Full video transcript below:
Namaste, my name is Dan. I’m from the United States. I’ve been out here in Haibung for about four months, working on Kalikasaran school in Sindhupalchok, Nepal.

I originally came out here in October because I wanted to make a difference. I had worked in disaster relief in the states, but I wanted to get a chance to do it overseas, for some communities that were less served than the United States.

Since I’ve been here, I’ve learned so much, I came in with some construction knowledge, and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to teach some people what I know, but I’ve also learned a ton. Both from other volunteers, and from our local skilled masons. As well as our program staff, our project coordinator, our associate project coordinator who are engineers and architects and have so much knowledge.

But more than that, I’ve made the connections with the community. The masons, the kids around here, the locals who are always around, so interested in our work, and where we’re from. Why we’re doing this, how we came out here, all about All Hands and Hearts, and the family I’ve made at base with other volunteers. Living in tents, taking bucket showers, eating the same meals every day, all together in close quarters. It’s been an incredible experience. Far more than I could have ever expected.
It’s truly an honor to be out here with some of the nicest, kindest, good-hearted people that I’ve ever had the time to spend time with.

So it’s been an incredible experience. I’ve learned a lot – I think we’ve given a lot to this community, we’re building this amazing school, but we’ve also, as volunteers, had the opportunity to learn so much from the people here.

Their kindness, their generosity, their curiosity, it’s been an absolutely incredible experience here with All Hands and Hearts, and I’m really looking forward to handing over this school to the kids, and to the community. Both as a school, and as a safe space and shelter for the community in case of any future disasters.”