This summer, I went to Nepal for 6 weeks and stayed in Dangsingtar, Ramechhhap as an intern working with Bajra Samaj Nepal (BSN). During my involvement, I have supported BSN managing its administrative works (report, profile, communication, etc) and implementing programs for students supported by BSN. This was my lifetime experience and very interesting for me. This involvement allowed me to develop my life projects.
My engagement with teaching English to the local kids were very interesting. It helped me understand the perspective of developing courses and teach. Most importantly, through interacting with local kids, it helped me with developing my connection and communication skills with people. I felt very proud when I saw the progress and improvements of students in speaking English. The start of the days were very tough for me as the students were not comfortable to speak and barely answered my questions. But, the progress a month later were very encouraging. They were completely open through expressing themselves and were not scared of trying to speak in English and wanted to learn more from me.
On a more personal level, staying in Dangsingtar allowed me to take some time for my self, develop personal projects, reflect on many things and take a break form the city and university life in Paris which had been causing me great stress for the past two years. Moreover, Purna Magar (president of BSN), being a photographer, taught me some photography techniques, which are very helpful for me as I am completing a course in photography in France. Being in the village also allowed me to complete some assignments I had to do.
On a professional level, studying two bachelors : English and History and aiming for an anthropology master degree, this was a very fruitful experience for me, learning about this community broadened my horizons and I am now considering specializing in Nepal’s sociology and anthropology. And especially study environmental issues and their affect on populations and cultures. Indeed Nepal has been affected by the 2015 earthquake, but it is also suffering from global warming, deforestation, dryness as water sources are not refilling, … Those environmental changes affect the community’s life and they need to adapt to a new climate, which causes them to organize plantation differently and change their regular habits.
My involvement in this community helped me understand how an Non Government Organization (NGO) works and supported towards the development of the community. I encourage youths and anybody who wants to volunteer in Nepal to contact BSN in order to help and participate in the community’s empowerment and development and experience their way of life. Your involvement of few days/weeks in the community of developing country can bring positive changes in the lives of rural areas.
If you plant to come to Dangsingtar, you will be able to live with a local family and experience Nepal’s rural way of life. The village is situated in a remote area and this allows you to observe an authentic society which was not yet spoiled by global culture. If you want to have a unique experience and learn about a different way of life this is what you need. Discovering Nepal’s rural way of life through exploring was indeed a great way of learning for me. I hope I will be able to work with BSN again, and maybe help them with projects development.
