I had to write to you. Having travelled in both Asia and Africa,
I was immediately struck by a sense of safety and comfort upon my
arrival in Nepal almost one year ago. Though I was supposed to stay
only five months, something about the friendly, smiling faces made me
stay longer. I taught English, made a library, travelled around the
country. Then, I began to work with INFO Nepal that organizes
placements for foreign volunteers as Volunteer Coordinator. I had
responsibility, freedom, and variety in my work.
Then, things
went very, very wrong. I arrived at work one morning to an e-mail from
two of our volunteers placed in Prabatipur, Chitwan. There had been a
horrific sexual harassment incident in the home where they were staying
with INFO's host family. What followed was a long saga of
misunderstanding between my employers and I over the question of
refunding the volunteers who pay 125 euros a week to be in Nepal. The
incident opened my eyes and I saw the organization for what it was: a
business, a money-making enterprise, disguised as an NGO. Volunteers
weren't valued, appreciated or respected. Prior to arrival, the
volunteers were promised the moon but once they got here and paid their
fees, the attitude changed dramatically.
This is only a brief
summary of one organization dealing with volunteers. This has resulted
in foreigners, myself included, beginning to lose trust in Nepalis.
Certainly not all Nepalis are this way, but I have become skeptical.
This is a problem for the entire country, and thus should be taken
seriously by all Nepalis.
Brittany Sear volunteered with INFO Nepal in the year of 2007. Her Experience was published in a well known and reliable local news paper here are the links http://www.nepalitimes.com.np/issue/2008/07/25/Nation/14142
http://www.nepalitimes.com.np/issue/375/Letters/14199