Nepal is a country of many dimensions and exists on every traveler’s bucket list. If it isn’t on yours yet, grab a pen and get listening! The generosity and warmth exuded by the people, the rich culture, stunning scenery including 8 of the planet’s 10 highest mountains, and thrilling outdoor adventures which accompany a pilgrimage to this fantastic place; it is no wonder hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to this mysterious and unique country each year.
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I had the fortunate opportunity to be one of those eager tourists in the autumn of 2013. With only three weeks to spend in Nepal, I decided to split my time between the small rural community of Gawai, just outside the Chitwan National Park and Pokhara, which was a jump off point for a week of solo hiking. During my stay in Gawai, I spent some time volunteering at the local school and exploring the local community, learning about their biogas systems and the way of Nepalese life amongst rice fields and dirt roads.
The female conglomerate of my host family who cared for me during my stay
I was perhaps most humbled by the gratitude the people of Gawai held for what, by western standards, would be considered limited blessings – love and support of family and friends, clement weather and healthy soil that yield nourishing sustenance, the opportunity to have an education, and the time to spend with those who are most important. The fact that many possessed so little, but were grateful for so much, was truly an eye opener for this extremely fortunate traveller. The adults I encountered were curious, interested, genuinely kind and generous toward this foreign stranger. Amongst the numerous children, smiles, laughter and barefoot playfulness were abundant. I cannot imagine a community more deserving of something so seemingly necessary.
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While it can be difficult to implore empathy from an audience who may never have visited Nepal, or even another foreign country, I would encourage you to explore the Nepalese culture, or any culture that is different from yours. There is a great deal to be gained from opening your heart to those who are different from us. I look at my experience in Nepal as a great gift and feel as though I selfishly took from these wonderful people despite being there to try to give something to them.
In this community of approximately 300 homes containing families of 4-5 there currently exist only 10 toilets. Many of the inhabitants wander off into the jungle or the nearby river to relieve themselves. During my visit, a boy no older than 3 had crossed the dirt road to the stand of trees on the other side and was narrowly missed by an oncoming ox pulling a cart at full speed. Accidents such as these are almost a daily occurrence in this community, and often have far more deleterious outcomes than that which I witnessed.
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This wonderful couple welcomed me into their meager lean-to they had called home for most of their lives together. Meals were cooked over a hole dug in the dirt where a small fire would be built. Despite what appeared at first to be a miserable existence, they welcomed me, a complete stranger into their home with the happiest faces I’ve ever encountered and years of smile lines and wrinkles to assure me that these were kind and decent people. The woman spoke only Nepalese, and through translation, told me about seeing her son who had wandered into the nearby jungle to use the washroom only to be carried off by a tiger when he was a toddler.
While the threat of altercations with tigers is not as common due to excessive poaching, the swift current of the nearby river regularly claims the lives of young children who wander away from home during the day while their parents are working in the rice fields.
After my time in Nepal, I wanted to do more for the generous family who cared for me during my stay, and their neighbours, and so I launched a fundraiser to build a sanitary toilet facility in the community. After the success of the first fundraising attempt, and due to the continued need within the community, I am raising money again to provide another toilet to these people. This fundraiser is not a glamorous one; it is simply about providing a village of kind-hearted, hardworking and generous individuals with a basic human necessity.
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It costs approximately $1000USD to construct a latrine in Gawai. Any further funding will go toward the purchase of cows, goats and buffalo for families in the greatest need. I have remained in contact with my host family and receive emails every few months, always including an invitation back to Nepal. While donations are clearly the goal of this message, please at least consider giving what little or great time, money, energy, or even interest you may have, the next time you visit a foreign country or encounter those less fortunate. Those who are unable to enjoy the most basic of human comforts on a daily basis, while many of us are able to afford to sip cocktails on beaches during a two week tropical vacation.
The finished product; results of over $1000 USD in donations in December 2013.
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