Hey Reader
Thank you for following along on my 3-month journey through Asia. Our last stop is Pradiya in Nepal!
Part 3: Service at Pradiya Kids Home
The journey in Asia concludes with a month of service at Pradiya Kids Home in Nepal.
I first learned about Pradiya's inspiring work when founder Oinak attended my Kundalini Yoga training. After hearing about the foundation's mission and impact, I knew I had to extend my Nepal trip to witness this transformation firsthand and contribute in whatever way possible.
Located in one of Nepal's most remote regions (requiring a 25+ hour flight from the US, 2+ days to Surkhet (far west small city), a 10+ hour drive on challenging roads, and a 3+ hour hike to the village), Pradiya Foundation works to create sustainable, self-sufficient communities that uplift people facing illness, poverty, discrimination, and lack of human rights.
What sets Pradiya apart is its focus on empowering local communities rather than creating aid dependency. The foundation works directly with Nepal's people to improve living conditions and create lasting positive change.
The joy and progress I witnessed during my time here was remarkable—from the thriving community and happy children to the sustainable structures and farming initiatives. It's a testament to the power of dedicated, community-centered development and the generosity of those who help fund this cause.
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Highlights:
There were once again too many highlights during this last leg of the journey, but here are a few:
- Seeing the smiles on the kids faces every morning, day, & night. The true universal language of love emitted through every one of the Pradiya kids.
- Going on hikes. The village is surrounded by mountains in the foothills of the Himalayas with shortage of daily hikes. Most of the kids climbing up mountains in flip-flops!
- Dressing up as Santa and surprising the kids. This was there first time meeting Santa and we gave lots of presents, danced, & had so much fun.
- Eating every delicious home cooked meal with the staff. All the food was straight from the land outside - vegetables, grains, eggs, meat, fruit, etc. The staff are amazing cooks that curated local Nepal & Indian inspired dishes. The kids eat every meal together outside as one big family.
- Reading & Teaching time with the kids. Usually every day around 4:00-5:30 pm after school, we would enjoy various activities like reading books, playing games, and arts & craft.
- Teaching the kids fitness and self-defense classes. I was fortunate to teach a few classes while there from fitness, meditation, & self-defense—we had so much fun!
- Satsang - Every night from 6:30-7:15 PM, we gathered for meditation and singing. The children learned songs, meditations, and chants from diverse traditions including Christmas carols, Hindu chants, Buddhist prayers, and Kundalini kriyas.
- Nepal Celebrations - holidays, births of children in the village, birthdays, deaths in the village, and more. The Nepalese take traditions very seriously, sometimes celebrating for over 11 days straight for a child’s birth. Lots of dancing and having fun! Witnessing and participating in these celebrations gave me a deeper appreciation for their culture.
- Creating a social media fundraiser to get the kids 10 computers for higher education - which we accomplished 10 days in. (thank you those that donated)
- The Staff - I cannot say enough about the heartwarming, caring, selfless service of the Pradiya staff and community. They are creating the most wonderful self-sustaining, safe ecosystem for these beautiful children and making it welcoming for foreign volunteers to visit.
Thoughts & Still Thinking
I had no expectations before taking the long, unknown journey to Pradiya. I hiked in with an open mind and open heart, and I left more fulfilled than I could have ever imagined. This was my first time dedicating myself to extended service—dealing with limited reception (a real challenge these days), giving up most of December for my business and family time, surrendering my personal needs and regular habits, putting the children's needs first in everything we did, and simply being open to help in any way possible.
I remain in awe of what Pradiya's young founder, Oinak, has built in less than two years. It proves that anything is possible when your heart is in the right place, your intentions are pure, and you pursue your beliefs with unwavering FULL POWER!
The world is vast and beautiful, but we can only truly appreciate its wonders through experiences that reshape our minds. Whether it's traveling to Pradiya in Nepal or exploring somewhere new in your local area, I highly recommend stepping out of your comfort zone to be of service.
This transformative experience has changed me profoundly, and I hope others can discover similar life-changing moments.
For more on Pradiya and how you can help, please visit their site HERE or send me a message & I will get you in contact with Oinak the founder.
Namaste,
Tommy
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