Nepal, naturally a paradise enriched with huge diversity of flora and fauna in the scenic panorama of the plain tarai, the hills and the Himalayas. Diverse ethnicity and religions, vibrant culture and historic heritages make Nepal a heaven. Despite enormous potential in tourism industry and hydropower, Nepal is stilled dragged behind due to poverty, lack of education and underdevelopment. The most vulnerable and the foremost sufferers of these wretched situations are always the children.
For education, food and even shelter which are the rights of every human beings, the Nepalese children are forced to live in orphanages and child care homes, the only ray of hope for their lives. Over 15,000 children are believed to be living in more than 800 children homes/ orphanages in Nepal. Among them ‘Kopila Nepal’ is a registered orphanage/ child care home which meets the governments legal standards.
‘Kopila Nepal’ is run by a single woman, Sanu Thapa, who has a strong influence on me for her altruistic efforts and love and care for the children. With sole support and funding from its donors and volunteers from different parts of world, Kopila Nepal is thriving to be a well run and good orphanage. Now, it is on rented land with temporary house made of iron-trust, with facility for children to live, study, play and run around. It is also connected to a school with curriculum of the national education standard. Kopila Nepal houses children from babies to college-age young adults.
Volunteering or voluntourism is a growing trend internationally. Ethical orphanage volunteering is both altruism and self-interest, Veronica Law knows the best what she is doing. She is the first and only one volunteer, I befriended at Kopila Nepal. It is luck or a fate or a destiny that I encountered such a open-hearted, amicable and kind person and share a lifelong memorable incident, yet devastating and tragic – The great earthquake that shook Nepal on 25th of April 2015 and innumerable aftershocks for a month thereafter – sleeping of mattresses laying next to each other of the cold floor of the ground floor , eating together in a common kitchen, shaking together with the mother earth, running out to open field and holding each other tightly with terror on the face but still alive to write these experiences.
Veronica Law shone in ‘Kopila Nepal’ as a ray of hope. Her enthusiasm and optimism describe her personality. She is very positive in attitude and yet she is fond of kids, liked to taste new delicacies. Life is an odyssey where we get meet many faces but a few make a difference. My life is so bestowed with Veronica Law’s precious friendship. I wish her the best in every walk of her life. And again I cannot stay without thanking her for the honor she has given me to write in her book.
Yogita Kharbuja,
Co-ordinator,
Seraph World Pre-school,
Bhaktapur, Nepal