Serving Beyond Comfort

The Outreach and Youth Camp in the Himalayan foothills of Rasuwa, Nepal was more than a program. It was a true test of patience, resilience, and purpose for our IofC Nepal team.

Held on October 31 and November 1st at Amachodingmo Rural Municipality, the two-day camp brought together 25 young participants to reflect on personal change, microenterprise, and community service. Organized by the Centre for Educational Policies and Practices (CEPP) and supported by Initiatives of Change Nepal, it aimed to help young people explore self-understanding, empathy, leadership, and civic responsibility.

But behind every inspiring event lies a story of challenge.

Reaching Grey, Rasuwa itself was not easy. The road was rough and broken. Our vehicle stopped midway, and we walked an hour uphill to reach the venue. The program had already been postponed due to floods, Gen Z protests, and festivals, yet we were determined to make it happen. 

After two days of learning and sharing, it was time to return. We started our walk down through a forest and across landslide-prone slopes. When we reached the river, we saw that the only suspension bridge had been swept away by heavy rain. It was already getting dark. We were seven people, including two young girls, and some of us were already exhausted. With no lodges nearby, our only option was to climb back up the mountain- another two hours of steep stairs. We hiked for almost two hours and finally reached the same homestay we had stayed in before. Exhausted, hungry, but safe. The next morning, we started again, taking another route, walking for nearly four hours to find a bus back to Kathmandu.

That experience reminded us what service really means. It is not about comfort or convenience. It is a commitment to keep moving forward even when the path disappears. The camp was filled with songs, reflection, quiet moments, and honest sharing. Many participants expressed how inspired they felt to make personal change and contribute to their communities. For our team, it was a deep lesson in endurance, teamwork and purpose.

Serving others often begins with testing ourselves. In Grey, Rasuwa, we learned that caring for the community sometimes means crossing rivers without bridges, and still finding the strength to move ahead.

by Kamal Kandel