Educational material support eases the burden of parents

by Stories

Karuna Pahadi (7) and Karishma Pahadi (9) are two sisters who are studying in grades 3 and 5 respectively. They live with their parents in ward no 7, Pokhara, Kaski. Their father works on a daily wage basis and earns NPR 700 per day. Their mother Lalita Pahadi can perform limited household activities after she got fractured on her arm.  She was not able to afford an operation she needed. Due to a delay in treatment, her operation was not successful. Since then she has difficulties moving her arm and lifting heavy materials.

Her mother Lalita Pahadi told to us,” Due to COVID-19 lockdown, my husband had no work and we were struggling hard to manage our daily expenses. However now lockdown is over but my husband hasn’t been able to go and find a work regularly. A few years ago, we used to send our daughter to a private boarding school but due to our poor income, we could not manage to meet the expenses of a private boarding school. Then we admitted our daughters to a nearby government school. Both girls were anxious when they had to leave the boarding school and they thought that their new (government) school would not be as good as the previous one.  Currently, their school is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “

Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, their school remains closed and they are studying by streaming a channel program from a Radio. They want to go to school soon. However now lockdown is over so some schools are opening and some are planning to open with safety precaution. Lalita Said,” When my daughter’s school called them to receive stationeries, my girls were very happy.”

Both Karuna and Karishma were glad to get a new school uniform, shoes, and school bag with other stationery as they knew that in this situation their parents could not afford to buy for them. They said, “This support will help our parents free from the burden to buy these stuffs for us. Thank you! “

 

Being able to read and write, again!

by Stories

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

 

LOCKDOWN STORY: Dhan Bahadur Chalise

by Stories

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. 

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

by Stories

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.

 

To know more visit the news section. 

Health and Dignity with the Toilet Construction

by Stories

We felt the need of toilet for our family but we could not afford to construct. Now, we have it. I am so pleased. Thank you Asal Chhimkee Nepal (ACN) for supporting us to construct the toilet.

Sulinda with her daughters

Sulinda Sahani, 34 years old, resident of Badsar village in Sarawal- 6, Nawalparasi. She able to construct toilet in her home with the support from Asal Chhimekee Nepal (ACN) in 2018.

She shared “There are 9 members in my family including six daughters and one son and husband. My husband is only one who earns for our family and he works in Brick factory. He hardly earn enough to manage our daily needs and fed to our kids. We could not save money to construct toilet. Even we felt need of toilet in our home. We don’t like to go other fields for toilet but we don’t have option and we used to do so. Open defecation (outdoors defecation) is so much shameful, can’t tell you how we manage without toilet at home. Shame and Snake fear had been always bothering us while going to field for toilet”.

One day she heard that Asal Chhimekee Nepal (ACN) formed a group (Self-Help Group) in her village in which she also took membership from where she came to know that ACN is providing water and toilet construction and maintenance program to help poor and marginalized to have an access to water and sanitation through construction and maintenance of water well or hand pump and toilet. 

 

After finishing the construction of toilet with the support from ACN, she shared to us “I am very pleased that now we have a toilet in our home. My kids are also very happy as they don’t need to go to others field for toilet and they don’t have to be ashamed nor be scolded by others. We feel very comfortable with this toilet and we all use it.” 

ACN was able to support 30 families in Nawalparasi in construction and maintenance of toilet in last year (fiscal year 2018/19). Sulinda Sahani is the one of the beneficiary.    

Joy of being able to read and write

by Stories

Bhagawati Bhurtel 58 years from kudahar-10, Pokhara expressed her joy with us after being able to sign, write and read her own name. She shared her joy with us.  

 

I was 10 years old when I lost my parents, after that, I had to take care of my family members. Though I had not opportunity to go to school, I managed to send my little brother to school and he completed his high school studies. I didn’t want to get married but my elder sister somehow convinced me to get married at my early age.

After marriage, I started to sell fruits and vegetables. I was happy that I was able to send my children to the school and they completed their high school studies. In fifteen years of selling fruits and vegetables, I felt many times if I had basic mathematics knowledge and an ability to sign, read and write my own name because I had experience of being cheated by customer many times while returning cash. In the past I was also in a situation where I couldn’t write, read nor record my own phone number.

Once my neighbor came to me and shared with me about the literacy class. She shared that it was for those people who had limitation to read and write. After listening to her I wanted to join the class, I stopped selling fruits and vegetables and joined the literacy class organized by Asal Chhimekee Nepal.

Now, I have completed four months of literacy class. I learned Nepali and English alphabet, and numbers.  Now, I can give my signature, read and write with some basic math knowledge. I can say my mobile number and note down others mobile number as well. Happiest thing in my life after adult literacy class is that I can teach Nepali and English alphabet and numbers (ABC & 123) to my grandchildren who are in the Montessori level.  It makes me so happy.

I am able to achieve the first position in the exam after completion of four month literacy class and we had a graduation program. My son shared my graduation picture on his Facebook and my many relatives and friends congratulates me which made me so happy and confident. 

I am very grateful to my teacher for helping me and guiding me in my pace to learn. I would like to thank Asal Chhimekee Nepal for providing this opportunity.

This year, 180 women participated in the literacy class of ACN. 

 

Sarita’s journey from street life to a better life

by Stories

Sarita Lama, 32 years old from Kavre. She has one son and daughter. She was a drug and alcohol user. Her life was full of tragedy and struggle. But she continue to struggle and fight for herself and for kids. Finally, succeed to overcome her addiction. She would like to share her life story.

My mother left me when I was 1 year old and my father and grandmother passed away. I left alone. Due to community pressure, my uncle agree to let me stay with his house. But I had to work for them, I used to bring grass and wood from the jungle. While I was growing up, slowly my uncle started to treat me well. I was happy as I thought that my uncle loved me but soon I realized that my uncle trying to sexually abuse me. Then I left uncle house. I was 12 when I started to live in the street with my friends. I used to collect garbage on the street for food. Slowly I learned to use dendrite glue and smoking. At the age of 14, I was involved in prostitution, from that time I learned to use drug. As days were passing.   

I married a man whom I used to live in street.  I gave birth to two kids, one son and daughter while living on street. I got more into addiction. Even I try to kill myself and my son. After birth of my daughter I tried to stop using drug but I could not. I did not get any support from husband and later he died because of HIV. I got scared that I might have HIV infected and got tested and I was not. That was so relieving. 

 

When I was living at the street many organization came to help me but I always ignore them. It was then when I lost my husband, again few women came to visit me and encouraged me to get admitted at Rehab center. I was admitted by them in the Rehab center at Kathmandu and kept my children in children home. After few months I was discharged form Rehab center, I relapsed again in addiction and then attained 2 different Rehab centers. After getting discharged from Karuna Nepal, women empowerment organization provide me employment opportunity. Then I started to work and I was far away from addiction. I got a job in a company and I was doing well. Again I found someone to marry me and I marry him with a hope to have a better life. I never knew that struggle of my life would not end there, my husband started drinking alcohol and physically abusing me.  After that, I could not control myself and started drinking alcohol and neglecting the job that I had. 

 I was so deep in drinking that the organization I was working at sent me to ACN’s  Nawajeewan Treatment and Rehabilitation center for treatment on alcoholism. I was admitted on 19th January 2018 and got discharged in July 2018 after overcoming my addiction.

Before Nawajeewan Rehabilitation center, I had stayed 7 times in different Rehab centers but Nawajeewan was different. In Nawajeewan, I found a very lovely and caring environment, people are very kind and helpful to me. I felt like I found a family. I used to get lots of punishment in other rehab centers and torture which I could not express. But in Nawajeewan, I able to express myself, learned to love, respect and control my anger. I learned to read and write and household skills. I also understand the value of work.

 Today I am confident and never going to look back again. It’s been 15th months since I left alcohol. I am working and study in grade 4. I neglected my children in the past but not any more. I am going to take care of them properly. I want to give them a nice environment to grow. I want to be a role model for my children.

I would like to thank Purna Enterprise for sending me to Nawajeewan and Asal Chhimekee Nepal for providing me treatment opportunity and help me to overcome my addiction and help me to understand my value of life. 

 

Back to the Earthquake Resilient School

by Stories

 

Susma Nepali tells a story about her school reconstruction in this video, which highlights the ACN response in Nepal Earthquake of 2015.

The devastating earthquakes of 25th April and 12th May 2015 were the most terrible catastrophic for Nepal in over 80 years. There was extensive damage to public infrastructures. The devastating Earthquakes destroyed 7,500 schools building, out of them 55 % of schools buildings were reconstructed, 25 % are under reconstruction and 20 % of schools building are waiting for reconstruction (Nepal Reconstruction Authority, NRA, Kathmandu).

ACN long term Earthquake Response program focused on Gorkha District, the epicenter of April 2015 earthquake for its recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of affected families and communities.

ACN was involved in the reconstruction of damaged public infrastructures like schools and health posts which were priorities by the Nepal government as well.

ACN reconstructed four earthquake resilient schools in Gorkha District. Shree Janakalyan Higher secondary school was one of them. This school was completely destroyed by the Earthquakes of 2015. Students had to study in the Temporary Learning Center (TLC) made of Corrugated Galvanized Iron (CGI) sheets. There were difficulties for students and teachers in the temporary learning center (TLC).

On 21th May 2018 ACN handed over the Shree Janakalyan Higher Secondary School to the School Management Committee and local government of the Gorkha Municipality. The newly reconstructed school building has two blocks – each block consisting of eight rooms with facilities of disability-friendly toilets and drinking water system.

In total 271 students and 18 teachers are directly benefited with this newly reconstructed well-furnished school.

We would like to thank our funding partner kinderhilfswerk (KHW) Global – Care, Germany for partnering with us in this project. We also like to thank Siranchowk Rural Municipality, Gorkha and Shree Janakalyan Higher Secondary School for their kind cooperation in the reconstruction of this school.

We are glad to serve the affected communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stories

by Stories

Happiness regain by a newly constructed house

My name is Ambika Regmi and I live in Ghaylchok -8 Gorkha district with my daughter. I was born with hearing and speaking disability. I spent my childhood in the misery of poverty and due to disability even lived in reproach. I was happy when I got married and that joy was amplified by the birth of my daughter. But the joy couldn’t last long as I lost my husband. Days were passing by and the agony of a poverty was hurting me. My daughter also works with me in the field because I could not afford to send her to a school.  

In 2015, the earthquake destroyed my house which destroyed the hope of my life. Villagers helped me to build a temporary shelter. While living at the temporary shelter, many nights, we could not sleep well because of cold and heavy rainfall. Even while I started my house construction work with the help from government aid, I could not complete it because the aid provided was not enough. I almost give up in reconstructing my house again.

 

10 months ago, two people from Asal Chhimekee Nepal came to visit us and said they want to help us to reconstruct our new house. I could not believe but they ensure me that they will provide construction materials to construct my house. At that time, I was happy and I have doubt too. With doubt I did the agreement and they provide cement, CGI sheet and an iron rod and food items support while constructing. Then immediately construction work started.  

Today I am very happy because I am able to complete construction work of my house. We were so happy while shifting from the temporary shelter to a newly constructed house where I feel warmer, comfortable and secure to live. I am so grateful to Asal Chhimekee Nepal for helping us to reconstruct collapsed house again after 3 years of the mega earthquake April 2015.

ACN’s private house reconstruction project supported 250 vulnerable families to reconstruct house in Gorkha district in coordination with National Reconstruction association (NRA) where Ambika got selected under the criteria as a single women.

Improving mason skill to build better

My name is Min Bahadur Marahattha. I am 47 years old. I live in Gorkha district with my wife. We both work in field. I also work as a mason for livelihood. I used to follow the traditional techniques to construct houses. These days, I am very busy in house construction work in my village. I have been continuously receiving the contract of house construction after receiving the seven days’ mason training through Asal Chhimekee Nepal.  

One day I got the information from my ward office that Asal Chhimekee Nepal was going to organize 7 days training to help village local mason learn the earthquake-resistant techniques to build back better. I was a witnessed of the demolished and damaged caused by the earthquake so when I heard, wished to take part in the training and I got the chance to participant in the training.

During the training, I came to know many mistakes which I have been practicing during construction of houses and learned earthquake resistant construction techniques. I am very happy with the training because I learn to build houses in a better way than before. In training, I also learned to do soil test so now I can check whether land is suitable for the construction or not.  The training has helped me to improve my masonry skill with earthquake resistant construction techniques and received eleven different types of construction instruments and tools after the completion of the training.    

When villagers knew that I got the training in earthquake resistant house construction, I started to receive contract for the construction of house in my village. Villagers were very happy with my work as I am applying earthquake resistant techniques to construct house.  I would like to give my sincere gratitude to Asal Chhimekee Nepal for providing training to improve our masonry skill which also increases our working opportunities in our place.

Asal Chhimekee Nepal trained 350 local mason in earthquake resistant construction techniques to help local mason to build better as a long term recovery facilities in response to Earthquake 2015. 

Joy of being a Skilled Person

Sanjiv Regmi, 27 lives in Gorkha district. There are four members in his family. His family income source is mainly farming. Even though he and his family work hard in their farming land, farm production only enough for six months in a year. His father works in day labor for income to meet family needs for the remaining six months. As he is an elder son of his parents, He does not like his father work in day labor which is very hard. He used to think that soon he will start to work and need to support the family financially so after completion of 12-grade education he tried to find a job but sadly he could not get any job opportunities. Because he had no skill then he acknowledged that it was the reason for his unemployment.

One day he received information from the ward office that Asal Chhimekee Nepal was going to provide a house wiring training (electrician). Then he showed his interest and he was selected for the training.  The day he completed the training and passed the A level certificate in house wiring from CTEVT.  He was very happy and hopeful towards the future where he will be employed. Exactly same thing happened in Sanjiv’s life, when he went back home after training, he was called by an electric shop near to his house to work for that shop as a technician. He was so happy and enthusiastic in his work.  His parents were even happier when he does all the house wiring work of his own house which is recently constructed after the massive earthquake of 2015. Nowadays he started getting the order of house wiring.

 Sanjiv Says “I am very thankful to ACN that they provided me house wiring training and now I am a skilled person and there are many working opportunities in this field and I can support my family financially.” He added that, “I am planning to attend second level exam in house wiring and very much confident that I will pass that exam”. 

Lila's self-confidence with a boost in vegetable production

Lila Kumari Bhujel lives in Gandaki Rural municipality ward no. 8, Ghyalchowk, Gorkha. She is a housewife and a farmer. She is very interested in farming and she loves working in a field. Vegetables production and selling is the key income source of her family. But after the massive earthquake of 2015, her farming land was not as productive as before. She works hard and even she used chemicals fertilizers to increased vegetables production but vegetables production was not good  as she spend her time and labour which made her upset.

Once she heard that Asal Chhimekee Nepal (ACN) going to organize cash crop training in her village, she became very happy and wished to participate in the training. She said, “I was worried due to poor production of vegetables and I knew that I need some training but I had no idea where to get it from and I could never imagine that I will get training in my village. She got an opportunity to participate in cash- crop training program and learned the skills to harvest cash crops and prepare organic fertilizer. After training, with very happy face she said “I am sure that my vegetables production will be increase because now I have the training. She added “I always used chemical fertilizer for more production and now I know how harmful such chemicals are to the soil and promised that from now she will use only organic fertilizer in her farm land. 

Along with the training, she has also received vegetable seed from ACN. She has promised that she will not waste any seed but cultivate all of it with the knowledge she received from the training. Now seeds have turned in to plants and growing well. She is very happy with the growing vegetables of her land because she is able to see the changes on her land and this year she hopes to earn approximately 60000-70000 thousand in total. Which is very significant for her and her family. She and her family members are very happy with the support she received from ACN.  She thanked Asal Chhimekee Nepal for the training and seeds and wishes ACN to continue providing such types of training to farmers like her.

Handover of schools to the Government of Nepal and Local Community

by NewsStories

All three schools reconstructed by ACN were handed over to the Government of Nepal and the local communities of Shreenathkot, Gorkha.  The schools included Shree Chandrodaya Secondary School, Shree Janajagriti School and Shree Arkul Primary School officially handed over on 9th -10th June 2017.

ACN has been actively involved in reconstruction of health posts, village office building and schools in Gorkha after the relief for the people affected by the massive earthquake in 2015. These schools have been constructed in conformity with the government guidelines. Along with the school building, ACN also provided colorful furniture for pupil and classes are already running. Pupils are enjoying new chairs and desks they feel big about themselves. It is a big change for them as they were in worn out shelters. One of the teachers stated that this was her great experience in her life to work in such a new school building with attractive furniture and to instruct students and further said that it was her pride. The schools look really good and attractive.

Government representatives, journalist, local leaders, PCC members and ACN staff were present during the handover programs.

 

The schools were funded by:

Shree Chandrodaya Secondary School – GZB, Netherlands

Shree Arkul Primary School – Friends for Nepal in Sweden

Shree Janajagriti Primary School- BSN, Netherlands

 

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