Teaching, Trekking and Tasting Culture: My Nepalese Experience

My name is Layla, and in the summer of 2024, I embarked on a life-changing journey to volunteer in Pokhara, Nepal, travelling alone for the first time as a Black Muslim woman. It was my first time flying solo and navigating new environments, including communicating with locals in Nepali, which helped me develop confidence and adaptability. I extended my stay from two weeks to three because I loved the culture.

Thanks to Sam Bramley, the Volunteering Manager from Travelteer, and Ming Maya Lama, our Volunteering Post from SAHAS (Shaas Group of Helping Hands), I had the opportunity of a lifetime. Travelteer partners with organisations like SAHAS to facilitate meaningful volunteering experiences, and “Shaas” (with an “H”) means “help” in Nepali, reflecting the organisation’s mission to support communities in need. Funded by the Westminster Global Experience Bursary, this adventure became possible. I enjoyed teaching kids, building greenhouses, and connecting with fellow volunteers, strengthening my teamwork and leadership skills.

The application process included an interview, where my experience in Somalia strengthened my application. Living with others fostered community through shared routines, like waking up early and eating together, which enhanced my communication skills.

In Pokhara, I taught children, built greenhouses, and redeveloped classrooms. The headteacher at one school recognised me because the kids requested me as their teacher. Managing a class of excited students honed my organisational and classroom management skills, and the creative lessons I developed where the children drew fruits, vegetables, and animals, coloured them in, and wrote out the corresponding English words, all while saying them together as a class. These engaging activities kept the children eager to learn.

The journey to Pokhara was an adventure. Planned initially as a six-hour ride, it turned into twelve hours due to a protest sparked by the death of an engineer from a burst water pipe. As the community demanded justice, the military intervened to disperse the protestors, highlighting the dynamics between state authority and civil unrest, critical themes in International Relations. During the delay, I spoke with locals to learn more about the situation and bonded with fellow volunteers, forming lasting friendships.

On weekends, our host, Shiva Thapa, organised activities like visiting Disneyland Pokhara, ATV biking, hiking to the Peace Pagoda, and zip-lining, where I experienced the second-longest zip line in the world. Our hostess, Sharmila Karki Thapa, introduced me to local foods like Momo and Chow Mein. While exploring the local area, I enjoyed plenty of Chai while engaging with shopkeepers who relocated from Kathmandu after the 2015 earthquake.

This experience allowed me to grow personally and academically, deepening my understanding of global inequalities and community resilience- topics which complement my International Relations studies. I developed essential skills such as adaptability, leadership, empathy, and collaboration, which I will carry forward in my personal and professional life.

Additionally, the hard skills I developed, such as budgeting and managing transportation costs, will benefit students beyond their soft skills. Volunteering in Nepal taught me to navigate financial responsibilities, an invaluable skill for enhancing life experiences.

Layla Abdulle