Archive for October 2011
Construction of 2 Pre-school rooms Narjing
Two classrooms almost complete
Location: Lower Solu Khumbu, (Everest region)
Date: August 2011
Partner: Shree Sekar Sing Lower Secondary School, Narjing
Objective: Construction 2 Pre-school rooms
Beneficiaries: 30 -40 pre- school children from 4 Wards in Garme VDC & 1 Ward in Nele VDC
Details: In 2011 the village applied to NAFA for funds of $7,630 to construct 2 classrooms in the school for approximately 30 to 40 children from 5 surrounding wards. The school advised it had incoming funds for 2 nursery teachers from local and overseas donors.
Outcome: The application was approved at the NAFA August meeting and funds transferred soon after through the Joy Foundation Nepal . Four members from NAFA visited the school in late December 2011 to view the construction of the classrooms and found that they were almost complete. The exterior was nearly finished and only the cement floor and interior walls and ceiling had to be completed. The school advised they expected it to be finished well before start of their new school year.
Construction of Pre-school and Grade 1 classrooms Jalkeni
Location: Sindhulpalchok district, (district east of Kavre on the road towards Jiri)
Date: August 2011
Partner: Shree Gyan Kunja Primary School, Saagachok, Jalkeni
Objective: Construction of 2 classrooms for Pre-school and Grade 1
Beneficiaries: 150 students from the village of Jatdeni
Details: The school applied forAUD $14,200 to start a school on new vacant ground the villagers were able to purchase. Previously students had attended their schooling in an old dairy building which was not suitable for both the number of students and for effective teaching. They applied for funds to complete 4 classrooms for Pre-schoool to Grade 3.
Outcome:NAFA August meeting approved the construction of 2 classrooms in a joint funding with Non Residents Nepalese Association (NRNA). Funding for the other 2 classrooms will be considered between NAFA & NRNA in 2012.
The Nepal Project Coordinator will visit the school in mid December 2011 & early 2012 to view the construction of the school and provide an update on the project.
School toilets and reroofing classrooms Shyama
Location: Ramechap district (one day walk from Jiri village roadhead)
Date: January 2011
Partner: Shree Setidebi Primary School, Shyama -7 Bhirkharka, Dolakha
Beneficiaries: 225 students and teaching staff
Objective: Construction of school toilets and reroofing of existing school building
Details: This school had old unusable toilets and the students were using the nearby bush as a toilet which was not hygienic. The main school building needed reroofing due to age and deterioration. They applied to NAFA for funds of A$2,963.00 for these 2 projects.
Outcomes: NAFA members visited the school in January 2011 and assessed the application. It was found that the school was in need of new toilets and the school roof was rusted with numerous holes causing problems during the rainy season. The members reported back to the committee and the application was approved.
NAFA members will revisit the school in January 2012 to assess the completed work.
Cement classroom floors Kutal Dhading
Cementing classroom floors
Location: Dhading district, ( 1 day jeep drive and half day walk from Kathmandu)
Date: July 2010
Partner: Hilly Region Development Club/Shree Buddha Primary School, Kutal
Beneficiaries: 120 Students
Objective: Sealing classroom floors with cement
Details: School visited by NAFA members in January 2010, who noted the need to cement floors to reduce the dust. An application of A$2,000 was submitted to complete this work.
Outcomes:The application was approved at the NAFA meeting in July 2010. Members visited the area in November 2010 and noted that all work had been satisfactorily completed. The teachers and students were pleased with the improvement.
Classroom skylights, whiteboards and library books Kophu lower Solu Khumbu
Inside the classroom
Skylights for the classrooms
Location: Lower Solu Khumbu, 2 day walk from the airport village of Phaplu
Date: March 2010
Partner: Shree Rampur Lower Secondary School, Kophu
Beneficiaries: 250 students
Objective: Provide skylights and whiteboards for 6 classrooms and Room to Read books for the library
Details: NAFA members visited the school in February 2010 and members noted the poor state of lighting in each room, the dust created by the inefficient blackboard and the lack of a good school library.
Outcomes: The school applied for A$630 to complete this work. NAFA members visited the school again in Jan 2011 and could see the difference in the brightness of the classrooms and how the whiteboards had eliminated the chalk dust. The children were thrilled with the colourful and interesting bilinguial books from Room to Read and hopefully this will improve their reading in both Nepali and English.
Water infrastructure for a school Nayagau Kavre
Bringing water to the school
Location: Kavre district (next district east of Kathmandu valley)
Date: July 2010
Partner: Shree Deupur Primary School, Nayagau
Beneficiaries: 200 students and teachers
Objective: Water infrastructure project to bring water from a higher spring to a tap stand in the school which at present has no water.
Details: The school applied for funds A$1,516 to complete this project. A NAFA member went to the village to assess the application and gave a favourable report.
Outcomes: The application was approved at the NAFA meeting July 2010 for the purchase and laying of these pipes and construction of a tap stand. A group of NAFA members and executive officers visited the project in January 2011. The project was assessed as successful, pending some small issues to be corrected by the villagers. NAFA members have now revisited the school in November 2011 and were pleased to see all issues have been resolved.
Refit 4 classrooms Lumsa
Location: Lower Solu Khumbu, 3 day walk from airport village of Phaplu
Date: March 2010
Partner: Champa Devi New Lumsa Primary School
Beneficiaries: 75 students
Objective: Provide skylights, whiteboards and desks to 4 classrooms.
Details: NAFA members visited school in February 2010 and noted the poor state of lighting in each room, the dust created by the inefficient blackboard and the lack of a good school library. The desks in these old classrooms were in need of repair. We were advised the refit would cost $864.
Outcomes: Project visited in January 2011 by NAFA exec members. They could see the difference in the brightness of the classrooms and how the whiteboards reduced the dust from the chalk as well as new desks for the children to work from. This has given the children an added pride in their school.
Friend of Nepal of the Year 2009-2010 Award
NAFA executive members win prestigious national award
At Nepal in the Park, Ross and Brenda Hazelwood were presented with the prestigious Friend of Nepal of the Year 2009-2010, awarded by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA). Mr Narayan Pokharel, President of the Nepalese Association of Queensland (NAQ), presented the national award on behalf of NRNA and NAQ, who had nominated Ross and Brenda for the award.
This is a joint nomination of a husband and wife team, Ross and Brenda, who for over 20 years have dedicated their time and talents to improving the lives of disadvantaged people in Nepal, as founding and still very active members of NAFA.
Ross and Brenda spend 7 months of the year in Brisbane helping to organise NAFA’s fundraising events (including a Nepalese New Years fundraising dinner and Nepal in the Park) and activities such as market stalls. Brenda is Vice President of NAFA while Ross holds the positions of Secretary and Nepal Project Coordinator. In addition to these roles, Brenda uses her skills in craft work to make cards and jewelry to sell at NAFA stalls. She also set up NAFA Knitters, a project which involves approximately 80 women knitting jumpers and beanies for children in poor families in Nepal.
Distributing jumpers to children in remote villages
For five months a year, Ross and Brenda live in Nepal, at their own expense, helping with NAFA projects. They play an important role in identifying and assessing new applications, visiting and assisting with all of NAFA’s projects and inspecting completed projects. This role involves in some cases treks (again at their own expense) to remote areas of Nepal to assess and monitor NAFA projects.
Ross also updates the child profiles of approximately 35 children sponsored for education by NAFA at Prisoners Assistance (PA) Nepal. For several years Brenda has played an important role for the children at that home by conducting a craft program which teaches the children to sew, knit, and make jewelry – often a lovingly made item goes to their parent in prison. Brenda believes craft work provides skills for life.
With Ross’s support, Brenda also coordinates not only the distribution of jumpers and beanies in Nepal, but also the purchase of goods for sale at NAFA market stalls back in Australia. Brenda also sources beads and material from retail shops in Kathmandu to create jewellery, felt items and other saleable items for the markets, which brought in almost $10,000 for NAFA in 2010.
- Brenda trekking in Mulkarka
Ross and Brenda play an active role in NAFA’s Further Education and Training (FEAT) Program for young Nepali boys and girls to help them find their first job through work visits/work experience and NAFA sponsorship in post School Leaving Certificate (SLC) study or vocational training.
The kind recognition by NRNA and NAQ has provided a unique opportunity to acknowledge a couple, Ross and Brenda who have a deep respect for Nepal and the Nepalese people and culture. They have committed a significant amount of their time, energy and their own resources for over 20 years to support disadvantaged people in Nepal. Without each other’s support they wouldn’t have been able to achieve what they have and NAFA is very proud and wishes to congratulate Ross and Brenda for winning this prestigious award and thank NAFA and NAQ for the recognition of their contribution to helping disadvantaged people in Nepal.
Successful Nepal in the Park 2011
- Traditional Nepalese dancing
- Receiving a welcoming ‘tika’
What a successful day! Perfect weather for hiking and enjoying all the activities on offer. Something for everyone with Nepali food and dancing, face painting, learning Nepali cooking, the market stalls, henna painting, massage and the pinatas among the favourites.
On the fundraising side we made a record $10,000 which will be allocated to worthy projects in Nepal All projects are assessed and monitored to ensure the money is well spent.
A big thanks to all our supporters: the Red Shirts, hikers, patrons, everyone who sponsored hikers and those organisations who donated prizes and goods, including:
The Nepalese community particiate in many different areas such as cultural dancing and authentic food
ABC 612 Radio
Anaconda
Backtrack
Dipendra Thapa
Goodlife Health Club Bardon
High Spirits
Himalayan Delights
Innovative Sign Solutions
K2
Kathmandu
Kathmandu Newa Chhe’n
Macpac
Mountain Designs
Paddy Palin
The Tibetan Kitchen
Westside News 14 September 2011
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Joining in the fun
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Traditional flute and drums
Face painting