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| Rimwa School |
Hi Kamal!
Yes, Bhawana and I have spoken on the phone and are going to set up a meeting for next week!
I have been very busy on all-levels and in all areas that we are working.....I'm having a lot of fun as well, visiting old friends and making new ones.
Sita Gyawali and her sister Nirmala (both women with blindness) have been my constant companions as we visit our various TRIFC.org programs and Rotary projects/programs. We recently took a trip to their village home in Charpala, Gulmi District and made the bumpy drive to a fairly remote school with 13 children with blindness in Rimwa where we provide some support. They are in-residence (hostel) there with many other children. There are many shortages and problems for these BVI students. The last time Nirmala and Sita visited they found that there were only 8 food plates and that the children were eating in two shifts due to the shortage! They quickly bought 5 more plates and resolved the problem. Isn't that crazy? In addition, there isn't proper nutrition for them and they are always short of Braille paper. We left $200 with the resource teacher for a year's supply of paper which they can purchase in Butwal. Like I told the Rotarians I spoke to at the Dillibazar Rotary meeting last evening....being without braille paper is like being without a pencil for a sighted student. How can they take notes and study???
Amazingly, even with all of these deficiencies, several of these BVI students in the Rimwa school are doing more than just 'getting-by' with their studies. They are excelling! Two out of the 13 are 1st in their class- of any of the children, sighted or not. There are over three hundred kids in this school!!! Many of the BVI children are also very talented, musically. Either with the madal (drum) or flute or by song. What beautiful singing voices filled the little schoolroom/bedroom (these rooms are combined here, due to lack of space). I was overwhelmed and overcome by their ABILITY! We willcontinue to provide help as we are able through TRIFC.org.
That was a lovely afternoon as we bumped and jolted our way back up the steep road to head back to their mom's home for another peaceful, quiet evening spent in the village.
The next morning we drove back to burning-hot Butwal and met with representatives of two Rotary Clubs and discussed the disability awareness program. One of the clubs- Butwal South wanted us to visit another school for the Blind/Visually-Impaired that wasn't far. There were 32 students with blindness in residence along with hundreds of other non-visually-impaired students. We quickly agreed and after a
late lunch (our earlier lunch consisted of two kinds of potato chips, some cheese-balls and a coke as we waited for RR, my project partner to arrive at the airport!). Also attending was Jayanti Bhatta who is our program administrator for the Rotary Disability Awareness Program. She was the victim of polio before the age of two and knows full-well the societal stigma attached to disability. We arrived at the school in late-afternoon and the hot sun was quite oppressive as we trudged across this huge, dusty field in front of the school. We met most of the 32 children with blindness and toured the facilities which were about the same as the Rimwa village school facilities, but with more space in each of the rooms. There were also a separate kitchen and dining room. But as we questioned the students, teachers and staff we quickly surmised that they had many of the same problems
as the village school- not enough fresh fruits, vegetables and protein, lack of Braille-paper and other basic needs. The government provides a 1,000 rupee allowance per month for each student (about $13 US) which doesn't come close to meeting the cost of these basic needs.
I suddenly had a 'light-bulb' moment and quickly asked the Rotarians from Butwal South how many club-members they had. They said, "32". I said, "Great! Perhaps each of your club members could agree to sponsor one of the 32 students in this program and provide some additional funding on a monthly basis, maybe 300-500 rupees per child ($4-6)....it wouldn't take much and would be easily affordable for any of them. They were very positive on this idea and agreed to consider it! Now I am thinking that if they are successful with their small 'micro-granting' program, perhaps we could have other Nepali Rotary Clubs do a similar program with other schools with children with blindness study. The best part of this program is that the HELP and the CHANGE is coming from within the country.
Well, this is one story out of many that have and are happening during my visit. As always, it is a life-changing experience for me- One of ten live-changes during my past ten visits to this country. I grow, reinvent, gain a deeper understanding of myself and others. What a teacher this country is for me!
Warmly,
-Rob.
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What reaction does such a letter hold?
All my best from Minnesota.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work and the blog.
Will look in as much as I can.
And, as always, wish I was with you.
Brad Putney