The Mission: The GSE program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young professionals in their initial years of professional life. Rotary districts in different countries are paired to send and receive professional study groups of four to six non-Rotarian team members and one Rotarian team leader to travel for three to four weeks, staying in the homes of Rotarians when possible.
However, DG Ray Freaney from District 7475 wanted to have Rotaract members have the opportunity to not only learn about new culture and tradition, but also work on ongoing projects in Nepal. To fit this mission, a GSE team Rotarians and Rotaractors from our district visited Rotary District 3292 in January for three weeks. We will also have an opportunity to host a delegation from Nepal later in the year.
The Team: The District GSE team leads were PDG Tulsi Maharjan from the Branchburg Club and Robert Weisman from the Somerville – Bridgewater Club, and two Rotaract members were selected to participate in this program. The team of Rotaract members were Elizabeth Guinta and Monika Perez from the Raritan Valley Community College Rotaract club.
The Assignment: During the visit to Nepal, the GSE team members visited and observed and learned about the local history, culture and worked on many humanitarian projects, while sharing their own culture and traditions with their hosts and Nepalese Rotaract members.
Team lead PDG Tulsi Maharjan: In addition to leading the team, Tulsi worked with various Rotary and Rotaract clubs in Nepal to expand our Rotary District’s ASHA PROJECT, which has been going on since the major earthquake in Nepal in 2015. More than 10 Rotaract clubs from Nepal participated in the Humanitarian mission projects in Nepal, visited many schools, Orphanages and worked on hands on projects with Rotaract members in Nepal.
Robert Weiseman: wanted to learn about how Nepal is developing Mushroom farm and tryed to prepare to take a new VTT team to Nepal to help Nepalese farmers prepare and encourage to develop emerging technologies and become innovators.
Elizabeth Guinta: worked with students from Nepal and visited many schools and orphanages. During her time in Nepal, Elizabeth was excited to experience how schools are using teaching methods in Nepal, especially in early childhood education settings. On her return her goal is to share her knowledge with others on campus and increase cultural understanding and thereby bridge the gaps that inevitably occur.
Monika: Visited various orphanages and even join the “Mitini” program (lifelong Friendship). She is looking forward to visiting again to Nepal to work with new Rotaract friends in Nepal with new projects.
Join us at the District conference to hear from the team about their exciting GSE trip to Nepal. I, for one, looking forward to hearing about their exciting experiences in Nepal.
The Asha Project 