Volunteering with HELP

“Some NGOs and companies work to improve lives, schools and communities around the world, and then there are some that are doing quite the opposite. I’ve worked as a volunteer twice with Himalayan Education Lifeline Programme, and I can say without a doubt that this organization is one of the best out there. During six months of travel and volunteering in India, I occasionally ran into volunteers from other NGOs, and sometimes the comparison was stark. One volunteer explained how disheartened she was by the lack of beneficial impact her for-profit company was making. She had just completed a stint of four weeks in Nepal and described the work as “Fluff.” On another occasion, I personally witnessed another organization’s group arrive at a school armed. A big van pulled up, and a group of high-spirited volunteers armed with cell phones and ipads poured out and spent a few hours playing with the children, constantly taking pictures and posting them to Facebook before leaving. The kids certainly had fun, but any focus on schoolwork was impossible for the remainder of the day, not to mention the hours of class time missed to provide the volunteers with a feel-good experience.

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The organization you choose can make a world of difference one way or another. I looked at many different possibilities before making my choice, and I am completely thrilled that I chose HELP.

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Firstly, HELP doesn’t try to mix volunteer work with a beach/zip line/parasailing/white water rafting/etc vacation. I had some exciting adventures and traveled when the school was out for a break, before and after my months of teaching, but HELP keeps its mission of improving education in Himalayan communities front and center while school is in session. I felt my time in the classroom was effective and focused.

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Secondly, HELP has no paid positions. From the volunteer teacher to the executive director, everyone is donating their time and money. I am confident that the relatively low fees I paid were used most efficiently to benefit the communities where HELP works. Additionally, 100% of the money I spent for food and lodging with my homestay family helped to support them and the local economy.

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Thirdly, the founder and directors of HELP utilize relationships with Indian and Nepali citizens built over four decades to identify needs, allocate resources and ensure that the work they’re doing is effective and enduring. When I sat down to have tea with people in the village this past spring, they told me how the volunteers have been so helpful over the years. They explained how their children’s knowledge of English improved, but also their knowledge of the world outside of their village. As I walked to the bazaar, people sought me out to ask where I’m from and to tell me how the volunteer teachers over the years benefitted them, their children or their village. I have worked at both a new school where I was the first volunteer and a school that has had HELP volunteers since its founding in 2002, and HELP’s impact over the years is plain to see in both the students and teachers.

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I’ve been a teacher in the United States for 20 years, and I can confidently say that Himalayan Education Lifeline Programme is one of the best organizations out there. If you want to have an experience that is life changing for both you and the children you work with, consider volunteering with HELP. I’m glad I did.”