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Being able to read and write, again!

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My name is Rajkumari Tamang, 43 and I live in Shantitole -1 Pokhara. I am a homemaker.

ACN organized Continue Literacy (Adult literacy) Classes in our area in coordination with the ‘Himnadi’ Self-Help Group and I also joined the class. I had a very much desire for reading and writing. I had done my studies up to grade five. I did not continue with my studies so I had forgotten everything.

After completing the two months of the literacy classes, I have again recognized Nepali and English alphabets and numbers. Now I can read and write sentences. Before, I had to request to my daughter to dial the phone number for me but now I can find names from the contact list and make call on my own. I am able to write letters and write SMS on the mobile phone. Before, I had to request others to note contact number and write SMS for me.

I was able to achieve 3rd position in the exam after completion of two months of literacy classes and received certificate which made my husband and daughter very happy. Now my other friends who did not join the class, are regretting for not joining the classes and want to join class if it is conducted again. I am also a treasurer of my tole development organization. Previously, I faced difficulties to fulfil my duties as a treasurer as not being able to read and write and without basic mathematic knowledge. Now I am able to do this which makes me more confident.

Now I feel that I have received light in darkness. Now I can write SMS immediately in case of any emergency and share information. I ignored my age and joined the literacy class which helped me to read and write again. I have understood the importance of education and so I encourage others to do the same.

#InternationalLiteracyDay

#SDG4Education

 

Dhan

LOCKDOWN STORY: Dhan Bahadur Chalise

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Dhan Bahadur Chalise, lives in a rented house in ward no. 9, Pokhara. He used to work in a factory, but due to his physical disability, he could not work long term in the factory. After that he tried to several other places to get a decent work and although he have had some of them, but he couldn’t meet the expectation of the owner due to his limitation therefore causing him to be at home since last year. 

He in his family is with his wife and a son. He supports his wife by fulltime parenting his son and also by doing household work. His son is in grade one.

Mina Chalise, his wife, also has a physical disability. She does laundry and dishes washing job in two different homes and there she gets NPR 2500/- per month from each home. Additionally, she also sells lemon on the street for extra income. This is how she manages all the expense of the family and education expenses of her son.  She is doing very hard work. 

In this COVID-19 lockdown period the situation seems to be different, the house owner from one house informed her not to come to work until the lockdown is over. Also, she can’t sell lemon since the market is closed. It has been a month of continuous lockdown so there is no way of earning and making money for the survival of family.

Both husband and wife thanked ACN after getting food packages that will remain for a month. They said “This is a great support in this COVID-19 lockdown and we are very thankful for the support. We feel cared to receive support in this crisis”.  

 

Dhan Bahadur and Mina, originally from Sindhupalchowk district, one of the worst affected district in the Earthquake of 2015. Their house destroyed completely in the earthquake and they lived in a temporary shelter for one year. After one year they moved to Pokhara for the opportunity of getting work. 

COVID-19 _ final

ACN’s COVID-19 Relief Response update: 2,049 most vulnerable families have been reached out with the relief packages

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COVID-19 outbreak has been affecting the lives of people around the world, and Nepal is no exception. With the identification of 2nd positive case of COVID-19, Nepal government enforced the nationwide lockdown on  24th March 2020, which continued almost three months. Though COVID-19 cases are increasing, on 11th  June 2020 the government decided to ease the lockdown in three phases with some restrictions and guidelines after the widespread criticism regarding prolonged nationwide lockdown. With the easing of the lockdown, people started getting back to their daily activities. People are learning to live life with COVID-19 following safety measures and guideline provided by government Nepal. So far Nepal has reported 38 deaths, 16,801 infections and 8,589 recovered (source: Ministry of Health and Population, 12th July 2020).

When every sector of country has been affected, poor and marginalized are affected more severely. Lockdown has deprived the livelihoods of poor and marginalized including daily wage earners. They were in fear of hunger more than a virus. Many temporary migrant workers who ran out of money, were forced to head to their hometown on foot. Many people working in India were stuck on Nepal- India border. 

In this crisis of COVID-19 outbreak, the social initiative of Pokhara Chrisitan Community, Asal Chhimekee Nepal (ACN) stands with the needy and most vulnerable people and communities in order to help them sustain in this crisis. From the 11th day of lockdown, we have started to reach out the doorsteps of people in need with relief packages in coordination with the local governments. Our relief package consists of essential food supplies (rice, lentil, oil, salt etc. and hand washing soap etc.)

 We carried out our COVID-19 relief work in our regular working areas Kaski, Nawalparasi and Gorkha district.

Kaski district

We were able to provide the recommended relief package of Pokhara Metropolitan Office to 703 needy families including 273 people with disability in Pokhara, Kaski district in coordination with the local government. Our relief package of Kaski consist of essential food supplies that would last a month for the family of four-member. We contributed financially to the Pokhara Metropolitan COVID-19 Relief fund by handing a cheque of NPR 25,000. In addition, we also distributed informative pamphlets and posters of COVID-19.

Nawalparasi district

In Nawalparasi we provided relief packages of essential food supplies as per the recommendation of local governments to 1,340 needy families in coordination with the local government in two phases. We provided 100 sets of Virus Transport Medium (VTM) kit to Kawasoti municipality. In addition we also distributed informative posters and pamphlets of COVID-19.

 I Phase

180 needy families received relief packages in Kawasoti Municipality, East Nawalparasi. Our relief packages consist of 15 kg of rice, 2 kg of lentil, 1 kg of salt, 500 ml oil and one piece of Dettol soap.

155 needy families received relief packages in Madhyabindu Municipality, East Nawalparasi. Our relief packages consist of 20 kg of rice, 3 kg of lentil, 1 kg of salt, 2 ltr oil, and 3 pieces of Dettol soap.

400 needy families received relief packages in Palhinandan Rural Municipality, West Nawalparasi. Our relief packages consist of 10 kg of rice, 1 kg of lentil, 1 kg of salt, 1 kg of sugar, and 1 ltr of oil.

 II phase

We were able to provide relief packages to 605 needy families in Nawalparasi in 2nd phase in coordination with the local government. 103 needy families in Kawasoti Municiapltiy, 102 needy families in Madhyabindu Municipality, and 400 needy families in Palhinandan Rural Municipality. Our relief packages consist of 20 kg of rice, 2 kg of lentil, 1 kg of salt, 1 kg of sugar, 1 ltr oil, and 1 piece of hand washing soap.

Gorkha district

We were able to provide 2000 face mask and 2000 pair of disposable gloves to Siranchowk Municipality, Gorkha district as per the request received, though we faced difficulties to deliver the supplies due to lockdown. The objective of sending these items was to support Siranchowk Muncipality to carry out immunization services regularly. We provided informative poster and pamphlets of COVID-19 to the municipality. In addition, we also provided essential food supplies to 6 families with disabilities who spent their life on street in Gorkha.

 

So far we have reached out to the 2,049 most vulnerable families with the relief packages for their support to basic needs in this lockdown.

 

We would like to thank our funding partners and government authorities for their support in this crisis. We will continue to help people in need by your support and prayer. 

H8

ACN’s COVID-19 Response update: 1,381 most vulnerable families have been reached out with the relief packages

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Nepal has completed almost two months of COVID 19 lockdown which was first enforced on March 24. Lockdown is likely to be further extended as the number of COVID-19 cases is increasing.

Due to this continuous lockdown people are losing their livelihood and their income. In this crisis of COVID -19, we are with the most vulnerable families (daily wage earners, poor, elderly, and single women-headed families and people with disability and their families) who are impacted more severely. We are helping them by providing essential food supplies in coordination with the local government.

 

We have been reaching the doorsteps of 667 most vulnerable families with the relief package in Kaski, Pokhara in coordination with the local government. Our relief packages of Kaski consist of essential food supplies that will be enough for a month to family of four-member.

 

East Nawalparasi

We have provided relief package as recommended by the local government to 315 needy families in East Nawalparasi.

180 needy families received relief packages in Kawasoti municipality, East Nawalparasi in coordination with the local government. Relief package that was standardized by the government, consisted of 15 kg of rice, 2 kg of lentil, 1 kg of salt, 500 ml oil, and one piece of Dettol soap.

135 needy families received relief package in Madhyabindu Municipality, East Nawalparasi in coordination with the local government. Relief packages recommended by the government consisted of 20 kg of rice, 3 kg of lentil, 1 kg salt, 2 ltr oil, and 3 pieces of Dettol soap.

 

West Nawalparasi

Recently, we have provided relief packages as recommended by the local government to 400 needy families in Palhinandan Rural Municipality, West Nawalparasi. Relief packages consist of 10 kg of rice, 1 kg of lentil, 1 kg of salt, 1 kg of sugar, and 1 ltr of oil.

 

 

So far we have reached out to the 1,381 most vulnerable families with the relief package of essential food supplies in order to sustain them in this crisis of COVID-19 lockdown.

We would like to thank our funding partners and government authorities for their supports for helping us. We will continue to do this as along as we are together in this crisis.

COVID -19 Relief story for websit

Relief to the family of people with disability in this COVID-19 lockdown

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Prem Lama Pun, 60 years old. He lives in a one-room house in slum area in Pokhara. His wife has physical disabilities caused by paralysis 20 years ago. He needs to take care of his wife (She is unable to perform her personal work). He works as a daily wage laborer in the construction site to earn for the living. Due to his age, he could not hear properly and needed to speak louder. In this lockdown of COVID-19, his situation is different because due to lockdown no work and no earning.

ACN received a recommendation from his ward office for the relief due to his wife’s disability and no income from his daily wages works. He received food packages that will last for more than a month for his family. He is thankful to ACN for providing the food packages in this COVID-19 lockdown. 

The Relief package consist of essential food supplies:  25 kg of rice, 1 kg of lentil, 1 kg of salt, 1 ltr of oil, 1 kg of pea, and 2 pcs of hand washing  soap.  

It this pandemic of COVID-19, we are with the most vulnerable in order to sustain them in this crisis. Right now, we are providing relief packages of essential food supplies to the needy.

 

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