|
<< Back to the main Local Interest page
I am writing from the office of Umbrella, the organisation I have been volunteering at for the last four weeks. It is my last full day of work today and I am sorry to be leaving.
Umbrella currently has 320 children staying at seven children’s homes in the Swayambhu area of Kathmandu. In the last five years, Umbrella has grown in size - indeed, it started with only one child back in 2004.
All of the children staying here are from various situations, many have been rescued from situations where they are trafficked, physically, mentally & sexually abused, beaten, displaced etc…. Umbrella has provided a safe haven for all of these children. All of them are attending local schools and many receive extra tuition in the mornings before school and in the evenings.
There is a constant stream of international volunteers who work directly with the children in the mornings and afternoons, providing many classes and activities such as art, music, cooking, tae-kwon-do, games, competitions, various outings etc.
In the two weeks just passed, the Nepali holiday of Dashami allowed about half of the children to return home to their villages to spend time with their families or relatives. The other half, some of whom are orphans, others whom are largely neglected or forgotten about, stayed here for the festive season. It was a good time to spend here, as the volunteers were able to provide so much to these children who have little hope of a solid family life. Different houses took trips to the temple, the cinema, the zoo, kite flying, and participated in art projects, football and table-tennis competitions. Many friends of mine had asked me to spend Dashami with them and their families but I felt that the children here at Umbrella with nobody deserved that attention and time.
It has been a wholesome and unforgettable experience working with the staff and volunteers and of course the children here. To be surrounded by 50 or more children every day can take a lot out of you, but the benefits you get from it far outweigh the cons.
I have been to and heard of other children’s homes / orphanages here in Nepal which are being underfunded or badly run, cases where corruption and greed are rampant are all too common in this country. To be a part of an organisation whose aims and goals are always 100% in relation to the welfare and rights of the children is comforting when all around there are people abusing the situation. There are over 1,000 children’s homes in Nepal - only a very small percentage, are registered with the Nepali Government.
It all sounds like a bit of a fairy tale at times, and believe me, it can be. But, as with every such institution, what will be the future of these children? A children’s home in essence is a place where children stay and go to school and play and eat and sleep. What becomes of the bond between these children and their parents? How many of these children will ever be reunited? By providing them with these facilities, does it not make them think that their own situations and families are not good enough? Will they, as they grow older, be so institutionalized (and in this case a little more spoilt than the average Nepali child), that they choose not to be self-sufficient and reliant?
Seeing the houses in action, and the way in which they live and are taught to live here, I can only say that their time here is one of love and support and good health (Umbrella have a full time doctor and part time child psychologist), a time of fun and learning and preparing for the future.
With regard to some of the questions above, Umbrella is fully aware of the fact that these children will grow up in the coming years. Plans are afoot to reintegrate as many of these children as possible, back to their villages, back to their families. Over the last few days in fact, children have returned home with family / relatives because they are happy to do so. Many are from areas where a fifteen-year war left many displaced and orphaned. This war has settled somewhat and many of these villages are now safer places. It is definitely sad to see them leave but it is for a brighter future that Umbrella lets them go, a future where their family is not an institution but flesh and blood. They will live amongst their grandparents and siblings once again, with the extra added benefits of having been a part of the big beautiful family that is Umbrella.
The experience I have gotten in the past month has been priceless for the work I, and Nagarhope are undertaking. Seeing how a children’s home runs successfully has been an important part of my work. Three other committee members of Nagarhope Nepal have also volunteered their time in Umbrella over the holiday period. Sambar, a musician, played a concert a day in each of the 7 houses. Robindra, the Vice-Principal in Sunrise School lived in one of the older boys houses for a few weeks to help the children. Raj Kumar, a 17 year old Nepali boy who Nagarhope has sponsored over the last two years has been offered a small job here full time if he chooses, tutoring the children in one of the smaller boys houses.
Nagarhope has benefited greatly from these opportunities. Not all of the Committee members are familiar with the workings of NGO’s, in particular children’s homes. We now have a greater idea of the inner workings of such organizations, from meal-times to office and admin work, from having to get 320 children ready for school to how to entertain them, from being a part of a big family to knowing the individual needs of each and every child.
Me, I am heading back to school tomorrow, back to teaching English, music, art, right and wrong with another bunch of kids. There is not much let up, it is a constant rollercoaster of education and child care, it is a relentless journey, one full of treasures and pitfalls which we must cross one at a time.
I can only say how grateful I am to all at Umbrella for their guidance and support over this period, Nagarhope Nepal has been strengthened just by us being here, and we have met many others working in the social field, connections for the future that will be of great benefit to us.
If anybody would like to see or read more about Umbrellas work, log on to www.umbrellanepal.org. There are some beautiful stories, photos, videos etc. of the children. I have my pictures and memories in my mind, as ever, and I hope to be able to share some of them with you in the future. This is just one chapter and attached are just a fraction of the children in Umbrella. Enjoy.
Peace out brethren,
Doc Dai
Umbrella Foundation Nepal
15th October 2008
|
