The momo folding factory

Making momos since age four, Luuk shows off and makes a swan.

A few days after orientation and just as volunteers get use to their project sites and work schedules, we like to mix things up and give them one more very nepali experience – a cooking class.

Volunteers get to learn how to cook vegetable pakauda (fried vegetable snacks), puri (bread that puffs up when cooked), aloo dum (potato curry) and vegetable momos (steamed dumplings). The class is fund and sure, educational, but the best part is the food. Our teacher, Rekha helps volunteers produce food that is better than any local restaurant. 

The momo factory turns playful and the bird judges momo folds.

Normally, the class ends with momo folding which is much harder than it looks. Volunteers often pit themselves against one another to create the most professional looking fold. It's a frustrating task as the dough often fails to cooperate and while you struggle, the nepali's around you make the skill look so easy a child could do it. Luckily, no matter the fold the results are delicious and the school children who get to eat them as a snack are always appreciative.

The momo folding factory