is based on the lunar system, which explains the difference from our own calendar).

The following morning, we began the training organized in central Kathmandu to help us adjust culturally. It initially consisted of an introduction to the organization (its structure, members, etc.), the different programs we would be involved in, and the activities we might be expected to prepare. During this training, we also discovered and deepened our understanding of Nepali culture, particularly through two language classes, as well as insights into local customs and practices, so that we could adapt as well as possible during our stay. These sessions (held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) were also interspersed with visits to two temples, one Hindu and the other Buddhist, in order to learn more about the country’s two main religions. It was also a great opportunity to get to know the other volunteers better, both long-term and short-term (one-month stays).

We ended the week by setting off on Saturday morning toward the CLC (Community Learning Center) located near Okhaldhunga. We received a warm welcome there, followed by a brief presentation of the center’s rules, staff members, and so on. Finally, Sunday was dedicated to exploring the surrounding area, with a short hike alongside the other volunteers and a Nepali intern who was already living there and was able to show us the key places to know.

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Ahh.project24@gmail.com

Fatma Sümeyye Şahin

Çengelköy, Kalantor Sk. No:6 Üsküdar/İstanbul

Project Coordinator

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+90 551 256 52 46