Recently, Mr. Sudeep Pagedar from Mumbai volunteered in Nepal as a research & documentation officer at Panchakanya V.D.C., Nuwakot. He’s done his Masters of Arts in Disaster management. After the quake hit on Nepal, he somehow managed to come to Nepal to contribute his disaster management skills through an organization “Doctors for You” which was supported by “PATA Nepal Chapter”. Here he shares his first ever international disaster response experience.
“Overcoming all the challenges to serve the community that was in need was the only factor that boosted me continuously to undertake this rare opportunity.”
A guy like me living in Mumbai coming to Nepal in this situation was a huge decision. Before coming to Nepal I knew Kathmandu and Mt. Everest which was the whole picture of Nepal for me. I had lived in a village before but not for 10 continuous days in a disaster condition. Everything was a challenge. Getting to an isolated village across devastated mountainous roads, being cut off with all technology that connected me to my home and the uncertainty of disaster that could hit back any time were nerve racking experiences. However, overcoming all the challenges to serve the community that was in need was the only factor that boosted me continuously to undertake this rare opportunity.
“The best thing about Nepalese is that they dare to cater extraordinary hospitality to visitors of any sorts despite the awful conditions they are in.”
During the time I worked at Panchakanya I got inter-connected with the place and people over there. We were outsiders still we never felt that. The best thing about Nepalese is that they dare to cater extraordinary hospitality to visitors of any sorts despite the awful conditions they are in.
“When needed you need to give up everything that’s been your life and do something. But one thing is for sure it will give you that satisfaction which you won’t be finding anywhere else, not even in the most luxurious clubs of Mumbai, Delhi or Kathmandu.”
The most important thing I’d like to say to any potential volunteer: “When needed you need to give up everything that’s been your life and do something. But one thing is for sure it will give you that satisfaction which you won’t be finding anywhere else, not even in the most luxurious clubs of Mumbai, Delhi or Kathmandu. That’s the kind of high you get! But you’re not doing it for the high, you’re doing it because it needs to be done and the high is just the side effect.” IT’S NOT EASY BUT IT’S WORTH IT! But before coming you need to have some genuine skills to offer and I believe everyone has something to offer.
“When you start volunteering you move beyond your organization and yourself and then you become a part of the community.”
This is a message to all the people “if you want to do something you can always find the ways to do it. Volunteering might not be paid. For a guy like me if I do the same thing elsewhere I’ll make some money. But this volunteering itself is a payment. I can use this experience in future which will be beneficial for me. While you are working you need to have the sense of ownership. When you start volunteering you move beyond your organization and yourself and then you become a part of the community.
“So if you want to do it- do it! If you can do it- do it! Just don’t think you can’t do it!”
At last, It’s not an easy decision to come to a disaster zone to volunteer, but at the end when you’re done with it and you go back, you realize that you small role you has made a big difference. Plus, whoever comes to Nepal right now, they’ve got a huge opportunity. They will be in the frontline of building an entire nation in every way. Nepal is an ideal place to work, especially in the development sectors where you will get to learn a lot of things. So if you want to do it- do it! If you can do it- do it! Just don’t think you can’t do it!
A random guy from Mumbai did it; I urge every professionals of Nepal and around the world, give it a try. Trust me the happiness you see in the faces of the survivors is the priceless payment that values more than anything else.
