Hello and welcome to my blog! Firstly a massive thank you for choosing to follow my placement in Nepal, and for understanding the importance of keeping girls in education.
I visited Nepal in the 1980’s and instantly fell in love with the country’s culture and people. When this placement was advertised on the VSO website I knew this was a sign to follow my lifelong goal of helping others less fortunate than myself and sharing my skills as a head teacher.
Choosing to volunteer is a huge change in my life; I’ve been in the same small village in Aberdeenshire for the last 19 years, and the primary school I lead has been the centre of all of this. I’m leaving the post with a heavy heart and nerves of what is ahead, but my whole village has been behind my big move, and has never let me doubt my decision to pack up home!
I am really excited about working in, rather than just visiting, Nepal. I’ve just come back from my VSO training weekend, where I was really shocked to find out how few Nepali girls finish their education. In fact, each girl in Nepal is only in school for an average of three years, and less than half can read or write. This is heart-breaking when you think of the successful future full of opportunities they are missing out on.
But VSO has an established programme called Sisters for Sisters that is breaking this cycle of girls growing up without schooling. Sisters for Sisters groups young girls (Little Sisters) with older girls (Big Sisters) to encourage the Little Sisters to stay in school. It is a wonderful idea using the power of friendship. I’m looking forward to seeing how my experience of training my teachers in Scotland can be used to help the Big Sisters make learning a fun environment for the Little Sisters.
10 year old Prinsi now comes to school every day thanks to the Sisters for Sisters programme. I can’t wait to encourage more girls like Prinsi to stay in school.
Anyway, for now I must rush off to finish my packing, and get my final injections so I’m ready to go. It’s quite daunting not knowing what my new life will hold, but knowing you are here beside me throughout is a huge boost – thank you so much.
I’ll catch up soon when I’m in Nepal!
Take care,
Eunice
Photograph: ©VSO/Peter Caton