How one ITMI alumna turned global compassion into action—starting in post-earthquake Nepal

Shelby Spahar – Class #287

When a deadly earthquake struck Nepal in April 2015, claiming over 9,000 lives, Shelby Spahar felt her calling crystallize.

The Michigan native and ITMI alumna channeled her deep passion for travel into a mission to help others in a region reeling from disaster. Her response wasn’t just emotional—it was immediate and practical.

Humanitarian Travel After the Nepal Earthquake

Following the quake, Shelby launched a GoFundMe campaign to support her journey to Nepal with All Hands Volunteers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rebuilding communities devastated by natural disasters.

“I had always hoped to find a purpose in my travels, and thankfully the universe led me to humanitarian work,” Shelby said.

Over three months, she worked alongside volunteers and Nepali locals to:

• Rebuild private homes
• Reconstruct schools
• Restore community development centers

Dangerous, uninhabitable buildings were demolished, and safe, functional structures rose in their place—brick by brick, hope by hope.

Lessons from Nepal: Resilience, Joy, and Shared Humanity

“Nepal has countless lessons to teach about pure and true happiness, humanity, and resilience,” Shelby said. “It is enlightening to see the joy and happiness they find in life.”

Despite tragedy, what Shelby witnessed was not despair, but strength.

“I learned that in recognizing our common bond as humans, we can defeat any problem.”

This is the heart of ethical tourism: seeing people not as victims, but as vibrant cultures full of wisdom and resilience.

Next Stop: Calais and the Migrant Crisis

Shelby is now looking toward volunteer opportunities in Calais, France, where thousands of displaced refugees have formed informal camps amidst a growing humanitarian crisis.

While not everyone can travel or donate financially, she urges others to contribute in other ways:

“Be vocal about the problems facing a particular disaster-stricken area, raise awareness of the work being done to help, and advocate for human understanding and compassion.”

Empowered by ITMI’s Travel Leadership Training

Shelby credits her training at ITMI for shaping her global outlook and ability to make a difference through travel:

“They teach that tourism can be the bread-and-butter for struggling economies, and can also be the beginning of a new world, especially for places affected by the crisis.”

ITMI’s ethos—that travel is a force for good—comes alive in stories like Shelby’s.