Giving vulnerable children in Nepal an education

Happy faces, here some of the children are heading off to an outdoor activity as part of the School+Plus program; and as a picture paints a thousand words, the looks of delight on their faces is very much a testimony to the value of the School+Plus program.

Each month the program selects a theme for the children’s activities, and these are designed to raise awareness and give the children a hands on appreciation of everyday practicalities that go beyond the rote learning of the average Nepalese classroom. August-October themes will look at Food, Festivals and Celebrations. [Wish I was there!]

The children built a model of a water filter system, the kind that sits on most rooftops in Kathmandu, and again the picture tells us much about the program. Not only are the children gaining practical understandings but the very act of making a model is using recycled materials and empowering their own creativity.

Throughout the year we welcome many overseas visitors to the School+Plus program and this also provides an opportunity for valuable interaction with the children. Some medical students from Australia spent an afternoon running activities for School+Plus and to hear their comments as they completed their afternoon is really inspiring.

To know that we can make a real difference in today’s world is an empowering ‘knowing’; and all who contribute to this program are a part of making that difference.

In June we again managed to run the program under budget and expenses were kept under $1000 for the month. We are aware however that we are running without a full-time program manager and our premises rent is covered as we are using one of the IGWR-Nepal homes for the program. We also have an additional expense for painting the program rooms coming up.

During September thru November we have a number of scheduled visitors that will see first hand the work of the School+Plus program; in addition, both Peter (Chairperson) and Maureen(Treasurer) will visit the program as part of the six-month IGWR-Nepal audit cycle.

All these visits are self-funded as part of the voluntary commitment of those who help to run the overall operations of IGWR-Nepal. We are committed to going beyond the usual model of charity work; we work very much with a spirit of philanthropy, an appreciation of the gift that is the essence of common humanity and with a knowing that every individual can make a real difference in the world.

We do not really appropriate things ourselves until we actively hand them on to others. We have to find the Love, and then give the Love away. The Art of Letting Go: Living the Wisdom of St. Francis

Thank you for joining in the activity of IGWR, for supporting our School+Plus program, thank you for all that you give and for the inspiration that ripples from your generosity. Thank you for making a real difference in the lives of our children in Nepal

Links:

• Details of School+Plus program on Website

• full report (PDF)