Help in Action, strength in unification

New seat in Kathmandu, in collaboration
with the Gangchen Service Association,
for the correct management of donations

Peace Times 11

An exciting future is on the horizon for «Help in Action» as it joins forces with Gangchen Service Association in Kathmandu, Nepal. The newly opened joint office, based in the Himalayan Healing Centre, is fruit of the wish of both associations to improve the living conditions of people in one of the world's poorest countries. Working together the associations aim to offer a full range of services and support to those in desperate need.

Dr Manju Mishra, the first full-time employee of the association, is already hard at work in the local Nepalese community, collecting information on local educational and healthcare establishments and contacting local voluntary organisations working with street children and sick people. During a series of meetings held this March and upon advice from people experienced in working with the Nepalese a series of working guidelines were set down by the associations.

In particular, it was decided that the office would be responsible for the management of all donations arriving for people accepted on sponsorship programmes. Due to a lack of education and the extreme situations of poverty, it was felt that many families would at present be, unable to manage the money themselves in the most beneficial way. To ensure the correct use of the money - school fees will be paid directly to the school, all children will have regular health checks and the families will receive a monthly allowance as an incentive to continue sending their children to school, as well as receive advice on healthcare, general hygiene, contraception and so forth.

The necessity to create an emergency fund for students was also discussed, as many schools told of previous experiences where sponsors have admitted children into schools and after some time stopped the sponsorship with devastating results for both the families of the students as well as the school.

The staff of the Himalayan Montessori School, which provides free education to the children of carpet factory workers, were excited to receive donations reaching a total of two and a half thousand dollars to buy new equipment and materials for the school, as well as to furnish the school garden with an adventure playground. The staff and children alike are also welcoming the new and imaginative teaching techniques of an Italian teacher working in the school on a voluntary basis.

It is hoped that the school, currently responsible for the education of 100 infant children, will be able to extend the number of classes in the near future.

Together with the Manjushri Welfare Association, based in Swayambou, Nepal, «Help in Action» visited many elderly people living in desperate conditions. The Welfare Association is currently only able to provide one off donations to those in particular hardship, from funds collected within the local community. They made a special request to «Help in Action» to try and find sponsors for those people most in need, as a way of providing «pensioners» with a stable source of income.

There is also good news for the association from Europe. Understanding the importance of the work of «Help in Action», the Lama Gangchen International Global Peace Association in Holland have requested permission to open a local branch. Volunteers are now busy translating the necessary information, but will in the near future offer the services of «Help in Action» to Dutch people.

If you would like to offer your support to the people of Nepal, either through an adoption at a distance of a child or elderly person or by giving a donation, please contact «Help in Action», Via Marco Polo 13, 20124 Milan, Italy. Fax: +39 02 29010271

Sharon Dawson

 

Case Story

Navaraj, aged 11, has never been to school. Surmila, aged 5, is responsible for the care of her younger sister Gita aged 3. In their very basic rented home, consisting of only one room, sits single mother Ram nursing the latest arrival to the family. The day this photo was taken the family had food to eat, thanks to a care worker who found them (some months ago) virtually on the point of starvation, but who does not have funds to help them long term. Soon they will be left again without any source of income. These children need help if they are to stand any chance of a better future.

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