Trekking in the Himalayas
Sunday, February 04, 2018
Three of our Kopila Valley young adults recently had the opportunity of a lifetime to go on a week-long trek in the Himalayas and see the snow-capped mountains of the tallest range in the world. They went with an organization called Mountain Child Care, which takes teenagers living in children's homes across Nepal on treks as a way to discover more about themselves and their potential. When these young adults know how much they are capable of achieving and what their talents are, they are better prepared to lift themselves, their families, and their communities out of poverty.
N shared his takeaway from the trek with us: "The trek was awesome. We hiked through the Helambu region in Nepal and saw beautiful mountains. We met other kids from different children's homes in Nepal. We made a lot of great friends. Every day, we hiked and did activities that allowed us to learn about ourselves and connect with others. I learned so much about myself and I am a better leader now."
For B, the trek provided time for him to reflect on his life, pre and post-Kopila Valley: "One day we walked silently for half of a day. We weren't allowed to talk to anyone. That was the hardest part of the whole trek, but it was also the most memorable part for me. It made us reflect on our lives. I thought about my life before I came to Kopila and all of the strength I had inside me that I didn't know was there. During the trek, we got to know our own qualities. We made plans and set goals, and even made a five and ten-year plan for ourselves. In ten years, I can see myself being a businessman. I'm studying management now and after I finish 12th grade, I want to go to university and keep studying. I'm also learning Spanish and continuing to practice dancing. I have a lot of goals. There was a lot of life learning on the Quest Trek. I learned to have confidence in my talents and strength. We built trust within ourselves and others by having an open heart and a positive mind. It's important to listen to your heart and do what your heart says."
We're so grateful that our Kopila buds were able to go on this adventure!