How a Belgian Physiotherapist Made a Lasting Impact at a Disability Center in Nepal
When Megan Bertrands, a qualified physiotherapist from Belgium, arrived in Kathmandu for a four-week volunteer placement with Volunteer Society Nepal, she brought with her something the disability center deeply needed: professional expertise, hands-on experience with children with neurological disabilities, and a genuine passion for making a difference in under-resourced communities.
Her story is a powerful example of what happens when skilled healthcare professionals choose to give their time, knowledge, and heart to communities that have so much to gain from it.
From Belgium and New Zealand to Kathmandu: Meet Megan
Megan holds a Professional Master’s in Physiotherapy from University College Dublin, graduating with First Class Honours and receiving the prestigious Fiona Hoey Medal — awarded to the highest-achieving graduate in the programme. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she competed as a Division I NCAA athlete on a full scholarship.
Currently working as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist in New Zealand, Megan was already no stranger to volunteering in developing countries. In 2023, she completed a paediatric neurodisability clinical placement in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where she managed her own caseload of children with severe neurological disabilities including cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus — in a resource-deprived setting with limited equipment. She even fundraised over NZD 5,600 to provide physiotherapy equipment for that placement.
In short, Megan was exactly the kind of volunteer that a disability center in Nepal needs most.
Physiotherapy Volunteering at a Disability Center in Kathmandu
Nepal faces a significant shortage of qualified rehabilitation professionals. Many children and adults living with disabilities — conditions such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, muscle weakness, and mobility limitations — have little or no access to structured physiotherapy. Caregivers and teachers do their best, but without proper training and consistent professional guidance, the gaps in care can be significant.
This is where skilled volunteers like Megan make a transformative difference.
During her four weeks in Kathmandu, Megan worked directly with children and young adults at the disability center, contributing across a wide range of rehabilitation activities:
Basic Physiotherapy Assessments
Megan evaluated the mobility and physical condition of individuals at the center, looking at muscle tone, joint mobility, balance and coordination, posture and movement patterns, and functional ability in daily activities. These assessments gave caregivers a clearer picture of each person’s physical needs — something that is rarely available without a visiting professional.
Rehabilitation Exercises and Mobility Training
Drawing on her clinical experience with cerebral palsy and developmental conditions, Megan guided children through stretching exercises to reduce stiffness, range-of-motion work, strengthening activities, balance training, and simple mobility practice such as assisted walking and standing. These sessions helped children build strength and independence in ways that routine caregiving alone cannot provide.
Creating Sustainable Daily Therapy Plans
One of Megan’s most valuable contributions was developing simple but effective daily exercise routines that caregivers and teachers could continue after her departure. Because full-time physiotherapy services are not available at the center, leaving behind practical, repeatable plans ensures that the impact of her work extends well beyond her four weeks on the ground.
Training Caregivers and Local Staff
Megan invested significant time in teaching local staff and caregivers fundamental physiotherapy techniques — safe stretching methods, proper positioning for children with mobility challenges, daily rehabilitation exercises, and strategies to prevent muscle stiffness and joint contractures. This knowledge transfer is arguably the most enduring part of any healthcare volunteer’s contribution: it keeps benefiting children long after the volunteer has returned home.
Creative and Engaging Therapy Activities
Reflecting her belief that rehabilitation should be enjoyable, Megan incorporated creative approaches into therapy sessions — movement games, ball coordination exercises, music and rhythm-based movement, and group physical activities. These methods are not only more motivating for children; they align perfectly with Megan’s background in using creative, patient-centred techniques in clinical settings.
“Your Skills Can Be a Valuable Addition”
What makes Megan’s placement so compelling is how directly her professional background matched the needs of the community she served. Her experience working with children with cerebral palsy in Tanzania, her volunteer work with youth with disabilities through Recreate NZ, and her clinical training in adaptive and patient-centred care all converged into four highly impactful weeks at the Kathmandu disability center.
As Megan herself shared after her placement:
“I look forward to helping bring more healthcare volunteers to Nepal.”
That says it all. When the experience is meaningful, volunteers become advocates — and for Volunteer Society Nepal, that kind of genuine connection is at the heart of everything we do.
What It’s Like to Volunteer in Nepal with VSN
Volunteering in Nepal is not just about the work. It is a full cultural experience. Upon arrival, volunteers are picked up from Tribhuvan International Airport and welcomed into a Nepali host family, where they have their own room and receive two meals a day. In the first few days, volunteers participate in Nepali language training and guided sightseeing tours of UNESCO World Heritage Sites around Kathmandu Valley — including Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Swayambhunath — helping them settle in, connect with the culture, and communicate more effectively during their placement.
Volunteering typically takes place Sunday to Friday, with weekends and public holidays free to explore, travel, or trek. Nepal’s world-famous trekking routes — from the Annapurna Circuit to the trails around Pokhara — are easily accessible for volunteers who want to make the most of their time in the Himalayas.
For Megan, the cultural immersion was one of the most memorable parts of her experience. The warmth of her Nepali host family, the kindness of VSN staff including Bishal, Sushil, and Bikesh, and the everyday moments of connection with local communities left a deep impression that will stay with her long after returning home.
Are You a Physiotherapist, Healthcare Student, or Medical Professional?
If Megan’s story resonates with you, we would love to hear from you.
Nepal’s disability centers, community clinics, and rehabilitation programs are always in need of skilled physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, nurses, doctors, and healthcare students ready to make a meaningful contribution. Even two to four weeks of structured clinical support can create long-term change — particularly when you leave behind training, therapy plans, and strengthened local capacity.
At Volunteer Society Nepal, we match healthcare volunteers with placements that genuinely fit their skills and interests. We handle the logistics — airport pickup, accommodation, cultural training, 24/7 staff support — so you can focus on the work that matters.
Program fees cover: airport pickup and drop-off, accommodation with a host family (two meals daily), Nepali language and cultural orientation, sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley, and your contribution to the charity projects run by Volunteer Society Nepal.
👉 View our full fee structure here
Ready to Volunteer in Nepal?
We are flexible with start dates and programme duration, and we are here to answer every question you have before you book.
Get in touch:
🌐 Website: www.volunteersocietynepal.org 📧 Email: contact@volunteersocietynepal.org 📱 WhatsApp: +977 9841032737 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/volunteersocietynepal1 📸 Instagram: @volunteersocietynepal ▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/volunteersocietynepal 🎵 TikTok: @vsnnepal
