“Having decided to use my summer break from full time teaching and education consultancy in the UK to volunteer in Nepal, I feel very lucky to have been placed at Heartland Children Academy in Bafal, Kathmandu.

Everything about HCA has the students' development at the core: their learning and academic achievements; their ability to function in an ever changing world; their emotional and social wellbeing. For me, I could not have hoped for a more forward thinking or open-minded education establishment to be able to work with. The school leaders are committed to non-corporal punishment, emotional well-being, and promoting excellent standards of behavior and attitude towards staff and students. From discussions with Nepali people outside HCA, I soon became aware that such an ethos is not widespread in Nepali schools... Yet from the moment I stepped inside the gates, I knew HCA's policy of developing and supporting the “whole child” for a long-term future really was at the core and that this ethos was followed by everyone!

As a volunteer, my stay was short but, due to the willingness and determination of the staff, I was able to pass the knowledge of current teaching and learning methods and issues. Staff attended training every day after school and the school leaders saw an opportunity for a real impact on the every day experience of the students in the classroom. At HCA, there are over 230 wonderful, engaging, polite and charismatic students... but they would possibly be considerably less so without the determination of the school leaders and vision of a future for every HCA child (and their family, if needed) that they can achieve their potential, not to mention a teaching staff with integrity and commitment. It was a privilege to be able to work with the staff and I feel sure that the constant desire to improve all aspects of the school and the students' experience of learning will see HCA go from strength to strength... I look forward to being able to continue to be some part of the HCA story...”

 Anna and Mark Taylor from Future Sense, UK

"We spent an enjoyable month living and working at Heartland Children’s Academy in May 2009. The school had a very positive and forward looking attitude to teaching and students which was great to be part of. We could see the start of integration between existing Nepalese teaching methods and those from Australia and England to increase the children’s experiences and levels of achievement. The children were well behaved, enthusiastic and were a joy to work with. All the teachers were welcoming to our ideas and interests as was the support staffs in the school and hostel. Our experience, whilst not only being positive for the school, gave us a special insight to the lives of the children and adults we met. We have brought back many fond memories to our home in England and feel it has enhanced our own lives. "