Nine AS & A2 students embarked on a journey through the heart of Nepal to immerse themselves in its traditions, and local festivities, and create a positive environmental impact within its local community and schools.
On the first day in Nepal, learners settled in after a long journey of travelling and Jet lag, finding accommodation in the suburb of Kathmandu in Lalitpur. Soon after, they joined a tour around the local area to discover more about the country’s culture and find their bearings.
One of the highlights of this tour was the Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where the learners would revisit several times throughout their stay.
Both learners and teachers noted that Sunday was the most memorable day for them, as they participated in the Holi Festival with the locals, celebrating colour and the arrival of spring. The learners had prepared themselves for the colourful event with water-filled balloons and packets of powdered paint. Although, despite being prepared they were the first to be doused in a rainbow of coloured paint by everyone they had met, with a friendly “Happy Holi”.
The group were bombarded by local children and young people, with balloons buckets of paint and water pistols. The learners enjoyed the experience noting, “The atmosphere was fun and relaxed, even though it all seemed a little crazy.”
Besides the colourful festival, a lot of the learners’ time would have been spent on preparation for the morning workshop sessions at a local school focusing on social, emotional and well-being. Ms Le Dentu notes that she, “I was impressed by their creativity and enthusiasm to meet these students, deliver fun sessions and communicate with them. Teamwork was impressive.”
The students would also take part in litter picking, helping and inspiring the young Nepali students to note the positive impact of clearing litter from their environment.
Learners were able to experience Nepal as well as learn about the culture, interact with locals, and try local cuisine. Learners were able to educate themselves and witness the environmental impact of the country, which hovers around the number one spot for the most polluted city in the world (Kathmandu).
When asked on the experience from Nepal, Ms Le Dentu said
“An incredible experience for our students to understand the threats to our environment on a world scale, as well as immersing themselves in Nepali culture and cuisine.”
