Tomorrow leaving for Nuwacot

Early tomorrow we leave for the mountain area of Nuwacot.  This is where we are building the school rooms with the earthquake money.  We will be there for two days and then travel to Pokhara to visit all the children there.  So no internet for a couple of days.  It will be nice to leave the dust, pollution and chaos of Kathmandu behind.  The fuel embargo is over and they are getting 70 percent of the fuel allotment from India.  Tourist numbers are down but it is still fairly busy. 

Children needing Sponsors

We have quite a few students needing sponsors.  Most of them are older in the higher classes or college so the sponsorship will be short term.  If we do not get sponsors we have to pay for them out of the fund which is quite draining on our resources.  These children had sponsors but have lost them and some NEF has been paying for them for two or three years.  Some are here in Katmandu and some in Pokhara and I will going there in a couple of days.  These ones are in Kathmandu.

First is Shailindra in class nine, very bright student.  He will be starting class 10 next month, cost $125 for the year and the two years college at $ 350 per year.

Next is Bijaya Lama.  He has one year of college left at a cost of $350.  Bijaya has been with NEF for many years and is a good and regular student.

Binod class 8 at private school so cost is $350.00 per year, good student.

Prabu, from the first family ever sponsored by NEF.  Has two brothers and a sister all who have done well through NEF.  Private school $350 per year.  Class 9 so four years left.  

These boys are all good and regular students and we have to continuing helping them to finish their education.  Any help would be appreciated.

Stone Quarry

I am calling this the stone quarry children out of habit as the quarry has now gone.  Over the years the land has gradually been built on and the families have been sqeezed out of their dwellings.  I met most of them in a room one of them lives in.  These children have lived hard lives in very poor circumstances but they do so well in school and we have three in college and one that has graduated.  I have been coming to visit these families for so many years and it is always a pleasure to see them.  Photos 

Of Abeseka, Bijaya first year college and has mo sponsor now, Aaiseka, Sarita and Sanija.

Sabitri and City Academy

Yesterday we met with Sabitri, one of our blind students.  She is doing really well and she is helping us with a project in Chandaswori, Nuwakot. That is where we are building five school rooms and toilets.  We are supplying school supplies for the blind students including two computers with special software.  This project made possible by a group of students at a High School in Georgia, USA called Jewels for Jewels.  They make creatively distinctive jewelery which they sell at local markets to raise money tohelp others  less fortunate than themselves such as the children supported by NEF.  She is buying a lot of the supplies for us as she knows the suppliers and exactly what is needed.  She hopefully is going to be the teacher at this school.  Photos and details to follow after we deliver the supplies to the school.  This school was destroyed in the earthquake.

We also visited City Academy School where we have eight students, two who are in their last year and taking their School Leaving Certificate exams next month.

Photos:  Sabitri, Binod who has lost his sponsor, Jwala and Samjhana.

Photos of some of the Children

Photos of children at Gyan Bigan School, Asmita ans Susmita Bhujel, Rajesh, Surabi, and Pinki.

Nakhipot Area Children

SYesterday we went to the Nakhipot schools and saw about 20 children.  As always it is a delight to see the children.  It has been a year since my last visit and many had grown a lot.  Some are in their teens and can converse in English.  Krishna, who himself was educated through NEF, was my guide and he has excellent English and is doing a great job recording all the children, school fees, telephone numbers etc.  

We also visited the Mahalaxmi School where we did the project last year of building toilets and making a nursery class.

Dave's idea of making up bags for every child is a great idea.  Their sponsor letter/gift goes in the bag and if there is no letter we put a small gift in the bag of clothing etc.  This way every child gets something.

Arrived in Nepal

I arrived in Nepal late night after a 40 hour journey.  Dave and Krishna met me and it was good to see them.  Today has been a full packed day of work and just going to bed now at 10 pm.  Krishna, Dave and I spent hours planning for our visiting of children and schools.  We sorted all letters and gifts and made up gift bags for all the children that did not have anything.  Dave purchased fabric bags and we filled them.  Plastic bags are outlawed here.  Amazing a third world country and they are ahead of us on this one.  

Tomorrow we visit Nakhipot and the five schools there.  We also met with Ram for two hours tonight and I can say that I am very pleased at how the charity is being run by what I have see so far.

Now I must get some sleep.