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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 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.

 

To know more visit the news section. 

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Health and Dignity with the Toilet Construction

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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.    

adult literacy class - Kaski

Joy of being able to read and write

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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.