Projects Abroad High School Summer Program in Nepal

From the moment that I was picked up from the airport by the Projects Abroad staff I always felt safe and welcomed throughout the whole program. After a few days doing the care project I took up the offer to change projects as the girl I was doing the care one had fallen sick. The staff did anything that they could to make sure I was comfortable and having fun so they offered for me to switch to the medical program with people my own age. They organised all the transport and accommodation for me to move to the other group. From there on I had the best week and a half of my life getting to experience things that I would never have seen at home alongside some amazing people who I have built long- term friendships with. We got assess to hospitals to observe doctors and procedures, lectures by medical professionals and opportunity to go to the medical college. We got to go on a weekend trip to the local national park where we went on a safari and went to museums and watch cultural dancing. We were always able to go shopping and the staff were always happy to take us. All our meals were provided and there was always a wide range of options. I came away from this experience with memories and friends that will last a lifetime and a longing to do it all again.

My trip to Nepal was amazing. This was my first time overseas where I didn't know anyone prior to departure. I had great assistance from before the trip, so I knew what to expect. However, even though I had been well informed about Nepal and what I would be doing on the trip, nothing could prepare me for how amazing Nepal would be. My local guides made me feel at home as they would always be there to help me when I needed them. They were always very approachable. While in Nepal I was also kept very well informed by my supervisors. I also met some amazing friends who I have caught up with and am I still talking to them a month after my trip finished. Staying with people for two weeks that are not members of my family is something I have never done before. This allowed us to get to know each other very well.

My project that I participated in was the building of new classrooms for a school. The building project was an amazing experience. We were welcomed into the school right from the beginning. We mostly laid bricks and made/mixed concrete by hand. Although we had to do physical work, our engineers and supervisors always made sure the job was suitable for our age and skill level. Our supervisors always made sure we were hydrated and not too tired. As a group, we always tried to do as much as possible each day. We arrived towards the end of the construction of the school so we were able to see the fully constructed rooms. We also got to understand how much work went into the project before we arrived.

Other than working on the building site, we were able to experience Nepal. We got to eat traditional food at restaurants, visit temples and walk around the streets. Over the weekend, we were able to visit Pokhara. The 7 hours to Pokhara was definitely worth it. In Pokhara, we had amazing views of mountains. We even got to wake up early to experience the sunrise where the sun appeared from a sea of clouds. The sun managed to light up the mountains.
Overall, I really enjoyed this trip and would recommend it to any student my age!

My trip to Nepal was fantastic. It gave me the opportunity to fly alone (well with my now amazing friend Marnie), meet friends from all over the world (Hong Kong, California and Leeds to name a few!) and provide the privilege of being able to feel you made a small difference to a country. There were many highlights of my trip including seeing the birth of a beautiful baby boy, teaching school children how to brush their teeth and visiting a care home for children with a range of disabilities and learning needs. On top of this placements within hospitals provided an incredible insight into what it was like to work in a hospital in a developing country (and as a long term goal of mine was extremely useful). Like most trips however, what made it was the wonderful people I met who 6 months on I am still in touch with and we talk regularly on video calls. Chris our group leader was amazing taking us to the bakery across from our hotel almost every night. All the projects abroad staff were lovely and we even managed to have a favourite Nepalese song by the end of the trip courtesy to our drivers! Trips like these are ones that change you as a person and change your view of the world, I would thoroughly recommend undertaking a trip the projects abroad.

It was my first volunteering experience abroad and it's definitely not going to be the last one! Going there and actually participating in a life changing made me realise how easy it is to make a difference and improve peoples lives with the smallest contribution.
The program is a very good introduction to the volunteering world at such a young age.

I feel that I made a difference and that what I did was really valued by the local people. I do feel that we made a better place for the kids and that it will improve their lives in a small way.
Although this was a very good experience and I made very good friends from all over the world (I'm still in contact with some of them), I wanted more. At some points I felt more of a tourist than an actual volunteer which is why next time I take part in a volunteering project I want to live with a family to fully understand and have a sense of what their day to day life is like.

Half a year ago I stepped onto a plane (alone for the first time) going to Kathmandu. I knew the journey I was embarking on would be one that would in part define my life. A friend who had done the Medical Programme for High School Students said that if I was undecided about going to Med school, then I should take part in the programme. Now, as a medical student (awaiting my 1st anatomy exam) I can say that my journey in Nepal with Projects Abroad has been the crucial step towards my medical career.
All the things that I have seen and done while in Nepal, both in the medical aspect (ie. clinical rotations in numerous hospital wards, as well as seeing a dissection and surgery) and the socio-cultural aspect (eg. learning Nepali dances, trying the cuisine) will stay in my memory forever.
The only thing that I can do now is to thank the entire Projects Abroad team (especially Acquilles) from the bottom of my heart and recommend the trip to anyone who might be interested!

I went with Projects Abroad the summer of 2018 to Nepal for their medical internship program for teens. It was my first time out of country alone, and as a 15 year old, I felt completely safe! Everyone on the staff and especially the coordinators were so helpful and always ensured I was safe, healthy, and having fun.

The program is structured on a rotational basis. You’re split into groups and you’ll spend everyday at a different hospital or clinic. There are also labs, lectures, and outreaches, and sightseeing tours set up for you. For the program itself, the most important thing is to be proactive. The doctors at all the hospitals you go to speak English, but they won’t take time out of their overcrowded schedules to interact with you! However, if you show your interest and make an active effort to be k clover, they’ll be more than happy to accommodate you! I still remember some of the beautiful conversations I had. I got to help perform biopsies at the cancer hospital because I asked, and the surgeon said sure! I also do a delivery, an abortion, and many, many eye exams.

Nepal is a beautiful country with a very diverse culture! The program was based in Chitwan, near the Indian border, and it was very, very humid. The hotel you stay at all have AC though, and I honestly looked forward to returning to a blast of freezing air from my hotel room. The locals are so friendly, and the food is delicious. Gosh I still miss the momos. It’s important to keep and open mind when you go, because Nepal is still a developing country and it is to be expected that things are not the standard they are at back home. That being said, it was a very enriching experience, both in terms of the medical procedures I learned and from the diverse cast that made up my group! I never thought I would have a conversation about the Italian school system or Poland’s geographical features, but I did, and more!

I spent 2 weeks in Nepal volunteering in a school. My volunteer programme was part of the high school specials. I would recommend this for anyone who is interested in taking part in a volunteering programme but is nervous about it. The staff were amazing and made sure you were never put into situations you were uncomfortable with. This trip was my first time in Asia, so the culture shock was a bit scary, but thanks to the staff I felt as if I settled in nicely and by the end of the trip I didn't want to leave! Once you get to understand the culture, you'll love it.
The first week in the school we helped to rejuvenate some of the rooms to make it a nicer working environment from the children. This was so much fun as we got to make our own designs for the classrooms. In the second week we ran some classes for the children. All of the kids were so enthusiastic and their mentality towards education was inspiring.
The weekend in between we went to Pokhara which was beautiful. It was a long drive but definitely worth it. As soon as you get there you can tell the air is so much cleaner than in Kathmandu. They took us to temples and to waterfalls, it was stunning.
Overall, I absolutely loved my experience with ProjectsAbroad in Nepal, the only downside to it was that I only had two weeks there!

Projects Abroad Nepal Medicine for high school students was EXTREMELY reliable and responded quickly to communications. The placement exceeded expectations and airport transfers/transfers in general, were reliable and safe! Many staff members were there to assist you and always cared for you!

During the placements, the staff provided you with support to get engaged with the physicians. We always had a chaperone with us to and from our placements. Food was taken care of! It was great as always! The doctors and surgeons at the hospitals were friendly and truly wanted to include you in the consultations and emergency situations.

Only con of this trip: International students were very hostile to Americans and the dance/fun activities were not facilitated well.