Nepal Women’s Center
A blog written for Webcor Construction internal communications:
Most of us have experienced moments in the middle of the workday when we think, “What if I just quit my job and traveled?” This is typically followed by a few blissfully distracted minutes of daydreaming and teasing the idea with a Google Flights search before returning to work.
At the start of 2020, my main goal was to get a promotion. When 2022 began – nearly two years into the pandemic – I realized I needed to put as much effort into my work/life balance as I was putting into achieving my career goals. Maybe it was the seemingly endless WFH days blurring into nights, or working and living in the same tiny one-bedroom apartment, or going to therapy and discovering what truly brings me joy – or maybe it was finally listening to my heart and believing that taking time off to travel was an attainable goal. Whatever the true catalyst, a distant daydream became a reality when my request for a six-week leave was approved, allowing me to book a roundtrip ticket to Southeast Asia.
I’ve always struggled with the need to know that whatever I’m dedicating myself to is meaningful. Whether it was choosing a major in college or the type of work I sought after graduation, working toward a tangible purpose has always been important. Is what I’m doing helping someone? Is it improving the world? Am I making a difference? The need to feel a sense of purpose did not change when deciding to travel to Nepal.
A few years ago, I read The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, a book in which American philanthropist Melinda French Gates makes a bold claim that perfectly articulated what I have always felt in my heart – when we lift up women, we lift up humanity.
So, why Nepal? I knew I wanted my travel experience to focus on women. My goal was to support their personal growth while bringing their families and communities with them. So, there I was, on my way to a women’s center in a small town within Kathmandu Valley – Kirtipur, Nepal!
Arriving in Nepal. It didn’t take long to realize that my charming demeanor was not what inspired the kindness I felt while living in Nepal. It was simply part of the demands of Nepali culture, guided by the words “guests are god.” Every local I met had a permanent smile and cup of “welcome tea.” In fact, as a small country whose mighty mountains have been attracting tourists since tourism began, Nepal could be considered the birthplace of hospitality.
My first couple of days consisted of an overstimulating introduction to the city and – despite my attempts to keep a brave face – food poisoning had other plans. Once I’d recovered enough to venture outside of my bedroom, I fell in love with the eclectic diversity of Kathmandu, evident in the architecture, cuisine, and people. I strolled past ancient temples and worship grounds dedicated to Hindu and Buddhist faith and building facades that paid tribute to the Indian and Chinese cultures that sandwiched Nepal. Local dress ranged from full saris and scarves to western shorts and t-shirts, and restaurants covered every cuisine from Jordan to Japan. Considering the impressive linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity of the country, it’s no wonder the Nepali people are so accepting and accommodating.
My homestay consisted of two single beds in a room on the ground floor. During my stay, I had two separate roommates who worked at the same women’s center I did. The beds were nothing less than rock hard, but they were all we needed. Our homestay was simple; the bathroom facilities were clean, though without hot water. To my surprise, I found myself looking forward to cold showers by the end of my stay!
My host family of three -- Aashish, Sujata, Manju (pictured above) – has been hosting volunteers for over six years.
As Anthony Bourdain has said so well: “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts; it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind."
Working at the Women’s Center. I taught 3-4-hour English lessons Monday-Saturday in a small room within a concrete building. One-day weekends are standard in Nepal, so no time was wasted at the center. I worked with about 20 women between the ages of 50 and 70, all of whom showed up during the one part of their day that wasn’t dedicated to tending to their families and homes. Every day, they arrived to class ready to empower one another and learn English, Nepali, and financial literacy.* Although we did not have a translator, Rajyalaxmi, the head teacher, was able to translate most of the time. It wasn’t totally bulletproof though, and I had my fair share of awkward pauses and giggles as we tried to understand one another.
Since I was often with another volunteer, we taught as a pair – one of us would lead the lesson while the other sat alongside the women on the floor. Splashes of pink, red, and violet saris brought the classroom to life, like a symbol of the positive energy in the room. The classroom was practically empty, with a single whiteboard and a slab of carpet for the women to sit on — no electricity, textbooks, or tools to aid their learning process. The women had only a pencil and notebook to copy what they learned each day. We made the most of it — I handwrote countless worksheets for homework, purchased workbooks, posters, and additional supplies, and set up a program for upcoming volunteers to receive a “classroom support” list of materials to bring with them if able.
People often say you don’t know the good days until they're gone — but I knew. I felt the good in every day when each woman walked through the door and greeted me with “Namaste.” I felt it in the celebratory moments when they recited the alphabet on their own or correctly spelled a new word. I felt it when I heard how education empowered their voices and taught them how to make informed financial decisions — regardless of their age.
Every day at the end of class, we said a prayer to the goddess of study and sang a song about the uneducated woman. It is a story about the power of education – how it is indispensable for women and how it supports them in choosing the way of life they want to lead. A story of a world where women’s voices, perspectives, and experiences are heard. It was empowering. In many ways, these women taught me —immersing me into their culture and reminding me of the power of determination and persistence. It’s never too late to learn something new!
How I Feel Now. It's difficult to summarize everything I learned from my time in Nepal: My shared connections with the women at the center. The opportunities I had to meet people with such different lives from what I had ever known and to learn from them. The power of education. I reveled in all of it. However, one of the most important lessons I had while away was recognizing a resource I’d lacked for quite some time — a present headspace. With many of my days wide open after class, I picked up my journal and began writing again, read the book I had held for six months but of which I had yet to read a single page, and listened. Every day, Nepal reminded me to stop rushing through the day and take time to breathe and enjoy each moment – an unfamiliar lifestyle for someone who fast-walks everywhere and follows a disciplined schedule throughout the week. When my time and my headspace weren't cluttered with everyday responsibilities, I was able to leave space for others, for adventure, for inspired action – and it led to empowering and beautiful places.
It is no secret that my Marketing/Business Development teammates stepped up while I was away – I’m grateful for them taking work off my worry list. Also thank you to the Webcor Community Engagement Committee for the emotional and financial support in pursuing this volunteer program. It’s been a highlight of my experience at Webcor. A not-so-subtle reminder to everyone at Webcor – take advantage of the Community Building 1:1:1 Program! If you’d like to learn more about how Webcor supports your engagement in the community, look here.
*For context, in 1971, the literacy rate for women in Nepal was 4% – today, it is up to 49%. However, there is much to improve. With only 64 percent of Nepali people aged 15 or older able to read and write, Nepal has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. 91.6 % of women between ages 60 to 64 did not have any form of education.