Jenny Gao. - Canada, 1jennygao@gmail.com

I realize that I gained a lot more in eye-opening experience than the kids, After learning more about the young history of Chetana, I am inspired, awe-struck, and grateful for what Ramji had done. The resounding lagacy he has left. The aim of the center is to provide the opportunity. A chance at education, because that is only thing that can move Nepal and its people forward. A country as beautiful as this deserve no less, and I applaud Ramji to have the foresight to realize this and for Sabina and Santosh to carry this forward.
The work can seem hard and the times trying. The money may not flow, and the expenses will be mounting. But always stay strong , and do as Ramji would do. As what you are doing here is moving mountains, and that’s more than many people in the world can ever dream to do.

Jas Gill - Canada, cheeky_gill@hotmail.com

Since the day of my arrival, I have felt very welcomed and the sense of belonging at the Chetana Children Center. At first, I was overwhelmed because I had no experience working with school aged children and I did not know the language. I have come to realize that it is essentially a natural instinct when it comes from the right place. I feel that I have learned more from the, than they have from me. I could not have asked for more.
Thank you for making my volunteer experience so memorable. With the admirable work of Sabina and Santosh, there is great love, passion and commitment. Thank you for opening your doors to me. I hope to visit you again in future.

Merle Stein - Germany, merlestein@gmx.de

I would like to thank everyone here for amazing 3 weeks I have had with you. You made me feel welcome from the first minute to the very last. I am sad to leave so early, we had some great times together. Thank you for making me a part of your family.

Moisan Yoann -France, Sangorok182@hotmail.fr

It was a great great….. experience, Really ! It was my dream to come to Nepal, but no long as a tourist. I wanted to live with Nepali people, so thank you, because I realize one of my dream comes true in my life after be here. The hospitality, caring and the children are to feel like walking on the moon ! so….. I am very happy because of Chetana.

Bougvier Pierre - France, pierre.bougvier@laposte.net

it was a rich experience for me to live in CCC, during this almost two weeks. I had impression to enter in the life of local Nepali people. A lot of time was spent for helping kids doing their homework. During this time. I could learn a lot of English words. Thanks to children. To have free time is important and I feel very free in CCC. My program was to bring children songs of country. I crossed between France and Nepal. Its a very good way to learn Nepali life ( electricity cut, holiday, rain, seek children…… )
Thank you to Sabina and Santosh who spent time for CCC and children.

Barbara van Hove - Belgium, barbaravanhove@yahoo.com

My experience at CCC was a very positive one. Not alone was the fact that education is a priority here, one of the things I loved here. The people got out of their way to make you feel welcome and wanted. And not for a single moment have I felt otherwise.
They make you feel part of the family the moment you put one step in the door. They try to create opportunities to let you experience the Nepalese Culture with no pressure. Even in their busy scaduals they tries to show you the beauty of Nature. I enjoyed my time in CCC a lot and even though I came here to help and be a positive influence. I think that it worked to other way around. Everyone had been so amazing that I feel that I got lot more out of this time, then they have. I am thankful for my time here.

Maria Antonia Schmidt - Germany, blauegauklerblume@gmx.de

All together I was spending about three weeks in the CCC. The range of emotion I went through reaches from heart breaking to deep happiness. The children are wonderful… and full of personality and life.
For me it was a beg pleasure to find myself staying with this big colorful family… every single person gave me the feeling that I am more than welcome. Even when the CCC is going through a hard time by loosing with Ramji a big love and support… I never missed the strong will and hope to keep this organization alive and growing. I am optimistic and will try to support and help where ever it is possible. Thank you so much for everything.
 

Chetana means Knowledge, wisdom. And this was the essence of the experience I got in Chetana Children Center. It was an exchange of knowledge, in which process oneself grow up, and get another conscience about what really is to fight for the rights of the children, believing that another world is possible. Another World more fair, because children deserve a worthy live. All was a lesson of courage, constancy … in which you get involved, and receive the best from all the CCC’ members, specially the children … they are charming, really lovely. All the work that CCC’ members develop is done with love and passion, emotions that you feel and makes you grow up on the way of the wisdom and knowledge.

Michelle Mcneil

My name is Michelle Mcneil. My good friend Jaime Hagel and I were fortunate to have the opportunity to live with and get to know the directors and children of the Chetena Childrens Centre. We were welcome into the home with such amazing hospitality and warmth that we felt comfortable immediately. The children were curious to get to know us and we were lucky to be able to spend such great quality time with them. Unfortunately, the children were studying for exams so we were unable to assist them at their school but we did play games and do crafts. We also had a chance to go out on some field trips such as hiking, caves and to the lake. The directors were very kind, always very concerned for our comfort, our health and our safety. We truly felt like we were a part of the family.

Apurou D. Johnson - USA

As a young university student of history from Kansas, a children's center on the other side of the world would seem to be the farthest place to find a family. But during the summer of 2006, I traveled alone to Nepal with the ambition of doing volunteer teaching. After languishing in bureaucracy in chaotic Kathmandu, I was blessed with the great fortune of being able to stay at Chetana Children Center in Pokhara City. Not only is the city itself a vibrant, beautiful expansion of Nepal itself, Chetana embodies what makes the human heart a beautiful thing to believe in. I cared, taught, lived, recovered, and came home to Chetana in the two months I stayed there, and enjoyed the great generosity of its founders, Ramji. Both are young men from the university who share the volunteer vision of service to others at the expense of personal comfort, which is a rather rare thing to find. I have countless stories to share about my brief stay in the center, but it is there I learned more of myself and my future work than my Jayhawk University gave me. All stereotypical claims aside, it is great opportunity to any volunteer fortunate enough to come to Nepal, and would not trade it for the Himalayas.

Lily Avanesjan - UK

I really loved Pokhra, really loved the family and kids are great in Chetana Children Center . They are all very well behaved and really good to be with. I learned a lot from them and tried to teach them whatever i could. it was a very homey place to be, because the just took me in and treated me like i was one of them! and tought me a lot of sotries about nepal and their families and cultures! Ramji especially is a very funny character, and you never get bored there. I especially liked to eat dahl baht like a real Nepali and i miss dahl baht already, cos it was one of the best parts of the day, the meals! also I had a lot of free time when kids were at school, so i had all the freedom and flexibility to go and do short treks and sight seing in pokhra during the day! it's all great. and the project did not feel like work at all... most of the time i felt guilty for not doing very much or contributing at all...it was a great experience for me....

Sylvie Vimont - France

Chetana Children Center is a very nice place . The children are so amazing and the members are wonderful . For , me I spend 2 weeks in my New Family and they made a big and pure Relationship , Forever !!! I am so happy to stay in the Center and its a great moment . I will remember that the great moment for the rest of my life and hope that a lot of people come here to see and work in the beautiful place . In Nepal a lots of Orphanage But I'm sure Chetana Children Center is the best .

Nina Hemmi – Switzerland

Arriving in Nepal , I thought I was going to be in a huge Orphanage with a lots of children where I ended up to stay was in one huge family in Pokhara called Chetana Children Center. You get accepted as one of their family member from the moment you walk into their door . The kids are absolutely adorable and lovely and are a lots of fun . The director Ramji are two funny guys and I thank them so much for this new experience and chance I had in those only 3 weeks I could stay here . Time goes by fast but I won't forget it this fast . Living in the center gives you a lots of free time to either recover from your health problems or to discover Pokhara and its surroundings . Living in the center also gives you the opportunity to experience Nepali life , not tourist life . And at the end , Living in the center shows you how happy life can be without lots of things.

Catriona Heffernan – Ireland

I spent just 10 short days in Chetana Children Center in September 2006. The center is located in the beautiful city of Pokhara with the amazing backdrop of Machapuchare in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas. In my time in the center I was made really welcome by both the children and the center managers . The founders of the center Milan and Ramji are working against the odds to provide a decent education and a good start in life to the children in their care. The children have a fairly set routine during school times of school, study and play, this they seem to respond to very well. All the children work hard and appear to achieve very well in school. The children although varying largely in ages cooperate very well with one another and the adults in the center. I really enjoyed playing games with the children during their study breaks and they really enjoy learning new games and songs. Also the children learn through the medium of English and it is great for them to practice their English outside the confines of the class room. As a volunteer in the center I was made to feel extremely welcome by all of the children and the member of center , they all are very interesting people who are very interested in learning more about foreign countries and teaching others about their center and also their country and language. Overall it was a very enjoyable experience for me

Scott Murray : ( Canada )

I would like to thank the kind people at CCC . They have made my stay in Pokhara a time I will not forget soon . I'm hopping that this will not be the last time I have the opportunity to see & be amongst such dedicated and caring people . It makes me feel warm to see how well the children are taken care of & the great chance at success in their future they are being given at CCC . I hope it is an opportunity the children take advantage of . Smart child that have bright futures laid out for them because there are so many people working hard and making sacrifices to ensure their potential is reached !

Katy Mack ( England )

When I first heard that CCC looked after 7 ( soon to be 8 ) children , I was intrigued and surprised , as my previous experience with children homes in Nepal have involved for too many children packed into too small a space ! But when Kate and I had settled into everyday life , talked with the children ( using Very bad Nepali ) and helped them with their homework , I can see what a well-arranged but relaxed set-up CCC provide .

Our two weeks here is too short a time to do as much with children as I'd liked – plus it's been so hot ! – but I have been so impressed with the family atmosphere here . It is very inspiring to feel that , with CCC's emphasis on the importance of education each child will have a bright future . I am definitely plan on returning to see how everyone at CCC .

Kate Mason : ( England )

After coming from a child home in Kathmandu with 50 or so children , I didn't know what to expect of one with just 7 and now eight . After spending two weeks here I have been so pleasantly surprised ! There is a real family feeling here at Chetana Children Center and not just because of the number of children . Its been rally lovely to see how the children look after each other , how they welcome in new members and just generally get along so well !

I've also been really impressed by the focus here on the value of education . The children are so diligent in their studying and it really show in how bright they are and how well they speak English – especially good as our Nepali is so' naramro ' ! We have also been struck by how well behaved and respectful the children are . I have loved staying here because you have all made me and Katy feel like part of a family something really nice seeing as we are so far from ours . All I can say is Keep up the good work and I can't wait to come back in the future and see what's happening here ! Thanks once again .

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