Archive for March 2010
Nepal in the Park 2010
- Namaste
“What a great day” was the comment from a family of four about the Nepal in the Park 2010 festival. “There were plenty of children’s activities, delicious Nepalese food and lots of entertainment”.
The focus of this year’s event was to raise money to build two classrooms in a remote village. The Nepalese community joined NAFA in helping to organize and manage different activities and stalls.
The festival started at 9am with hikers doing a one and half hour walk through the bush, symbolic of trekking in Nepal. The children participated in a ‘spotting’ competition during the walk with prizes at the finish line. The 110 walkers raised $2,554 in hike registrations, sponsorships and donations. Fresh fruit, brewed coffee and delicious slices awaited the walkers on their return. We thanked the hikers by providing prizes for the highest sponsorships as well as donated ‘lucky hiker’ prizes to make the day worthwhile.
Delicious food
Another 200 people joined the walkers in the festivities. All guests were welcomed by Neeva and Rhea with a traditional red powder tika. The placing of red powder of the forehead is a traditional Nepalese greeting and blessing denoting a warm welcome. The children were entertained with a donut eating competition , children’s games and two beautiful piñatas which rained sweets when burst. The children also had an opportunity to dress in traditional Nepalese clothing for the enjoyment of their family .
The Nepalese community worked tirelessly to provide tasty traditional Nepalese food which included dhal bhat, momos , pakora and chicken sekewa . There was an informative Nepali cooking demonstration which included tasting, recipes, spice packs and sauce for sale. People had the opportunity to try their skill at carrom board. This is a popular Nepalese board game played in the open air outside tea houses all around Nepal.
Children playing pinata
Other stalls included a very successful massage tent, traditional Eastern eyebrow threading and an extensive market stall selling Nepalese items. Shilla and Jewan performed Nepalese dances and afterwards Anju and Ariya invited the audience to join in and learn a Nepalese dance.
Thank you to everyone for participating to make the event so successful. NAFA raised $8,007. In addition, a member of the Nepalese community in Brisbane, Mr Rajan Koirala, handed over nearly $2,000 in donations from members of the Nepalese community that will help ensure that the two classrooms will be built in Tawal.
The President’s thank you
In addition to thanking participants, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Nepalese community , sponsors for the event and the Red Shirts for their contributions in making the event so successful. Over 40 families cooked food for the day and many members of the Nepalese community played an major role in serving food and organizing a wide range of cultural activities.
Carrom board players
I would like to thank the Nepalese Association of Queensland for the important part they play in coordinating the community’s contribution to both Nepal in the Park and the New Years function held earlier in the year.
I would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous prize items, goods and services that help keep participants happy on the day: Back Track Adventures; Kathmandu; Macpac; K2; Tibetan Kitchen; Sage Restaurant; Kathmandu Newa Chh’en; High Spirits; Queensland Wholesale Canvas; Boomerang Canvas; Dr Deborah Mills The Travel Doctor and Direndra Thapa.
Finally, a big thank you to the “Red Shirts” for the hard work and dedication in both the lead-up to the event and on a day which starts before daylight.
March 2010 Update
NAFA executive members, Ross and Brenda Hazelwood, Deborah and Rod Setterlund, and member Kylie Gilbert are in Nepal continuing to monitor and support NAFA projects. Recent highlights include:
- Two new classrooms at Kophu were inaugurated by Kylie Gilbert during a large and colourful ceremony organised by the village and school. The classrooms are near completion and will be finished in time for Kylie and her mother’s return visit in April.
- Meetings with Kophu school and community representatives were conducted and additional assistance was requested for the school with the funds to come from Kylie’s climb funds. Kophu also completed an application for books from Room to Read and these will be delivered by Kylie and her Mother in April.
The Mulkarka residents gave us a warm welcome and Lohsar party to thank NAFA for our assistance with their water infrastructure implementation and repairs.
- In 2009 Patale village received funds from NAFA for solar lights and water pipes for houses, and new roofing for the school Read the rest of this entry »