While Richard went to the Logistics Cluster and Heather went to Sister’s, I headed to Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) to drop off the 1st installment of quilts. We are providing the last of our quilts to a couple of local orphanages and a boarding school that VIN has had some involvement with since the earthquake. This 1st installment will go to a couple of small orphanages that are close to the VIN officies in Balaju.
In the afternoon Nirmal & I, along with Dinesh from VIN, went to Ngagyur Memorial School to drop off the remaining 110 quilts to a school that has only been in operation for the past four months.
They have been looking after children from Gorkha, Dolokha, Dhading, Sindhupalchok and Rasuwa who have lost one or both parents during the earthquake and have been relocated to Kathmandu.
Some of these children have never been out of their respective villages and many have not had any form of formal education.
So they are having to learn not only basic lifestyle skills, but in some cases Nepali as well as English, let alone other subjects as they get a basic education.
I was introduced to a 16yr old boy who had relocated from upper Gorkha and he didn’t speak Nepali and had never been to school before, yet he was very bright and you could see the potential to get on and succeed in life.
Initially set up as a monastery after the earthquake it was decided that the need was to care for children in need. At present they have 330 children from as young as 5yrs right through to 16yrs. They have 15 (paid) teachers and about 10 volunteers / workers that help look after the children day and night.
I was impressed with the work to date to get the complex suitable for the children to be on site and also the commitment shown by all those that were caring for the children. Especially Geshe Jigme who has taken on the role of Principal.
The other thought that came to mind as I was being shown the kitchen and dining facilities was that at times like this – we need to set aside our political, religious and societal differences and work together for the benefit of the children.
With all of the hassles that the fuel shortage and ongoing unofficial blockade at the border has caused, it is places like these that feel the brunt of other peoples demands. Due to a lack of LPG they are having to cook meals using firewood that has been gathered from the local forest just so that they can feed the children.
Imagine what that would be like – then compound the issue, as they have limited food resource and funds to buy what is available locally, which is already very limited.
The school is also needing stationery and other resources so it was a privilege to provide them with some quilts that will help keep the children warm as winter approaches.
The life and times of Perry... 