Latest news from Renuka in Nepal

On sunday th 7th of february I left for Nepal where I am staying for 4 months to accompany the various projects in Yanchok and Satrasaya in close cooperation with the local population and local staff:

1. Renovation childcare center in Satrasaya
2. Montessori- training given by local Montessori-trainer and making furniture for the childcare centers in Yanchok, Satrasaya and the 2 boardingsschools jn Satrasaya
3. Build a shop by micro kredit.
4. Starting the process to make the people independent. It will take 5-7 years.

In Satrasaya, the local people (the parents from the childcare center) have already collected the wood and stones for the renovation and expansion of the childcare center. They have also ordered and collected themselves the blocs of cement for the building. I am very content to see these developments, which shows they are taking their own initiatives vs waiting for outside help and support.

In the coming months, while being in Nepal, I will place more detailed updates on the progress and developments within the several Renuka projects in Nepal, all aimed at improving the education and life standard for the smallest amongst us, in which we constantly involve the parents and local population.

Warm regards from Rineke (Nepal)

Latest news from Renuka in Nepal

Meanwhile, I am in Nepal again since some 3 weeks. Quite some matters required attention. After the inauguration of the Yanchok shelter, I returned to The Netherlands. At that moment, the children could not enter the building because the floor was still too humid and the floor cover could not be installed. The children had to stay in an emergency shelter during some 2 weeks.

It has been a step in the right direction. The teachers in Yanchok, Bishnu and Laxmi, felt lost somewhat. They did not quite know what to do and the Sarwarti training was not sufficient to give them the initial confidence they needed. First of all, we established a time table which gave them something to hold on to. We showed the material brought from the Netherlands (and which was already there) and explained how to use it.
Moreover, they have a difficult group of children.
Firstly, they all are children of parents who have never been to school. Four children in the group are considerably older, aged about 5. In Nepal, children normally start primary education at that age and they have lost their interest for what the leaders tell and teach. They need new inspiration.
There are also 2 two year olds. Quite troublesome, because they want everything that another child has. In Nepal parents very often give the kids everything they want, and if these children do not get it, it generates a lot of screaming ad moaning Then it is quite hard to teach quietly and play peacefully with the children.
Two children have mental health problems. They do not participate with the group and one of them seems to be autistic, matters that apparently are not recognized by the local people. I discussed the subject with Basanta. He now gets involved more and more with the Yanchok shelter. This young man is a born teacher, knows how to treat children and even gets attention from the mentally troubled Misen. We have talked with the mother of this child. She feels ashamed and we have tried to put her mind to rest. She will visit the shelter regularly in order to observe her child react to things.

We have ordered 16 low tables, 6 for every shelter. The children are sitting on the floor at the table. They do everything on the floor : writing, drawing, painting. It makes the teaching somewhat more complete.
4 big wooden boards to show the drawings, 4 four each shelter.
A clothes horse for the backpacks
Toothbrush holders in Yanchok
Shelves for the classroom, 1 for each shelter.

I am also active in the further development of the crèche. More about that in the Newsletter when I am home.

The day before yesterday, I have been with Basanta to the Montessori-training school. The objective is to have a couple of people trained here during 3 months.

Furthermore, I have carried out some research work to improve the future of the Yanchok Magar people.

The work permit also needs attention. The airport people know me and I always see the same faces. That is the nice thing about these small airports. It will require some travelling to different cities, but I hope everything will turn out well. Actually, I am not allowed to enter Nepal with a tourist visa when I work.

There are many things to do. But I enjoy everything even more now that I do not have the building worries any more. I enjoy very much the contact with the locals. Now I am in Pokhara for a while in order to settle some things with the home front.

On September 18 I take the plane. After 5 weeks I will be in The Netherlands again …. so be reassured !
Some people wonder whether the trip is being paid by SRN. No, the travel costs are paid by our private account. We have been rather good at saving in the past and the money put aside allows me to travel to Nepal.

Talk to you soon and lots of love from Nepal.

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