On Sunday the 7th September three TVCTA members apprentices Josh, from Moorlands Heritage with Jack and Rob from Morris + Blunt, went on a volunteering trip to Nepal following their success in this years apprentice competition, arranged and funded by the TVCTA. Nobody could have guessed what would happen next!
Sadly, their trip was cut short due to the unprecedented riots and protests following the social media ban, shootings, and eventual resignation of the Prime Minister and collapse of parliament. Tensions throughout Nepal were extremely high, and after Kathmandu airport was set ablaze and curfews enforced across the country, the three apprentices spent 6 days locked in a hotel, nervously watching the chaos unfold from their room.
The goal of the trip was for them to travel to a country in need, help a community rebuild, and in return gain life experience that would shape their view of the world and their place in it. Whilst there, they witnessed how fast a society can break down, and the consequences that can unfold when we fail to stick together. Whilst military and police forces were distracted by the events, looting within the community began and fights broke out between neighbours. Those hit hardest were the very people and communities we were there to help.
One could think this trip was a failure; no schools rebuilt, no communities supported, no wildlife parks explored. One could think the three winning apprentices were denied an opportunity to learn about themselves and experience the world, but we’re not so sure. Three young strangers travelled to a foreign land in need of support, but were unable to help the community or themselves. We didn’t plan for their time in Nepal to go like this, but it is more often moments like this that shape us. It is more often through hardship, not ease, that we grow.
After 6 days together, no longer strangers, tensions calmed just enough to get a flight home. All three are now safely back on UK soil with their families. This experience will stay with them for life. Their world view has undoubtably changed, and their place in it clearer. This still ended up being a valuable trip with many lessons learnt. Maybe not the trip we planned, or the one they expected, but one still filled with life lessons and perspective. Whilst protests and disruption rage on in Nepal, and the death toll now exceeding 50, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and affected communities, and we wish the first female Prime Minister the best of luck in rebuilding.
