Volunteering in Nepal – English teaching to impoverished children in Buddhist Monasteries

It still seems so unreal to think that very soon I will be among the hundreds of volunteers in Nepal! I cannot express in words how much I am looking forward to this experience in one of the least developed countries in the world according to the United Nations criteria. The abilities in the field of education discovered and developed during the last couple of years make me believe I could bring the most significant impact in this area. Thus, for a month during this summer I will be teaching English and Maths to young Buddhist monks, most of whom are either Tibetan refugees or impoverished children from ethnic hill tribes.

(Pare inca atat de ireal sa ma gandesc ca in curand voi fi unul dintre sutele de voluntari in Nepal! Nu as putea vreodata exprima in cuvinte cu cata nerabdare astept sa ofer o mana de ajutor in aceasta tara ce, conform criteriilor Organizatiei Natiunilor Unite, figureaza pe lista celor mai slab dezvoltate din lume. Interesul pentru educatie si abilitatile pe care le-am descoperit si fructificat in ultimii doi ani ma fac sa cred ca as putea aduce cel mai mare impact in acest domeniu. Asadar, timp de o luna voi preda limba engleza si matematica tinerilor calugari budisti din Nepal, dintre care cei mai multi sunt refugiati tibetani sau copii saraci din diversele triburi nepaleze.)

Spending their childhood training to become monks is for these children not only a matter of learning Buddhist philosophy and practices. Instead, it is a way to get access to formal education, which includes Maths, Science and English. Many of them leave the monastery at a certain point and get integrated back into mainstream society, which means that the education they receive is crucial to getting better career prospects and overcoming poverty in the future.

(In ciuda aparentelor, anii petrecuti la manastire nu ii echipeaza pe tinerii calugari doar cu cunostinte despre filosofia si practicile budiste. In schimb, motivul pentru care atat de multi copii saraci se indreapta catre pregatirea religioasa e accesul la educatie pe care aceasta il ofera. Multi dintre ei parasesc manastirea in cele din urma, iar studierea matematicii, a stiintelor si a limbii engleze asigura o reintegrare usoara in societate, perspective mai bune de angajare si, deci, o sansa mare de a depasi saracia in viitor.)

Having the chance to share my knowledge with and leave an impact on these children is something I have dreamt of for a long time. I have a double aim – first, to bring my contribution to these children’s education and increase their chance at a better future; second, to understand as much as I can about underdeveloped countries, about the efficiency of different educational approaches and about what I could do in the future in order to offer further help. This month of volunteering is just a first step. Others will follow. But unfortunately, the overall cost of everything needed for this to happen (flight tickets, accommodation, meals, visa etc) is pretty high. I have been trying to gather the necessary money in the last several months by working as a teaching assistant and as a private Maths tutor online, and I would so much appreciate any small donation which will help me cover a part of the total cost. The goal of £500 is purely symbolic, any amount whatsoever will be helpful. Also, I intend to donate 20% of the total amount I will manage to raise to the PMGY foundation, a UK registered charity which provides financial aid and assistance to a large variety of projects carried out in some of the poorest countries around the world. So, if you have the possibility, please donate to support the spread of education and the fight with poverty in Thirld World Countries!

(Sansa de a-mi folosi cunostintele pentru a lasa un impact asupra unor copii ce au nevoie reala de ajutor e un vis pe care mai devreme sau mai tarziu trebuia sa il implinesc. Pornesc in aceasta calatorie cu doua scopuri – primul, de a contribui la educatia acestor copii si a le mari sansele la un viitor mai bun; al doilea, de a intelege cat mai mult despre tarile subdezvoltate, despre eficienta diverselor sisteme de invatamant, despre ce voi mai putea face in viitor pentru a ajuta. Aceasta luna de voluntariat e doar un prim pas. Vor mai urma si altii. Insa din pacate, toate cheltuielille necesare pentru o intreprinde o astfel de actiune de voluntariat (biletele de avion, chiria, mesele, viza etc) se ridica la o valoare destul de mare. Am incercat sa strang banii necesari in ultimele luni oferind lectii private de matematica si lucrand ocazional ca asistent didactic; as aprecia enorm orice donatie, cat de mica, care sa ma ajute sa acopar o parte din costul total. Telul de £500 e pur simbolic, orice suma va fi de ajutor. De asemenea, imi propun sa donez 20% din suma totala pe care o voi strange fundatiei PMGY, o asociatie caritabila inregistrata in Regatul Unit ce ofera ajutor financiar si suport unei varietati mari de proiecte desfasurate in cele mai sarace tari ale lumii. Asadar, daca ai posibilitatea, doneaza si tu pentru a sustine raspandirea educatiei si lupta cu saracia in tarile din lumea a treia!)