My volunteer placement with VIN was an absolutely amazing experience that I will never forget. The cultural integration into Nepali life is just amazing, as are the people you who meet and who's lives you touch. The warmth and care of both staff and the communities just astounded me and volunteering combined with trekking because an incredibly rewarding and eye opening experience.

I participated in the VIN program that allows you to live in a Buddhist monastery or nunnery whilst teaching English to the residents. My nunnery looked out over the Kathmandu valley, and provided me with an amazing experience - aside from the teaching, I was attending the prayer rituals and ceremonies and the absolutely fantastic Losar New Year festival celebrations as I was there in Feb - March. The difficulty of living in a nunnery is that you need to be able to deal with time by yourself - it is a quiet life, a great opportunity to look inside yourself a bit, whilst taking in the Tibetan Buddhist culture around you. The beautiful nuns who were my students but became my friends appreciated having a live-in English speaker, as I appreciated how much they taught me. This is a fabulous program for people wishing to experience Tibetan Buddhism and have a peaceful, reflective experience - but on days off you can always go into the city to meet up with other volunteers for a catch up and a night out.

Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) has an integrated approach to social development work. They work WITH all the local stakeholders and work towards empowering the communities through education and implementation of basic health and sanitation.
Poverty is a complex phenomenon; its causes and symptoms are complex and there is no one-fits-all solution. Education alone isn't enough, healthcare alone will create positive lasting change nor will the sole support of women's and children's programs.
VIN addresses all and after a period of 5-7 years they pull out their active presence in the community and leave the various programs to the locals to develop and continue. I believe that this holistic way of working is the only way to sustainable development.

I chose Nepal for my internship journalism and found a placement with VIN . Because I’m a student journalism, it was also a relevant choice as Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and politically unstable. But after my experience I came to notice that Nepal is a very fascinating an rich country because all the people are just amazing.

I spent 10 weeks working with VIN making documentaries. While I was here I learned more about how VIN’s health program worked and I also made a volunteers video.

My host family an VIN’s staff were all so hospitable and during our free time we went walking, or shall I say climbing, through the community, talking and drinking tea with the members. I loved living in Tinpiple!

Internship with VIN is a so much more then being a tourist in Nepal. Living with my host family, to live with Sailadai, and to really experience the culture of Nepal!

In Nepal I've made lifelong friends that I know I can visit when I come back to Nepal. And I will never forget the enthusiasm of the members of VIN is inspirational.

Alien De Deken