TRIFC.org and Rotary in Action at Dharan Gopa and Itahari

Biratnagar, Nepal

Nirmala, Rob and I traveled to the city of Dharan with Arun, a Rotaractor of RC Biratnagar to visit several Rotary project sites. These Rotary Clubs are down in the Terai, about 25 kms. north of Biratnagar where we had seen the orthopedic shoe project.

Before we visited the sites, we stopped at a school for the hearing impaired children called the Purwanchal Deaf School. Through the kindness of the donors of TRIFC.org, 15 deaf/hearing impaired school aged students are being sponsored for their tuition and school fees for an entire year. The donors have sent their letters and photos to the kids which they have assembled into a poster which hangs on the wall of the office of Renuka, the principal. We had visited the children and provided all 55 students with beany babies, chocolates, pencils, pens, toothbrushes and toothpaste donated by Rotarians from Bellevue Rotary. They were excited to welcome us and presented us with traditional and western style choreographed dances.

You wonder how they could keep time despite not hearing the music, well isn’t that what dancing is about, keeping time with the beat of your very own, different drum! It was wonderful to see the joy in their expressive eyes as they clearly were happy to dance for us! I would want that someday each of the donors would visit with their student so they can see first hand how they have provided the opportunity these kids would not have had to learn their coursework in a loving and nurturing environment, in sign language!

While lunch was served and the children were playing, Rob had a meeting with the Rotarians from Itahari who had partnered with the Rotary Clubs in Bellevue, Kirkland and Renton to provide 20-25 wheelchairs for the disabled community. They watched the videos and TV ads that was part of the 1st phase of the Disability Education Awareness Campaign and you could tell, they were moved by the Nepali messages:
• “Public places should be disability friendly”
• “Assist a visually challenged person cross the street”
• “Deaf people can’t hear with their ears but hear with their heart”
• “A small act of kindness can make a big difference”
• “We are All Able!”

Our next stop was a Teaching Hospital, the only hospital that serves the western Terai area. Here the RC of Dharan Gopa and Rob’s Club, er… I mean the Rotary Club of Bellevue together raised funds to provide Cleft Palate surgeries and Spinal braces to patients who had undergone spinal surgeries. The RC of Dharan Gopa are made up mostly of medical doctors and they were very proud to show us their hospital!

Here’s a Shout Out to all Rotarians out there in Bellevue, Kirkland, Renton! You make these opportunities possible!

-Gina

Biratnagar Part 2