I am sure the next two years in Nepal will be filled with incredible experiences and challenges. I can’t wait to be able to share with you some of these stories and know that your support will be so important when things get tough. Thank you so much for choosing to support VSO and for following my volunteer journey.
Throughout my studies at university and the years following I was acutely aware of the challenges facing communities across the developing world, from famine in East Africa to the difficulties faced by the as yet economically undeveloped Indian subcontinent. But what could I, a newly graduated student, do that could make a difference?
While I went on to start a family and a career in farming in the UK, it was attending a recent talk from VSO returned volunteers that reignited this interest. This time around I had both the time and skills that could be put to use to support people facing the multiple challenges poverty brings, and find ways for them to build a sustainable source of income. I am privileged to be able to work with poor, marginalised subsistence farmers and householders towards meeting their needs of a secure food supply and improved income creating better outcomes for them in terms of education, health and life choices.
The benefits of having a secure livelihood are immeasurable for a family facing a life-time of poverty and being involved in the fight against poverty is central to my motivation of working with VSO in Nepal.
After 40 years in farming and food production the time has come to share my skills and experience for the benefit of people (or families) in developing communities. My first degree was in Environmental Science which will play powerfully to VSO’s cross cutting theme of Climate Change by helping people in developing countries gain the resilience and ability needed to withstand the impact of climate change.
