Being born in Nepal and moving to the United States at the age of five, my parents never allowed me to forget our culture, heritage, or motherland. From a young age, they taught me that helping others and giving back as much as possible is the best way to live life-a lesson that continues to guide me today. Yo maan ta mero Nepali ho-six simple words meaning "My heart is Nepali"-captures my enduring love for Nepal. Even as a child, I carried a deep desire to one day return and create a meaningful impact in the country where my life began.
After moving to the United States, my family first lived in Maryland for about a year and a half. While there was a Nepali community, my involvement was limited due to my young age. Eventually, we moved to North Carolina, where we were warmly welcomed into a close-knit Nepali community. The Nepal Center of North Carolina (NCNC) became my first real experience of what it meant to belong to a community built on shared identity, service, and care for one another.
Soon after settling in North Carolina, I began volunteering at NCNC. My family and I attended nearly every event, and I helped wherever I could-setting up, breaking down, and assisting with whatever was needed. Over time, I built deep connections within the community and met people who would profoundly influence my life. It was through NCNC that I was first introduced to the Peace Corps. A respected community member, who had served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal during the 1980s, shared stories of his time working in Nepali villages. I listened with fascination. Every conversation planted a seed, and Peace Corps slowly became something I saw not just as an opportunity, but as a calling.
While in high school, I started my own electronics repair business from home, focusing on computers, laptops, and mobile phones. Through hands-on experience, I developed strong troubleshooting skills and learned both hardware and software systems. As my business grew, I began purchasing broken devices, repairing them, and reselling them. More than just technical skills, this experience taught me patience, problem-solving, and how to work independently-skills I now use daily in my service in Nepal.
After graduating from Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2022, I worked as a Technical Support Specialist and later as a Software Engineer.
Although these roles were professionally rewarding, I felt something was missing. I wanted to do work that felt meaningful. I wanted to do work that directly impacted people's lives. That longing brought me back to Peace Corps and to the idea of returning to Nepal, not as a visitor, but as a volunteer.
Initially, I explored English Education opportunities but later learned about a Peace Corps Response position as a Digital Learning Trainer, which is a six-month assignment focused on teaching computer science and repairing computers. This role perfectly aligned with my skills and my desire to serve. In November 2024, while visiting Nepal for my cousin's wedding, I met with Peace Corps Nepal staff and the Country Director to learn more. After this, I submitted my application. In April 2025, I received the news that I had been accepted.
It was a moment of overwhelming joy. Serving in Nepal through Peace Corps was not just a dream fulfilled-it felt like destiny.
I arrived in Nepal in May 2025 as part of Nepal Response 2, alongside seven other volunteers. After two weeks of technical, medical, and language training, we were placed across different districts. I was assigned to the Kaski District, where I now work at a government school. Each day begins with morning assembly, followed by teaching or co-teaching computer classes for grades five, eight, nine, and ten.
My teaching varies by grade level. Fifth graders learn the basics-what a computer is and what its parts do. Eighth graders go deeper, studying the history of computers, Microsoft Office, introductory HTML, and QBASIC. Ninth grade begins with fundamentals before moving into block programming, web technologies, internet and social media, cybersecurity, and more advanced HTML. Tenth grade brings everything together: networking, ethics, computer security, contemporary technologies, number systems, database management systems, modular programming, C programming, and QBASIC. Most days are long but incredibly fulfilling.
One experience that deeply impacted me emotionally was our school's pen pal program. The goal was simple: help students practice reading and writing English by exchanging letters with students in the United States. However, I quickly realized how difficult this was for many of my students. Even letters written in basic English were hard for them to understand. When my students replied, many letters looked the same-one student would write, and the rest would copy. This moment made me realize just how challenging English is for them, and how much support they truly need. It also showed me the limits of what I can do within a short time frame, which has been humbling and emotionally difficult.
As my service progressed, it became clear to me that six months was simply not enough time to create the kind of sustainable impact this community deserved. Meaningful change-especially in education and technology-requires trust, consistency, and time. While I was able to make progress in the classroom and improve the school's computer labs, I realized that real growth happens gradually.
Students need repeated exposure, teachers need long-term support, and systems need time to take root. With that understanding, I made the decision to extend my Peace Corps service from six months to a full 27 months. This decision was not easy, especially knowing it meant spending more time away from my family, but it felt necessary. Extending my service was my way of committing more deeply-to the students, the school, and the community that had welcomed me so warmly. I wanted to ensure that the work I started would continue to grow long after my service ends.
One of the hardest parts of my service has been being away from my parents. I had never gone more than a month without seeing them before coming to Nepal, and the distance has been challenging. We talk every day, which helps, but the separation has taught me independence and emotional resilience.
I live with a host family, and living in the community has been one of the most transformative parts of my service. Life here is simple, but deeply connected. Everyone knows everyone. People genuinely care for one another. This level of community integration is something I had never experienced before, even during short visits to Nepal.
Serving in Nepal as someone born here but raised in the United States has been both an honor and a challenge. Many people treat me differently than they would an American volunteer. Some welcome me warmly, appreciating that I returned to serve. Others question why I am here at all. Through this experience, I've learned that my identity is not just my own-it belongs to the community as well. This has reshaped how I understand what it means to be Nepali.
One tangible impact of my service has been improving the school's computer labs. During the Ashad break, my counterpart teachers and I worked to repair computers, replace parts, and restore functionality. Today, most of our computers are working, with only about fourteen non-functional machines remaining. For me, success means having two fully functional computer labs that can serve students long after my service ends.
By the end of my service, I hope the community clearly sees the value of having a volunteer-not just in terms of technical skills, but in presence, collaboration, and support. This experience has strongly shaped my future goals. I aspire to become a Foreign Service Officer, continuing to work with Nepal and representing communities like the one I now serve.
To the Nepal Center of North Carolina, I offer my deepest gratitude. Thank you for shaping me into someone who believes in service and community. Without NCNC, I may never have found the motivation to return to Nepal and serve. The NCNC community played a critical role in guiding me toward this path, and I know I made the right decision.
To young Nepali-Americans, I encourage you to experience service firsthand. We are incredibly privileged to grow up in the United States, surrounded by resources and opportunities. But to truly understand Nepal-to understand daily life, challenges, and resilience-you must live it, not just visit it. Only through prolonged engagement can you fully appreciate what it means to give back.
Peace Corps has allowed me to reconnect with my roots in a way that is humbling and transformative. Giving back is not a single act-it is a lifelong commitment. One that began with my parents' teachings, was nurtured by the Nepali community in North Carolina, and now continues here, in Nepal, where my heart has always belonged.
Dulal served as Peace Corps Response Volunteer
