As a mature age Heritage and Tourism student studying at the University of Western Sydney, I was very excited to have the opportunity to go to Nepal for fourteen weeks.
Our cohort of six students resided in Lazimpat, Kathmandu. Two of us had the opportunity to intern at ICIMOD and the others spent their time at other not for profit organisations.
Our first week coincided with the Teej festival and we were invited to participate at the ICIMOD premises. This was a wonderful introduction to the organisation, and the beginning of cultural immersion and memories that stay with me to this day.
The research that I had done on ICIMOD led me to believe that its purpose was primarily an organisation which addressed the issues of climate change in the HKH. I was to learn that it is that and so much more, including people dedicated to developing innovative tourism programs in districts where the advent of a tourism income would allow much of the population to remain home, rather than seek work in distant places.
We had the opportunity to experience ‘Knowledge Park’ which exemplifies the best approaches to agricultural challenges in the HKH. We also contributed to research concerning tourism in the area and offered recommendations to further the possibilities. This was a three-day tour which took us to extraordinary places in and around Godavari.
I feel very privileged to have spent this time at ICIMOD. The staff are so friendly and helpful. It is humbling to realise that the person you are working with may be a world expert in their field and there are many with such qualifications at ICIMOD. The website is comprehensive, and I encourage people to have a look around it to understand just how extensive the subject matter is, and to appreciate the quality of research and reportage.
There is so much more I learned and experienced at ICIMOD and I appreciate the complexity of the HKH which was an area I knew little about.
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