Four years ago, when Lauren Taylor was feeling the itch to do some trekking internationally, she thought it would be nice to combine it with volunteering.
To that end, she did some online exploring and discovered a small operation called the Nepal Volunteers Council. Since that time, she’s travelled and worked in Nepal for three stints and in May, will head back once again.
On the outskirts of Kathmandu, Taylor works with a group of boys aged 15 to 22 who have lived in a home away from their villages for 10 years. She also works at a small primary school.
“Originally, I wanted to something small to help out with,” said Taylor. “A lot of organizations are huge and you live in a hotel while you’re there. But with the Nepal Volunteers Council, I’ve lived with two different families. You fly yourself there and pay a volunteer fee, then your accommodations and meals are provided.”
During the eight to 10-hour days Taylor puts in, she has breakfast with her host family, then works on teaching English in the primary school for part of the day. She then buses to the boys’ home, where she assists with homework, meals, playing soccer, etc. This year, she’ll spend six weeks in Nepal, beginning May 4.
“The first time I went I thought I’d spend two weeks, then continue on with life. But I really bonded with the boys and I’m in contact now on Facebook with them all the time.”
As well this year, Taylor has raised funds to pay for the older boys to return home to their remote villages for the first time.
In poverty-stricken Nepal a decade ago, a civil war resulted in “Maoists forcing families to give up boys for the army,” said Taylor. “Some of the parents sent their boys to Kathmandu to keep them out of the army.”
There was a point the boys could have gone home, but they wanted to finish school studies.
“I’m excited about helping them go back home,” said Taylor. “They’re two flights away from their villages and I’ve raised about $4,500 to get them flights, good shoes, cloths and backpacks. Some of them have siblings they’ve never met. My goal is $5,000, so I’m still trying to raise funds.”
On Sunday (April 19), Vermelho Hair, where Taylor works, donated money from haircuts to her cause.
