Bumpy Ride, Emotional Reunion...

Dear Friends of TRIFC,

Yesterday afternoon, I took a bumpy, bouncy, jouncy ride out to visit the children at one of our TRIFC project sites and also the recipient of a recent Bellevue Rotary Foundation Matching Grant projects - DNC (Disabled Newlife Centre), home to 32 children with physical disability.  TRIFC sends funding through the Rotary Club of Kopundol for so many things like: orthopedic surgeries, prosthetics, higher education, a tutor, physiotherapy and food/nutritional supplement.

Currently, many of the roads here in Kathmandu are in various stages of being widened, which is a good thing.  Unfortunately, the pot-holes and craters previously in the roads have been left unfilled and although most Kathmandu roads have never been what you would call 'silky-smooth' anyway, they are now shock-absorber testing obstacle courses!  All of the cars trucks and motorcycles seem to be slowly dancing the samba as they work their way across the dance floor/road...left tire here and right tire there, take one step back and one step forward- careful, don't step on your partner!  I think I must have had a thorough chiropractic back adjustment by the end of my ride!

But it was definitely worth the effort as I arrived at DNC to see the smiling faces of so many children whom I'd been missing for over a year.  I was so pleasantly surprised to see Sunita Dangi whom TRIFC has been sponsoring through her university studies.  Sunita lost her legs in a fire when she was 9 months old.  However, you wouldn't know it to look at her, she is confident, steady and dedicated to helping others through the education she is receiving.  It was a warm reunion and a wonderful afternoon for us all.

DNC has a new building, courtesy of a wonderful organization in the UK - Nepali Children's Trust.   Brother and Sister team- Fran and Michael Mc Gowan are the impetus behind the new building and I am proud to call them my friends.  My Rotary Club- Bellevue Rotary Club has partnered with the Rotary Club of Kopundol on a matching grant to provide many of the necessary items needed to run this organization including:  

beds and bedding, computers, kitchen equipment, dining tables, games and sporting goods and so much more.  About $20,000 of goods have been purchased or are in the process of being purchased with the grant funding.   

Fran, Michael, RR and I met with the Nepali board of DNC and worked on preparing a detailed budget for the organization so that there can be better planning and implementation of the projects and programs as we go forward.  It was a very productive meeting.

See the faces, the smiles, the impact of TRIFC (and Rotary) in action!

With Warm Regards,

-Rob.

Sunita Dangi - DNC graduate currently in her 2nd year of university study

Jiwaka and Bikash

Babulal

Subash with Saraswati

Laxmi

"The Gang"

Beds donated via Rotary Matching Grant

See the full gallery on Posterous

Chess & Checkers Sets for the Blind!

Twenty Chess and Checkers sets for the blind were delivered to the resource teachers at eight schools in Nepal.  The funds for this program were raised by Eastshore Unitarian Church members at their 'Alternative Gift Fair' last November.  This is such a wonderful gift for these children who don't usually have an opportunity to learn and play such games.  

Our own TRIFC volunteer, Ms. Sita Gyawali is featured in the first photograph.  Sita is a teacher of the blind/visually-impaired at Laboratory school in Kathmandu and she is a much-valued volunteer.  Sita was the first Nepali blind woman to earn a master's degree!

If you meet any of these children when you come to Nepal be prepared for a challenging game of chess!

Chess and checker receiver Ms. Sita Gyawali, Laboratory H.S.S., Kirtipur

 

Chess receiver Mr. Koju, Principal, Sanjiwani H.S.S., Kavre

 

Chess and checker receiver Mrs. Radha Tiwari, Principal, Namuna Machchindra Res.H.S.S. Lalitpur

 

Chess and checker receiver Mr. Bijaya Giri, Chairman, Namuna H.S.S., Lalitpur

 

Chess and chekcer receiver Mrs. Bidya Baidya, Resource Teacher, Namuna Machchindra H.S.S., Lalitpur

 

Chess and checker receiver Mr. Daya Ram Maharjan, Principal, Adarsha Saul H.S.S., Bungmati

 

Chess and checker receiver Mr. Jivan Maharjan, Blind Teacher, Adarsha Saul H.S.S., Bungmati

 

Chess and checker receiver Mrs. Meena Shrestha, Asst. Headmaster, Laboratory H.S.S., Kirtipur

 

Deaf Womens Empowerment Group

Just arrived from our Deaf Womens Empowerment Group a shipment of
handstitched cards with designs by Bandanna the group co-leader.

Deaf Womens Empowerment Group

Just arrived from our Deaf Womens Empowerment Group a shipment of
handstitched cards with designs by Bandanna the group co-leader.

Solar Lighting for Purwanchal Deaf School

TRIFC has providing the necessary funding for the Purwanchal Deaf School to add solar lighting to their school and hostel. With the electricity being off up to 18 hours a day in Nepal, something as basic as light has become a critical need for students who need to study after sunset. 60- deaf and hearing-impaired students will benefit from this gift!