Darpan Inani, Chess Excellence & Inspiration

I flew to Baroda, India for a brief visit with my Indian Exchange student brother Sanjeev Shah and his family. We first met when I lived with his family during my Rotary Exchange program in 1974-75! While in Baroda we arranged to visit a 19 year-old man named Darpan Inani.  Darpan is BVI (Blind/Visually-Impaired) and he is well-known in his country after winning the bronze medal in the world blind chess championships in Belgrade, Serbia.  He was also recently featured in the Indian-produced documentary, “Algorithms” which won the best of festival award here in Kathmandu at the South Asia Film Festival!  TRIFC, in cooperation with the Kathmandu Rotary E-Club and the Nepal Assoc. for the Welfare of the Blind (NAWB) arranged for 81 BVI to attend this screening.

Here’s a link to the movie website:  http://www.algorithmsthedocumentary.com

It was a moving experience to meet Darpan and his dedicated mother.  I’ve uploaded a video interview which Darpan gave in both English and Hindi.  He speaks quite quickly, but I hope you will also be inspired and informed as to the capabilities of someone with a disability.  He is currently studying Chartered Accountancy, interning at a local accounting firm.

TRIFC has also been providing chess sets for the BVI as well as for Deaf/Hearing-Impaired students in a number of schools.   We believe that chess is the perfect avenue to improving math and strategy skills while playing a fun game.  As Darpan said in the interview, Playing chess helps a person to develop “life skills!”

-Rob.

Braille Embosser Provides Graphics and Pictures for the Blind/Visually-Impaired

"Tiger" Braille Embosser/Printer

Thanks to the participation of eight different Rotary Clubs, district 5020 and additional funding from The Rose International Fund for Children (TRIFC), a special Braille printer has been purchased and handed-over to the Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind (NAWB) in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

'hand-over' ceremony at NAWB

Plaque is in Braille too!

 Representatives from the Nepal Rotary District 3292 as well as the host partner Rotary club of Kasthamandap, NAWB and TRIFC were in attendance at the ceremony.  The participating clubs include:  Rotary Club of Lakewood, RC Bellevue, RC Lake Union, RC Kasthamandap, RC Seattle International District, RC Maple Valley, RC Federal Way, RC Quarry Bay, Hong-Kong.

Kasthamandap Rotarian Rajan Raut

RC Kasthamandap President, Upendra Poudyal

What will this special printer mean for BVI students in Nepal?  Think about it...what if your own school textbooks or your kids’ textbooks didn’t have a single graphic or picture?  How would they visualize concepts like the human cell, basic anatomy, what different animals look like or any graphical representations?  With this special embossing printer, graphics and pictures and can actually be printed and felt in a tactile way via Braille dots.  This embosser is the first one of its kind in Nepal and NAWB prints virtually all of the textbooks for the BVI throughout the country!

This project will make a tangible difference in the lives of all of the BVI students across the country.  Once again, Rotary comes through to provide the light of knowledge and empowerment to those in need.

Hope Burns Brightly via TRIFC/Rotary Candle-Making Program

One of TRIFC’s newest pilot projects is one in which mother’s of children with disability are receiving training in candle-making!  Now, the typical non-Nepali person may well be asking, “why would you do training for candle-making, isn’t that more of a hobby than a job???”  Here’s why:  a fact of life here in Nepal is that electricity is not a 24-hour proposition.  In fact, many months of the year, the reality is that you may only have electricity 4-8 hours per day, and even that might come while you are sleeping!  So, what’s a person to do for light, especially in rural, village areas where you can’t afford solar power or rechargeable flashlight?  You need to buy candles, of course!

Our Group Receives Training 

Six women and one man with disability have received this training.  We are working in cooperation with the Center for Independent Living (CIL) and the Rotary Club of Pokhara-Fishtail, who helped arrange the training, purchase of materials and all  logistics.  Particularly critical to our program has been Rotarian Binod Sharma and Hem Gurung from CIL.

Rotarian Binod Translates

Beautiful Work!

Our TRIFC team consisting of myself, Sita Gyawali, Balram Dongol, Rose Stevens and Jamuna Subedi met with our pilot group at the CIL in Pokhara.  They had many samples to show us with the different candle designs.  We were happy to note that in addition to the standard candle used during power outages they were also producing beautifully designed candles in different shapes and sizes for use during the various Nepali holidays and festivals!

After introductions and preliminary discussions, we got down to the important part- How is this program working for the group and how is it impacting their lives?  We told them that we wanted honest, candid feedback.  Woman after woman (and man!) told their personal stories and, so far, this simple program has had great impact for them.  One of the women was so passionate while speaking about how much she was enjoying this program and how she was able to include her son with cerebral palsy in the candle-making process.  She is a true entrepreneur/salesperson and told the group how she was selling the candles and shared her excellent sales techniques!   Another one of the six women had had some difficulties getting started with the program and initially made the wrong size and type of candles (there are different ‘molds’ for different types/styles of candles) so she had used up much of her supply of candle wax.  Upon hearing her troubles, the rest of the group offered to help her out.  It was so heartening to hear that kind of kindness cooperation develop within the group.

Our hope is to have this project work as a micro-credit enterprise.  The women are already contributing a portion of their earnings right back into the project to help defray the training and start up costs.  In that way our program can go on training and empowering more women who have children with disabilities!

-Rob Rose

Inspiration Inside - Children with Cerebral Palsy

Our intrepid group of volunteers recently traveled to Pokhara to visit an organization named, ‘Sathi Sansar’.  Sathi Sansar is an organization based in Pokhara, Nepal helping children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities with a special emphasis on those with Cerebral Palsy.  We have been providing funding for Sathi Sansar through local Washington donors and recently developed a new pilot program to give vocational training to mothers of these children.

From L-R, Rose, Sita, Balram and Jamuna

FYI...Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder caused by brain damage around the time of birth and marked by lack of muscle control, especially in the limbs.

We had a thorough tour of the organization.  We met all of the children and dedicated teachers who come here daily to help the students learn skills and provide education to whatever level they are able to achieve.  Many of these children have bodies that don’t cooperate or brains that don’t communicate the proper message to their limbs.  But many also have excellent, sharp minds that are waiting for knowledge and understanding!

As you can see from the photographs, all of the children are very warm and engaging.  Just like with anybody, it takes time to get to know someone and when you spend a little time with these children, you soon discover their unique personality traits. The warmth that can be locked tight inside comes out and brings joy and light to those who take the time to get to know these wonderful kids!

I am happy to be sharing this joy, light and warmth with my readers.

Sathi Sansar’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sathi-Sansar-Nepal-SSN/415552381828738

Warmly,
-Rob.

TRIFC Deaf Women’s Empowerment Group Training- Sanitary Protection Kits

TRIFC Board Member, Rose Stevens recently gave training to our women’s group in sewing and assembling a sanitary protection kit which we intend to pilot with 100 students in the various schools we provide assistance to.

 The kit, originally designed by ‘Days for Girls’ (www.daysforgirls.org) in Lynden, Washington provides a hygienic, culturally appropriate and green method of managing young womens’ monthly menstruation cycle.  Without a proper sanitary pad solution, this sensitive issue can keep girls home from school for a week each month, or they may find it too difficult to manage and abandon school altogether.

 While it may seem like a simple solution to purchase sanitary pads at the local store, in many cases that is not possible, plus it can be too costly to manage for many students (or TRIFC).  In addition, in most cases there is no garbage pick-up available so the discarded pads are a huge sanitation problem.

The kits we are making contain a panty liner with a moisture barrier sewn-in, many washable pads made with colorful flannel fabric (when hung out to dry after washing, they don’t ‘look’ like a sanitary pad), soap and zip lock bags to wash them in (requiring minimal water to wash) and picture instructions.

Under Rose’s superb instruction our women’s group was immediately up and running.   Scissors and smiles flying, patterns being drawn out on the fabric, lot’s of Nepali sign-language ‘chatter’!  It was so gratifying to see these women work together in such a dedicated way on such a high-impact project. 

 We are excited to see how well these kits are received by our pilot group of young women users.  If successful, we hope to provide many more of these kits to young women students in all of our schools and perhaps beyond to other schools and other young women students in need!

Warmly,

-Rob.

Tihar, Festival of Lights / Day Two- Dog Tika Day

We have a saying, “Every dog has his day” meaning everyone will have a chance at good fortune and success if they wait and are patient.

Well, here in Nepal that day was today, if you are a dog!  Today was the day in the Nepali festival of Tihar where the dogs are worshiped, given special treats and also a red, tika mark on their foreheads for good fortune.  Many are also wearing a beautiful garland of marigolds called a malla!

I found a four-legged friend as we arrived to have momo (Nepali dumpling) lunch with our friend Jamuna along with her husband, brother and cousin.  This decked-out pooch didn’t behave as I had expected....he seemed sleepy at first and I thought he’d just lay there while I photographed him.  However, upon seeing me with my camera he quickly arose and ambled up to me, wanting attention.  He stood on his hind legs and then rested his front paws on my arm.  He was a nice pooch!  He licked my legs a few times, then posed nicely for his portrait on this day, his special day in Nepal!

Warmly,
-Rob.

TRIFC Trekking Group Visits Deaf Women’s Empowerment Group

Our TRIFC Volunteer Trekking Group

Our 2013 TRIFC trekking group had two half-days of sightseeing and two half-days of volunteer projects. After a morning trip to the historic city of Bhaktapur, we visited the Kavre-Banepa School for the Deaf.  Principal Krishna gave our volunteers a comprehensive tour of the school, visiting all of the classrooms and introducing the kids.

Rose Stevens With Her Embroidery Team

The students were very excited to have us there and all remembered our donation of a table tennis (ping pong) table last year.  In previous years TRIFC has donated computers, kitchen equipment, balls, games and educational supplies.

Rose With Team Leaders - Bondana (L) and Rose (R)

After the tour and a tasty boxed lunch our Deaf Women’s Empowerment Group introduced their greeting card embroidery project to our group of volunteers.  Our volunteer group had learned a bit of Nepali sign language so they each introduced themselves via sign language!

I think everyone bonded quite nicely as you can see in the final photo with our group signing with a heart-sign as they prepared to leave.

Reporting from Kavre-Banepa

-Rob Rose

TRIFC Annapurna Circuit Trekkers Arrive in Kathmandu!

Led by trek coordinator- Stephanie Moe, our intrepid 2013 group of volunteer trekkers arrived in Kathmandu on October 21st (along with TRIFC board member, Rose Stevens).

This group has done a spectacular job of raising funds with over $20,000 in donations coming in as a result of their efforts!!!  TRIFC will utilize these funds for the greatest needs at our many projects sites in Nepal, helping to inspire, empower and educate children and adults with disabilities!

The day after the group arrived included sightseeing at UNESCO heritage sites- Kathmandu Durbar Square (palace square) and Swyambunath, or “monkey temple”.

Is Angie Guiding Sita, or Vice-Versa?

Following that, the group visited another world heritage site- Bodhanath Stupa where they had a ‘roof-top restaurant’ lunch with a beautiful view of Boudha Stupa.

Tika Time at Kasthamandap Temple

Kid and Pigeons 

I’m sure the highlight of the day for our group was our afternoon visit to DNC (Disabled Newlife Center), home to 35 children with disability.  Although many of the children had gone home for the Dashain holidays, there was a great group of about 15 excited kids left to interact with our group.  After a brief tour of the DNC facilities we divided both the children and the volunteers into groups and did various activities.  Quiet ones like coloring, artwork and puzzles, along with more active, outside games.  Our volunteers did a fantastic job of engaging the kids and making up games and activities.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos yet because I was so busy prepping for my first ever, DNC puppet show extravaganza!  I took some of the older kids aside and together we read a few short children’s stories that I had written.  We chose one of those stories to bring to life via puppets and the portable puppet theater I had brought with me from home.  We chose the story, ‘Seema and the Brown Bear’ to re-enact with the puppets.  We practiced a few times and then ‘debuted’ the production for the entire group.  What fun!!!

Lastly, we had some more snacks and handed out the ‘gift bags’ we had packed prior to our departure with a ‘Beanie Baby’, candy, toothbrush, toothpaste, a glider, pencil, etc.  The kids LOVE these gifts.  As always, it is difficult to leave this wonderful group of kids, but as darkness encompassed us, we boarded our bus and headed back to Kathmandu Guest House, home for the group until the trek begins.

It was a busy but inspiring day for the entire group.....we all slept well after our special day!

-Rob Rose

TRIFC at the Kathmandu Zoo

We all stopped outside the crocodile pen. Sita and Seema, both born with blindness, were eager to hear us describe just what a crocodile looks like. Then, Renuka used sign language to show them.

It made perfect sense as I saw it, Sita and Seema feeling Renuka's arms as she straightened them in front of her, opened them up like jaws, and snapped them shut. That's certainly a better description than I could do with words. 

The trip to the zoo came by way of request from Rakesh, who has brittle bone disease and hasn't seen the zoo since he was a young boy. We then looped in Seema and Sita, Renuka and Balram, who both work within the deaf community, a young man named Basantha, and our driver, Harka, who generously helped Rakesh around the zoo in his wheelchair. 

More photos to come, it was a great outing for everyone. 

I describe some animals to Seema

Harka with Rakesh, Renuka and Sita at the side

Balram, Basantha, Renuka and Sita on the Kathmandu paddle boats

Rakesh and I on our paddle boat

Back to Business

Now that we're back and fully recharged from our drenching trek, my dad and I are focusing on visiting TRIFC projects and people around Kathmandu.

In a few short days, I'll be back home and a spectacular group of trekkers who fundraised for TRIFC will fly in and begin the Annapurna Circuit Trek, before which they'll get to take part on some volunteer experiences we're currently setting up.

Below are some photos from the last couple days of seeing some of the fantastic people that TRIFC is honored to support.

Rob with Rakesh, a young man TRIFC supports. Rakesh has brittle bone disease and is currently doing well in classes and hopes to attend university after his current studies. 

Rajan Raut of the Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind guides Sima who is sponsored by TRIFC, around Boudhanath, a large temple in Kathmandu.

A scene from Boudhanath in Kathmandu. 

Our driver, Harka. 

Some of the children from DNC, or Disabled Newlife Center, a home and support center for children with disability that TRIFC supports. 

Kumar from DNC hijacks my spare camera. He took some fantastic photos, though, to come in a later post. 

Lolita from DNC.

A partial group shot of DNC kids and volunteers who remained during the holidays of Dashain.

Back to Kathmandu

Freshly armed with ponchos and "The North Face" rainproof gear, we set of from Namche Bazaar in the direction of Lukla, where we could catch a flight back to Kathmandu.

It only rained for half a day of our two day return. Damn again.

On the plus side, more beautiful sights awaited us, we were able to visit our friend Nima at The Beyul Hermitage and Farm one last time, and we watched our porter (the man who carried our heavy bags on the trek) dance like Michael Jackson at an Irish pub.

Enjoy the photos, next up, more of Kathmandu and TRIFC's projects.

-Carey

Angry Bird. 

The "almost there" victory photo! One problem: We weren't almost there. 

Quick snap from the Sherpa museum above Namche Bazaar. 

View from partway to the Everest View Hotel above Namche. 

Not Everest, but part of the limited view from the Everest View Hotel. The hotel is commonly used as an acclimatization point for later trekking, at 3,880 meters (nearly 13,000 feet). 

On the return from Namche.

School kids on vacation. 

Night shot of the view from The Beyul.

Morning shot from The Beyul.

One of the views from a meditation spot above The Beyul.

One of the views from a meditation spot above The Beyul.

Not cutting her nails with scissors. Checking out her nails while trimming plants with scissors. 

Our porter with the M.J. moves. 

Alongside the Lukla airport at dusk.

Mother casually chasing kids down the Lukla runway at dusk. 

The only one smiling is our guide, Tapan.

The Irish pub. And an authentic Starbucks. 

Morning view from Lukla. 

It's a small plane. No, I didn't need to use this.