Our meeting with the Tranquility Spa owner, Phuwan Phaiju couldn’t have gone any better! He listened intently and when he realized what we were proposing shook his head from side to side to signify that he agreed with the idea entirely.
Tranquility Spa regularly trains candidates from organizations like Saathi (for disadvantaged women), Healing Hands (an all blind masseuse service). He said he would commit to a pilot program and train 2 blind/visually-impaired candidates and hire them on at one of the 5 Tranquility Spa locations. We would then list down some metrics to evaluate the success of the program in 6 months. The pilot program would involve Phuwan himself as the instructor. He would teach them the massage techniques and accommodate their visual challenges when the lesson involved topics in anatomy and muscle groups. Part of the program will include promoting the blind massage services to area hotels frequented by tourists. It has become something of a desired service to be massaged by a blind or visually impaired person due to their increased tactile sensitivity and “third eye”.
As I sat there watching this unfold, I said to myself, “Well, that was easy!” He had no questions, no concerns about their work performance, work ethic or any foreseeable problems. It felt great to meet a someone like-minded, one who can hold out a helping hand to someone else, sight unseen (no pun intended) and give him/her a chance at a productive life!
We later found out he sponsors 4 impoverished students at a high school in the village he had graduated from! Mr.Phuwan Phaiju, Namaste! (I honor the Divinity in you)
We arrived at DNC at 5:00 PM and the whole place was quiet as the smaller children had their heads down in various rooms finishing up their assignments for the day. I almost felt I was intruding but as soon as Kumar saw me, he squealed “Gina Miss!” We hugged and I made my rounds hugging each and everyone who was there. Rob and I usually split up and visit with the kids. It is a more efficient way to provide attention to 26 children!
Michael from the British NGO, Nepali Children’s Trust, was busy reviewing math exercises with the older kids. We hugged and he immediately went back to work while I continued to search for more children. Where are the 9th graders and Anju?
Shanty explained they stay back after school and took review classes in Math and Science to prepare them the upcoming District and end term exams Anju was preparing for her SLC (School Leaving Certificate) which is a iron gate exam that allows one to take higher education if you pass them at A level marks. The pressure is on for these students. There are 8 of them graduating next year and from the looks of it , we will need to increase our education fund and look for sponsors for the university tuition and book fees which average about $600 per year per student.
My plan to raise about $1200 this year entails taking pledges for completing my 2nd Danskin Triathlon on August 15th! This I vow to achieve!
Well they all showed up between 6:30 and 6:45 and these are the kids that I have seen grown up from 2004 when I first met them. At 10 or 11, they were but little naughty kids that just wanted to play and have hugs and someone to listen to their wild imagination! Today they have plans and the determination to back them up! They work hard and still want hugs and someone to listen to and that’s pretty much all that I do when I visit!
Their solar power was waning and Shanty motioned the kids to wash up for dinner so they can continue studying. I had to say goodnight until the weekend when we plan to have a picnic and truly celebrate a much awaited reunion! Their treats that we brought would need to stay inside the luggage until then!
-Gina Rose
