Helen’s Story
“I remember seeing a mother sitting on the side of the road with what looked like a very sick baby, begging for food. As a paediatric nurse I had a strong urge to get out of the coach there and then to help this mother and baby, but that was not possible and I felt helpless.”
I am writing this article as people often ask how I got involved in New Futures Nepal, and why? So here’s my story;
I was looking for a way to celebrate my fortieth birthday and wanted to do something special and memorable, and out of my comfort zone. I was wanting to do something to help others whilst also enjoying doing something for myself as my two sons were becoming more independent.
I saw some adverts for charity fundraising treks and considered participating in a trek, but wasn’t really thinking about Nepal at that time. I’ve always loved mountains and was considering Peru. However, before I applied for anything, a flyer dropped through my door for a trek in Nepal on behalf of the Youth Hostel association (raising money for disadvantaged children in the UK). Call it fate or divine intervention, but the prospect of the Himalayas sounded wonderful, the dates of the trip suited me, and the cause was perfect since I work with children in my professional capacity as a paediatric nurse.
My plan was to travel alone, leaving my husband to look after the children. After all, it was only just over a week, what could possibly go wrong!. However, my parents offered to look after the children so we could both go. This sounded wonderful as I imagined I would only get the chance to go to Nepal once, and it would be good to share it with Paul so that we could remember and talk about our trip in ‘our old age’. Little did I know then the impact and change to our lives this trip would have.
Change a child’s life today!
I remember how excited and daunted I was when we set off. I had never been outside of Europe before. Flying through the middle east (Qatar) and into Nepal was an experience in itself. I remember flying over the mountains to Kathmandu and looking down on houses perched precariously on mountain ridges. It felt like the land was coming up to meet us rather than the plane descending.
Everything about Nepal was different. Outside the coach looked like organised chaos, from the electric cables all tangled on buildings, to the traffic buzzing around in all directions (not caring what side of the road they were on). I remember seeing a mother sitting on the side of the road with what looked like a very sick baby, begging for food. As a paediatric nurse I had a strong urge to get out of the coach there and then to help this mother and baby, but that was not possible and I felt helpless.
This was definitely not like any other place I had been to. Nepal was a poor but developing country and the scenes of poverty were striking. However, the place seemed very alive and the smells of different incense, foods, and rubbish were intoxicating. Everything was totally different; this was certainly going to be a trip to remember.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed the trek. I loved walking in the mountains and seeing the scenery, but I was also struck by the people. I found the Nepalese to be extremely welcoming, friendly, and generous in the face of hardship. The children were adorable, often following us, sniggering behind us as we played games with them. They seemed so unaffected by the digital age, happy with a simple pencil and not attached to their PlayStations like the children at home. Yet I was aware of their need.
Our guide explained to us what life in the mountains was like, describing the harsh realities and emphasising the impact tourism can have for good and for bad. He explained that if we wished to help his country, it was better to do it through a charity or organisation, as that would have more impact and be more useful. He explained that giving money or goods to individuals randomly would just encourage begging. This struck a chord with me, although I wasn’t yet sure how I would help. I later learnt that our guide Ram Thapa was himself using his tip money to help support a children’s home (the Hope Centre) in Kathmandu. This truly inspired me. That someone with so little was helping in this way, surely we could do something too.
There were 30 trekkers on our trip, and many of us also felt the same connection with Nepal. On our return to the UK, a group of us met up to see if we could help the children’s home. Some of the names you’ll recognise; Charles Barton, Andrew Small, Colin and Sandra Culley, and Hazel Roy. We joined forces with Lynne McCutcheon from a previous trek, and the charity (then known as Disabled welfare Association UK) was formed.
My husband Paul became treasurer, using his financial knowledge to help steer the charity. But how was I going to help? I had no business skills, but did have enthusiasm, energy, and medical knowledge, which I hoped would prove useful. Although I wasn’t a trustee from the outset, I was involved from day one, attending all the meetings with Paul and setting up the Sponsor a Child Scheme. I later became a trustee when a vacancy arose on the board.
Being a trustee of New Futures Nepal (as it’s now known) has been both rewarding and a joy (despite at times being time consuming, I have never regretted my decision to help). Looking back, it has been great for me to be able to use my nursing knowledge to help the children at various points in their lives. I have been able to offer support and advice on health matters, disabilities, equipment, and care, as required to the team in Nepal. One year I was also awarded a grant by the BMA (British Medical Association) and NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) to deliver first aid teaching and basic health promotion to the children’s carers at the Hope Centre and Hornbeam House, plus some schools in Kathmandu and Kalimpong. Tracey Burge (physiotherapist) joined me for this, and to this day some of the sessions are revisited and talked about when I visit the Hope Centre (I hope some of the children will have been inspired by our teaching sessions and will remember important first aid and safety tips).
“As an individual we can’t help everyone everywhere in the World. But we can all help someone somewhere in some corner of the World. And as a group, it’s surprising what can be achieved.”
For me, one of the greatest pleasures has been using my nursing knowledge to the benefit of those at the Hope Centre and beyond in Nepal. As a younger person I had wanted to travel and use my nursing skills abroad. However, I thought once I had my own family this would never be possible. I am pleased now in later life (as an experienced nurse) to be able to use my skills in this way. On another note, my role as a paediatric specialist nurse in the community dealing with families whose children had life limiting conditions, was, although a privilege, also heartbreaking. I did everything I could for the families in my care to make life easier, however ultimately the end result was always inevitable. Yet here in Nepal were a group of children and communities where I could use the skills I had gained to make a difference with a happier outcome. I have also learnt a lot from my trips to Nepal, not least a new language and the understanding of a new culture. Helping Nepal has been an important part of our lives now for over 20 years. We have lost count of the number of visits we have made to Nepal (well over 25). And there I was thinking we would only go once!
The truth is I have fallen in love with Nepal. Not just the mountains, but more importantly with its people. I have come to understand the culture, have learnt (and am still learning) the language, and hope that our involvement will continue to bring benefit to those we help. We have made many new friends (many of whom are now like family) and it seems I now have more children (sons and daughters from Nepal) in addition to my own sons in the UK. As with my own children, watching the children from the Hope Centre and Hornbeam House grow and develop and getting to know them as individuals is a joy within itself.
So if you're ever wondering about getting involved with New Futures Nepal or helping any other charity, the rewards can be enormous for you and those you support. I am proud of everything New Futures Nepal and the team in Nepal have achieved together, and pleased that in some way we have been able to help. As an individual we can’t help everyone everywhere in the World. But we can all help someone somewhere in some corner of the World. And as a group, it’s surprising what can be achieved.
So has being involved in New Futures Nepal changed my life? Yes definitely, and for the better.
Helen Crook
“My role as a paediatric specialist nurse in the community dealing with families whose children had life limiting conditions, was, although a privilege, also heartbreaking. I did everything I could for the families in my care to make life easier, however ultimately the end result was always inevitable. Yet here in Nepal were a group of children and communities where I could use the skills I had gained to make a difference with a happier outcome.”
