The Happy Kids Center
Volunteering for 10 days at the Happy Kids Center in Bhaktapur, Nepal
On April 25, 2015, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck Nepal, killing 9,000 people, injuring 22,000 and leaving hundreds of thousands more homeless. Bhaktapur, an ancient capital of Nepal nestled amidst surrounding mountains and located approximately 45 minutes outside Kathmandu, bore one of the heaviest impacts during the earthquake.
Kevin and Joanna opened the Happy Kids Center for children in the community to gather after school, or after work, as many of the children gather trash in the town square instead of attending school. I found out about the center through a mutual friend on Facebook and decided to extend my trip to Nepal and finish out my visa after a trekking trip there. I split off from my friends and headed to Bhaktapur for 11 days to volunteer at the center and create a short video to help with fundraising.
On the ride over from my Kathmandu hostel, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The town of Bhaktapur is off the beaten tourist path and had just been hit by a significant earthquake two years prior. I stayed with a beautiful family for the first three nights - Chadani is 21 years old and cares for her entire family by working as a teacher at the local school and at the center after work. Their family welcomed me and fed me to no end, as is the culture there. I helped her mother peel garlic for the daal baht, played with the children as they got ready for school, and Chadani insisted on me taking her bed. I had to graciously thank them for their hospitality and check in to a guest house after a few days.
The people of Bhaktapur are a beautiful and resilient representation of the country as a whole. I met friends here and made memories I know will last a lifetime. At the guesthouse I met a vivacious, hilarious Irish girl who was traveling the world solo, and aside from volunteering at the center, we visited a Tibetan shaman, trekked to a nearby temple, witnessed a local wedding, and attended a "chicken party" where we helped a local farmer pluck, skin, clean and prepare a chicken dinner.