Travel diary from Nepal

Field trip to Nepal by Oskar Örling, Partner Coordinator for Build up Nepal

I have worked as a partner coordinator for Build up Nepal on a volunteer basis for the last two years. During these years the collaboration between EWB-SWE and Build up Nepal has flourished and developed into a strong established partnership. I have had the pleasure of working closely with Björn, Founder and Managing Director of Build up Nepal, and very skilled engineers volunteering for EWB-SWE. We have had several projects focusing on developing the technical aspect of Build up Nepal's work.

Due to the pandemic, our visit to Nepal had been postponed, but at the end of November last year we finally had the opportunity to travel to Nepal to learn more about the project and visit our colleagues at the office in Nepal. 

Meeting with Build up Nepal staff

The journey started by encountering Petrus, our newly recruited project manager at a cafe at Arlanda airport. We were both overly excited about the trip and I think Petrus in particular was unsure about what he had just thrown himself into head first. The flight was quite exhausting, but we arrived safely in Kathmandu where we were greeted by one of the Build Up Nepal staff.

Meeting Björn and his wife Bina was like meeting an old friend, having worked with him for a long time, it was amazing to finally see him in person. Together with members of his team - Kajal, Angana, Indra among others - we went through the details of our field trip, and the material testing that Petrus was going to assist with and were shown around the premises of their new office and workshop.

Highlighits of the trip

Together with Marlene, Head of international projects, who arrived the next day, we shared a wonderful week in Nepal. Besides sticking to the planned agenda we had time to experience the chaotic but beautiful city of Kathmandu,  eat the most fantastic food in the world and get to know the all too friendly Nepalese people. But when people ask me what was the highlight of the trip, it is without hesitation meeting and being incredibly warmly welcomed by all the entrepreneurs, school staff and families during the field trip. Each one is a unique encounter that will never be forgotten. We were simply amazed by their ingenuity, charisma and hard work dedicated to creating jobs, businesses and enabling education and safe housing.

A collaboration since 2016

During the years since EWB-SWE started the cooperation with Build Up Nepal, I believe our partnership has had room to deepen a lot and we are lucky to have a partner where the contribution of our engineering expertise really makes a difference. I hope that we can maintain this strong cooperation and of course hope to see Björn and his team soon again!

Namaste, 
/Oskar Örling - Partner Coordinator Build Up Nepal