Hello, my name is Michaela Rossmann and I’m an EU Aid Volunteer, sent by ADICE, to volunteer with VIN for the next 8 months.
I come from Italy, but I’ve lived in the UK for 14 years and I’m now based in Kathmandu as a Senior Volunteer Coordination and Management Volunteer. My work focusses on processes and procedures in VIN’s volunteering team. This includes reviewing logistics, the information provided to volunteers pre-placement, and how volunteers at VIN receive support to make sure they have the best experience possible.
VIN offers a holistic approach to support development for marginalised communities around the Kathmandu Valley as well as Okhaldunga. The organisation has a variety of programmes in education, women’s empowerment, youth and child development, disaster and risk reduction, public health and medical care as well as environment and conservation.
I arrived in Kathmandu at the end of September and my manager, Dinesh Katiwada, came to pick me up at the airport and took me to the flat, where I’m living in with another EU Aid volunteer. Luckily I arrived on a Saturday so I could get my bearings and discover my surroundings on Sunday before starting at the VIN office on Monday.
The office is a 5-minute walk from the flat, so very conveniently located.
It was really nice to meet my new colleagues and they welcomed me with open arms. I felt accepted and included from the start. I also received a three-day induction, which included health and safety, an overview of how VIN works, cultural information as well as some Nepali lessons. It’s a bit of a tricky language but it’s nice to know that I can say a few things like: the food is delicious!… because it IS delicious! Daal Bhat (lentils and rice) and Momos (filled little dumplings) are just lovely.
Dinesh and I have created a monthly work plan which helps me prioritise my work load. At the moment I’m reviewing the information that volunteers receive after their application but before their arrival. It’s so important that volunteers receive accurate information about their placement, whether it’s for 2 weeks or 3 months, because having a clear understanding of the volunteer role is key to making it a success.
I’ve also been involved in the Human Rights week, which meant that I have put together a workshop to talk about Violence Against Women as well as a school workshop about Gender Equality and Sexual Harassment.
I collaborated with international volunteers as well as local volunteers on how to facilitate these sessions and we reached 216 students in two different schools and 66 women in three cooperative groups.
One of the student’s feedback explains the impact the session had on her: I like this program and organisation. I think this organisation should work in all rural areas of our country. I will talk to my friends, teachers and my family about gender equality and sexual harassment. And I would suggest to both my parents, teachers and neighbours to talk about harassment and to control it.
It was also great to be able to facilitate VIN’s monthly volunteers meeting. This has allowed me to really look at what volunteers enjoy the most, and where there’s room for improvement. It was a fun session with games, cake and feedback!
Within the first month, all EU Aid volunteers in Nepal were also invited to the residence of the EU Ambassador, Veronica Cody. This was a lovely networking event where we met Nepalese Erasmus Mondo students, explored potential new partnerships and talked about how the EU is supporting Nepal. It was a very inspiring and interesting evening- and a privilege to meet the ambassador.
The combination of seeing volunteers and projects in action, talking directly to beneficiaries, in combination with the work I do behind the scenes make this placement such a joy. I feel humbled and fortunate to have the opportunity to contribute my volunteer management skills to VIN and for them being open to them in return.
I’m looking forward to the coming months, with more field trips and collaborations, as well as exploring Nepal as a country a bit more.
Member of