Volunteering in the school
I found a few different places (schools and orphanages) in Nepal and all of them accepted me as a volunteer. Unfortunately, I had to choose only one. So I decided on a small private school in Gaunshahar, which is run by Shamser Thapa. When I arrived, all the volunteers were at the local wedding, so I was also invited, at least for the party. We were dancing and having fun with the locals and I knew that I would love this place. Next day we went to school. Most of the volunteers were there for already a few weeks, so they knew the kids and the kids knew them. In the beginning, I felt a bit uncomfy, my ego expected that those kids will love me from the first minute I passed through the gate. It took me a few days to get used to the customs in the school and get close to the kids but of course, it happened. Some of them were shy but most of them wanted to play with volunteers, learn something new from them and share their lives.
I never forget how they loved my sports sunglasses - superpower sunglasses. This piece of plastic was passed from head to head and gave inexpressible joy and happiness. Those kids are an infinite source of energy. I remember one day when we needed to bring the rocks for the construction work from the road. The truck left them down the hill and we had to carry them around 200 m up to the school. To carry a big cement bag filled with 10-15 kg of rocks, made me exhausted. But when I made it to the school and saw the kids hanging on the fence and yelling Hana, Hana, I got a new batch of energy, those kids are better than the charger.
Besides the construction work, when I was digging a big hole as a base for the new classroom, collecting beer bottles, which were used as a foundation under the concrete floor and carrying rocks and woods, I also helped in the class. Sometimes in grade three, sometimes in the nursery. All the kids are so interested in learning new things, in playing, in helping with work around the school.
It was the end of the school year, so they did the final exams. Besides studying on Saturday, they found time for the volunteers and took us to the river, played football with us and shared their stories.
I will never forget the last day at school. It was the last school day that year and also the very last day of my volunteering in Gaunshahar. I was crying when the kids were hugging me, giving me the flower and laughing when they took my sunglasses. I knew that for them I am only one of the tens of volunteers going there every month, but for me, those kids are unforgettable individuals, who, thanks to Shamser and his amazing project, got the opportunity for good and nonviolent education. I hope for their best future.
I will never forget the last day at school. It was the last school day that year and also the very last day of my volunteering in Gaunshahar. I was crying when the kids were hugging me, giving me the flower and laughing when they took my sunglasses. I knew that for them I am only one of the tens of volunteers going there every month, but for me, those kids are unforgettable individuals, who, thanks to Shamser and his amazing project, got the opportunity for good and nonviolent education. I hope for their best future.
If you are interested, have a look at http://www.heavenhillacademynepal.org.
Small help is more than no help at all.