I have applied and been accepted to a volunteer program in Nepal. Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in the world and has been plagued with political unrest and military conflict for the past decade. During this time, the countryside, where 80% of the people live, have had to endure school closings, conscription, torture, and crop loss because of an often fickle nature that brings drought to heavily populated areas completely dependent upon crops to survive. Young girls are often sold into indentured slavery, simply because their parents cannot afford to feed them.
During my stay in Nepal I will be teaching in schools, assisting at orphanages, shadowing journalists who cover the human condition, and helping villagers make a permanent record of their lives by recording their oral histories, since over half of the population is illiterate.
I would like to volunteer for three months. In order to do this, I have a goal to raise at least $3500 to help fund this trip. This money will strictly go towards paying volunteer program fees ($1500) and transportation. In the exciting event that I raise over what I need to meet the above requirements, anything over will be given directly to Nepal Orphans Home.
The Kamlari system in rural Nepal, whereby poor families are pressured by hardship to sell their daughters as indentured laborers is an affront to all of humanity. Nepal Orphans Home, together with Society Welfare Action Nepal, is committed to rescuing Kamlari girls and ultimately ending this abhorrent practice. When young girls choose to end their lives to avoid living as a slave, it becomes urgently important to sound the alarm to every free person. Each additional $800 will free one Kamlari girl from a life of slavery.
If you’d like to know more about the organizations I am volunteering for, I’ve listed their websites below.
http://www.nepalorphanshome.org
