What inspired you to join the team at the Himalayan Education Lifeline Programme (HELP)?
My first experience of HELP was as a volunteer teacher when I went to a small village school in Sikkim for two months in 2005. It was a wonderful experience. I was able to really get to know people and a school in a way that is not possible when visiting as a tourist or volunteering for a short period like a week or a month. I was impressed by the personal way that HELP works with all its projects and schools and its in depth knowledge of the schools and projects. So I was delighted when I was asked to join the team first as a teacher trainer and then additionally three years ago as Director of the Volunteer Programme.
Visiting the Women’s Empowerment Centre in Nepal
Can you tell us about your role as the Director of the Volunteer Programme?
When a volunteer applies to join the programmeme, their application comes to me and I deal with every aspect of the application including an interview by Skype, requesting references, and then if an applicant is suitable, matching them to the best possible placement.
It is very enjoyable to meet all the potential volunteers, to hear their stories and to share with them the history and mission of HELP. Many volunteers come back again and it is always rewarding to hear how their lives have been influenced by their experience with HELP and how the relationships that they formed when on their placement continue, often with future visits.
What makes HELP’s volunteer programmes unique?
HELP’s programme is a small one. We work with approximately 12 schools, so we have in depth knowledge of the schools which are visited by one of the Directors at least once every three years. I think that kind of personal knowledge is not always found in such volunteer programmes. We also ask our volunteers to go to a school for a minimum of eight weeks. That does require a greater degree of commitment than some other programmes require, but it means that both the school and the volunteer really benefit mutually from the experience and meaningful relationships are built up.
Meeting Students
If you could participate in a HELP programme now, where would you go and why?
Difficult question! I love all our schools for different reasons. However, if I had to choose now, I would go to an Ashram School in Utterkhand that we work with. It is a residential school for girls, all of whom come from very challenging remote rural situations and many of whom are orphans. The school is not just a school but an inspiring community working to raise the self-esteem and skills of the girls there, most of whom go back to their villages after school to make a positive difference in their communities. Others go into local politics or education. I have visited twice but I would love to go there as a volunteer teacher for a couple of months.
You have a lot of experience in education, both domestically in England and abroad in Greece, Scotland, and Nepal, just to name a few. How have those experiences influenced the work you do today with HELP?
My experiences have taught me many things. Firstly, that the most important things are the relationships that you form. These connections, friendships, and the mutual respect that comes with them are what endure and make a volunteer placement so enriching for both the school and the volunteer. So nurturing these relationships and respecting the people I work with is key.
I have also found over the years that I receive at least as much as I give, often much more, and being aware of that is important for me and any volunteer that goes to a school with HELP. Finally travelling and working abroad so much has taught me to be flexible and not go into a situation with rigid expectations of either what I can give or what I will receive. It is always the unexpected that turns out to be the most enriching and valuable thing and it is important to be open to that!
Teaching Songs in Kalimpong
Why should individuals travel and experience new cultures?
The news today is full of death and destruction, conflicts fed by enmities, mutual suspicion, and ignorance. Problems such as climate change seem insoluble because of lack of communication and understanding. I believe that the best hope for our planet is for people to travel meaningfully, to understand other points of view and cultures. To make connections and realise what a wonderful world is out there, and that difference is enriching, not threatening.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means slow travel to me. Taking time to really get to know somewhere, its environment, its culture and people. It doesn’t mean rushing around ticking off a list of places and experiences, with a bank of selfies as the only thing you take away with you. I would rather go to one place for a month, than spend that month seeing 15 different places.
Teacher Training Event in Uttarakhand
Do you have any advice for people hoping to work, live, or volunteer abroad?
First of all, be brave, do it! And do it with an open mind, remembering that you will almost certainly receive more than you will give. Be flexible and open to the unexpected!
What hopes do you have for the future of HELP volunteer programmes?
Of course, every volunteer has a different experience, some more challenging than others. But so many of our volunteers say that it has been a life changing experience. I would hope that we continue to work with the same small group of schools and that volunteers continue to choose HELP so that the work that has been going on for more than 12 years making a real impact on the life of those schools can continue. I know that is the hope of the schools too, who so welcome all of our volunteers.
