My
time here in Pokhara so far (5 weeks) has been absolutely wonderful
both at the orphanage and all around it. I have never been to a
community that is so trusting and honest; it is the perfect place for
first time travellers who are getting out of their comfort zone. It is
very safe everywhere, even at night, and everything is close by so it’s
not hard to get all of the essentials that you need.

I had some communication complications between the organization who
sent me here and Krishna, so everything was put together very last
minute. Despite the time constraint of only 2-3 days of notice that I
was coming, Krishna organized late-night pickup for me from the airport,
a hotel in Kathmandu, a bus ride to Pokhara, and a hotel for me to stay
in by the time I got there. When you’re arriving in a foreign country
very late, having everything all set up is more than any traveller could
ask for.

Krishna and his wife, Parbati, really treat you like family while you
are in their country. They understand that there are many cultural
differences that you are not accustomed to and they try their best to
accommodate you in any way possible. They will also take you on trips to
the market place or to places with beautiful views, as well as help
arrange things like treks and trips to farther places in Nepal.

As for the orphanage, the kids are wonderful. Aside from being super
cute, they are very responsible for their age and get joy out of very
simple things that most first-world children don’t. They have the
imaginations of the early 90s kids and anyone before them because they
do not rely on technology for entertainment. They love to do things like
go for picnics in the park, make superhero masks out of paper, and play
games that involve competition. They sometimes need help with homework
and learning English and it is always fun to help them with both.
Luxuries that they enjoy are chicken, popcorn, candy, toy cars for the
boys, and makeup for the girls. Those items are easy to buy and cheap
from a volunteer’s perspective, so it is nice to buy it for them every
once in a while (but not too often!).

Being at the orphanage provides a learning experience not only for
the children, but also for yourself as a volunteer. You can learn so
much from being around the children and see something that you maybe
thought was long gone from your own society. It has been such a
refreshing experience for me so far and for the remainder of my stay (3
weeks) I only expect to learn more and come home with great memories and
new friendships.

If you are concerned about ending up at a “bad” orphanage, I can
definitely say that this one checks out. The children are treated very
well, their living situation is good, and their bellies are always full.
Krishna really wants to help the kids and see them learn whenever
possible. He likes them to play games and do activities where they learn
as much as possible to help them in their future.

So, all-in-all, I would highly recommend volunteering with this
specific orphanage. The time they need volunteers the most is during the
winter (November-March). They have been lucky enough to get solar
panels and a water filter installed by one of the volunteers, but they
are still in need of financial support for things like food and rent. So
come help out whenever possible and you’ll get an amazing experience
out of it!