Kathmandu Environmental Education Project - KEEP

Arriving during Nepal’s peak trekking season, I spent most of my time in the office, assisting with a variety of tasks ranging from administrative work to social media management. One of the highlights of my time at KEEP was contributing to the web design and promotion of the Minimal Impact Travel (MIT) Handbook—a comprehensive guide to sustainable travel practices tailored specifically to Nepal’s distinct natural and cultural environment. I collaborated with Rajan, KEEP's website developer, and Aditya, the graphic designer behind the book, which was incredibly rewarding. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a supportive team, where I was encouraged to learn new skills, experiment with creative ideas, and contribute to the launch of a program that will make a lasting difference.

Beyond my daily tasks, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the valuable initiatives KEEP is driving to promote sustainable tourism and community development. I learned about key projects such as the Porters’ Clothing and Welfare Centre, the Visitor Information Centre, Wilderness First Aid Courses for trekking professionals, and the student-runEco-clubs in rural schools. These efforts are making a profound impact on both local communities and the environment, and it was truly inspiring to see firsthand how KEEP is fostering positive change.

A special thank you to the KEEP family—Ian, Devi, Tara, Didi, Normada, and Angela—for their warm welcome and support throughout my time here. I’ll always cherish the cups of tea, bites of sel roti, and the laughs we shared over lunch. I’m already looking forward to returning!

My name is Nora, I am 19 years old, and I am a first-year student at a business school in France. This school stands out for its humanitarian focus.

At the end of the year, I decided, somewhat by chance, to do my end-of-year internship in Nepal, a country I knew nothing about. I started with a trek to Everest Base Camp, where I was immediately struck by the conditions of the porters.

Once the trek was over, I completed a five-week internship at KEEP, an organization in part dedicated to improving the living conditions of the porters. I worked intensely on this subject, and I will continue this work in France. Afterwards, I began teaching French to trekking and high mountain guides. I started with a small group of four people, then a second group of sixteen participants. Every day, I taught French for two hours to each group. These moments were absolutely unique; the classes went wonderfully well, and everyone benefited, including myself, as a teacher learns as much as their students. My students have acquired a basic level of French and will be able to guide their future customers in French next season!

My experience at KEEP went beyond a simple internship, becoming a truly unforgettable adventure. Every day was an opportunity to broaden my horizons. I return to France with a valuable experience, filled with everything I learned during this internship. I warmly thank KEEP for these extraordinary moments and their warm welcome. I am deeply grateful for all these wonderful experiences shared with them.

There has never been a better time to volunteer in Nepal than the present. This is due, in no small part, to the recent earthquake disaster. The Nepali people are strong and positive, but there is still much rebuilding to be done. Your help right now during this critical time is more valuable than ever.

I spent there months working in office at keep as an ESL Ecoleadership course instructor helping with administrative work , I could not have found a better organization to work with. The keep family are selflessly devoted to the work they do : their mission to spread the knowledge of sustainable tourism to all of Nepal . They are truly an invaluable resource to tourists : tourism professionals alike : an incrediable example of the power: capabilities of locally-run grassroots NGO’s. The best decision I’ve made in my travels was to volunteers my time. Skill for their cause … and I am forever grateful for it, and I that I can new count both new my students. The staff as family.

My experience as a Volunteering worker with KEEP was wonderful and enriching. I had the opportunity to live with a Nepali family for 3 weeks and teach English in a Primary school in Dharmasthali. Being introduced into the Nepali family was one of the most life-changing for me, in the meantime I got an amazing feeling of spending time teaching English and playing with all the kids.

“I worked for Kathmandu Environmental Education Project from June-July 2015. It was an incredible experience working with the wonderful members of KEEP. During my time there, I assisted in writing grant applications to organizations in order to provide aid for victims of the two major earthquakes that hit in the months of April and May. In addition, I assisted in other office activities, such as translating and formatting newsletters.