On the Ground in Nepal: HI-US Board Member Joe O'Meara Reflects on Visit with Local Staff and Partners

As an audit director on BDO’s Greater Washington DC Nonprofit Assurance team, one of the things I've loved about this career is seeing firsthand the incredible work my clients are doing around the globe. Within the nonprofit sector, I spend most of my professional time serving international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working in developing countries worldwide in global health, diplomacy, and relief work. Over the past 13 years working with these clients, I've had the privilege of traveling to countries throughout Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East to perform audit work. 

I have focused on the international NGO sector because I believe in the work these nonprofits are doing for the world's most vulnerable people down to my core. I'll never forget my first trip to Africa almost ten years ago and seeing the population my client served. They were among the poorest people in the world, living off less than $1/day. What struck me then and continues to on every trip I take is seeing the pure happiness and joy these people have for life without many of the necessities many of us take for granted. That joy and happiness are contagious, and I return home from each trip with a renewed sense of appreciation for life. 

I joined the Humanity & Inclusion US board over a year ago. It is an organization working alongside people with disabilities in times of peace, conflict, and natural disaster in nearly 60 countries. I visited their Nepal operations in September with fellow board members from the UK, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Germany. Throughout the week, we visited programs HI implements through local partners and the Nepal government, primarily around physical and functional rehabilitation for people with disabilities.  

Heartfelt Encounters: Witnessing Resilience in Hospital Recovery Room 

One of the days, we visited the HRDC: Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children. This is a 100-bed hospital where they perform more than 2,000 surgeries a year. Walking through the in-patient recovery room, it was hard to hold back tears, seeing the reality these kids were living with. For many of them, their families live in remote parts of the country without access to healthcare, so their disability went untreated for years, oftentimes causing it to get worse without proper treatment. During our visit, the hospital staff taught us about the smile test. Most of the time, when kids first arrive at the hospital, they are sad and depressed; some have even attempted suicide due to their condition. The hospital staff measure their success in part once they see those same kids start to smile again. I saw this firsthand as we walked around and chatted with the families. I saw kids just out of surgery light up and smile. Most of these kids would not be able to get the treatment they need if it weren't for Humanity & Inclusion, its local partners, and its generous donors. 

Given my height (I am 6'6”), many kids took to me as a bit of a celebrity or spectacle they loved seeing. My favorite was a little boy named Krishna, who was maybe 3 or 4 years old, running up to stand next to me to see how tall he was in comparison. His mom asked for a picture and put him in my arms. He had recently had surgery on his arm. He had pins sticking out, so I was trying to be careful (considering I'm not a healthcare provider and have no clue what I was doing), but the smile on his face as he looked at me and at the picture was something I will never forget. 

On another day, we flew to the southern part of Nepal, which is very remote. We went to the homes of three different people with amputations who have received prosthetics from partners of HI. I'll never forget hearing firsthand from these adults about how receiving the services from HI and its partners changed their lives. For instance, we visited the home of a 23-year-old woman who was involved in a road accident as a teenager that resulted in her losing her leg from the knee down. She experienced depression and attempted suicide twice. Thankfully, a community outreach team from HI met her and brought her to a clinic where she was fitted with a prosthetic. She is happy again and even got married last year. She and her husband now live across the road from her parents and sister, and she is a contributing community member.? 

Humbling Perspective on life's challenges and the Power of HI 

Throughout the week, I was in awe of the work I saw HI doing and the spirit and pride of everyone involved. I couldn't help but often think to myself how different these people's lives would be if they happened to have been born in a more developed country, like here in the US. I am guilty of complaining about the difficulties in my life; however,?seeing the reality many of these individuals face daily puts life into perspective. 

I was proud and honored to be invited to serve on the Board of Humanity & Inclusion from day one. After the experiences I had recently in Nepal, I am even more proud to be able to serve and support the amazing work they're doing around the globe. I am also grateful for the opportunity to serve as Treasurer on the Board of Directors and proud to be part of HI’s First Responders monthly giving community. This experience gives me a different perspective of an organization that benefits me professionally. I can relate to some of the questions or views board members of my BDO clients might have.

I'm grateful the firm supports professionals taking on volunteer roles like this and would encourage everyone to find an organization whose mission presents your core values and get involved. It is a great way to give back, and from my experience so far, I get far more out of it on a personal level than what I am giving, which is a win-win for me.