Meet the Team: Ambica Gurung

Our staff of over 500 in Nepal work hard to provide medical, financial, and development aid to Gurkha veterans, their families, and communities across Nepal. Our medical teams are based in Area Welfare Centres stationed throughout the country, with some staff working in-office and others venturing out in the field to visit Gurkha veterans and widows in their homes.

Meet Ambica

Ambica Gurung works as a Medical Centre Assistant in Butwal, a city in Nepal situated southwest of Pokhara. In her job as an assistant, some of her responsibilities include booking medical appointments for Gurkha veterans and widows at the Butwal Area Welfare Centre (AWC), calling the pensioners when their results are ready, and other administrative tasks.

Before arriving at The Gurkha Welfare Trust, Ambica had studied nursing and was involved in a UK and Australian aid project called Sunaulo Pariwar Nepal, where she worked as a nurse in medical camps throughout Nepal for seven years. Currently, while she is working for the GWT she is continuing her education with a Bachelor’s Degree.

Read more below about Ambica’s role and what she enjoys most about her job.

Why did you choose to join the GWT?

I was born in Syangja, a rural village. We had a GWT drinking water project in our village and a GWT water tap stand just outside our home. At the time I was just a child, but when I grew up, I came to know that GWT worked in many other sectors including the medical sector. Growing up, I was really influenced by the GWT water project in our village. So, when I saw they had a vacancy I took the opportunity and joined the team! It’s already been two years since I joined.

What is your favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of the job is when I meet with pensioners who come visit the AWC. I feel like they are my own grandparents. It feels good to provide them with advice and help them understand things. After giving them the services they need and making them happy, it makes me feel like my own grandparents are happy.

How do you generally travel?

My job is based in the office, but some of my colleagues have to drive for nine or ten hours from the Area Welfare Centre in Butwal!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

During my free time I love reading books. I also enjoy reading the GWT’s Samachara newsletter. I also like to study about pensioner-related diseases to stay informed for my job.

Ambica and her colleague work in the Butwal Area Welfare Centre.