I arrived in Kathmandu in June 2015 and came across All Hands Volunteers. I volunteered with them for a month building Temporary Learning Centres for school children and working in IDP (Internally Displaced People) Camps digging drainage ditches in preparation for the monsoon season. I had to leave Nepal for family commitments, but was sure to return as soon as I could.

I came back in November last year and have been living in the town of Colony in the Trishuli area of Nuwakot District. This place has been my home for the last five months, and the people I have met here have opened my eyes to so much. I have worked with hundreds of different volunteers from all over the world who all share the same goal- to help the earthquake victims of Nepal.

The majority of the time I have spent here has been dedicated to "rubbling" - the clearing of debris left after family homes have been destroyed by the earthquake. We have shifted hundreds of metric tons of rocks and mud with the use of pick axes, shovels, rockbars, hoes and wheelbarrows. We work up to nine hours a day, six days a week to help these families get back onto the road to recovery, to start their lives anew.

The local people here have shown me generosity and kindness beyond measure. They have opened their doors to me, shared their all with me and taught me so much. Every family I've met has had their own story of loss and despair, hope and resilience. I've made connections with families which I am certain will last for life.

Our work focus has now shifted towards rebuild - we have three teams working in the Nuwakot district rebuilding schools. Two of the sites - Jalpaua and Bachachala - are in remote locations up in the mountains that are so isolated that the communities there haven't had any help since the earthquake. We take a bus up the mountain and then camp there for the duration of our stay... It's been an amazing experience to be living so close to the local families.

All Hands is an organisation that provides the means for people from all over the globe to come to disaster affected regions and give their time, skills and passion to trying to make a difference to the people who need it most. During the six months I've been volunteering with them, All Hands Project Nepal has fed me, given me a bed and the tools I need to help local families get back on their feet. 

We're digging people out of disaster. Please, help me to help them.