TravelAid is an Oxford-based student-run registered charity organisation (No. 1092061). We mediate between university students who would like to travel and volunteer during their summer and project sites across the globe who need some helping hands and minds. Hence, TravelAid aims to, on the one hand, provide an opportunity for students to broaden their horizon, to look beyond the spires of Oxford and to experience a different culture in an as intimate way as possible, and, on the other hand, to support people, in particular children, in developing countries. In the long term, we hope that TravelAid volunteers, once they are in a decision making position, will act in a responsible and fair way for the benefit of those in need as they remember their experiences and the people they met during their time abroad.

Nepal: In Nepal we work at two Hindu Vidya Peeth (HVP) schools run by Dr Yogi. Our role is to teach English to children between the ages of 6 and 18. The two schools are English-medium schools, but our presence allows the children to develop their language skills more efficiently and learn from native speakers. A good knowledge of English sets these children up very well to make the most of opportunities that arise for them. It also allows them to attain positions from where they can influence the direction that their country takes, an important factor given the recent political turmoils in Nepal. HVP aims to provide free education to all, and all our fundraising goes directly towards paying for classroom equipment such as books and generally allowing the provision of free-education to continue. Some funds are also going towards development of a hostel for female orphans, to complement that which the school has for male orphans.

Find out more at www.travelaidnepal.co.uk or www.travelaidonline.org.uk