Hello, and Namaste!

I am so excited to share that my children and I are moving to a small village in Nepal (Khandbari in eastern Nepal) this spring in hopes that it will benefit many Nepali children and families, as well as us! I am reaching out to mental health providers and the "I heart Nepal" community to seek support!

As a social worker and psychotherapist, I will be providing innovative social work and mental health services to the community of a growing K-12 school for one year. I will start with a multi-approach needs assessment and from there, work with the school community to develop a plan for individual, group, and larger community services. Services may include individual therapy, topic-focused groups, staff presentations and workshops, provision of relevant educational information, and more-- really, the opportunity to be creative is one of my favorite parts! None of these services exist in the school at present, but, I will not bulldoze my way into their community and set up services without the highest level of humility and cultural respect, which are characteristics I have learned through two decades of personal and professional work and travel in numerous and varied places, both in the states and abroad.

I will also consider the wider needs of the Khandbari community. Khandbari is the hub for the hilly district, yet mental health services are scarce to none. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts are experienced by Nepalis; in fact, students specifically are listed as a particularly vulnerable group to these conditions by numerous community-based studies. Systemic stressors, such as poverty, limited access to health care, and civil unrest compound these concerns. And, I will work to build sustainability where possible into programs and services so the support can continue when we leave.

Ever since my visits to Nepal 25 years ago as a student, volunteer, and traveler, I have dreamed of returning to those green hills, white mountain peaks, and smiley faces with my own children one day. I had my first of two children 11 years ago, and I have finally worked out a way to do this! They will be enrolled in the school in which I will be working. My goal is to integrate them into the community so they can learn the language, culture, and customs of the village. I believe that learning from other cultures is one of the best ways to develop empathy and an open mind, which I believe, in turn, is one of the most important ways to become a positive force for our planet's future.

This opportunity is coming at a tremendous cost. The cost of the volunteer opportunity is $8,000. I am not paid a salary, so I will be going for the full year without an income. Additionally, I have to pay all travel expenses to and within the country, purchase clothing and supplies necessary for living in Nepal, as well as pay for storage of our belongings, and items like internet, phone, etc. As I am a single parent earning a modest income currently, this is an overwhelming demand. I also hope to take my kids on a Himalayan trek to relish in the beauty of the highest and most gorgeous mountains in the world so they may have an experience of a lifetime. I would be thrilled to be gifted any amount of the $8,000 program costs. Any that I am not gifted and all the rest is up to me!

Thank you, Namaste, and Dhanyabad!