Dear TRAS members,
What a boost for the Humla Delights Café in Simikot, the little capital of Humla District in Nepal! This article appeared in the main daily national newspaper in Kathmandu. All profits from the goodies sold at the café go to the READI Nepal hostel for the TRAS education project there.
A year has gone by since the devastating earthquakes in Nepal – and Nepal’s people have shown their incredible resilience and determination.
True, there are reports of promised aid not getting through, and a lack of comprehensive planning – but the PEOPLE have just pulled together and made the best of it. TRAS members who have visited recently talk of cheerful, smiling people going about their daily lives -it’s almost as though the disaster has drawn them closer to support each other and do what they can themselves to make life bearable.
These photos, from the Times of India, show that many buildings have not been rebuilt, but they have cleared away the rubble, tidied up, repaved damaged streets and it’s almost business as usual!
The world has suffered new calamities recently and many people have moved on to help in other places – but those of us who love the beauty of Nepal and its people know that much still needs to be done to bring lasting improvements. Several aid agencies and charities are still working hard to support the local efforts, TRAS among them. Strong, sanitary toilets are being rebuilt in the Dolakha villages with the funds TRAS members have sent.
December 2015: The latest news from Lama Paljor is that the children are much healthier now that they are enjoying a nutritious lunch. For many who come from extremely poor families, this lunch is the most substantial meal of the day. The children are not falling asleep during the afternoon classes, and are better able to concentrate. Almost all the mothers are now able to work in their fields, and work on the roads – but this work is intermittent; they may get work perhaps for a month, and then none for a couple of months. Lama Paljor feels, therefore, that he cannot ask the parents to pay for the lunch.
He had hoped to have the greenhouse up and running this past summer, but heavy rains and landslides (caused perhaps by the massive Himalayan earthquakes this year) have prevented the construction. The land has been levelled, and the supplies are purchased, so we hope he is soon able to build the greenhouse and start growing vegetables.
TRAS has agreed to fund the lunch program for a further three months.
Project 321 – 2015
Nepali women living in the village of Sangam in Udayapur District, eastern Nepal, are poor and their children go hungry. They have never had a chance to find work.
But thanks to a pilot computer course at their local library, 15 women are now computer literate and 3 already have good jobs. Who knew one could train to be an insurance agent, a mushroom farmer or a tailor via the internet!
TRAS is collaborating with the Nepal Library Foundation in Kathmandu to purchase 11 computers and enlarge this program to train many more women.
Cost of one computer? $500 Cost of independence for one family? Priceless!
