We Found the Children – 1 of 3

We survived the trip to Nepal !

Soldiers were everywhere (Pic-01), the UN vehicle was equipped with satellite communication; wherever we went, our position was reported in code. We have 10 days to complete the journey because the Moist vowed to invade Kathmandu in 2 weeks time.

Like 2 years ago, it was a similar hazy morning in Chitwan (02), the first family we found was the sisters with the water pump. We brought them back to the location where the picture was shot (04).The mother’s initial shocked turn into beaming joy (03), she could not believe people like them – who did not even have a photo, could appear in the book !

We also managed to find the pretty Indian lady, she was on the way back from the farm, a typical Asian woman who possesses the quality to persevere through hardship (05). Looking at his face in the calendar, the “son” asked – “Where is my brother?” (not borne yet in 2004).

Remember the girl studying with the 18 houseflies? We could not make her smile because her mother is working in India and she badly misses her mom (07). The children have grow bigger and prettier, they crowded arround, eagerly trying to find their faces in the book.

We also distributed clothes to them, it doesn’t take much to make everyone happy.

Portion of the calendar money will be used for funding 10-15 children in the in Chitwan. 

More Children (2 of 3)

… continued from Part 1

Situation deteriorated further. When we arrived in Pokhara, a bomb was thrown into a deputy minister’s house, barriers and tight security measures (Pic 2-01) paralyzed the transportation system…

Due to time constraint, we visited 2 of the nearest mountain projects to understand problems faced by UNICEF(see Notes). “Near” is relative! What they meant was 1hr by 4X4 vehicle up the mountain and 45min walked (Pic 2-02), didn’t tell me it was downhill 45, but walked back up was 2hrs !. Villages are scattered. Distant projects refer to those deep in the mountains, only reachable via 4-5 days mud tracks.

We were greeted by groups of lovely children (Pic 2-03), many of them came from marginal families with household income of USD10-25 a month.

When visiting the families, I saw this lady recuperating (Pic 2-04) after her 5th delivery. Only one child survives in the first 4 attempts, they were too poor to afford the 0.70 cents “delivery kit”! Grandma performed the role of the mid-wife (Pic 2-05), poor hygiene and ignorant were contributing factors to high mortality. The latest addition was merely 10 day old (Pic 06). We adopted 22 children from this village and moved on.

Meena has successfully spread the importance of children education. In the second village, the villagers saved up to build a class room instead of a shrine. With no beautiful scenery to attract trackers, I was the first non-Nepalese to visit them (Pic 07). They danced and sang with their own songs created to encourage education! Vacancies are limited3, much as I like to help; I could not adopt any kids from here because tomorrow, there is a group of special children deservingly awaiting the remaining fund…

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Notes

1.         S$95,000 was raised for “Meena” (PDF), a UNICEF cartoon project to benefit 26,000 children through a series of 12 books (Pic 08). Through Meena – a little girl full of aspiration, the project helps children identify their rights, emphasize gander equality, importance of education, and raise awareness on health and safety issues.

2.         It cost only USD 0.20 (SGD 0.35) per book, but What is more expensive is getting them out to the villages and in training teachers how to use them.  Retaining teacher in the barren village is another problem.

Children Working in Sand Quarry (3 0f 3)

… Continued from Part 2 

When we got back from the valley, the driver whom waited on the ridge line informed us that he spotted an explosion across the other mountain, he could feel the pulse of the unrest and suggested to head back to Pokhara. 

After contemplating throught the night, we decided to set off next morning to Lekhnath, a place where children have to work in the quarry. 

We saw children streaming in one by one (Pic 3-01) for lessons.  Though it was a humble little room surrounded by melanic walls, children and teacher couched on the floor (Pic 03-2) enthusiastically discussing their lessons. 

As soon as class is over, they rushed back home (Pic 3-03), the lucky ones stay in accommodations built by NGO, but some have to stay in small temporary shelters (Pic 3-04). After a short meal (Pic 3-05), they headed to the quarry; a place where the family work as a team (Pic 3-06), each contributing their effort to the combined daily wages of 50-100 rupees (70 rupees = 1 USD).  Jobs are only available in the dry season because the quarry is part of the flooding canyon in the monsoon rain! 

 

Although we applaud the children’s contribution to their family, quarry is too harsh an environment for them (Pic3-07), in the short 1 hour stay we witness many nail biting moments (Pic 3-08).  The only way to stop this vicious cycle is to get them educated. To promote education, fund was set up for families to obtain a small loan (USD20) if parents released their children for school. They can use this money to raise some chicks or do other business to supplement the loss of income. 

We adopted 35 (18 boys and 17 girls)² children out of 108 from this quarry. 

Ponder

When we returned to the hotel, Sam (our son) called to tell us that he dreamt of Madeline, abducted by a monster, he was worried about us.  An hour later, my sister called to inform us that my mom, has shown signs of regaining her consciousness.

In view of the security situation and the pull-forces from home, we were tempted to pack up.

Note:
The trip was postponed twice due to security reasons and finally there was a “2-week window” to get into Nepal.  We left Singapore on 22nd Mar with dad’s blessing when mum was into her 6^th week of coma.  My dad felt that it was the right thing to help those innocent kids.  If we abundant the trip, the children’s pictures will not reach the donors and the assistance to them may be delayed.