Teaching Experience at the Women’s Empowerment Center
Volunteering Journey of Cecelia Boberg in Nepal
What motivated you to volunteer in Nepal with Volunteer Society Nepal?
I choose to volunteer in Nepal to strengthen my academic career through an internship as the public health field is looking for theoretical knowledge and practical experiences. By coming to Nepal with Volunteer Society Nepal I could combine the skills of teaching about public health and getting a broader understanding of how culture and religion affects society in different ways.
Why did you choose your specific program (e.g., teaching, medical, women empowerment, disability center, monastery work)?
The reason for choosing to volunteer at the women’s empowerment center is because of my passion for female empowerment. By helping Nepali women understand more of how their own health affects them and what can be beneficial for their health I hope to help them start to reflect on their lives. I also added volunteering at the CBIA school, both pre-primary and secondary as I felt that I wanted to do more and that was a great decision. It gave me a larger perspective, almost like following a life course perspective, from age five to eighty-one, giving me a better understanding of the Nepali culture and lifestyle. Health education, which is one of the things I have learnt throughout my years of studying, is something that can make a big difference and I like exchanging knowledge and experiences so being in a school-setting was something I really valued.
What were your expectations before starting the program? Were they met or exceeded?
I didn’t have a lot of expectations, as this can make or break the first impression and whole experience. However, I did expect it to be fun, a little bit challenging with the complete difference in culture and religion. And I thought the women at the women’s empowerment center would be a little more fluent in English, this was not a problem though, just a change in my mental planning and preparations. I don’t want to make anyone nervous; they can understand English quite well, but they are used to doing the same thing every time so changing the educational method and introducing a new subject takes some extra time. I loved the whole experience, just the fact that VSN takes time to give you some language lessons and sightseeing makes you feel welcome!
Can you describe a typical day during your volunteer placement?
The pre-primary school started at 10am so I made sure to be there by then and whilst I was there, we did the morning songs and then classes started at 10:30am. During the class I helped the children with staying focused on the task and assisted the teacher if I could. At 11:30 it was time to leave for the women’s center where the teacher usually had got the advanced group started so when that task was done, I could change the subject to health. Most of the lessons combined health and grammar, for example we did some storytelling where they read a short story and then we based the grammar exercises on the story. Regarding the exercises, it focused on filling in the blanks, true or false, finishing the sentence etc. After each exercise was finished, I read from the whiteboard and then the women did the same to learn pronunciation.
At 1:45pm I left the women’s center to get a quick lunch, usually at the Famous Laphing House or The Burger House and Crunchy Fried Chicken. I went to the secondary school at 2:15pm for the afternoon health classes where I contributed to discussions about adolescent problems, which was fun. Being in classes with 6th and 7th graders were interesting as this gave me some more insight into the Nepali school system and the teacher was so friendly and wanted me to feel included. After school, at 4pm, I went home, and either studied a bit or did some sort of activity with other volunteers, like visiting the different Durbar Squares or other sightseeing things. Around 6pm it was time for dinner and afterwards I usually just took it easy.
Highlights and Impact:
What was the most rewarding part of your volunteer experience?
The personal connections I made! Building an everyday life in another country was so rewarding, not only getting to know the other volunteers but the locals as well. This was singlehandedly the worst part about leaving Nepal, saying goodbye to all the new friends. I have never seen myself as an outgoing person but traveling alone as a person in their late twenties and knowing what you want to do made me one. So, it was fun and interesting to talk about how life is different in other parts of the world and making good friends. I also love living near the mountains, both trekking among them and just waking up and seeing the snowcapped mountains made my day better.
Did you feel your work made a positive impact on the community? How so?
Yes! It goes along with the personal connections, because getting to know the women, teachers, students and all the others made me feel important. They were enjoying the new skills and knowledge as much as I was, which made it so much fun to see them succeed. The main impact, I think, was to get the women at the women’s center to reflect on their wellbeing, how they were feeling each day and what outside factors were affecting them.
Were there any memorable cultural experiences during your time in Nepal?
The one I particularly remember is Teej, the women’s festival, as this was something that everyone was talking about, and I got to be part of the celebration on multiple occasions. At the women’s center they dressed up in red saris, cooked a lot of food, and we danced a lot! Then there was a celebration in the homestay, also with a lot of delicious food, dancing and it was nice to see that everyone was invited. That’s one big takeaway from Nepal, the hospitality and friendliness is without borders. Lastly there was a celebration at the CBIA school, and the teacher I worked with took me to buy a sari so that I could match her with the other teachers which was so kind of her.
Challenges and Growth:
Did you face any challenges while volunteering? How did you overcome them?
I wouldn’t say there were any major challenges, but the cultural clashes were prominent in some situations. One of the things that comes to mind is the dynamic between teacher and student, which is defined by the students having a lot of respect towards their teachers. Not that this is different from Sweden but the fact that the students must have permission to go to the bathroom, enter the classroom or drink from their water bottles was a little mind boggling. This did give opportunities to discuss teaching styles, what is considered respect, and how the school systems have varying objectives in different countries.
How has this experience changed you or influenced your future goals?
It solidified my feelings about working closely with people, and especially with improving health literacy through education!
Trekking and Exploration:
If you participated in any trekking or excursions, like trek and tour, how was that experience?
I did the Everest base camp trek, and it was truly the experience of a lifetime. It brought both physical and mental challenges but as soon as I realized that you’re not supposed to rush through it the whole trek became more enjoyable. The scenery was incredible and making the decision to be offline for four days was a good reminder that the internet is not the most important thing in the world. Reaching EBC and then walking up Kala Patthar in the middle of the night and seeing the sunrise over the Himalayas are memories I will never forget.
Final Thoughts:
What advice would you give to future volunteers considering joining Volunteer Society Nepal?
Stay open-minded, even if you have traveled a lot before, every country is different. Be curious and kind, because the Nepali people will do their very best to welcome you into their culture. Don’t forget to explore the place where you live, building that everyday life is so much fun!
Would you recommend this experience to others? Why or why not?
I highly recommend people to both visit Nepal but mostly to work with VSN, I will be back one day!
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience?
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! Your input will help others understand the impact of volunteering in Nepal and what they can look forward to.