Kira, 4th year. International Studies and Modern Languages
Host country: Nepal
Canadian NGO: Alternatives Canada
Local NGO: NGO Federation of Nepal
As a 4th year student in International Studies and Modern Languages, I wasn’t sure if my studies had fully equipped me to discover this new culture and immerse myself in it – I had never learned about Nepal in any of my classes. However, the second I landed in the bustling capital city of Kathmandu, I knew I would find my place here.
Culturally, I found myself quite at home. Nepali food is delicious and Nepali people are kind and welcoming – what more could I ask for! I am slowly learning the language, and I feel that my background as a Modern Languages student has given me the right tools to work towards learning a new language. With some hard work and a willingness to ask questions, I think anyone with a passion for languages would enjoy learning Nepali and its beautiful Devanagari script.
The Kathmandu valley is home to a host of NGOs working towards the betterment of Nepal, through its 7 provinces and 77 districts. My host NGO, the NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN), spans across the whole country, and acts as an umbrella organization which encompasses many smaller NGOs in order to empower them and provide resources to them. Perhaps its largest project is the current planning of the 16th edition of the World Social Forum – the project I am currently working on. The WSF provides an open space for activists, NGOs and academics alike to connect and find alternative solutions in order to work towards a world which values non-discrimination, the eradication of poverty, climate justice, and more. As I am writing this, I’m looking forward to the WSF, which will take place in about a week. I hope that I’ll be able to connect with passionate people from around the globe and learn more about their lived experiences. My classes in comparative politics and IR will surely give me a solid background to understand various historical contexts and ideologies that I will encounter in a few days. My degree topic is rewarding, but it will be even more rewarding to associate academic theories to real issues and perspectives. As I simultaneously work in communications, translation, and documentation with the WSF Secretariat, I look forward to learning more about topics such as climate justice, responsible business, anti-casteism and more issues affecting Nepal and the rest of the world.