Travel Kind: NGO organises trips for Hong Kong physiotherapists to share skills with trekking guides in Nepal

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“For them, becoming a trekking guide is not just about financial concerns. They love this activity and want to engage with foreigners by introducing them to the beauty of their country.”

Tourism is a major industry in this South Asian country, which has stunning natural scenery and many of the world’s tallest peaks. While being a mountain trail guide is considered a high-paying job, it is also a dangerous profession that is often dominated by men.

“I thought physiotherapy would be the right fit to further support those girls because being trekking guides requires physical fitness, and they face a chance of injury. If the girls can acquire some skills from physiotherapists, it would help extend their career,” explained the trip organiser, Rosina Shing Shuk-han.

The volunteer trip to Nepal was the first one for Shing’s charity, Travel Kind, which encourages Hongkongers to give back to local communities in their travel destinations. The NGO is organising another physiotherapist trip later this year and hopes to expand to other professions in the future.

Through icebreaker games and hiking with the aspiring trekking guides, the participants had the opportunity to learn about Nepal’s culture while forming deeper bonds.

Fu and Lee fondly recalled: “When we said our farewells, the girls presented us with traditional Nepalese wallets that contained some money as a blessing. It deeply touched our hearts.”

After Shing co-founded Travel Kind in 2018, the charity’s first few years were focused on raising funds for their partner NGOs in other countries.

As the organisation’s next step, Shing wanted to arrange a trip that would focus on connecting professionals with specific community groups in need of their expertise. She contacted one of Travel Kind’s long-time charity partners, 3 Summits for Nepal, which aims to help girls in rural areas escape poverty by training them to become trail guides.

The trip, which cost each person HK$10,970, was tailored for physiotherapists to share their skills with Nepal’s trekking guides. Travel Kind hoped to empower these young women to pursue their dreams.

“This tour was a unique blend of volunteering and tourism,” Shing noted.

Initially, the 56-year-old worried about finding professionals to take part and was surprised when four applied: “It was the ideal number for our first trip, as I wanted to start with a trial. The experience ended up being fruitful, exceeding my expectations.”

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For both Fu and Lee, the trip was a revelation.

“I had the opportunity to make a positive impact by assisting others and connecting with the local community, witnessing the remarkable work of their charity groups,” shared Lee, who works in a private clinic specialising in pain management, sports and work injury rehabilitation.

The 24-year-old added: “This journey went beyond material possessions and reached a spiritual level.”

In addition to working with 3 Summits for Nepal, the physiotherapists also visited two other charities. With the Human Welfare Committee, they cooked with Nepalese women. At the Association for the Welfare of Intellectual Handicapped (AWIH), they interacted with disabled children. These experiences introduced them to a lesser-known side of Nepal.

“Some families tend to keep their disabled children hidden at home. On the one hand, they do it to protect them from discrimination, but they also perceive [the illness] as ... shame to the family,” Lee noted.

The physiotherapist said that because of cultural stigma and a lack of structured support systems, many children with disabilities failed to receive the support they needed.

She added: “Even the NGOs want to help, [but] the country does not offer a comprehensive system to facilitate their work, such as categories for the severity and types of disabilities.”

Apart from the volunteering, the other half of the trip was dedicated to tourism. Fu and Lee, who were visiting Nepal for the first time, were impressed by the religious spots and the natural scenery.

Fu was particularly captivated by the sunset view from Chandragiri Hill and Hattiban, which are located in the central region of Nepal.

“In Hong Kong, the highest peak is only about 900 metres up, but during the trip, we hiked up to 1,900 metres. Witnessing the sunrise there gave me a completely different feeling compared to [being in] the city,” the Hongkonger said.

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She added that the trip changed her views on the purpose and power of visiting new places.

“In the past when I travelled, I did not interact and chat much with the locals or understand their stories. But on this journey, I got to meet the girls, and I also received help from other Nepalese people who guided us when we got lost,” the physiotherapist explained.

“Unlike my previous travel experiences, this trip allowed me to truly immerse myself in the local culture.”

Speaking to everyday people in Nepal showed her perspectives she would have otherwise never been exposed to: “Instead of just sampling a few tourist spots, I got to interact with the local people and listen to their stories. They shared about their lifestyle and the political issues they are facing, which is hard to grasp during a typical trip.”

“These experiences inspired me to have more communication with locals in my future travels.”

Lee also reflected on the journey’s profound impact on her, saying: “Before, I did not invest much time in volunteering, but this tour made me realise that there are a lot of people in the world who can benefit from our help.”

“Just a small act of kindness can dramatically transform the lives of those in need.”