From December 4th onwards, my wife Nicole and our 20-year-old daughter Daantje will embark on an exciting "discovery journey" in Nepal. The idea to go to Nepal is partly due to the fact that Daantje has successfully completed her training as a beautician, knowing that she won't pursue this path much in the future. What she does want to do is still a big question mark, and this, combined with other factors, creates a lot of uncertainty for her, causing concern for us as parents. We only want the best for our children, and above all, we want them to be happy. We noticed that this happiness was occasionally faltering. After having several conversations together, we came up with the idea of this "journey."

Will it be a vacation for Nicole and Daantje? No, far from it! The purpose of this trip is to go back to basics completely. With the hope of finding answers to all the questions they still have, both as individuals and together! Answers that should then help them, as young adults, towards a beautiful and hopefully carefree future.

They have a fully outlined program that begins with a challenging back-to-basics trek of 7 days through the Himalayan mountains (Tamang Heritage trek/altitude up to +/-3300m). After this trek, where they will experience the beautiful nature and local population of Nepal, they will continue their journey to the Tibetan-Buddhist monastery Kopan Monastery. Here, they will embark on a 7-day retreat where, in addition to daily mandatory meditation sessions, they will also take a basic Buddhism course.

The final part of this challenging trip is entirely dedicated to volunteer work. For almost 5 weeks, they will assist at the Orchid Garden Nepal daycare center, working 5 or 6 days a week. Orchid Garden Nepal is a place where children from the poorest families in Nepal can grow up safely, focusing on attention, care, nutrition, and education. These principles guide the OGN team in providing these children with an opportunity for a better future.

The daycare center accommodates approximately 50 children aged 6 months to 6 years, with an average of 40 children daily. They are dropped off around 7:30 AM and picked up before 6 PM. A dedicated group of caregivers takes care of these children, following a clear daily schedule with emphasis on routine, nutrition, and hygiene. In addition to meals and playtime, there is a morning circle to introduce the children to numbers, stories, songs, seasons, etc. All children nap in the early afternoon.

As the one staying behind, husband, and father, it would be great to raise some extra funds for this daycare center. With this money, Nicole and Daantje can locally purchase the necessary items such as school supplies, toys, clothing, etc. This way, they support local businesses, and I can guarantee that everything ends up in the right place. While there are many "official" organizations that could facilitate this, whether the donations reach the right place is uncertain. Money remains a risky tool in places dominated by poverty, including Nepal.

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so by filling out the form below. After receiving the form, I will send a payment request for the desired amount, allowing you to transfer the donation yourself. In January, I will update everyone on how the donation funds were utilized. Thank you very much on behalf of all of us!