Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
When people go on vacation, they usually enjoy sightseeing and relaxing in new places. But when Gigi Foo Winchie and Sylvia Lee Winyi took a trip to Nepal last December, they were also giving back to the local community.
Mr. Fu and Mr. Lee are both physical therapists from Hong Kong. During their week-long visit to Nepal, they led an injury prevention workshop. The subjects were 15 young women studying to become trekking guides. In Nepal, trekking guides help visitors explore the Himalayas.
Armed with a 30-page guidebook they created, the physical therapists shared their knowledge about the effects of hiking on the skin and joints.
“Many of the girls are actually pursuing bachelor's or master's degrees. They are very passionate about trekking,” said Fu. The 24-year-old works at a public hospital in Hong Kong.
“Being a trekking guide is not just about making money. They love this activity and want to introduce foreigners to the beauty of their country and interact with them.”
Type of trip
This South Asian country is home to beautiful natural landscapes and many of the world's highest peaks. Trail guiding is considered a high-paying job. However, it is also a dangerous occupation usually performed by men.
“We thought physical therapy would be the best way to support those girls, as trekking guides require physical strength and there is a risk of injury,” said trip organizer Rosina Singh Shukhan. He explains.
The volunteer trip to Nepal was the first for Singh's charity, Travel Kind. She co-founded an NGO in 2018 that encourages Hong Kongers to give back when they travel.
The organizers collaborated with Nepali charity organization “3 Summits for Nepal''. This NGO helps rural girls escape poverty by training them to become trail guides. Travel Kind wanted to help these young women pursue their dreams.
This trip was organized for physiotherapists to share their skills with trekking guides. For travelers from Hong Kong he paid HK$10,970 per person.
unique journey
“This tour was a unique combination of volunteering and tourism,” said Singh. She is planning another physical therapist trip later this year. In the future, I would like to be involved in other professions.
Through icebreakers and hikes with young trekking guides, Hongkongers learned about Nepali culture and made new friends.
Mr. Fu and Mr. Li fondly recalled: “When we said goodbye, the girls gifted us traditional Nepali wallets with money in them as a blessing. It touched our hearts deeply.”
Test your knowledge of the vocabulary in the story using the puzzles below.
Recommended answer
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Read and answer: They love trekking and want to introduce the beauty of Nepal to foreign travelers.
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Think calmly: Travel Kind collaborated with 3 Summits for Nepal, which helps women become trail guides to escape poverty.
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Consider: Rosina Shin launched Travel Kind to encourage Hong Kongers to give back to the local community when visiting new places.
