Volunteering Experience in Nepal

Week 1

I can confidently say this was definitely the longest flight I’ve ever taken.
It’s still a bit surreal to say that I’m actually in Nepal. The past days have been a mix of anxious excitement, but above all, a deep sense of gratitude to be part of this ESC Humanitarian Aid project team.

Nepal felt welcoming from the very first moment I set foot here. Having someone waiting to take us to the accommodation was truly appreciated, and the flower necklace welcome was such a beautiful touch. That bright orange color and fragrant smell are still lingering in my mind.

This was also my very first hostel experience, which was… a lot at first. Sleeping on a top bunk for the first few days, being surrounded by so many people I’d never met before, and sharing a bathroom with everyone definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. That said, discovering a shattaf in the bathroom was an absolute highlight and one of the most pleasant surprises so far :’D

Over the following days, we started getting to know each other better, and everyone has been incredibly lovely. I met so many interesting people, and our hosts were kind, warm, and the food was SO delicious. I’m truly grateful for their hospitality. We also had the chance to go into town, visit historical sites, see local traditions, enjoy some truly marvelous views, and do some quick but essential shopping.

The journey from Kathmandu to Okaldunga was definitely an experience :’)
An 11-hour Jeep ride, a couple of stops, and crossing a river or two, it was quite the adventure. I have to admit, the roads reminded me a bit of some streets back in Egypt, and had I not been familiar with that kind of driving, I probably would’ve been much more stressed along the way.

Week 2

This week, we started visiting the schools in the community; meeting the children, getting to know the school staff, and working together to figure out the best plans and activities that would be both exciting and beneficial for the students. There was a general agreement from the schools and teachers that focusing on English practice and building self-confidence were among the most desired areas to work on.

We were divided into teams and began developing a variety of activities and plans to try out in different schools. The goal has been to find methods that work across different ages, interests, and abilities, and it’s safe to say that games, fun and interactive approaches are the way to go. These methods have been the most appreciated and smoothly received, turning learning into something the students genuinely enjoy.

The language barrier has been a bit challenging at times, especially when students feel shy or hesitant to speak. However, we’ve started Nepali language lessons ourselves, and little by little, we’re discovering that many of the children actually have a good base in English, they’re just not always comfortable using it openly yet. Building that confidence is something we’ll be working on together.

The hikes to the schools have definitely been challenging, but they double as a solid workout. Knowing that this is the path the students take every single day to get to school makes the experience even more meaningful. It really motivates us to make the time we spend together as fun, engaging, and valuable as possible, while also trying to connect with them on a deeper level. Through this, we not only share knowledge, but also learn from them about the language, culture, community, and their dreams and hopes. Maybe one day, after this project is over, we’ll meet again and look back at how what started as an awkward first interaction turned into a lifelong friendship.

On our previous school day, we were invited to the principal’s house and experienced Nepali hospitality firsthand. She was incredibly kind and welcoming, offering us traditional tea, local food, and even fruits from their own harvest. It was such a heartwarming and special experience.

We also celebrated a birthday this week, which turned into one of the liveliest nights so far. I’ve come to realize I’m surrounded by people who really know how to have fun, and it was such a joy to experience that together. A few days later, we had a small BBQ gathering as well—another lovely moment of connection, even if I could only eat the vegetables :D

Soon, my group will be heading to our second school, as the schedules didn’t align last week. I’m looking forward to meeting new students and teachers and seeing where this journey takes us next.

Two weeks down, six to go.

Week 3

This week, we went to Kalika School for the first time and quickly learned that there are two schools named Kalika. One of them, however, is apparently used as a space for elections, which meant we had to turn back and walk part of the road again to reach the correct one. I’m fairly certain we almost walked all the way down the mountain. It was without a doubt my most exhausting walk/hike to date. It also made me wonder how I’ll manage this route during Ramadan while fasting, but I’m hoping that by then I’ll have built more endurance and become more accustomed to the journey.

Kalika School felt very different from Karkala School. The students here are older, very interested in sports, and their English is really good. While this made communication much easier, it also meant we had to rethink and adapt our approach. Working with almost-teenagers requires different activities, especially since their attention spans are shorter and boredom arrives faster. The school also shared that they’d love to see more arts and sports activities, so we decided to lean into that and work with the students in both active and creative ways.

This week was also my birthday. It was only the second time I’ve celebrated it away from home, and I’m usually not big on birthdays, but this one was incredibly heartwarming. Everyone sang Happy Birthday in the morning, we had a very delicious pumpkin cake, and later in the evening we all went out for dinner at a restaurant near the house. It turned into such a lively, warm, and genuinely special day.

We also had the chance to experience Saraswati Puja in both schools. On Thursday, we helped prepare sel roti and orsa at Karkala for the celebration the following day and spent time playing with the students. On Friday, we were invited to Kalika for the celebration, where we helped with preparations as well, like cutting vegetables. Nepali hospitality continues to be overflowing and deeply heartwarming. Every interaction we’ve had with the community so far has felt like a shining moment, full of kindness and openness.

Today, we also had some fun activities at Kalika School and played dodgeball with the students. It was really lovely to see how much they enjoyed it and how engaged they were.

Three weeks down, five to go.

Week 4

I think this week has been the one where we’ve felt the closest to the children so far. It had been a bit stressful at times, feeling like they weren’t fully comfortable with us yet or encouraged enough to participate, but this week felt noticeably different, and much better.

Overall, it was a very productive week. We carried out a variety of activities in both schools and grew closer to both the students and the teachers. At Karkala School, we focused more on English-learning activities and confidence building, while also incorporating volleyball to keep the students active and engaged in something they genuinely enjoy. We used colors, country-related information, and reading exercises. We also divided into teams for volleyball matches. At one point, we even joined in as the “International Volunteers” team against one of the student teams—and of course we won… just kidding, they absolutely beat us. They were very good :’D

At Kalika School, since our focus is more toward sports and creativity, we tried to combine the two in playful ways. For example, we split the students into teams to play sports, but before starting, each team had to choose a name and design a logo for their team. On another day, we introduced a mix of football, volleyball, and basketball to expose them to different sports and encourage them to try new things. Basketball was a bit challenging without a rim, but the students still tried dribbling and passing, and I showed them a move that they enthusiastically tried to learn and repeat. It was really interesting to observe them across different sports, and it already shows that some of them have great potential to pursue sports professionally one day. I truly hope they get the chance to follow that path if they choose to, I’d love to see how far they go.

I’m especially excited about the next activity we’re planning for Kalika School. I want to create a treasure hunt for the students, so we’ll be working on planning that over the next few days—and perhaps over the weekend to have enough time—to make sure it’s well thought out and fun. I’m really hoping it turns out great and that they enjoy it.

Four weeks down, four to go.

Week 5

This week has been a very sad and challenging one. At the beginning of the week, my knee, the one with the chronic injury, completely gave out and I was in intense pain. I had fallen down on one of our earlier hikes, then a few days later I reached a point where I couldn’t walk anymore, let alone hike, which meant I wasn’t able to keep going to the schools.

I continued supporting my team as usual, helping plan activities and sharing ideas as they handled the implementation, while I limped around the house trying to figure out what could be done, and waiting to hear back whether some form of support or transportation might be possible to take me to and from the schools, since hiking there became impossible.

To be completely honest, it was quite terrifying. My knee hasn’t been in such bad condition for years. I could walk long distances without any major issues, but the constant hiking on steep, rocky roads and the ongoing strain of balancing and fighting gravity, as well as even falling down once on the way, seems to have taken its toll. I’m genuinely scared of it not healing properly again, and I truly hope that rest and medication will help it improve, even though right now I’m not feeling very optimistic.

Unfortunately, I was informed that providing regular transportation for the remaining days would not be possible, and that it might only be arranged once in case of an emergency, which was quite disappointing, and discouraging to hear. However, I decided that if transportation can only be provided one time, I would like it to be for the day we run the Treasure Hunt at Kalika School.

While staying at the center, I worked on creating the entire game, dividing it into three teams with three different sets of clues, and I’ve now managed to complete it. I’m currently waiting for final confirmation about whether a jeep can take us to the school tomorrow. I really hope it can be arranged successfully.

I would also be pretty upset if I’m not able to even say goodbye to the students one last time, knowing that I won’t be able to continue going to the schools. I truly hope the coming weeks will be better.

Five weeks down, three to go.

Week 6

We finally managed to arrange a Jeep for one day, and we went to Kalika School to do the treasure hunt. I was feeling as nervous as the first time I went to the school. Maybe it was because I hadn’t been there in a while, but I was also excited about doing the treasure hunt.

It took us a little bit of time to explain how it would go, what they should do, and to divide the teams, but I was so relieved and happy to see them immediately engage and start running around following the clues.

The teachers were also really helpful and welcoming when I explained that we needed them as part of the clue path, and we had three teachers involved with clues hidden with them. I really appreciated their engagement and openness to the idea, and it was both fun and funny to watch the kids running around in groups like in cartoons, from left to right, trying to find the next clue.

It ended a bit faster than I expected, but we used the remaining time to hand out the “treasure,” which was two types of biscuits that they thankfully enjoyed. We had also brought enough for all the students, including the ones who were not involved in the game, so we started handing them out, which was a pleasant surprise for the younger students.

By the time we were leaving, I felt more emotional than I thought I would. It had been weighing on me that I kind of just suddenly disappeared because of my knee, so having this final day as a sort of closure is something I’m really glad I managed to do.

Sadly, I cannot do the same for Karkala School because even if a Jeep were to be arranged—which has already proven not possible anyway—there’s a part of the road that’s very steep and must be taken on foot, which I can no longer do. I will try to have my team video call me from there one day so I can say goodbye to the students as well. I hope we manage to do it.

This Friday, we had a team barbecue, and they managed to get halal chicken, so I was finally able to eat chicken again for the first time in over a month, which was definitely a nice change. As I watched everyone dancing and having fun, it suddenly hit me that this will all be over very soon. That realization gave me a bittersweet feeling and made me unexpectedly emotional.

The next day, I had some students at the center and worked with them. We did a number of games and activities to foster teamwork, observation, reading, English, and listening. It was a nice day, and I was glad they had fun.

It’s quite interesting how time can feel like it’s standing still, and yet somehow also flying by at the same time.

Six weeks down, two to go.

Week 7

This has probably been the quietest week so far. With multiple public holidays, some of us — myself included — decided to combine two of our days off with the holidays and the weekend to take a short break. The others went on a four-day hike to Dudhkunda, while I stayed at the CLC to rest, spend some time alone, and allow my knee to recover. Ramadan also began during these days. It was a bit confusing since it was initially unclear when it would officially start in Nepal, but it was ultimately confirmed for the 19th of February. As usual, I missed water more than food, especially during the long trip back to Kathmandu.

It was decided that it would be better for me to return to Kathmandu earlier with the group of volunteers who were leaving this weekend so I could go to the hospital and have my knee checked. The day before we left, the sky turned very cloudy and it suddenly began raining heavily, with thunder and everything. In a way, it felt like Naratika’s dramatic way of saying goodbye. It had barely rained at all since we arrived, which made it feel a bit more symbolic. We left on Saturday, and this time the journey took ten hours. I had almost forgotten how good the food is at the hostel here— maybe it was also because I was fasting — but to be honest, dinner felt worth the wait. It was so delicious and perfectly seasoned, and I even went back for seconds.

The next day, the hospital visit was arranged and we went for a check-up. Initially, the doctor suspected an ACL or meniscus tear — or possibly both. It was very stressful to hear that, and my mind started spiraling, especially since the MRI report would only be available the following day. I could barely sleep that night, and I hadn’t been sleeping well for several days already.

We returned the next day to receive the report and speak with the doctor about the results and next steps. Thankfully, it did not turn out to be a tear in either ligament, even though most of the signs had very strongly suggested it. In a way, it felt like a miracle. Even the doctor was slightly surprised and visibly pleased that it was not. I had been praying all night that it wouldn’t be anything too severe, so hearing that was a huge relief.

However, my knee is still in quite a lot of pain, especially after the examination, since it was moved extensively during the check-up. There are some torn tissues, along with swelling, internal bruising, and fluid around the joint, most likely caused by the impact from the fall. I was prescribed a whole bag of medication and advised to start physical therapy as soon as I return home to prevent it from deteriorating further, with the possibility of resorting to plasma injections if medication and physical therapy don’t prove effective or sufficient. With only a few days left here, there isn’t enough time to begin proper treatment with physical therapy, as it would be cut short by my scheduled flight at the end of the project.

I must say, while this week began quietly, it sure ended with a loud bang.

Seven weeks down, one week to go.

Our accommodation here is wonderful, and the views are absolutely breathtaking. Waking up to so much green and mountains all around with snowy summits, I still find myself randomly pausing just to process the fact that I’m actually here. It’s such a blessing. I even joined an unplanned short hike with some of the other volunteers, and it was mesmerizing to be so high up, looking down at the wide landscape of mountains, small houses, and the river flowing through it all. Nature truly is magical.

We also caught a glimpse of a school sports competition happening near the accommodation. Seeing all the teams and their uniforms brought back memories of my basketball team days, and it was quite heartwarming to experience that feeling again.

These past days have also included meetings, discussions, and planning for what’s ahead. I’m really looking forward to going into the community more, meeting the locals, and working together. I can’t wait to see what the coming days will bring.

One week down, seven to go.

Week 8

The final week is here. I’ve been spending it with minimal movement, as per the doctor’s orders, taking my medication and focusing on caring for my knee as well as finishing up my last reports. The others have finally returned from Okhaldhunga. It feels like we hadn’t seen each other in ages, even though it had only been a week. It was good to have everyone back one more time before departure, the hostel sure feels lively again now that it’s full.

I’ve been trying to move a little gradually, slowly going to a nearby shop to buy some necessities and to keep my joints from completely stiffening up.

We had the closing ceremony of the project to officially wrap things up, and afterward we spent some final moments together before everyone begins to gradually disperse and prepare for their journeys home. My flight was scheduled for the next few days, and I felt ready to return home. However, due to the war that has escalated in the Gulf region — where my connecting flight was planned — travel arrangements have become increasingly complicated. Flights have been canceled frequently, and I am now trying to secure an alternative route that avoids the affected area. Unfortunately, most available options are either fully booked or have increased significantly in price. I hope that I will be able to find a suitable flight soon.

All things considered, this has been such a vibrant experience, with all its ups and downs. I learned so much and had the chance to contribute, share, and receive so much warmth and good energy from the people here. It has truly been exciting and enriching, despite the recent developments as well as the setback with my knee.

I guess this officially concludes my Nepal chapter. I’ll be looking back on these memories fondly. Until we meet again.

Eight weeks out of eight — done.

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