On my volunteering experience: My volunteering placement in Pharping (19 km from Kathmandu) was exactly what I was looking for: an opportunity to impact someone’s education and learn about Nepali and Tibetan cultures. Buddhist Learning Centre is a wonderful place for students aged 6-20 to grow and become responsible citizens, although it lacks for what concerns modern education. During my time in Pharping, I felt extremely motivated to leave a significant mark and I attempted to deliver lessons that could be both interesting and useful for students. The school cannot offer a structured education in science. Volunteers come and go, but only a few of them leave a that is truly effective. I attempted to maximize the contact with technology during classes and I created an archive of learning materials on the school’s computers that students (and future volunteers) will be able to access after my departure (even in the absence of internet connection). By doing this, I put my computing and scientific abilities at the service of the school, hoping that my good will may correspond to good results. Volunteers who wish to teach in Nepal will hardly find a better place than the Learning Centre: here your help is needed, appreciated and rewarded by the friendliness of monks and students alike. I really enjoyed the food in the monastery- it was varied throughout the week and had a wonderful mixture of Nepali and Tibetan aspects. The VSSN Staff were always friendly and welcoming—not only they found the volunteering placement that was most appropriate to my interests, but they also helped me making the most of my time in Nepal. VSSN Staff supported me acclimatizing in Kathmandu at first (a task that is not to be underestimated!), then reaching my school and eventually returning to my home country. They advised me on my visits to Annapurna and to Chitwan; it was very helpful to hear the opinions of experienced Nepali organizers whenever I wanted to explore the country.
July/Aug 2016

Dear Matrika, First of all, I want to express my thanks to you. I met you wear a smile on Monday, which let me feel warm and happy. Because it's the first time that I had left my country alone. I wanted to visit Nepal when I was in high school. Finally realized my dream in this summer vacation. Here, I have spent an unforgettable week with the children in class 8. I really feel very happy, that I can teach them Chinese and they care all willing to learn Chinese and learn it well. If I had time for my next vacation, I would really like to come here and continue teaching them Chinese. Thank you again for taking us to school. the famous temple and the Stupa. I hope we can meet again. Namaste!

I spent three short but memorable weeks volunteering at Bal Ankur school at Thecho, a town about an hour and a half’s drive from Kathmandu — wonderful location, not too far from the conveniences of the capital and yet surrounded by beautiful mountains and rice fields and far from the din and pollution of the city, and I was lucky to have been hosted by the family of the headmaster of the school, which not only made my stay much easier but also gave me a more complete immersion into the Nepali life. Since I had little prior experience, teaching was a bit tough at first, and the children, especially the younger ones, were so exuberant that sometimes they just overran the class. But in the end I loved it and almost became friends with my students. I came to Nepal for teaching and it was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. It has been a tremendously fulfilling experience, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves children and wants to make him or herself useful while exploring this wonderful country. The time and effort I gave only added to the depth of my experience of this culture. Besides teaching at the school I also had plenty of time to explore the surrounding area, to visit major cities and to hike in the Kathmandu valley, so time was always filled. It’s hard to say which part of the trip I’ve enjoyed the most, but I’m especially thankful for all the people I’ve met along the way, whether it be visitors like myself or kind, welcoming and joy-loving Nepalis some of whom I’ve become good friends with.