Laura Swanson

From 15/10/2009 to 26/02/2010

Working with VIN allowed me to witness and participate in village life and see an angle of Nepal that I never would have seen as a tourist. Living with a Nepali family and building connections in the Jitpur community was really rewarding. My host-family was extremely welcoming and went out of their way to make me comfortable.

During my program with VIN, I helped with long-term and short-term project planning, I worked with a team of international and local volunteers to conducted a community health and sanitation survey for future project creation, and I helped edit and compile the 2009 annual report. This allowed me to work both in the office and in the field.

During my stay I made a lot of friends with the other volunteers and the VIN staff. Everyone on the VIN team was extremely welcoming, friendly and helpful to me throughout my stay in Nepal. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to live and work in the Nepali community and meet so many inspirational people.

Laura Swanson, USA, Women’s Empowerment, Oct 15, 2009 to Feb 26, 2010

I worked with VIN for four and a half months on the women’s empowerment program. I chose to work with VIN because I wanted to work with a grassroots organization that had close ties to its constituent community and offered the opportunity to live with a local family.