We arrived in Dhulikel in the late afternoon after driving thru
pouring rain. The hotel is perched high on a hill but with the rain
and fog there is no view and no heat. We sit huddled around a
kerosene heater in the bar area drinking hot tea and talking. Ashok
Shrethsa arrives with my sponsored child and a young man who has been
a recipient of a small micro finance loan to start a fish farm in his
village. My sponsored child had been burned in a forest fire near his village.
He is 8 years old and quite small. After the fire he had been unable
to walk as his legs were badly burnt with a lot of skin contraction.
After several surgeries and physical therapy he is now able to walk
and is doing quite well. He has been attending a local school but will
soon be returning to his village. The young fish farmer was wrapped under a blanket which he used to hid
the deformed side of his face. He was born with a very dramatic birth
defect which drew his head and face down to his shoulder. He had never
left his house as his face was scary to other people. Several
surgeries later his appearance is greatly improved and he is able to
be social settings. He was very shy and self conscious of his appearance. I imagine his
shyness is due to the many years of isolation due to his appearance.
His fish are growing and will be ready for harvest in the near future.
He is also raising pigs as a cash crop. I admire his courage in moving
forward with his life and for being willing to take a chance on the
surgery. We were joined for dinner by Bethany and Eva, both Fullbright
scholars, and Ashok and Annu as well as Rob, Sandie, Rose, Balram. We
discussed our agenda and logistics for the training program the next
day. We went to bed in chilly rooms with Hot Water Bottles to warm our
bed! Hot water bottles were a thing of my parents and grandparents
generation. I have never used a hot water bottle for warmth. I am
moving backward in time! The next day we awake to sunshine and a view of the Himalyan
Mountains-WOW. The snow capped mountains above a sea of puffy white
clouds with small islands here and there. This is the Nepal you see in
photos. Today is the first day of handicraft training. The suitcase is packed
with all the materials and we squeeze into the car for the trip to
the Kavre Barnape Deaf School. Although it is only a short distance
away it takes some time to weave around the potholes in the dirt road
and the motor bikes and pedestrians. We are greeted by Krishina the school principal and several deaf
children. We set up the materials and the women start to trickle in.
First in Bandana who is in her early twenties and very outgoing and
friendly. She is a crafty young woman who had made several other paper
products which she proudly shared with us. I decided to give her a preview of the finisted product…. HER EYES
WIDENED AND HER SMILE GREW BROADER..as she was astounded by the beauty
of the samples. She signed her happiness and utter amazement and how
thrilled she was to learn this craft. I was very happy to have this
project so well received by the first participant. The ladies continued to arrive and finally we had 17 eager
participants. The smiles were broad and the excitement contagious.
Introductions of our team were completed and the program began. I
spoke of our principles: commitment, pride and partnership; and our
goals: empowerment of women, to become strong women, to create
community and to improve the life conditions of their families and
themselves. Many of these women came from outlying villages where they were the
only deaf women. Within just a few hours I could see the ladies
bonding and communicating with each other in ways they could not with
others. To finally meet with others who spoke the same language was
very empowering for them. There were four women who were illiterate. It had never been so
apparent to me the benefit of literacy in a persons’ life. Although
deaf, the literate women had fine motor skills, the ability to measure
and cut paper and to read simple directions. The other women tried so
hard but even cutting paper with scissors was difficult. These four ladies also had eyesight problems and I am investigating
the possible need for glasses or cataract surgery. They came back for
second day of training and my heart broke as I saw them struggling and
trying so hard. Those who have the greatest need and desire are going
to find this the most difficult. This is one of the most satisfying projects I have completed. The joy
on the faces as they completed the card is indescribable. The joy in
my heart to witness this opportunity of community building and skill
building is overwhelming. I see brighter futures for these women
thanks to TRIFC. Rose Stevens
Program Coordinator
TRIFC
pouring rain. The hotel is perched high on a hill but with the rain
and fog there is no view and no heat. We sit huddled around a
kerosene heater in the bar area drinking hot tea and talking. Ashok
Shrethsa arrives with my sponsored child and a young man who has been
a recipient of a small micro finance loan to start a fish farm in his
village. My sponsored child had been burned in a forest fire near his village.
He is 8 years old and quite small. After the fire he had been unable
to walk as his legs were badly burnt with a lot of skin contraction.
After several surgeries and physical therapy he is now able to walk
and is doing quite well. He has been attending a local school but will
soon be returning to his village. The young fish farmer was wrapped under a blanket which he used to hid
the deformed side of his face. He was born with a very dramatic birth
defect which drew his head and face down to his shoulder. He had never
left his house as his face was scary to other people. Several
surgeries later his appearance is greatly improved and he is able to
be social settings. He was very shy and self conscious of his appearance. I imagine his
shyness is due to the many years of isolation due to his appearance.
His fish are growing and will be ready for harvest in the near future.
He is also raising pigs as a cash crop. I admire his courage in moving
forward with his life and for being willing to take a chance on the
surgery. We were joined for dinner by Bethany and Eva, both Fullbright
scholars, and Ashok and Annu as well as Rob, Sandie, Rose, Balram. We
discussed our agenda and logistics for the training program the next
day. We went to bed in chilly rooms with Hot Water Bottles to warm our
bed! Hot water bottles were a thing of my parents and grandparents
generation. I have never used a hot water bottle for warmth. I am
moving backward in time! The next day we awake to sunshine and a view of the Himalyan
Mountains-WOW. The snow capped mountains above a sea of puffy white
clouds with small islands here and there. This is the Nepal you see in
photos. Today is the first day of handicraft training. The suitcase is packed
with all the materials and we squeeze into the car for the trip to
the Kavre Barnape Deaf School. Although it is only a short distance
away it takes some time to weave around the potholes in the dirt road
and the motor bikes and pedestrians. We are greeted by Krishina the school principal and several deaf
children. We set up the materials and the women start to trickle in.
First in Bandana who is in her early twenties and very outgoing and
friendly. She is a crafty young woman who had made several other paper
products which she proudly shared with us. I decided to give her a preview of the finisted product…. HER EYES
WIDENED AND HER SMILE GREW BROADER..as she was astounded by the beauty
of the samples. She signed her happiness and utter amazement and how
thrilled she was to learn this craft. I was very happy to have this
project so well received by the first participant. The ladies continued to arrive and finally we had 17 eager
participants. The smiles were broad and the excitement contagious.
Introductions of our team were completed and the program began. I
spoke of our principles: commitment, pride and partnership; and our
goals: empowerment of women, to become strong women, to create
community and to improve the life conditions of their families and
themselves. Many of these women came from outlying villages where they were the
only deaf women. Within just a few hours I could see the ladies
bonding and communicating with each other in ways they could not with
others. To finally meet with others who spoke the same language was
very empowering for them. There were four women who were illiterate. It had never been so
apparent to me the benefit of literacy in a persons’ life. Although
deaf, the literate women had fine motor skills, the ability to measure
and cut paper and to read simple directions. The other women tried so
hard but even cutting paper with scissors was difficult. These four ladies also had eyesight problems and I am investigating
the possible need for glasses or cataract surgery. They came back for
second day of training and my heart broke as I saw them struggling and
trying so hard. Those who have the greatest need and desire are going
to find this the most difficult. This is one of the most satisfying projects I have completed. The joy
on the faces as they completed the card is indescribable. The joy in
my heart to witness this opportunity of community building and skill
building is overwhelming. I see brighter futures for these women
thanks to TRIFC. Rose Stevens
Program Coordinator
TRIFC
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