People Tell the Story: Nepal

The people of Nepal were extremely friendly. Maybe it was due to volunteering and being a member of the working community for two short weeks, but we felt welcomed, safe, and appreciated by the Nepali people. We built relationships with volunteer coordinators, host family members, students and teachers. Smiles and greetings of “Namaste” always made us feel a part of the city. Keshab is a prime example of all things Nepali.

Name: Keshab
Age: 33
Occupation: President of the Nepal Volunteers Council (NVC)
Hometown: Kathmandu

We spent a lot of time with Keshab, the president of our volunteer partner and housemate in Kathmandu. He is an extremely hardworking individual who has a passion for making Kathmandu (and Nepal) a better place for its young generation. Keshab is also one of the kindest and most gentle people I have ever met. Although there were definite cultural differences when it came to our thoughts on his staff, his programs and the new school, he was always excited to listen and open to any suggestions.During our time in Nepal, we saw firsthand how much of his life is dedicated to the NVC and its children. We interviewed Keshab late one night. He was gracious enough to spend a few minutes with us even though he still had work to do. Here are a few words from Keshab:

What 3 words would you use to describe your country?
Himalayas
Buddha
Peace

What 3 words would you use to describe the people of your country?
Friendly
Happy
Disciplined

What is the top priority of the people in your country?
Happiness.  People do everything in a way to try to be happy. People are happy even though they are poor. Poverty and happiness are quite different things.

How do people typically make a living?
1. Farming – the population here is decreasing, but GDP is actually increasing.
2. Trade – international trade (pashminas, scarves, handmade blankets, etc). Tourists have given locals inspiration to make and sell souvenirs, handicrafts, or anything else unique.

What is your favorite place to visit?
Pokhara – Phewa Lake and the mountains are a great retreat from Kathmandu. There’s no lake in Kathmandu so it’s a great place to enjoy the water and the surrounding mountains.
*Kat and I took our one weekend trip to Pokhara*

Keshab’s roles as president of the NVC and principal of the Deeya Shree English Boarding School consumes his life. He lives by his mission everyday and the success of the NVC depends on him. The organization started small in 2006, but they now have 52 supporting board members, 160 scholarship students (set to hit 220 next school year), and a growing reputation in Nepal and the volunteering community around the world. His commitment to the children, not money, has proven (and will continue to prove) to be a recipe for success. This is illustrated through Keshab’s decision to keep costs at a minimum for volunteers. In 2009, a typical “not for profit” volunteer organization based out of the UK tried to sign a contract with Keshab to help market the program and place volunteers. Third party organizations like this mark up costs to volunteers from 300% – 600% to run a sickeningly profitable business. A contract like this would have been a huge support for the NVC in its infancy stage, but Keshab politely denied the man’s request. Kat and I were in awe when hearing this story and believe that Keshab’s integrity will help make the NVC a long-lasting organization. His heart is there, his passion is there, and I believe one day, Keshab’s dreams and vision will ultimately be realized.