Volunteering abroad as a family is something many people dream about—but few actually do. For the McKeown family, that dream became a reality when a family of four traveled to Nepal to volunteer together: a mom, dad, a 16-year-old daughter, and a 13-year-old son.
From the very beginning, the experience felt special.
Feeling Like Family From Day One
“From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel welcome by Rajesh, his family, and staff.”
Rajesh made us feel like family. The guides were excellent and helped us in the classroom. We enjoyed working with the children and teachers and were given lots of responsibility. Right away, it felt like more than just a volunteer placement—it felt like we belonged.
Volunteering Together, Following Our Strengths
We appreciated the flexibility and diversity this program offered. As a family, we were able to split up based on our interests and skills.
My husband and son chose to paint and renovate a new school, while my daughter and I taught at the kindergarten. It was challenging, which made it worthwhile.
Teaching wasn’t always easy, but that was part of the reward. My daughter learned how to plan lessons and how to think on her feet. As she learned to do this, the lessons ran much smoother. The students responded well to creativity—songs with actions, drawing and labelling, games—just like students in any country.
More Than Volunteering
Our stay was more than volunteering. We learned so much about Nepal.
We made momos, did yoga, went into town, and learned about daily life. Rajesh encouraged us to learn about Nepalese culture—from Buddhism, to Nepalese names, to food, to community. Our guides showed us around the town, temples, and old palaces, explaining the history and politics of the country.
We also did yoga, had cooking classes, language lessons, and visited a monastery and temples.
All of this made us feel like we were helping—and learning.
A Home Away From Home
We truly felt like guests in their home: playing with their dogs, chatting around the table, and enjoying their company. The house is beautiful and comfortable, and we felt completely safe.
Thank you, Nepal.
Continuing the Journey
Since volunteering, we have done a four-day trek near Pokhara and are currently in Chitwan. Our kids have already been complimented for knowing a few phrases in Nepalese and having some idea about the country.
Their thirst for knowledge came from volunteering at the school and chatting with Rajesh and his guides.
Thanks for a great experience!
