Testimonials

Wes Winslow and Aby Simons were two volunteers who came to work with us 2010. We asked them to reflect on their volunteer experience to give others a glimpse of what its like to come and volunteer with us:

Wes Winslow, Volunteer Organic Farmer

Working with the Helambu Project and all the people involved with the organization was an experience that was not just worthwhile but time genuinely well spent. Traveling can be a tedious venture when you’re young and have aspirations of placing your efforts not only toward adventure but also a purpose. Volunteering with the Helambu Project granted me the opportunity to satisfy both of my needs of gaining experience with an international non-government-organization and also being exposed to an exotic country in the midst of drastic political and potential cultural change.

I was fortunate enough to work with the Helambu Project on a project of constructing a greenhouse and helping with the day to day chores at the village. I worked with fellow volunteers as well as hired school employees in a cooperative effort. By the end of my time with the school I had not only worked on a greenhouse but I also effectually formed a small family of like minded people from around the world who I will remember for the rest of my life.

Ambition and a positive attitude are helpful if you plan to volunteer with Helambu Project. Equally important is a willing ability to adapt to the village lifestyle and all the intrinsic qualities of Nepal. Nepal is renowned for its mountainous terrain and mystic Himalayan cultures, but an important thing to remember is that humans are humans regardless of where they are and how different their day to day lifestyle is. I am happy to have gained the experience that I did with the Helambu Project and recommend volunteering to people who are open to helping without any preconceived notions of what a non-governmental-organization ought to be.

If you want to ask Wes about his volunteer experience, you can email him at wesdwinslow@netscape.net. If you have any questions about our volunteering program, please email us at volunteers@helambuproject.org.

Aby Simons, Volunteer Teacher

Since leaving the village I have realized how much I have gained from being there. The village was inspiring, living with such hard working and humble people has really made me change my attitude about a lot of things; what is important in life and what is not. The school was great, set amongst the hills in the jungle, completely isolated from the outside. The students and teachers are both so hard working and resilient!

I was teaching English and helped start an art class. The children are great, nicer than you can imagine, they are so sweet, loving and really well behaved.

The school is incredible, to know that it is so young and has achieved so much in this short time. It was a humbling experience, one I would recommend to everyone. Really, you WILL love it!

I was able to teach two classes per day, each lasting 40 minutes. The timings of the classes varied and were flexible. I chose how many I wanted, I thought 2 per day would be a good start with an idea of including more. The classes were a complete joy to teach, the children and their English speaking abilities were surprising, some really knew a lot and were very outspoken and some knew a little less and were quite shy.

I had a lot of fun playing games with the students and most of them love to paint so we would do a lot of art with the donated art materials. One activity they especially enjoyed was being read to, all the students, even the older ones, LOVED to be read to. So much so they crowded around me to see the pictures in the book and listen to me telling the story.

Being a newly certified teacher, there were some obstacles that I had to deal with, I had to plan lessons without using a printer or photocopier. It just meant that I had to be more resourceful and experimental and thought up a lot of games and used the white board more which was good. Who needs loads of wasteful paper anyway?

It was liberating to be there, to be free from these modern world restrictions. To live with people who are so appreciative of everything. The nature is hard to believe sometimes and there is plenty of time to wander around the hills and investigate for yourself. Overall, a great volunteer experience, the people who live in the village and work in the school really made it special for me. I am so thankful to have been to Ganghkarka, it really does hold a special place in my heart.

If you want to ask Aby about her volunteer experience, you can email her at abysimons@hotmail.com. If you have any questions about our volunteering program, please email us at volunteers@helambuproject.org.