And so I did. Traveling in and around Nepal made me happy and an aura of refreshment inhabited my eyes. I was relieved to be living better days, rediscovering my life and talking to new people. I knew, however, that these were short-lived memories.  

My tour came to an end even before I realised it. I started pondering those days, thinking how carefree and joyous I was during my travel period. I came to another realisation soon that those days were never coming back. This meant I had to do something other than day-dream.

After the Great Quake, one of my friends suggested that we volunteer for an NGO called WIN (We Inspire Nepal). They had organised a programme called Psychological Support for Children that aimed to help children traumatised by the earthquake. This was the call I had been waiting for. Without further ado, my friend and I signed up for it.  My friend and I met and socialised with new people.  We were trained on how to react to difficult scenarios as well as help other people cope with them. Helping school children brought immense happiness and made my four-days training worth the experience.  

There are many opportunities out there for us to grab. It’s just a matter of whether we are able to catch sight of them or not. And often, one open door leads to another. The four-day programme inspired me to hold onto this attitude. I then

continued to work at programmes such as ‘We: The Changers where my nascent knowledge further developed. I picked up skills in first aid and communication skills. I wanted to continue harbouring this knowledge I had slowly started to accumulate.

Opportunities come in various forms. Although the earthquake wreaked havoc throughout the Valley, it brought an abundance of opportunities for those that want to do something for society. Today, I have learned and realised from my own experience that people lack motivation—not strength.

Manandhar is a +2 graduate from Khwopa HSS