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.