Verity Blackburn

My experience with VIN could not have been better. Arriving, I was slightly apprehensive as to the legitimacy of the project but it was 100 percent so, and Bhupi’s personal greeting at the airport made me feel instantly taken care of.

Nepal itself is a crazy place for a foreigner to step into, but the support of VIN right from the start put me totally at ease, and the accompaniment of the organisation on a sight seeing day was great.

The actual experience at the monastery was unforgettable. Teaching English was far harder than I had imagined it would be, and there is a lot of work involved in order to teach effectively (especially when you cannot speak Nepali!) but the effort you have to put in just makes it all the more rewarding. I loved every minute of it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique experience.

Monastery Summer Program, 2008