Girls Empowerment and Education in the Himalayas

I can confidently say that my trip with Shoulder to Shoulder and The Small World was the most eye-opening, incredible experience I have ever had. I chose to embark on this journey because I am passionate about women's rights and finding sustainable ways to improve global health and human rights in developing countries. The work that TSW and SSTS does checks all of these boxes and more. From the moment our group of eleven landed in Nepal, The Small World took care of us and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable. Throughout the first few days of the trip, I got to see several UNESCO world heritage sites and view the vibrant Kathmandu valley from the famous Monkey Temple, which was surreal, to say the least. The rich culture that is evident in every part of Kathmandu is difficult to put into words. It is simply beautiful.
One of my favorite parts of our trip was the four-day homestay. I and three other girls stayed in the home of a family from the rural village of Mukli. The family did not speak English, but we were able to communicate through the basic emotions that all humans share. We had several dance parties to Nepali music and soccer matches with the local children after hours of building an earthquake-resistant school for the village. By the end of the homestay, I felt a connection with people who had been strangers only days before. Another of my favorite moments of the trip was near the end of it when our group got to visit The Himalayan Hope Home, an orphanage for thirty at-risk girls that The Small World constructed a few years ago. The girls gave us handmade woven bracelets and performed a dance to a beautiful Nepali song. There were tears in my eyes. I was dumbfounded by the kindness that complete strangers showed us. The gratitude that radiated from the girls was inspiring, as they had gone though horrible atrocities before being rescued but still lived life with a lightness and joy that was simply incredible to witness. I often find that I do not express my gratitude as much as I should, and the girls reminded me to voice it more often. We spent the day playing volleyball and reading with the girls, and when it was time to go, I lamented that I would have been content to spend several more weeks there. Throughout the trip, The Small World staff aided us in every way possible. They helped our unexperienced selves hike through the lush forests of rural Nepal, they cooked incredible authentic meals, they filtered our water by hand, and they helped us communicate with locals. But The Small World's help extended beyond actions. The mission behind the organization is inspiring, and the resolve to make the world a better place that is exhibited by every member of the staff is evident in everything they do. I hope to one day make a difference in the world like The Small World does every day. Seeing the joy they brought to so many people who needed hope was an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. Leaving Nepal felt like I was leaving a part of my soul behind. I was reminded of the world's propensity for goodness during this experience, and I enthusiastically recommend the trip to anyone who is passionate about girls' education, sustainable development, community, and global leadership. My experience in Nepal inspired me to take an ethical leadership class offered by SSTS this past fall, and I have gotten to present about my experience in front of my entire school. My experiences have led me to delve into women's rights around the world and to lead workshops on them in the past few months. I have learned lessons I will never forget throughout this experience, and I hope that you will consider the program as well. It will be the best decision of your life.