Manu

'Manu is just starting class 1 at nine years old.  His mother is very poor and  has no useable hands as they have been badly burned.  She earns a meagre income begging at the tmple.  When we met Manu he was seven and really wanting to go to school so NEF sponsored him to go to Government school where he started in nusery class.  That is not what he wanted so he went to the High Mount which is private and refused to leave.  His sponsor agreed to pay the fee and he is happy and attending regularly.  I find Manu to be an extremely lovable child who has a lot of determination.  He is always delighted with his sponsor's letters, the first time I gave him one he tried to give it back to me, he could not believe someone would write to him.  I gave him this medal, donated by one of my running friends, and told him it was for his good work and attendance at school.  He was very happy.

Pokhara

This is my last day in Pokhara and a rest day, my only one this trip.  I have seen all the children here and it has been so enjoyable.  Pokhara itself has problems because of a lack of tourists.  Businesses in Lakeside are suffering badly, the stores are quiet and some already have closed.  Hotels mostly empty. To rent a store a years rent must be paid up front, the earthquake happened a year ago next month, so that years rent is almost gone.  After that I just do not see how they can pay these high rents with no tourists shopping in their stores.  I have a friend who is a jeweller and another who owns a gift shop both say the situation is terrible.  The only tourists here are young backpackers and they do mot spend money.  

At this time of year the sky is usually alive with coloured paragliders, there are very few now.  Everyone is suffering.  I also see kids sniffing glue on the street something I did not see before in Lakeside.  Things have changed due to a disasterous past year.  Hopefully tourism will pick up but it is going to take time which a lot of these businesses do not have.

Literacy Program Restarts Tomorrow

The Women's Literacy Program restarts tomorrow.  After the earthquake, some construction of the building and then the oil embargo the women seem keen to start again.  I met with them today and we had 14 who wanted to start tomorrow and I am sure more will come once they know the program is running again.  I felt 14 was enough to make it viable.  We then went and bought the books etc for them and will drop them off tomorrow.  I am happy that the women are keen to start again as they have done so well.

NEF Children in Pokhara

We have visited many children in the last three days, 48 in one day.  They are always a delight.  Here are a few.  Top Milan, Nikku a student with NEF for nine years, now in his last school year, Gagan a very sweet little boy, Dipika from Pumdi Bhumdi, Ganga, and a teacher reading Sohan his sponsor's letter.

Supplies for Blind Students

A few days ago I mentioned the donation we received from the students in Georgia, USA.  They make unique jewellery which they sell so they can help underprivileged children.  They call themselves "Jewels for Jewels".  We found a special project for them in Nuwakot at the Chandaswory School where we have our earthquake project.  At this school there are 22 blind students ranging in age from 5 yrs to the early 20's.  They had no supplies at all especially since the earthquake.  We bought for them two computers with special software, a radio for each with an external drive so that they can listen to their books, braille supplies, white canes etc.  It was very rewarding delivering these supplies as they were so appreciative and happy.  We chatted with them and a little girl sang for us.  These kids were not only blind but also very poor and had lost their school in an earthquake but were so happy.  A lesson to be learned here.  Sabitri, our blind masters student, came with with us as she had helped us with advice on what the students needed.  She is hoping to get a job as a teacher at this school and it is looking very hopeful for her.  Many thanks to "Jewls for Jewels" for making this project possible.  I wish you all could have been there.

NEF Earthquake Project

Yesterday we visted Nuwakot and the village of Tupche (not sure of Spelling) this is a five room building plus five toilets.  The toilets have not been started yet but the school buildings are well on their way.  Now the fuel embargo is over it should be finished quickly.  It is a block building reinforced with iron, next it will be cemented and the roof material is being delivered this week.  The children are studying in tents at the present time.  There are 22 blind students here and tomorrow I will tell about them and our project for them.  I am very tired as we have been on the road all day and now we are in Pokhara.

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.