Nepal Empowerment Project 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the first time Impact for Peace went to Nepal to carry out its one month service project.  In previous years, we had always served in India.  The future local NGO we collaborated with is called Future Village and is located in Katunge, Dhading District and is about 100km from the capital Kathmandu. 

 

We arrived in Nepal not really knowing what to expect. Our guide Dambar met us at the Kathmandu airport and we spent one night in the city before heading out for Future Village early the next morning.  On our bumpy and dusty van ride, we became more excited as the scenery changed from concrete blocks to cows, rice paddies and corn fields. We are admittedly a strange group as we were attracted to the prospect of spending one month in a small village on the hills with no internet, unstable electricity supply and having only strangers for company. However, what we found was so much more than that- plenty of fresh air, breathtaking views and everyday was an adventure.  

 

We soon settled into a well-established routine of waking up each morning (some of us at 6am and others at 8am, depending on which schools we were assigned), having some breakfast at Future Village and then setting off for a 30 min hike to our respective schools.  The 6am group finished their classes at around 11am and after that they headed back to Future Village to run a women workshop as well as a first aid class for the local Nepali women.  The 8am group returned at around 4pm and we would then play with the kids who would come to Future Village for afterschool classes and activities.  Our favourite past time by far during the trip was watching the boys play violent football.  Often, the ball would fall off the hill but this wouldn't deter them from playing at all.  Instead, they would scramble down at top speed to retrieve their prized possession and continue their game as though nothing happened.  During the weekends, we would explore the area around us and go for hikes, boat trips and....more hikes.

 

The month honestly went by in a flash. Before we knew it, we already had to say goodbye to the bright and eager faces which greeted us every morning.  During our time at Future Village, we had grown so attached to our surroundings, the Nepali village life and the always hospitable locals that it really felt like we were leaving a second home. 

 

But if given the chance, would we do it all over again? Most definitely.