Volunteering Experience with ViN on Disaster Risk Reduction Program

Kymber Keaton

Background:

My background in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) falls over 9 years throughout the United States military, state, federal, and tribal emergency response operations. Additionally, to support my work, I have earned both my bachelor’s and master’s in emergency management and Community Resilience. I was well equipped professionally and academically to assist VIN with this program. I am very passionate about DRR as it protects people and saves lives. 

Methodology and Preparations:

Before I arrived to VIN HQ I was given basic instruction on what my program should cover, as well as a report from the previous DRR project. I reached out to the volunteer who did that work and received additional advice. He strongly encouraged me to add in a medical component because the women in the communities responded the most to those lessons. 

I prepared by lesson plan using ChatGPT asking the program to create a 1-hour lesson to Nepali women on disaster risk reduction that covered before, during, and after the disaster topics. Once I arrived at VIN and started my work at Women’s Business Center (WBC) I showed my plan, and we made some appropriate adjustments. 

Below is the finalized outlined lesson plan:

1-Hour Women’s Empowerment for Basic Emergency Disaster Preparedness 

Focus: You Are Strong. You Are Capable. You Can Protect Your Family TODAY
Objective: Equip Nepali women with practical, immediate actions to prepare before, during and after for disasters—focusing on what she can do right now, without relying on fiscal assistance.

Introduction: Women’s Strength (5 minutes)

Personal Connection:

• “I am a woman, just like you. And I can do this. That means YOU can too.”
• “We already protect our families every day. Preparing for earthquakes is another way we do that.”
• Quick Icebreaker: “Who here has felt an earthquake? What did you do? What were your first thoughts of safety and places to get to?”
• BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE: PLANNING (15 minutes)

Set a Family Evacuation Plan 

• Pick TWO safe places:
  • First choice: An open field, away from buildings and trees (school yard, rice field, temple courtyard).
• Backup place: If the first is blocked, pick a second location nearby.
• Tell your family and practice going there!
• * Optional activity: Have them write down or say out loud say where they will tell their families to go. 

Make a Small “Go-Bag” 

• A bottle of clean water
• A whistle (to call for help if trapped)
• A scarf or cloth (for warmth, dust protection, or first aid)
• A small snack (dried food, nuts)
• A family contact list (where to meet, emergency numbers)
• *Optional activity: Demonstrate putting these items into a bag, any bag.
  • Keep it somewhere easy to grab—near front door.

3. Make Your Home Safer 

• Move heavy objects off high shelves—put them lower so they don’t fall.
• Keep a flashlight near your sleeping area.
• Secure important documents in an easy to grab place, maybe in go-bag.
• DURING THE EARTHQUAKE: What to Do in the Moment (5 minutes)

• If inside:
  • DROP under a table, COVER your head, HOLD ON.
  • Stay away from windows!
• If outside:
  • Run to an open space (do not stand near buildings or trees).
  • If on a mountain path, be alert for falling rocks.
• If trapped:
  • Use a whistle or bang on something loud.
  • Cover your mouth with a cloth to avoid dust
• AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE: Immediate First Aid (25 minutes)

• STOP BLEEDING – THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
  • Direct pressure first: Press hard on the wound with cloth or your hand.
  • If it keeps bleeding: Use a scarf, shawl, or any clean fabric to tie around the wound.
  • If its STILL bleed, you will need to do a tourniquet:
    • Wrap 2-3 inches above the bleeding area, tight enough to stop bleeding, stop the circulation
    • RECORD THE TIME THAT TOURNIQUET WAS TIED FOR DOCTOR!!!
  • DO NOT remove the cloth if it soaks through—just add more layers.
  • Demonstration: Show how to press on a wound and tie a makeshift bandage.
• BROKEN BONES
  • Use wood, bamboo, or cloth to make a splint so the limb stays still.
  • DO NOT try to “fix” or straighten a broken bone.
  • Demonstration: Show how to make a splint using a scarf and stick.
• IF SOMEONE IS UNCONSCIOUS
  • Verbally call out, then physically check if they are breathing.
    • Look for rise and fall of chest, and listen for breathing sounds
  • If NOT breathing: Try chest compressions .
  • Demonstration: Quick hands-only CPR explanation.
    • Break down each step: Where the legs go, how the hands are folded, how hard to push. 
    • I used a popular Nepali song, Kutu Ma Kutu, as a beat to the CPR to help remember. 
• FINAL SAFETY CHECKS
  • Check cooking fires – turn off stoves to prevent fire.
  • Check house for damages.
  • Grab go-bag and head to designated family evacuation spot.
• Closing: Q & A (5 minutes)
  • Ask: “What is one thing you will do today to prepare?”
  • Let them share their thoughts, answer any questions.
  • Thank them for their strength and time!
  • *Optional: Pass out whistles and certificates

Results and Findings

It takes approximately 10 minutes to set up. Tape is a necessary tool, specifically duct tape, as the communities do not have a lot of areas to hang the posters up, and it is best views chronologically: before, during, and after. The whistles were a gift I gave during the presentation when it seemed the focus was being drifted. Whistles are a cheap and easy gift to bring that can save someone’s life and are trapped under a building. (While it is not necessary to do provide this, I would highly encourage the next volunteer to continue to supply such a small gift. $20 on amazon for 50 pack) 

When there were a lot of side conversations, I spoke louder- it demanded attention and kept the focus on the me and the material. Additionally, I would act out or say small things in Nepali like “lala or tsch cha” to keep focus and keep things entertaining.  The translator team and I rehearsed at least once before presenting. This was significantly useful as they were able to work out translation questions ahead of time. Additionally, it builds a good report with the translator and helps the flow for the real thing. In the end, she would say things I forgot, or vice versa. It was a good flow. Do note that presenting with a translator slows things down, so while the lesson may be a certain time, add on another 10 minutes for translating. 

Additionally, I provided the women individual certifications of completion. This is something we do in America for any course, 30 minutes to 3 days. Education is taken very seriously here in Nepal, and maybe families covet these certifications, as small as they may seem. There was some back and forth with VIN on the distribution of the certificates. The concern was that it may instill false confidence in the women, in their ability in skill, since it is such a quick class. I insisted that it provides a sense of induvial accomplishment as well as something the women did herself, not her husband or her family, but her.  In the end, we agreed to clear up the verbiage and state what exactly they learned on the certification. If this is to be continued, it would need to be addressed before hand, but I feel it is an important part of the program- and should be applied to ALL VIN educational programs. 

Lastly, cleaning up takes another 10 minutes. Your material ends up weighing a lot, and some communities are far, so prepare for that. Overall, the women in the community were extremely happy to receive this training. They were incredibly engaged and excited to learn, especially the medical portion. Most of the feedback received included women saying they will prepare a go-bag today! Which is incredibly successful. The information regarding what to do during had the least bit of attention as most people seemed to already know what to do. However, they were surprised to learn the smaller tips such as moving heavy objects to the floor  

Allianssi Youth Exchange – ALLI02
WHV Suomenlinna – 05.08.-18.08.23 CULT/ENVI 12 vols 20-30
Finland, Helsinki

Project: WHV Suomenlinna
P: Suomenlinna (Sveaborg) is a sea fortress, which was built gradually from 1748
onwards on a group of islands belonging to the district of Helsinki. . The landscape and the architecture of the fortress have been shaped by several historic eventsThe UNESCO World Heritage Site in Suomenlinna is restored, maintained and governed by the Governing Body of Suomenlinna that operates under the Ministry of Education and Culture.The project intends to raise awareness among volunteers of the need to protect and promote World Heritage.

W:The main task for the volunteers will be to participate in landscaping work, under the guidance of the site management and specialists. The volunteers will also collect visitor data through surveys, and will have an important role in the pre-production of the Classic Boat Race event. Participants will have the chance to join orientation and discussion sessions on World Heritage, authenticity, preservation, values, social sustainability, and ecological sustainability issues. There will also be a Camp Day as an open invitation to engage the locals in volunteering landscape work at the site.

A: The volunteers will stay in dorms in Suomenlinna hostel, lunches will be provided, dinners prepared by volunteers.

L: Suomenlinna (More information: http://www.suomenlinna.fi/en/) in Helsinki. Suomenlinna is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Finland and constitutes a district of Helsinki with 800 inhabitants.

R: The volunteers need to have interest towards World Heritage and prepare themselves before the camp in order to tell about the World Heritage projects in their home countries. The applicants need to write a one page motivation letter explaining why they would like to join the project, if they have any previous experience in WH volunteering and what could be their contribution to the project.

T: Helsinki. There is a 15 minutes ferry ride from the centre of Helsinki.
SR: One page motivation letter together with the application is needed. The volunteers need travel insurance for the duration of their stay. Registration fee 50 euros

ALLIANSSI
Allianssi Youth Exchanges promotes intercultural learning and global understanding. Our aim is to give young people a chance to do concrete work with others from different backgrounds and ethnic origins and widen their world view. Allianssi Youth Exchanges is owned by the Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi which is the umbrella organisation of Finnish youth and educational organisations with over 140 nationwide member organisations.

VOLUNTEERS
Usually most volunteers in our camps are 18-30 years of age.. The volunteers come mainly through our European partner organisations, but in every camp there is usually representation from other parts of the world as well. Occasionally we also organise family camp, some camps for younger volunteers with the minimum age of 16 years and some camps with age limits such as 20+ or even 30+. In 2023 we are still recovering from covid-19 and organise a smaller amount of projects than usually.

WORK
The work is very often manual like painting, renovating, organising festivals and different activities or landscaping/gardening keeping in mind the learning by doing principle. We find it important to encourage and increase intercultural learning between the volunteers and the hosting community. No special skills are required, only motivation. The working hours are 30-40 hours per week. Most camps are arranged in small communities in the beautiful Finnish countryside.

CAMP LEADER
The camps are usually run by Allianssi camp leader in close co-operation with host organisation camp leader. The Allianssi camp leader is either a volunteer with some experience or a student of youth work. In some camps the local camp leaders nominated by the camp host take care of the leading.

ACTIVITIES
There are plenty of opportunities to visit local places of interest and enjoy Finnish countryside, lakes and forests. And the Finnish sauna, of course! Most of our camp hosts are local associations so there is usually local involvement in the activities.

REGISTRATION FEE /EXTRA FEE
Due to imbalanced volunteer exchange and no public funding we are forced to ask the incoming volunteers to contribute towards our administration costs by paying a registration fee of 50 euros in some camps. The partner organisations collect the registration fee from volunteers on application and Allianssi will invoice the partners at the end of the season OR the volunteers pay to us through bank transfer before the camp.

HEALTH ISSUES
In most camps the volunteers are not insured (except ESC volunteer teams). Since the travel to the work camp and theft of personal property should also be covered we expect all the volunteers to take their own travel insurance. In addition, we advise all volunteers from EU countries to take the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with them. No drugs are allowed at Allianssi camps under any circumstances. The use of alcohol might be restricted in some camps. However, by law the minors are not allowed to buy or consume alcohol or cigarettes at all in Finland.

LANGUAGE
The language on all our camps is English and all volunteers are expected to be able to communicate at least on a basic level in English. It is quite widely spoken, so you will manage in English almost everywhere in Finland.

WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU
Since the work is usually practical/manual we recommend that the volunteers bring with them sturdy shoes and working clothes and gloves which can get dirty. Bring enough warm clothes for cool evenings. Swimming gear is important to bring with you since there are usually plenty of opportunities for saunas and swimming in a lake. A sleeping bag is a must for most camps.

SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is a vital core value to our organization thus we wish all the volunteers taking part in a work camp in Finland take this into consideration. Both the hosts and volunteers should do their best in taking care of i.e. the sorting of the waste, saving energy, not littering, supporting local products and respecting local culture. We encourage our camp hosts to provide mainly (preferably only) plant based food.
Even if Finland is located quite far in the north, remember that travelling there by train, bus or ship is also a good possibility. Test your carbon footprint:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/consider-your-impact/carbon-calculator/

FINLAND
Do you know that Finland is the happiest country in the world ? Finland; Suomi in Finnish, is situated between Sweden to the west, the tip of Norway in the north, a long border with Russia to the east, and Estonia to the south, across the Gulf of Finland. Finland is the northernmost country in the world after Iceland. But the climate is not as freezing as that might suggest, partly because of the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. During summer even sunbathing is possible as temperatures range from 16°C to 25°C. There may be some rainy and chilly days too, and therefore the volunteers should have proper outfit for working outdoors. Finland has a long coastline. The archipelago to the south and south west of the country contains around 30,000 islands. Finland is also the land of lakes, almost 200,000 at the last count. Two thirds of the country is covered by forest. In terms of land area, Finland is the seventh largest country in Europe while the population is only about five million. Finland has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish. The currency unit in Finland is the Euro.

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While many of Nepal’s 500,000 annual visitors come for trekking, white water rafting, mountain biking and other outdoor pursuits, this small country has so much more to offer than just dramatic landscapes.

Another of Nepal’s assets is its rich culture, sandwiched as it is between the two vast populations of China and India. Now, thanks to numerous organizations, travelers can experience this captivating country whilst learning new skills and immersing themselves in the culture. Many projects also enable travelers to help the communities they stay with. This type of tourism, known as volunteerism, aims to enable travelers to experience real cultures and lifestyles, whilst simultaneously supporting disadvantaged locals.

Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) is one such volunteerism organization which runs projects in and around Kathmandu including women’s empowerment, medical and English teaching placements. Helping to ensure cultural immersion, participants on these programmes live with Nepali host families (or in monasteries) to gain a real sense of 21st century Nepali life. Most of VIN’s projects take place in the rural community of Jitpur, 11 kilometres from ‘I am from a very backward community myself’ says VIN Executive Director Bhupendra Ghimire. ‘My mum is illiterate but she educated my whole family – I wanted to give something back to community’. In attempt to help he founded VIN to improve rural communities’ quality of life.

‘The issues in communities are interrelated’ says Ghimire. To address these problems, VIN is running multiple projects in the Jitpur area including women’s empowerment, which provides local women with access to loans, business training and education, medical placements where volunteers assist local doctors and construction projects to build toilets and establish clean water supplies.

Volunteers Parmeet Kaur and Josie Korda both took part in a women’s empowerment programme. ‘I wanted to get out of the day to day working routine and give back to the community’ says Malaysian Kaur who previously volunteered on a similar placement in Bangladesh. Korda from Britain says ‘I like the idea of income generation for women. It seems like we’re doing a good job’.

On a typical day these two volunteers spend time surveying women in Jitpur to establish their needs and also in VIN’s Kathmandu office processing survey data. According to Kaur ‘we already see a pattern in what the local women want’. Recent surveys have investigated the profitability of vegetable farming to ascertain the women’s income after expenses and volunteers have helped to educate the women how they can best use their money to improve their own quality of life.

Austrian, Isabelle Fantina is doing a youth empowerment placement, teaching English to 18-30 year olds and helping local teachers to improve their English, as they teach their own students in English. ‘I worked before with youth and really enjoyed it’ she says. ‘When you want to change something you have to start with young people’ she adds.

Fantina’s daily schedule consists of a free morning in the village and then teaching sessions in the late afternoon and evening. Felix Hänsch from Germany is also teaching English, as well as Maths to locals. He says ‘I wanted to get in contact with another culture and to help with education. You’re really close to locals as a teacher’. Hänsch spends the morning teaching in one of Jitpur’s schools whilst his afternoons are free.

Hi, I’m Maria and this is my story…

Originally I’m from Slovakia but last year I got accepted to the University in the UK. Some people refer to it as lucky or as a result of hard work but I usually explain it in terms of the availability of relevant opportunities to study (especially English language).

For many people in developed countries it is taken for granted being able to study a foreign language and thus being able to communicate with people all around the world. However, there are still parts of the world where people do not have such oportunities despite their willingness. One such place is a Buddhist Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal. I felt that it is not fair that I got some things served on a silver plate whereas some people are still denied knowledge just because of a lack of money.

Therefore I have decided to help children in Nepal by voluntarily teaching for a month (August/September 2011) basics of English as well as other subjects (sciences, maths, computing, etc.). This will help them to connect with the other parts of the world and share their culture and secular knowledge which is so different from our Western one.

As I will be teaching for no money reward I have to collect money to buy a flight ticket and pay for some expenses I will face there. Therefore I would like to kindly ask you to help me cover those expenses and thus help children in Nepal to gain access to things we often take for granted- education. Any amount will be highly appreciated!

While in Nepal I will be posting updates about my stay and pictures regularly so you will be able to check how your donation has contributed. Your name will also appear on my blog as a part of the ‘Thank-you’ list.

Here is a brief list of my calculated expenses:

Flight ticket 1100 euro

Visa, vaccination + administrative expenses  200 euro

Month of staying 500 euro

As you can see, overall it will cost me almost 2000. I am spending all my savings (500 Euro) on this but I still need to raise the rest. Without raising this amount of money I will not be able to provide the help that is so much needed in Nepal. So please, take a while to think about this and if you have any questions or comments or you would like to send the money directly to my Slovakian account do not hesitate to send me an email: holcekova.maria@gmail.com

Let me also know if you have any English books/ textbooks you don’t need.

Thank you very much!

Raised so far: 284 Euro

Thank you for donation:

Richard Baranyi

Jan Hermann

Liam Hark

Stefan Hassler

Todd Shore

Jacob Perry

Sarah Grimshaw

Aleksandra Kuta

Sophie McElhill

Ivan Pozel

Mukti Limbu

Kristina Marquardt

Adam Ambrus

Lyndsey Coyne

Slavomir Hitka

Ivana Mandalova

Lukas Gregorovic

Lukas Holcek

Veronika Alaksova

I already know I want to come back to Nepal next year. So far I can’t find the words to describe this experience, the country and its people. In Canada, especially the yoga community, we use superlatives so loosely they become superficial and lose their true meaning. What I’m experiencing here is the true essence of life in all its true beauty.

Take a moment to become involved!

Volunteers Initiative Nepal ( VIN ) is a great organization that builds programs that are sustainable by the community and its families. I’ve sponsored a child, and hope you’ll consider donating even a little or sponsoring your own child.

Whenver I can, I’ll keep posting about my experience here, on F/b, on Yoga on the Beach Port Stanley, and on Playful Yoga Spirit.

Lise Baronet

I spent 5 amazing weeks with VIN. I received a very warm welcome from all of VIN’s staff. I started with a tour of a few famous sites in Kathmandu, a little overview of Nepali Language and Nepali culture with Kabita. That was very useful and interesting. After that I started my work in the little community of Jitpur. There I lived in a home stay  with very generous people. Each family member gave me a lot of attention and I had very good time with the children.

I was only there for 2 weeks, this is a short period of the time. I decided to have an overview of differents programs. I have been in different schools, kindergardens and orphanages to help collect information about children for the sponsorship section of VINs web site. I also visited some women groups in agriculture farms and worked with them in the field for few days… I really appreciate it. Sharing life with all of those people is really the best way to understand them and understand their needs.

Ensuite j’ai été très chanceuse, j’ai eu la chance de faire le trek du camp de base de l’Everest. VIN s’est occupé de toute l’organistion, ça été génial ! J’ai partagé ce trek avec Erica, une autre volontaire de VIN que j’ai rencontré ici, ce fut véritablement une expérience mémorable.

Si vous avez envie de vivre une expérience hors du commun et de rencontrer des gens exceptionnels, je vous conseille de joindre l’équipe de VIN, vous aurez du plaisir tout en aidant à votre manière une communauté si accueillante.

Marie-Eve Roussy

Dear Family, Friends, and Community,

I am reaching out to you because I am traveling to Nepal this summer in order to engage in global public health initiatives in maternal and child health. I was once told that there are infinite needs in the world, so find one of your passions and match it to that great need. My passion lies in ensuring mothers and children, who are the greatest investment a society can make, are healthy. There is a great need for access to adequate care, especially in a place where the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) proclaims maternal mortality rate is at an “unacceptably high level.”

I am going to intern with Volunteers Initiative Nepal ( VIN ), which is a non-governmental organization that does grass-roots work in areas, such as Women Empowerment. The internship is necessary in order to complete field work, which can include research or projects abroad, for the Global Health minor at the University of California, San Diego.

This is the first year the Global Health minor is being offered, so there are a lot of things that still need to get worked out, such as funding. There are currently no scholarships, grant money, or student loans given to help cover program costs. Because of this, I am asking for your support as I partake in humanitarian endeavors abroad. Your contribution, even if the slightest amount, will help sustain community-based public health initiatives.

I ensure your contribution is going to a great cause. As a donor, I will be sure to send pictures and updates of the progress I am taking part in.

Finally, I encourage you to check out Volunteer Initiative Nepal at volunteeringnepal.org to see in greater detail the work they do. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

Hello all,

Well it is still a little while away but I will be heading off to the Himalayas to spend some time teaching english in Buddhist Monasteries in Nepal, as well as ascend to the base camp of the mighty Mt Everest, in February of next year, 2011.

As the time comes closer, I will be organising some fund raising and book raising, so that when I head off, I am equipped with gifts and materials to improve the study life of the children and youth that I come into contact with.

Have a think about whether you can help me out in this.

More later,

Jacqueline

Hey all!

So thanks for visiting my VIN blog. As most of you know I will be joining a Buddhist Monastery in June for a few weeks and will be teaching them English in exchange for an amazing culturally rich and spiritual experience. I will be doing as much as I can to contribute and give back to a people that will honestly be teaching me more useful skills for life than I could ever impart on them. The organisation I am working with does so much more than the volunteer projects I am undertaking. They work with orphanages, setup construction of homes and basic toilet facilities, mobile clinics and run empowering women and youth programs to name just a few. I urge you to take a look around to get a better understanding of what this organisation does for so many people in Nepal. Given I would like to help this organisation as much as I can any small donation can help someone’ s life out there in Nepal.

Even if you just skip your next meal at Maccas and pop $5 on here instead it would be very appreciated. The money goes towards the programs I mentioned here and on VIN’s website. I urge you to contribute if you can. I have to admit I will probably gain more than I give during my time in Nepal and hope to come out on the other side with more clarity and perspective of life and a focused and kinder heart. Conveniently you pay via paypal so give it a go!

Much Love, Tahnee