Post-workshop Kathmandu

After such an intense week for the workshop, it was great to have a couple of days off before getting stuck into ICS programme design with the Nepal team.

Ravindra (Nepal Country Director) took me and two of the other workshop facilitators, Xenia and Hannah, on a hike just outside Kathmandu. It wasn't quite the Ganesh Himal trek of last November but still great to get out in the fresh air (and driving rain!) While we were hiking we met an old lady who was carrying lots of beautiful flowers. Ravindra told us she said "If you have peace in your mind you will flourish like the sun" before she gave us some of her flowers. Got the impression her husband wasn't quite so deep and meaningful and found our massive height difference far more entertaining! (See pic below).

Sheltering from a downpour

Still waiting... but the crisps help!

Ravindra invited us back to his home after the walk and he introduced us to his goats(!) and his family who taught us how to make momos - traditional Nepali steamed dumplings. Turns out they're not as easy to make as they are delicious but still, it's the effort that counts, right?!

As well as hiking and momo making I managed to squeeze in a bit of shopping to find a traditional kurta which I'm getting made up ready for my India trip next week. There were so many to choose from but I managed to pick one in the end!

After three days in the Nepal office, supporting with ICS programme design I rounded off the week with a singing bowl therapy session. Yes, you read it right. A singing bowl therapy session. I had absolutely no idea what this would entail but will try anything once so with an open mind and comfortable clothes, Hannah, Xenia and I spent an 90 minutes hours ommm-ing, sitting next to, lying holding and even standing INSIDE singing bowls that our "therapist" made "sing" by striking the sides or circling the edge with a soft-tipped mallet. It was definitely an interesting experience, enough so for me to buy a singing bowl to take home. Wonder how long it will take for me to start using it as a fruit bowl!

ICS Global Workshop in Nepal

On August 4th I finally moved into my new flat in London and unpacked the boxes that have been living at Mum and Dad's for most of this year.... and on August 9th I repacked my suitcases and headed off for a three week trip to Nepal and India, kicking off with the ICS (International Citizen Service) Global Training Workshop.

In the last post I wrote, I described my new role as Programme Development Manager for the ICS programme at Restless Development. ICS sends young volunteers from the UK to work alongside national counterparts in developing countries, contributing to projects in Livelihoods, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Civic Participation. For this training workshop, two representatives from each of our eight Restless Development countries travelled to Nepal for a week of training. It was the first time we'd brought the whole team together in one place and it was worth a thousand (often unreliable) skype calls at such a vital time at the end of the one year pilot programme and before the three year scale-up. 

Restless Development ICS Global Team

The week was packed with lots of different sessions including volunteer management, risk assessment, recruitment, selection and training of volunteers and monitoring and evaluation of the projects volunteers will be working on. Everyone really got stuck into the long days I was really impressed with the energy that all the participants and other facilitators managed to maintain right to the end of the week. 

Xenia leads a session on training volunteers

Break-out groups in incredible surroundings next to the training room

Risk assessment discussions

One of the many energisers to break up the training sessions

Half way through the week we had the afternoon off and went into Kathmandu to explore Swayambhunath (aka "monkey temple" - the photos below show why). It was a great break to a very busy week and also a chance to meet with the Restless Development Nepal team who were fantastic hosts!

 The long way up to Swayambhunath

Monkey temple!

 Swayambhunath stupa and golden temple

The stupa at night

At the end of the week, everyone headed off in different directions, with our poor Sierra Leonean colleagues facing nearly a 48 hour journey with stopovers in Doha, Addis Ababa, Accra before reaching Freetown! I didn't have anyway near as far to go as I'm set to stay on in Kathmandu for an extra few days to work more closely with the Nepal team on programme design, squeezing in a bit of weekend time first. I'll fill you in on my next post...

End of workshop presentations

UK-based ICS team and facilitators with Nepal Country Director and his wife