The Umbrella Foundation

I spent about two months with Umbrella, living in the Kathmandu volunteer house on weekends and the village that was hosting me during the week. I planned and facilitated lessons and games for the local school-having the ability to choose what age groups I wanted to work with. The language barrier was more challenging that I had anticipated, and there was some pressure in preparing the students for their exams, but the Umbrella staff were amazingly supportive; providing substantial resources and open communication. I was able to learn a lot about Nepali culture and education, while refining my skills as an aspiring teacher. This having been my first time traveling alone and being away from home for an extended period, I found it difficult emotionally, but with the staff and other volunteers I felt safe, supported, and a valuable member of the organization. Volunteering with Umbrella was not only a positive experience for me, but a transformative one.

I spent just over 2 months working at The Umbrella Foundation. It was one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of my life. The children and staff are fantastic. We had breakfast with and walked the children to school. Then we had the day to organise activities for them. We setup sporting events, participated in a women's rights day and performed for the children. We also ran the weekly pub quiz in Thamel and travelled with the children to the remoter parts of Nepal.
We also helped setup an education programme for the girls and boys.

This was a brilliant experience and one I would recommend to anyone!!!

Go, now!!!

I loved volunteering at Umbrella. I fell head over heals in love with Nepal, and will be back next summer :) Mornings and Evenings were spent with the kids, who are incredible, and during the day you are free to explore the wonderful country of Nepal. This organization does a great job of exposing you to Nepali culture, as you live in an unadulterated Nepali community, complete with Nepali living arraignments, chores, and food. Still, Umbrella leaves you feeling safe while in the country, and gives you room to be a tourist, too. As far as day-to-day life goes, you eat with the kids, walk them to school, plan their activities, and help them with their homework. You are considered their di or didi (big brother or sister), and you feel like they belong to you, too. I love these kids so so so much, and am so grateful to have been a part of their lives and their family. Honestly, I can't speak highly enough of Umbrella. My summer their totally changed my life. It is wonderful. And Umbrella goes above and beyond the call of duty for these kids, in its efforts to reunite families, and give the children true homes, once again. It is an incredible place, changing the world, one kid at a time.

I lived with a host family who made me feel part of the family from the very start, my host father called me his "Irish daughter"! By the end of my time volunteering at the school I could see a real difference in the English levels of some of the children, and they were all much more enthusiastic in practising their English! Apart from English classes, we had art club, played cricket and went on lovely walks with the village kids. I used to come back and spend the weekends in Kathmandu in the volunteer house and chill out, eat western food and spend time with other volunteers-a well deserved break!

Apart from the awesome staff, awesome kids and the awesome other volunteers, you really get a sense of doing REAL good because you see directly where donations are going, to HELPING people - its an AMAZING programme. The reason I chose Umbrella in the first place was because they had a reputation for not swallowing all the donations in administration. I really seen this when I was there, as you could see that your donations were going to the children and they (as should be!) were the number one priority! I have raised money for other charities and will continue to do so in the future, but I have often been disappointed by the way that the money has gone to pay peoples wages rather than do any actual work for the people who need it most - that is why Umbrella is the best for me! So I'd urge anyone thinking of volunteering overseas, please consider Umbrella, you'll have the best time and you'll be doing a whole lot of GOOD!