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I have been up to my forehead in work, both physical and mental. The new school year is a week old now which means there are over 50 new faces to look after and teach, most of them have been pampered from birth by their mothers (the majority of them housewives in farmhouses). It is such a common sight to see children of three and four clinging to their mother’s leg and bawling as only distraught and confused children can do.
The building has been ongoing, the four classrooms are fully constructed and plastered, window frames and doors included. It is the middle story of three that has been built, so a solid but temporary zinc and wooden frame roof is getting underway today. Windows will be next, a few doors, some paint, desks and a black or white board, a handful of children and someone to teach the class.
The 33 children come from 10 different villages close to Nagarkot, and are mainly Tamang children, the predominant Caste in the area. Tamang people are "Hill People" and make up less than 3 % of the Nepali population. It is a different language (Tamang), so most of the kids haven't even learnt Nepali yet, which renders my grasp of the Nepali language useless on these Teeny Tiny people.
I have added up all costs for one year for each child in each different class - Nursery, JKG (junior kindergarten), SKG (senior), class 1 and class 2. To sponsor one child for one year, it will take 66 euros, or 5.50 Euros per month. This figure will rise a little every year due to inflation and the fact that these children will grow up. The cost for a class 7 student, the highest class at the moment, is 90 euros per year.
I have contacted my mother Niamh, and there are couple of ways to sponsor, either by monthly standing order / bank draft into Nagarhope account or a once yearly cash lodgement. If there's an even easier way to do it, let us know.
I am compiling a list of children with as much necessary information as i can and within a few weeks I will be emailing this info on each child to each sponsor. 14 people have to date expressed an interest, thank you all.
Myself and Robin, the Acting Principal (the Principal - Neeru - teaches in a college in Bhaktapur, halfway between Nagarkot and Kathmandu) have already interviewed 10 of the mothers of the sponsored children, to make sure that they are actual needy people. Robin has also been to a few of the villages talking with the families. We intend to do likewise with all of these children. Again, you will have to bear with me to collect all this info, it will take another few weeks to get it right.
The costs include the following: Two uniforms, all books, admission fees, monthly fees, exam fees, mark sheets for exams, a pencil case, stationary and a schoolbag. I have also made a special allowance for some of the children who are in different troubled family situations. For instance, some kids are not given a lunch every day, some are too poor to provide food, some parents are not educated at all. "Tiffin", as they call lunch, if necessary, will be provided to these kids. Hungry kids aren't happy kids.
All parents have been encouraged to assist in some way towards the cost of schooling their own children, some are buying books and bags themselves, but not many. 90 % of these children are sons or daughters of farmers and peasants who work other landowners' land. Money is not a luxury they count as one of their own. It makes me realise how much I take money for granted.
Once again, I am delighted to be writing this mail. I am in Nepal to help, and the results are beginning to show. Go raibh mile maith aguibh gach duine,
Fachtna Doc Clandillon
27 April 2008
Anyone who would like to sponsor a child please mail either me, or Mam.
My mother’s email is niamhclandillon@hotmail.com, her home # is 01 - 6241328, if any further info is required.
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