Photos of Nakhipot School

Nakhipot School

Yesterday, my first day, we went to the Nakhipot school.  It was very moving, they greeted me with open arms.  They are so happy and grateful for the science room and books that was supplied with a donation from the Dwight International School, Duncan Daybreak Rotary and Port Angeles Rotary. They said the children are so interested now.  I looked at the site for the new toilets.  They planned four new ones with septic tank, with proper pans and tiled.  I thought that may not be enough so they agreed and would like a common urine room (don't ask, it is common here).  Hopefully the work will start today or tomorrow.  The construction man is coming here this morning.  The urine room will cost more but there still may be enough to replace the tin roof over part of the school which is leaking.  This new project is being funded by Merrit Sunrise Rotary, Merrit Noontime Rotary and Duncan Noontime Rotary.

Also I have decided to make a nice nursery/kindergarten room.  It is literally bare bones now.  This I will do from NEF funds.

I talked with the teachers for about an hour and a shocking fact came out about the students.  Most 75% are child labourers from villages in remote areas.  They are so poor the parents send them to work in these rich homes around here as domestic servants from as young as six and seven.  Keeping them in school to class 8 is a challenge as they have no time to study, they see the teachers as their parents and they try to help these kids as much as possible.  It is hard for them to buy uniforms etc.  this was a shock to me and now I know why this shabby school sits in a rich area uncared for.  They did not tell me last year and I did not ask as I have not come across this before.  The science teacher is a warm woman speaking good English.  I told her she has to tell this story to Nick in the film that he is making of NEF later this month. These beautiful, smiling children struggling for an education with almost no hope.  Very sobering on my first day.  The women teachers here are wonderful, though they have added two men, for better or worse (just jokin).  One seemed to be a very caring young man of 23.   These kids need some light in their lives and to know people value them.  They will know that Rotary members from Canada are helping them.  An NEF sponsor known at the school as Mr Ed has just been teaching here for two weeks.  

Today we returned to the school with books bought with donations from two donors.  The children were delighted with them.  I visited some of the classes and talked to the children who were domestics.  They were not treated well.  On girl, aged 18, in class 8 was very unhappy.  She had to work so hard and the teacher said she often had swollen red hands.  I asked her how much money she was paid and she said 3000 rupees per year (38 canadian dollars) plus her room and board.  She was hoping to go onto class 9 but she would have to travel to another school and this may not be possible unless she finds another place to live.  Younger children were paid nothing.  Very sad.

I will post photos separately

Susan

Arrived in Nepal

Namaste everyone:

I am now in Nepal, first day here.  It was the worst journey I have had.  Delayed 12 hours in Malaysia due to the plane crash in Kathmandu causing the airport to be closed for 4 days.  Arrived at 10:30 pm and did not get my luggage till 1 am.  I cannot begin to describe to you the mayhem in the luggage room.  I had no hope of hanging on to my cart and trying get through the throng to lift those heavy bags off the carousel.  The men were standing on the carousels, luggage being thrown everywhere, people sleeping on the floor.  A lady offered to hold my cart so I could go to the toilet which was a filthy mess.  I did finally see one of my bags go by and after sometime a man told he had seen my bags and later found them on the floor for me.  I was very grateful to him.  Mann waited four hours for me to come out.  I have never seen anything like it in my life.  Today I am very tired but started work.  Tomorrow I will start the blog.  The story I will put on here tomorrow is a sad one which I encountered today.  It is about the children who attend the Nakhipot school where we put the science lab last year and this year have a Rotary project for new toilets.

Sent from my iPad

On My Way to Nepal

I am on my way to Nepal via Kuala Lumpur.  My flight left Vancouver late so I missed my flight Kuala Lumpur.  I am going to spend four days with my friend Bikram, my yoga teacher from Nepal.  Bikram used to teach yoga some years ago in Thamel and I became friends with him.  He was the best yoga teacher I ever I had.  He made me believe that I could do anything.  I did my first headstand with him.  He was very poor and lived in a tiny room where I remember having dinner with him.  Then he was picked by a high end yoga chain in K.L and he worked for them for a few years.  Now he has his own yoga studio, is married with a son and is doing very well.  I am so looking forward to seeing and doing lots of yoga.  I am the only yoga student from the west that has remained friends with Bikram through the years so this is a big event for both of us.

Leaving for Nepal

I am leaving for Nepal in two weeks.  Any sponsors wishing to send letters should get them to me as soon as possible.
Other sponsors are also visiting at this time:  Ed, from Australia arrives in Nepal tomorrow, two sponsors from BC are arriving in two weeks, Dave from New Zealand also arrives next month and Nick and his wife from Duncan arrive in late March.  Nick is the filmmaker.

As usual I will be visiting all children and schools while I am there.  I will be updating this blog regularly.  I am sorry that I have been neglectful lately in regards to this but it is a full time job getting payments in etc.  

Sponsors Visit Nepal and Meet their Sponsored Children

We have had three sponsors visit Nepal in the last month, two from Vancouver Island and one from Australia.  They all have really enjoyed their visits and loved meeting the children that they sponsor.
Ed from Australia has been in Nepal for six weeks mostly spending time with the children.  He sponsors three children himself and also visited many of our NEF children.  Melanie also has three sponsored children and one lady in the literacy program.  She is just leaving Nepal for India today and will not be home for a couple of weeks.  It will be interesting to hear all about her visit when she returns home.
Photos of Ed with his sponsored child Bipana and her friends who are also sponsored by NEF.  Melanie with her child and neighbours who again are sponsored by NEF.

Marathon Fundraiser

Unfortunately I have not been updating this blog for personal reasons.  My mother passed away last month and so I had to travel to England for her funeral and to help with her affairs.  After returning I had a very sore leg and although I was all trained to run the Portland marathon on October 7th I had to pull out as their was no way I could run on my leg.  This was a fundraiser for NEF.  One of our sponsors said that she would be willing to run the Victoria Marathon a week later for NEF even though she was not really trained.  This was a wonderful gesture on her part.  I was at the finish line when she came in and it was very emotional for both of us.  Margaret had a very tough run but she said it was the thought of the Nepali children that kept her going.  Many, many thanks Margaret for doing this for NEF.  The marathon raised over $4,000 dollars.  The money will be used for some administration but a large part will be donated to help teenaged girls in Nepal.  After we lost Mann's sister last month so tragically we would like to do something to help girls in their teens to cope more effectively.  When I am there in March I will look into this further.  We are thinking about yoga and meditation and counselling.  We will talk to the girls and get their ideas as well.  More on this later.

Here is a little video of Margaret after she finished the race.