Seventeen students from American University of Sharjah (AUS) spent their spring break volunteering in Nepal March 31-April 7, 2017. The trip was organized by the university's Community Services division to allow students to experience first-hand the value of serving others, giving back to the community and enriching the lives of the less fortunate.

After an orientation program in Kathmandu, the students travelled to the municipality of Besisahar where they volunteered in a community school. The students led hands-on informal learning activities with the school children in science, math, English language and computers. In addition to learning sessions, the students and children engaged in sports, dance and games.

To improve the school surroundings and create an atmosphere conducive for learning, the students decided to tidy up the place and paint the walls. The school administrators held a farewell gathering to thank the students, who then distributed giveaways and donated books to the school library. They also donated stuffed toys handstitched by students during the Toy Stories initiative held at AUS.

"The Nepal trip offered educational, volunteering and meaningful activities for our students. It is an opportunity to enhance their social skills and instill the values of compassion and responsibility within them. Our students were able to positively contribute to the society and enrich the lives of the underprivileged," said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Dean of Students.

"This trip was a life changing experience for most of us. We left our comfort zones to explore a new place and we made new friends and some friends became family. This trip gave us the opportunity to do something for the underprivileged outside the UAE and experience a new way of living. One could not have asked for a better destination and a better group to go with. The memories of the school, the children that we met and their smiles will forever be etched in our minds," said Zulfikar Qaidzohar Shahpurwala, a volunteer majoring in economics.