“My host family were perfect hosts and I was comfortable from the moment I walked into their house. It seems they think about their guest first and foremost and they were unbelievably attentive, even the children. When I went to the school where I was working they held a welcome ceremony for me which was overwhelming in the nicest way imaginable and I know I won’t have another experience like it again in my life. The teachers at the school were amazing and came into school on their day off to take part in my sessions. Classroom sessions were noisy, interactive and loads of fun! I loved it there and it has been one of the best experiences of my life.”

“FACE Nepal is an amazing charity. It was great from the moment I was picked up — I was so well taken care of. Nepali people have a kind and generous nature and I always felt respected when I was with the kids I was teaching or out in the town.

I raised a small amount of money to donate for projects — the way in which these funds were allocated was amazing. The gratitude and outpouring of support expressed at the project closing ceremony moved me to tears. My time with FACE Nepal has changed my point of view and I have a deeper appreciation for those in my life, both locally and around the world. I came looking for adventure and left my heart and memory full of great experiences.”

“My experience with FACE Nepal has exceeded anything I expected. Coming to Nepal with little background of the people or culture I soon found out how warm and welcoming Nepal truly is. The organization makes an amazing effort to make the volunteers feel at home and a welcomed part of the community. My host family experience was amazing and they made me feel like part of the family right away. Through my Volunteer work I had the opportunity to teach English classes in the local village of Kumiya, and work developing therapeutic activities at a local disabled school. My experience was life changing and something I will never forget.

FACE Nepal has a wonderful leader in Shreeram Devkota , who makes it known that the community is the priority. Whenever I was frustrated Shreeram provided reassurance and support which was invaluable. I came to Nepal as a volunteer but I left with a new Nepali family who I look forward to seeing again. I would recommend taking the time and volunteering with FACE Nepal as it will undoubtedly be an experience one will cherish for the rest of their lives.”

“We are 2 occupational therapy students in our final year of study at the University of Sydney. We came to Nepal for 2 months to complete our final internship before graduating. Our project here in Nepal was focused on working with children with disabilities and we were based at Tandi School, about 14kms East of Naryanghat. Here we developed a workshop to train a support worker, as well as 4 other disability teachers in the area, in creating a support group for parents of children with disabilities. We also developed an assessment tool taught to the support worker and the teachers, which gave them understanding of the individual levels of the children.

Over the following 5 weeks, we implemented therapeutic activities at the Tandi school, that addressed weaker areas identified in the assessment tool. After this time we reassessed the children to find improvements in their performance in most of the children. Our time here in Nepal with FACE Nepal has been fantastic and we may leave Nepal, but we will always have a part of it with us.”

“I’m from Maryland, USA and I came to Nepal not knowing much about the country. I was, however, very optimistic about the organization. It’s goals and accomplishments are impressive. They have provided a wonderful opportunity for me and have taken every measure to make me feel welcome. I live with a member of FACE, Nepal, and feel like I’m part of the family. They are helping me learn the Nepali language and culture. I am always included in their daily activities.

Teaching has been a rewarding experience. The Students are very shy at first, and don’t have much knowledge of English, but they are more than willing to work hard and learn. In the school where I teach there are grades one through five, but the government only provides three teachers. This creates a burden for the underpaid teachers and especially the students who aren’t getting a quality education. Besides chair and chalkboard, supplies are non-existent.

In the community, the children have amazed me with their dedication. They attend school during the day and then come at night for English lessons. Their appreciation for education has made teaching so rewarding.

It is important to have volunteer teachers in developing countries, especially because many of the English Teachers do not understand the language themselves. This knowledge will enable students to use computers, study abroad, and find employment. I hope that more people will find it in their hearts to serve these children, and give them an opportunity for a better life.”

“Already in the airplane from Doha to Kathmandu I felt something different in the air. I was out of breath looking at the mountains. I felt calm because even though I traveled alone I knew that somebody from the organisation would welcome me at the airport. I lived with a Nepali family even though I had to adapt myself to such different surroundings it was quite easy because the welcome, care and tolerance of everybody. Immediately, I began to feel a part of the family.

I have chosen to volunteer with FACE Nepal because of the set-up of the organisation’s International Board of Directors and Advisory Board, and also because the program seems very valuable. For these reasons I am confident that my contribution of money and work was accounted for properly.

I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to share in such a great experience here.”

“Studying in anthropology, I have always been interested by the humanitarian experience, and I was searching for a serious experience where I could finally use the education I have had. I also wanted to do something useful for others. This way I met Marie, and she straightaway told me about FACE Nepal which she helped to organise during her travel in Nepal. It was exactly what I was looking for.

The people of FACE Nepal completely supported me. They made me very welcome. There was straightaway something reassuring, an instinctive trust that I have never had cause to regret. The team established a dialogue, a real exchange, asking what my expectations were and telling me theirs. They are sincerely thoughtful — they listened to me and answered all my questions.

As for the host family where I am housed, it was pure happiness. They made me very welcome and entertained me like a member of their family with generosity and love. I lived in the village, in the middle of plains. The beauty of the landscape is fascinating. I visited schools, other villages from other castes, and famous tourist sites of the area. I also had Nepali language lessons and I attended cultural and religion lessons.

Nepal has something you cannot define but you feel it deeply, something like serenity which makes life come naturally even with all the difficulties and poverty. I can only add that you should come to discover and share this culture and these people by participating in a volunteer program with the wonderful association that is FACE Nepal. This is an organization with such a will to do well and to change the things, to improve the life as a whole.”

“When I first got off the plane smells of curry and incense covered the city. Two members of FACE Nepal, who were so welcoming, were at the airport ready to pick me up. We toured Kathmandu as they gave me a chance to absorb all the culture. I felt very safe here and did not run into any problems. I am with my host family now and enjoying every minute of it. They are so kind and make me feel like I am a part of the family. The climate in Chitwan is subtropical and the area is famous for it’s jungle and National Parks. A beautiful learning center, funded by Effet Pappillion, France, has just been built in a Tharu Village minutes from my home and I will be teaching the children English there. I can already speak some Nepali thanks to the kids in the village and my hosts. Volunteering with FACE Nepal is truly an adventure and a life-changing experience. This organization really understands the meaning of peace and friendship. If you are having difficulties deciding on a volunteering organization, I believe FACE Nepal has so much to offer and you will get back more than you expect.”

“One morning I woke up and wanted to live life fully. It took me to Nepal, to find myself.

One day a friend of mine was telling me about the full eclipse in 2009, which was going to be very good in Nepal. The next thing I know I was googling Nepali volunteer work. A few weeks later I was being picked up by members of the organization at Kathmandu Tribuvan airport. During those weeks I had my vaccinations done, got my ticket and everything I needed. 12 May 2008 at exactly 19.00 I was back on the road.

I left my heart in Nepal, with the women and the children I taught. I came back and I knew I had grown. Now I have an even bigger heart, ready to go again and to love.”

“I always thought that in our life we need to do something good for other people. Nepal was my destiny and the most spectacular trip that I have had in my life. Nepal is a crazy country — messy — and with a culture that you need to live to understand. But when you are there, life begins and you start to enjoy the little details of life. I lived for three months with a lovely family in Patalahara, in Terai. It’s a quiet place, there are some houses, little markets etc. and was a place where I had unforgettable moments. I taught English classes to kids from 7 to 13 years old, but these were more than classes. We shared moments together, we played, we laughed and we learned from each other.

The support from the organization was the most important thing when we were far away from our home, and FACE Nepal was always there for me. Thanks to Shreeram who was always with me and showed Nepal in the best and most entertaining way in the world. I enjoyed all the trips that we did, the little places where we ate and all the moments that I spent my host family and the other volunteers.

I think that all the people that travel to Nepal probably want to make a change, but by the end of my trip I learned that we can live and be happy with simple things and finally this way of life changed me.

If you want to have an unforgettable experience, help a country that needs a lot from us, and enjoy the simplicity of life read about Nepal and travel! And don’t worry if your English is not very good, because this is a good place to learn the language.”