• Shenpen Health Committee:
Through the generous donations of sponsors Shenpen has been able to help the poor and disadvantaged in a number of projects since 2005. While most of the funds have supported health projects, Shenpen has also helped in the areas of education, street children and vocational skills training.
If you require further information on any of these projects please
contact the committee chairs.
HEALTH INITIATIVES 2006
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Medical Clinic:
The construction of a medical clinic will be started this year under
the guidance of Phakchok Rinpoche. The clinic will be situated in Chapagaon,
a village southeast of the Kathmandu Valley, adjacent to the Bajra Barahi
Monastery, a part of Ka Nying Shedrup Ling Monastery. The Clinic will
provide services to the surrounding villages and people in the area.
Some of the projected services include Acupuncture, Tibetan and Chinese
medicine, and Allo-pathic medicine.
Acupuncture Clinic:
This year a Canadian Acupuncturist and a Chinese doctor from Malaysia
offered a free clinic to disadvantaged people and monks and nuns in
Boudha, Chapagaon, Pharping, and Nagi Gonpa. The acupuncturist is currently
staying in Boudha and providing free treatment to people in need. In
the future she will be working from the clinic in Chapagaon and offer
treatments to the local people of the area.
Dental Camps:
In March, 2006, six dentists from
Singapore held free dental camps in several outlying areas of Kathmandu.
They performed extractions, simple fillings, and cleanings, as well
as teaching dental hygiene. They were able to treat nearly 1,000 people
over a period of 6 days.
HEALTH INITIATIVES 2005
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Bir Hospital Burn Unit, Kathmandu:
Shenpen is providing support to the 6-bed burn unit (since December
2005) with much needed supplies for skin grafts, debridements, and blood
transfusions necessary for this type of injury. Because of limited resources
and manpower, the hospital gives minimal supplies to the burn unit but
does offer the space. Patient recovery is slow and involves special
bathing, wound debridement, blood replacement as needed, high protein
diet, and exercise. Patients stay about 1-2 months and are mostly female
self-inflicted suicide burns. The staff is committed to providing the
best patient care they possibly can, but are lacking the basic essentials
and that is where Shenpen helps.
Mobile Clinics:
Shenpen is collaborating with Social Action Volunteers (SAV), a non-profit
social organisation that helps the disadvantaged in rural areas with
limited access to health care by providing mobile clinics five days
a week. Their doctors, nurses and other volunteers offer free diagnosis,
treatment and medicine as necessary to over 5000 people annually.
Shenpen has sponsored a mobile clinic that provides health care to people in Jyamirkot, an area in the south-east of Kathmandu Valley. Since December 2005, our mobile clinic is serving five villages with a population upwards of 8000 people.
Shahid Gangalal National Heart Hospital:
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a major public health problem
in developing countries. It is one of the most common cardiac problems
in Nepal. Rheumatic and congenital heart diseases are significant causes
of sickness and death among Nepalese school children. A study of RHD
patients from January 2002 to March 2004 found a total of 2806 RHD patients.
The National Heart Hospital provides 100 mechanical valves to poor patients
in Nepal every year.
In December 2005, Shenpen supported seven underprivileged children who needed valve replacements or congenital abnormalities that needed treatment. We will be sponsoring 7-8 more children in 2006.
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Arsenic Bucket Project
Access to safe drinking water is central to the well-being of people.
In the West clean drinking water is taken for granted, however, in Nepal
it remains a significant challenge. Apart from numerous water borne
diseases, the recent discovery of arsenic in the groundwater of the
southern region of Nepal (Terai), continues to adversely affect the
health and socio-economic conditions of Nepalese, particularly the poorest.
The ingestion of arsenic contaminated water causes a number of health
risks such as melanosis, gangrene and cancer. It is estimated that around
0.5 million people in the Terai are living in areas at risk of arsenic
poisoning.
‘Filters for Families’ is a small organisation in Nepal that is working to address this issue. It has helped more than 4000 people, provided over 400 filters, distributed more than 2500 bottles of Vitamins in two districts and 7 villages, and has given 14 arsenic awareness workshops.
Starting in August 2005, Shenpen has sponsored 42 buckets ($20/filter bucket) for a village in Nawalparasi District (Southern Nepal). Craftsmen using local materials make these filters in the village. The filter removes more than 98% of the arsenic and provides enough water for a large family. This year Shenpen will continue to provide support for materials needed to make the filters, as well as sponsoring arsenic awareness workshops in 3 areas.
Thalassemia Blood Disease:
Since the fall of 2005 Shenpen has been providing direct support to
children with Thalassemia blood disease. Thalassemia is a genetic blood
disorder. People with Thalassemia are not able to make enough haemoglobin,
which causes severe anaemia.
As a result of Shenpen’s donations, the medical treatment and blood work for some of the 49 registered children at Kanti Children’s Hospital in Kathmandu has been made possible.
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• Shenpen Education Committee:
A New and Exciting Initiative Comes to Education
We are currently working on a very exciting initiative that supports a model of education not previously seen in Nepal. This model encompasses direct teacher training modeled in the classroom, Nursery to Class Two in the first years, followed by Class Three to Class 10 in subsequent years. Our initial model is based on the child-centered Montessori methods of education. Our project is called 'Pegasus', as we will work hand-in-hand with Pegasus School. Our initiative also includes the installation of bio-gas and photovoltaic cells by students at the school, thereby generating sufficient power in a country that currently suffering from 16-hour power cuts a day. Our Pegasus model will also provide skills training for older children and their parents in order to improve their income-generating potential.
The Shenpen Education Committee currently supports teacher training at Pegasus School by paying for teacher-trainers from a local teacher training organization, and also supports volunteers willing to teach at Pegasus and share their valuable teaching skills. Over 500 children and 30 teachers have so far benefitted from this teacher training, and from the many educational supplies purchased by Shenpen. Shenpen also pays the salary of one teacher at this school and pays the school fees for four boarding students at Pegasus School. The organisation has also sponsored field trips for Class 8, 9 and 10 students who would otherwise not have an opportunity to visit historical sites in the Kathmandu valley, even while they study these same places in the classroom.
To learn more about our other activities from the past year, please download our Winter 2008 Newsletter.
Children with Learning Disabilities
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In Nepal, children with learning disabilities do not receive the support and attention that they require. Teachers lack the skills, knowledge and resources to address their needs.
Shenpen has identified a local school (Pegasus School) near Boudhanath, Kathmandu, with children with learning disabilities. The principal and teachers have identified children in Class Two and Class Four that have learning disabilities. They recognise their lack of understanding of learning disabilities and are welcoming Shenpen support.
The committee plans to establish a working relationship with the school with an aim to help the classroom teachers develop a plan that would benefit these children. In the future plans the committee envisions providing teacher training or creating an extra class to work with these kinds of children so that they will be able to join the regular classes.
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• Street Children Committee:
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Shenpen is providing financial support to three established NGOs working with street children. The committee identified three areas of support and will take this opportunity to learn from these organisations.
Street Arts Programme
The Child Protection Centre Services (CPCS) is an NGO that is running
a Street Arts Programme with the aim of reintegrating street children
back with their families and society. It combines education and socialisation
activities such as theatre, music, singing, painting, drawing and dance
as a means to express themselves and their experiences. Shenpen is providing
financial support but has plans in the near future to link up ‘Friends
of Shenpen’ with CPCS to volunteer in the programme.
Radio Programme
Sath Sath is an NGO that has been working with street children for the
past five years. Their Radio Programme focuses on street children, child
rights and children’s issues to promote a positive image of street
children and to prevent other children from entering street life. The
reporting is done by street children themselves who have received some
journalist training. It has been well received not only by street children,
but other children and adults as well. This radio magazine has been
able to give voice to children and their issues. Shenpen is providing
support to produce 24 episodes of the Radio Programme.
Driving Training for Street Youths
JAFON is an NGO that is run and managed by former street children. Addressing
street children’s educational and vocational needs towards a sustainable
livelihood is a central focus for many organisations working with street
children. Shenpen is providing support to three street youths to receive
driver’s training and to help set them up to become ‘tempo’
(electric three-wheeler) drivers. This process requires that the youths
obtain proof of their citizenship through citizenship identity cards.
Such official documents are extremely important, especially for street
children/youths, in order for them to be able to establish their rights
and to help them be recognised in mainstream society.
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Through the Street Children and Vocational Skills Training initiative, Shenpen has been able to help street youths like Kumar and Santosh.
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My name is Kumar Rumba and I am from Hetauda. When I was 9 years old my mother passed away. My father remarried and brought home my stepmother. My stepmother would always scold me. Even if I worked she would find some excuse and beat me.
One day, my older cousin brother returned from the city. He advised me to go to Kathmandu and work in a carpet factory. Rather than put up with my stepmother’s scolding and beatings, I left with him and started working in Siphal Carpet Factory in Kathmandu at the age of 9. I had worked in that factory for about 4 months when my cousin eloped with a girl from the same factory. I did not feel like staying on after that.
I left the factory and as I wandered around looking for another job, I met a tempo (a three-wheeler) driver. I asked him if I could get any job. He hired me as a ‘khalaasi’ (assistant) for his tempo. I had to attract passengers and collect the tempo fare from them. However, after 7 months the driver went abroad to work. Then I got a job as a dish-washer in a small restaurant. The husband and wife, who owned the place were constantly quarreling and one day they sold the restaurant. After that I just continued working as a ‘khalaasi’ with tempos and micro-buses. I had to sleep on the street. Soon enough I met other street children who earned money by picking plastic and other scrap on the streets and selling them. I have spent my last 13 years sometimes working with tempos and micro-buses and sometimes collecting and selling scrap.
Experience and connection with NGOs during my
street life
When I first started my street life there were not that many organisations
but many came up soon after. They would give us medicine, take us for
picnics, take our photos and register our names with their organisations.
They were kind to us but never really could understand our inner needs
and wishes. Even if they provided us with hostel facilities, they kept
us like prisoners and we were not allowed to move freely. When foreigners
came they were very kind to us, they taught us how to speak properly,
but once the visitors left the organisations could not be bothered with
us. They did not care whether we got food to eat, whether we were clean
or not and at times would even beat us. This was true even more so with
those that looked older between the age group of 16-17 years. The younger
children would receive more attention and even when these children started
growing up they would lose interest in them. Often when we slept on
the streets, gangsters and the police would beat us and use abusive
language.
What I do not like
Even though there are many organisations working for street children,
they have not managed to solve our problems. The police and gangs always
give us a lot of trouble. Among the street children and youth, we fight
with each other, sometimes these fights turn nasty and we get seriously
wounded with limbs getting slashed. The street children and youth drink
alcohol excessively and even do drugs. I do not like these things.
What I like
I enjoy sitting together with my street friends, talking about our dreams
for our future; when people let me eat on credit when I do not have
money to pay and when we help each other.
My future plans
I want to earn lots of money and help other children who have suffered
like me. I am very happy right now because I do not have to live a street
life. You have helped young people like me to get off the streets in
a proper way.
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My name is Santosh Lamichhane and I am from Chitwan. When I was 9 years old, my parents, younger sister and I had to move to Kathmandu because we were poor and had to find some way of earning money.
In Kathmandu my father earned money by selling peanuts and ice-cream. He also sent me to school in Kathmandu. But one day, he again decided that we should move back to Chitwan and slowly I lost my interest in school and studies. My father took to drinking alcohol and would beat my mother. One day my mother could not bear it anymore so she left home. I came to know about it only 3 days after she left.
It was difficult for me to study, so I talked with my father and told him that I would like to go to Kathmandu to find work and earn some money. My father agreed and so I came to Kathmandu. After wandering around, I reached Lagankhel and I asked for work at a tea,shop. I was hired to wash dishes and to reach tea for customers. The tea,shop owner’s son would always beat me so I got fed up and one day when I was supposed to take tea for some tempo drivers, I asked them for help and started working as a ‘khalaasi’. In this way at the age of 12 years I started my street life. Most of my childhood and early years of youth I have spent on the streets.
One day a friend of mine invited me to visit an organisation that helped street children and youth. I visited Hamro Sansar (Our World) JAFON and I found that the environment was very friendly. I had a talk with the person who had started the organisation and told him that I wanted to get a driving license and drive a tempo to earn money. He helped me to join a driving course, get my citizenship card and a driving license.
Now I want to earn lots of money, help my younger sister get married and look after my father. Then I want to work like ‘sir’ who helped me to help other street children and youth.
My street life experience
When I was living on the streets, the gangsters who were bigger than
me and the police would take away my money. The other people would look
down on me and life was very difficult. During the winters it was difficult
to be able to sleep because it was so cold. I wanted to leave street
life. When we were smaller many organisations would approach us, but
as we grew older they were not interested any more. In this way many
street youth end up spending the rest of their lives on the streets.
However, I have been fortunate because I got to know about JAFON and
I came here. JAFON helped me realise my dream of getting a driving license.
Even today I see that there are so many street youth but no organisations
as far as I know, that help street youth. I am very happy that I got
the chance to improve my life.
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© 2006, Rangjung Yeshe Shenpen