Supporter Update Dec 2018
Hello and seasons greetings. Our most recent group of seven trekkers arrived home safely in December, brimming with the kind of elated happiness and enthusiasm that walking and working in Nepal offers. Once again, the journey comprised two parts – the trek, followed by a ‘spirit lifting’ school visit.
Our steady walking through the massive labyrinth of Himalayan foothills comprising the magnificent Helambu region took us past numerous villages perched on hillsides or saddles overlooking cavernous valleys. Therapati Pass marked our highest point at 3690m, so the usual early morning cuppa made a welcome start to some frosty but sunny days.
Every few kilometres our winding trail revealed another cluster of new houses, now built more strongly with braced timber, solid walls of cemented brick or stone, and pillars and beams of reinforced concrete. Inside, timber floored multiple rooms are furnished, kitchens are usually equipped with flued stoves, and a modern toilet is housed separately outside.
No new Nepalese house would be complete without some coats of contrasting paint which practically every proud home owner applies. Enfolding all are beds of vivid flowers, re-enforcing the sense that a big emotional corner had been turned along the road to recovery.
There is still a great deal of work to be completed, or even begun, none-the-less it was heart-warming to see so many families obviously living more comfortably and securely.
School reconstruction at most villages has proceeded apace. At Melamchigaon, many concrete columns have been poured and walls were rising rapidly. More impressive was the progress made in rebuilding the privately run Yangrima Boarding School at Sermathang (https://www.yangrima.org/school/ ).
Built along the spine of a ridge fifteen minutes walk from the village is a collection of splendidly rebuilt classrooms surrounding a paved, level quadrangle play area. The IT classroom was impressively equipped with numerous computers, awaiting the imminent fibre optic connection. Comprising some 150 students, 50 of whom are boarders who travel home every second weekend, the school is totally funded benevolently. Established in 1989, it has had a chequered past, being bombed by rebel Maoists in 2001, and then razed by the 2015 earthquake. To see the rebuild was testimony to the resolve of the founder and supporters, the Principal and the teachers.
This year we visited Shree Thangpal Dhap Primary and Secondary School to run our four day spirit lifting medley of classroom and sport workshops as well as our dental, optical and women’s health clinics.
The techniques of the many budding Nepalese cricket players were finessed by our Australian cricketer and umpire Murray over numerous enthusiastic games.
Midwife Sue and Lorraine together with Nepali health worker Jyoti, worked tirelessly running back to back sessions for girls at their clinic, and then doubled up at the end of each day attending to the queues of women from the local village.
Drs Naveen and Canchan and dental hygienist Januka, examined and in some urgent cases, repaired the teeth of some 500 children and some villagers. Optometry technician Bimal examined 430 students and some villagers.
Karin ran some experiments in surface chemistry as well as running highly popular sewing, embroidery and French knitting workshops across all ages.
Dr Rob, ably assisted by Catherine, ran a series of very successful science experiments on bacteriology using everyday items from the natural environment. Another series of experiments tested the effect of different temperatures on the activation of yeast, and finally, lectures were given on the five living kingdoms classification system. Rob and the science teacher, Ganesh, worked closely together to impart knowledge and get the message across. It was as much an excellent grounding for Ganesh as it was for the wide-eyed students.
A special feature of our Nepal visit this year was the successful delivery of some 1500 donated safety glasses to areas of busy rebuilding. With the help of the Fred Hollows Foundation, links were made with the Tilganga Ophthalmic Institute in Kathmandu, who has a network of clinics across Nepal. Across Nepal people (commonly women) are involved in smashing rocks to produce small stones for concrete making. Inevitably at some point a shard will fly into a worker’s eye necessitating a hospital visit. Our hope is that through education and further distributions, the incident of eye damage will become negligible.
The Nireka Staff Assistance Fund continues to operate. Further donations from you, family and friends can be credited to Beyond Bank, BSB 805-022, account number - 03563264, account name – Nireka Staff Assistance Fund. Please reference note the donation with your name. Every donation is receipted. Sincere thanks to each and every one of you over recent and past times. Hope to see you on a trip sometime!
