According to the words of Keri Russell, “Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever”. Three college friends from Beirut, Lebanon recently experienced this in real when they, together, decided to travel abroad; to volunteer.
At the beginning of this year, the three undergrads, Rami, Ramzi, and Tamara, from American University of Beirut, University of Balamand, and Lebanese American University, respectively, decided to take gap year abroad to volunteer. “It was their on my bucket list from a long time”, said Tamara who was elevated after finishing her volunteer program. All three of them did their due diligence online about the entire concept of volunteering abroad, different volunteer programs offered, destinations that would fit according to their budget, and volunteer placement organizations that they can volunteer through.
“Since, it was our first attempt, we did not wanted to take any chances, and wanted to be thorough with our decision”, said an over-excited Rami. After weeks of discussions and research work, they finally, pinned down to the pocket paradise of Asia, Nepal. The trio applied for volunteer with children at orphanage in Nepal through Volunteering Solutions.
It was a two weeks’ program in Kathmandu where they stayed at a local host family accommodation. “The entire trip was outstanding. Nepal is amazingly beautiful and so are its people. The kids were from poverty struck background, yet had so much passion and optimism in their body language. We got to learn so much in these 2 weeks, and so many memories to take back. It was an amazing tour altogether.”, said an overwhelmed Ramzi.
Under the orphanage volunteering program in Nepal, they worked for the welfare and development of underprivileged children who were orphans. Some of the highlighted tasks they did on a day to day basis included;
- Rendering invaluable help by giving love and affection to the children.
- Act as an older sibling to the children.
- Teaching them basic conversational English.
- Helping them in their school subjects.
- Guiding them about personal hygiene and sanitation.
- Taking them out on small excursions.
- Engaging them in extracurricular activities.
- Doing administrative work with the Orphanage staff.
What added to the excitement of their volunteering in Nepal was the weekend excursions they got to experience. Nepal is a popular tourist hotspot with a number of heritage sites to visit and adventurous treks to experience; It is the home the mighty Everest after all.
Another memorable factor, which is one of the most prominent benefit of volunteering abroad, from the trip was meeting and making friends with different people from different parts of the world. There were around 5-6 more volunteers who were volunteering in Kathmandu under the same program. It was a great opportunity for the three friends to have a cultural exchange learning while volunteering in Nepal.
After the last year’s earthquakes, Nepal has been in the phase of rebuilding and extra helping hands are anyday useful. For Rami, Ramzi, and Tamara, it was not just a decision they took for traveling abroad, it was a life changing event that will stay with them forever. If you think, this has motivated you (even a little) as well to take up volunteer work abroad, then plan your trip today.