I arrived in Kathmandu realising that it wasn't going to be easy to find some volunteering work. How wrong I found myself! Very rapidly my worries of traveling on a wing and a pray disappeared as I discovered the welcoming nature of the Nepali people. It is through this generosity and good will that I came to know VCD Nepal. Very rapidly and efficiently the placement I wanted to do was set up. The school was a incredibly welcoming and the children where just as you would expect them to be, buzzing with energy and incredibly curious. The classes where hard at first but with VCD Nepal's helpful guide book packed full of games, lesson plans and teaching method the whole process became a walk in the park. VCD is a special NGO, it is rivaling large companies who offer placements here for large amounts of money, with which little of this money is seen arriving the actual people who need it. This is something which really put my heart at rest, the idea that my money (which I worked damn hard for!) was going to a good cause! VCD also offered me great opportunities as a amateur photographer. I was able to do two weeks volunteering whilst taking pictures in different regions of Nepal with the prospect of getting some pictures published in a the National newspaper. It's been a great experience and I wouldn't change it for the world! The beauty of the whole thing is that it supports the real local people rather than large companies based abroad millions of miles away from the realities on the ground. VCD has a great leadership, is very approachable and honest NGO doing great work in Nepal! There is no doubt in my mind that i will be returning to volunteer for them again!

Daniel Salmon
Burwash,
UK

Namaste!
So hear is time to leave already!
Nepal is totally crazy, but I don't want to leave! The experience has been very much up and down at times, sometimes very difficult but when you come through the other side, all the difficult times are worth it.

Having to put up with all the problems here has made me much more tolerants and patient. The experiences will stay with me for a long time, Thanks Bicky, Biswas, Bishal, Pratik, Shyam and family.

Gans oll ow Holon (with all my heart)

Yowann Kereve (John Rowe)
Comborne
UK

After traveling for some time around south East Asia, bouncing from place to place, a need began to grow inside me. I thought to myself, why am I traveling to so many different countries? The first answer that came to me was to learn more about the many cultures outside of my own, but the more I thought about this, the more I realized I really hadn't experienced or learned about another culture that much in my travels. I was getting caught up in all the backpacker fun and forgot the main reason I embarked on this trip in the first place. Before I came to Nepal I had booked a trek to Mount Everest Base camp, taking up the majority of the time I had in Nepal. (26 days). When I finally arrived, I realized that the need to do something important and really learn had to be fulfilled. I cancelled my Everest trek and limited myself to a 7 day Annapurna Circuit Trek. After completing this, the company through which I booked my trek put me in contact with Bikram from VCD Nepal. Through his genuine efforts, his was able to place me with a family in a village called Godawari as a Health Post Volunteer (Because I will be studying to be a doctor upon my return back home) and English Teacher for the remainder of my time in Nepal. I cannot express how much this meant to me. In only one day, I met up with Bikram to meet my host family's father Shyam Silwal. Immediately he struck me with modesty and care and I could easily tell that he was impassioned and very grateful to be able to help and take me into his family. Even though I had had a little bit of knowledge about the Nepali culture, I was still amazed with the colors, cloths, people's passion for each other and their work ethic, and last with the beauty of the village. The village was about 2 and a half hours outside of Kathmandu but completely surround by mountains, lying low in a valley shelved with rice plantations. The view ever day was astounding for my place at the health post, and especially nice while watching the sun set between the hills from my family's house rooftop. Each day that went by, I learned more and more about the Nepali culture and found my work to be very rewarding. During the morning, I would wake up for morning tea and an hour or so later eat breakfast (Dal Bat). Then I would make my way to the village school which was only two floors, but full of laughing children. I taught English mainly in class six and seven. I tried to expand their vocabulary with some fun games. They loved this. Even when class was cancelled, the students in my class pleaded with the principle to stay longer so they could play and learn. This astounded me. Back home we would pray for a day off. After one period of teaching I would then make my way to the health post. There, I made some amazing friends in the village while helping give vaccinations, weigh babies for growth sheets, and doing some basic first aide (dressing wounds and getting medication for people). I finished my day with one last period at the school. Later in the evening I would play the guitar, read, hang out with my local friends and then eat Dal Bat around 7 or 8. Overall, my experience was amazing. I think I have finally made my trip worth while and I believe I truly understand the Nepali culture. I am very thankful for VCD and would recommend them to anyone seeking to do some good in the world, even if only for a short period of time.

John Lund
Grand Rapids, Michigan
USA
Health Post Volunteer and English Teacher

I first came to Nepal in January 2008 to do a quick trek before heading down to India. However there was something compelling about Nepal and the Nepalese people, and I knew that I had not seen the last of it!

In June I returned to Nepal ready to start some volunteer work. For the past seven weeks I have been volunteering in a small community school on the outskirts of Kathmandu. There are just over 200 students in the school, ranging from nursery class through to class 8. I have been teaching the English class for grades 6, 7 & 8, and filling in for other classes at various times. The school was very welcoming and supportive, and always tried to make sure I was happy with what I was doing. Not only was I there teaching the students, but I also found the teachers to be very interested in learning about my country and western culture.

Each morning I enjoyed my coffee in a little bakery with the taxi drivers, where I would catch up on the Kathmandu gossip. I would then walk to the bus stand and squeeze into the number 2 micro bus for the 10 - 30 minute journey to school (depending on the weather, and what was going on in Kathmandu at that time). I would teach my classes, then sit down for a huge meal of daal bhat, before catching the micro back in the afternoon.

The students were very interested in hearing about Australia, about my family, and they made me sing the Australian National Anthem many times. And although initially they didn’t behave for me as well as they did for the other teachers, we had a lot of fun together. As the friendships grew so did their respect, and their behaviour improved too.

Volunteering in the school has been the most wonderful experience. Having a class of 20 students yelling out 'miss, miss' to get your attention is something I won't forget, nor the journey to the museum on the over-crowded school bus! I really love learning about different cultures, and volunteering allowed me to actually become a small part of the community for a period of time. I have learnt so much about Nepalese culture and I have also come away with lots of ideas about what to do with my future. I am really sad it has come to an end, but I know my time in Nepal is not over yet!

Louise Bradshaw
Melbourne
Australia
Teaching English Volunteer

When I organized my trip to Nepal, little did I know what an enriching cultural experience I had in store for myself. As a student of sociology, I was drawn to the cultural differences in Nepal, as well as the opportunity to help others. Traveling alone to a country halfway around the world can seem overwhelming, but upon my arrival I found friends much more easily than I imagined. The culture in Nepal is very social and inclusive. I had no qualms about trying to speak Nepali as many people here appreciate even a small effort. The children and the house mother at the orphanage provided a family for me, and the laughter, games, and smiles crossed all language barriers. I found the children very eager to learn, as well as eager to teach me about their culture. The hospitality, although not five star, was directly from the heart. The children greeted me as an old friend, and gave me their understanding and compassion. I found that although I can't satisfy all of their needs, I will always have love to give. One thing I learned here is that it's not about satisfying a need but about involving oneself in an exchange of culture. I will always have doors open for me here as well as beautiful memories.

I hope to come back to Nepal with some kind of work involvement in which I can help more. This is difficult with a short volunteer placement and I hope to reach out to the children directly. I do feel that VCD Nepal is a great way to get involved in this country and I would highly recommend it.

Jill Rifkind
Valencia
USA
Assisting at orphanage home & teaching English Volunteer

I was recently honored to be the first volunteer or guest at Krishna’s orphanage in Thankot Kathmandu. I was welcomed into the family and spent a great week there getting to know the 7 children. The orphanage is situated across the road from a local school and the local water tap and next door to a Buddhist temple so the opportunities to people watch were endless.

The children were aged between 10 and 15 and their English quite good so we had plenty of great conversations. I helped with homework (my algebra’s not as good as I thought). Once homework was finished there was time for fun. A favorite game was hide and seek and there were always lot’s of giggles when the seeker would yell out mom I can see you white legs shinning in the dark.

The setting of Thankot as you start to climb out of the Kathmandu valley to the west makes a refreshing change from the pollution, noise and general chaos of the central Kathmandu. The air is cleaner and crisper and your daily back drop is of forested hills and a snow caped mountains. Near by park and forest are great walks to take with the kids as they jostle with each other to hold your hand. The week went by very quickly but has left me with memories that will last a life time. The orphanage is run as a big family home and felt like a home filled with love and caring.

The children’s delight in simple pleasure was a rejuvenating tonic for my spirit and I hope to keep that brightness with me as a return to Australia. Please remember us. Don’t forget us mom the children said as I left. I won’t forget I promised, a promised there is no way I will ever break.

Claire Nixon
Brisbane, Australia
One week volunteer placement- Orphanage Home

Namaste!
Thank you very much for the great time volunteering with VCD in Pokhara. It was nice to check all the children at the different orphanages around Pokhara. Hope I was helpful in some way. If you've got any medical questions about the kids, just let me know. I'll try to help as much as I can. Take care and good luck with starting your own orphanage.

Katharina Waldmann
Germany
Health camp- 2 weeks

I arrived in Nepal in late November of 2008. The first few days I spent getting to know Hari Khadka and the VCD Nepal staff who showed me some wonderful sights around Kathmandu and introduced me to the language and customs of Nepal. It was especially helpful having introductory language lessons with Bikram to begin my placement. The staff helped me organize a trek in the Annapurna himalaya mountain range for a week at the beginning of my stay where I had an unforgettable hiking experience.

Upon returning to Kathmandu, I spent the month of December at the monastary teaching English. The monks were enthusiastic to learn and showed me a hospitality and care that made it hard to leave. VCD Nepal provided a wonderful volunteer experience, an irreplaceable introduction to the culture of Nepal, an opportunity to make lasting friendships and serve in the way I was best able.

If you are looking for a way to help the people of Nepal while also learning about their culture, experiencing their natural beauty and working alongside a flexible/fun staff, this is the program for you!

Knute Sands
USA
Teaching at the monastery - One month