Service project in Nepal a life changer

Six learners and two staff members of Stanford Lake College (SLC) spent a part of their winter holiday in Nepal where, apart from some sightseeing, they participated in a service project facilitated by World Challenge.
Reportedly, reaching their service destination, Pokhara took them on a 250 km, 10 hour journey west of Kathmandu. From there they were transported to the start of the expedition at a small school that offers from nursery class up to Grade 5.
The group’s visit first marked the first white Westerners to visit the school to undertake physical service work there and a welcoming ceremony including nearly the entire community awaited them.
The girls painted a mural – the South African flag with typical aspects and depictions of the country incorporated into the colours of the flag. The boys did some physical labour and built a fence to stop the soccer balls from going down the hill. The rocks used for the foundation had to be broken with a sledge hammer, and they mixed their own cement, planted poles and built the wall.
Reportedly the school’s headmaster also helped to dig holes and the villagers were amazed to see that foreigners can also work hard instead of only ever doing easy office jobs.
The local villagers made a point of checking on the team’s wellbeing daily. After five days an even bigger farewell ceremony awaited the team whom the headmaster apparently described as persons who came as strangers but leave as friends.