Berdien Oosterveld

With an open view I started my volunteering period at VIN and I think that’s the best thing you can do. As a medical student the Public Health Program from VIN appealed to me a lot. I could both see how the healthcare is organized in a rural area as Jitpur and could teach children and women about health related subjects, two things I like to do.
 
During my stay I taught the children about mental health, a difficult but important topic because a lot of people suffer from mental problems. Besides that, I helped at the health clinic in Tinpiple. Although I don’t have much clinical experience yet, I could assist the doctor and see a lot of different cases. I knew that the healthcare is different in Nepal compared to my own country, The Netherlands, but its clearer when you see it in real life.
 
The most impressive thing I did was the health camp in Okhaldhunga, an area 12 hours’ drive from Kathmandu. The ride to Okhaldhunga was already an adventure on small and bumpy roads in the mountains trough rise fields near to a big river. During the 2 days health camp we saw a lot of patients, patients who normally have to walk for hours to visit a doctor. I took the vitals and saw patients together with the local doctors, again an instructive experience for me.
 
During my work I stayed in a hostfamily and that made the whole volunteering period extra special. I experienced the hospitality of the people here and got to know the cultural differences between my own country and Nepal. The family was so friendly and they were always willing to let me be involved in their daily life. For example, I could help with preparing the food, worked on the field and I went with them on a school picnic with the children from their school (they are teachers).
 
All in all, the 4 weeks I spent here were great. And as I said before, if you don’t have many expectations, you will enjoy your stay the most. You will be surprised every day.