How about all of that, while making a huge impact, gaining work experience from the locals and learning a whole new way of life? That’s got to sound sort of tempting.

Projects Abroad has been running for over 25 years, and is the world’s largest provider of international volunteering, internships and meaningful travel experiences. With safety at the heart of everything they do - from learning directly from doctors at a hospital in Mongolia to joining the shark conservation project in Fiji – they take full accountability from the moment you first contact them to the moment you return home.

In January 2019, I headed off to Kathmandu, Nepal to complete the Childcare project across three months. This was my first time being away from home for so long – nervous would be an understatement.

Sheltered by the Himalayas, Nepal is a magical place full of very raw realities. It wasn’t an easy country to visit, but so worth it. Arriving after a 30-hour journey to chaotic crowds at the airport – I was greeted instantly by my mentor. She reassured me the panic was normal and I’d soon be with other volunteers. The first couple nights were spent at the hotel that Projects Abroad is involved with, recovering from the initial culture shock and tiredness. I vividly remember waking up to the hustle of the city outside and thinking ‘what am I doing?’

Days later, I was driven and introduced to my host family just outside Kathmandu and with the warmest welcome you could imagine. Kedar and his family were the kindest, most hospitable people – this was so comforting as it can feel quite strange stepping into someone’s home that is about to be your accommodation for the next three months.

After settling in, Kedar’s wife walked me to the school I would be completing my Childcare project with. For the first couple weeks, I was given a class of 3-4-year-olds to care for. This would involve singing nursery rhymes, playing games, practicing the alphabet. Over time, I was joined by a volunteer I met, and we decided to co-teach three different classes a day of children aged 3-11-years-old.

My favourite activities were drawing out colouring pages, one character for every letter of the alphabet and once the whole class were done, we made them all into a scrapbook as a memoir. Another fun one was getting one of the classes to do self-portraits and asking them to write their favourite things about themselves. I remember one girl writing “my favourite thing about myself is my fringers.” There were plenty of these moments that will stick with me forever.

Setting aside the school, my project and the host family, that wasn’t all there was to this trip.

Weekends consisted of booking last minute hostels with the other volunteers I made friends with, in whatever random part of Nepal we wanted to explore next. Whether it was exploring the jungle of Chitwan, visiting the temples of Bhaktapur, snuggling into a wooden tepee at the top of Nagarkot or enjoying the view of the Annapurna range from Pokhara. I’ve never fitted so many things into such a short range of time. The parties were amazing, the culture of Kathmandu is energetic; I’ve made memories I’ll never forget.

One of my favourite moments was paragliding across Pokhara, over Phewa lake and looking over at the Himalayas. See what I mean when I say you still get to feel rejuvenated?

Projects Abroad’s plans are big. “We believe meaningful travel provides a defining experience for young people as they move from adolescence into adulthood, and we know the work we do transforms communities.”

For more information, go to www.projects-abroad.co.uk