Maartje Wessels
From to
Volunteering with VIN gave me the opportunity to learn about a different culture in a way you cannot when you go backpacking through a country. Because you are in such close contact with the people in the community, or in my case, the monastery, you learn about the cultural differences in a whole other way. It’s amazing. I was placed in a monastery and I learned a lot about Buddhism and about myself!
Other than that I have done some fundraising back home and the money is used to furnish 5 Early Childhood Development centres, to build 16 toilets in the community and to buy the Jitpur Youth Club some materials. VIN makes sure that the community comes up with their share of the amount needed to buy things. This way, hopefully, the community takes all the initiatives seriously, because they ‘own’ it as well. This way it’s sustainable. I don’t believe in pumping money into a community without the community having to contribute as well.
VIN makes sure the community contributes and sees the value of the help provided. It’s of utmost importance that VIN trains the community volunteers, who in return further train the community. Issues as health and sanitation, education and environment need to be addressed in the community. This should be an ongoing process. With one lecture nothing will change. I hope VIN follows up on their projects. Installing toilets is not enough.
The community needs to learn why to use the toilets, how to use the toilets and needs to actually use the toilets. I am very sorry my time with VIN was so short, because once started I noticed how much work needs to be done. I was only with VIN for 5 weeks, of which most of the time I was on the monastery. I would like to return and volunteer for VIN for a longer period of time. Taking one project (education) and work on that full time. Hopefully I can take some unpaid leave in the future and return to Nepal to ‘finish’ what I started. I am very curious about the ECD’s and how the teachers are using the information they were given in the teacher training.
Recent News
Children’s Summer Camp 2019
Volunteers Initiative Nepal focuses on the mental, physical, social development of the children. With an aim to protect the rights of the children, increase the access to quality education and basic health services...
July 18, 2019 Read More
Sponsorship Materials Distribution 2019
On 24th of June 2019, VIN distributed sponsorship material to 8 students in Jitpurphedi. VIN is committed to empowering children from disadvantaged background through sponsorship program under VIN’s Children’s...
June 27, 2019 Read More
Women’s involvement to run micro-credit project at Tarkeshwor Municipality -2 Dalkap, Kavresthali
To ensure economic freedom and independence for women through the establishment of a micro-credit system” is one of the objectives of VIN’s Women Empowerment Program.
June 3, 2019 Read More
Volunteer’s Monthly Meeting by VIN
Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) has been organizing Volunteer’s Monthly Meeting (VMM) on the second or the fourth week of every month.
May 1, 2019 Read More
ECD Painting, Decoration and Teaching
Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) has been conducting various projects under Children’s Development Program with the aim to protect the rights of all children in the community.
April 24, 2019 Read More
Public Health Medical Care Project in two communities of Kathmandu
VIN has been working in marginalized communities since 2007. It has been working to create healthy communities with public health and medical care program.
April 22, 2019 Read More
What our Volunteers have said
