May I introduce…?

…the other volunteers sharing our daily work here in BAS organisation!

Today it is their last day and I have taken the opportunity to ask them a little about their experiences. Some of their thoughts will be documented and put together with input from later coming volunteers at BAS. Maybe this can be a way to take care of all those ideas that never had the possibility to leave our head and be put in action. If you have any idea of how to best capture thoughts in a word document – please comment below.
For now, a short introduction:

 

IMG_4954

                  Lotti Marijne

  •       Utrecht, Holland
  •       24 years old
  •       Works with disabled people at home
  •       Been in Nepal for 2,5 weeks

 

         ”Just by being here you are making a change – I         have learnt not to set the bar too high for myself.”

 

How did you find out about BAS?

I came in contact with BAS through TravelActive, offering volunteering in Nepal. BAS was one of their institutions you could choose and I picked it because it was a work I knew from home and because I wanted the experience from another country with different circumstances.

What were your expectations?

I came here without expectations because I was pretty scared about what I was going to see here. But conditions weren’t as bad as I had expected. In my two weeks at BAS I have been able to give that little extra, a relief for the women working here everyday. Of course I wanted to do a change that would last, and I am not sure if I have done that. Maybe I have been here too short for doing that. Also it is hard to do bigger changes alone. I really enjoyed the daily care and got carried away with that. But changing diapers and giving love to disabled people for two weeks is more than nothing. Just by being here you are making a change – I have learnt not to set the bar too high for myself.

How has the work affected you?

I have become more conscious about myself and the way I work. I realized I am a stronger person that I thought. I was scared that the work in Nepal would be overwhelming and too much for me to handle. After a while I realized I really had the opportunity to give the kids something extra, through that feeling I could let my fear go.
In a way Nepal is like an upside-down world. Staying here, and working under these circumstances make you realize how much you take for granted that does not even exist here.
The people have also made a huge impact on me. Certainly the ones here in the BAS shelter – they are so warm and welcoming. Being open-hearted to new people coming and working with you must be very hard in the long run – this I really want to take home with me and try to apply in my own work.

IMG_4959

Julia Kosch

  • Dortmund, Germany
  • 20 years
  • At home I just finished one year of volunteering social work. Coming back from my six month in Nepal I want to start my studies in the same field. Later I would like to work with refugees or homeless people.

 

”…volunteering is mostly for your own good, you do help a lot of course but the biggest change will happen inside of you.”

Why have you been working for BAS?
I came to Nepal wanting to work with disabled people, but everybody I asked told me that this would be impossible. So I had been working in four different orphanages in Kathmandu before I became friends with Lotti (see above) who told me about BAS and her work with the disabled children. As I came here I really found something great. Here they care a lot for the children,  it might not be in the same way as we are used to at home but there is still a lot of love in this building.

Do you have any advice for coming volunteers?

Experience is not necessary but you should be open to learn about things and you have to be a caring person. It is not hard though, because these kids are so cute! Besides the daily care there are a lot of other things to do – if you have the eyes for it. For instance fun activities with the kids  or construction work on the nearly finished building. Give yourself the time – just being here is a good thing.  For me it has become clear though that volunteering is mostly for your own good, you do help a lot of course but the biggest change will happen inside of you.

What will stay with you going home?

I take with me the thankfulness of the people here. Also their welcoming has impressed me. They take you as you are and accept you. I will definitely miss the warm-hearted mentality of the Nepali people.

   

Floris Haigfloris

 

  • Rhenen, Holland
  • 20 years old
  • Studied International Development Studies and is now planning to switch to Sociology or Political Science
  • has been in Nepal for 14 weeks

 

 

 

    ”I really enjoyed building the road with other construction workers in front of the new BAS building.”

 

Why are you at BAS today?
Actually I have only been joining some friends that are all volonteering here at BAS. Now I have ended up coming here from time to time. Before that I worked as an english teacher in an orphanage – a challenging job as the childrens knowledge was on so different levels.
Even though I have done some volunteering at home and already being familiar with the Asian continent, the job here hasn’t been easy. But I liked it. I really enjoyed building the road with other construction workers in front of the new BAS building.