Kia ora, Namaste and a quick update since our last Newsletter in May 2021.
Nepal
The news from Nepal on the pandemic is still quite worrying, with about 1,000 new infections per day. However this is well down on the peak level in May this year, so the curve might be heading in the right direction. There have been more than 11,000 Covid-19 related deaths notified since the pandemic began (population is around 30 million) and there might be many more that are not identified as such.
Apart from those statistics, I received a message last week from a young person I met when I was there in 2018. She’d been hospitalised for a few days “due to lack of oxygen” and had recovered, but was still very weak. Hearing about a personal experience makes it seem more real. She was probably fortunate to be living in Kathmandu in easy reach of a hospital – many Nepalis would not be so lucky.
Kailash Bodhi School, Jumla
We were able to make one further transfer of funds since the previous newsletter. The Principal, Tashi, said: “Thank you very much for sending the fund in this critical moment of Covid where there is chaos and panic around Nepal due to Covid second wave.” At that time the school had been closed for several months. With not much access to computers in that region, online education opportunities were limited. At the time this newsletter is being completed (late September) the school is still closed.
Little Sisters Fund
LSF has been a bit better placed to deliver education in some of the areas it works in. Their system of appointing Coordinating Mentors – former Little Sisters, now trained as supporters of vulnerable young girls, seems to be even more valuable in lockdown than it was before, delivering education and support while schools are closed.
I received a message recently from a young woman I sponsor. She seems quite at home with delivering education online, as well as delivering soap and masks to students. She said “LSF is really a backbone for us.”
LSF’s Annual Report tells us: “The Mentors encouraged each of their Little Sisters to stay engaged in studying and learning activities while schools were closed. LSF also helped Little Sisters gain access to mobile technologies and data packages so they could attend virtual lessons when they were made available. But even more importantly, the Coordinating Mentors became a lifeline for Little Sisters through regular phone calls, encouraging text and video messages and physically distanced outdoor meetings. Because of their incredible commitment and dedication to be there for the Little Sisters when they needed them most, nearly all of the 1,900+ Little Sisters were ready and able to return to school once they opened for in-person classes. In fact, we expect to continue our string of success where our year-on-year continuation rate is above 98%.”
A Computer Saga
You might recall that the Trust provided the Jumla School with funding for 15 fairly basic computers for educational use (pictured). These have had fantastic use – the quietest classroom I went into there. Imagine the Trustees’ shock when we received an email in June from Tashi, the Principal, with the message: “A gangs of thieves stolen laptops… I can’t believe and I feel very very embarrassing to inform you too... I have been inquiring the case personally so as to the police department whom we have lodged complaint to...”
And a week later: “Thorough investigation going on and so far no clues found. We are presuming that we will soon find out the culprits. Let’s be positive... 15 laptops aren’t a small number and these thieves surely come out in the market to sell or try to…”
This happened during lockdown and was complicated by the fact that the Night Watchman (I met him in 2018) had died during lockdown, and the Principal had given his job to his widow, so she would still have some income to look after her young children. No doubt she was diligent and was sleeping in the building with her daughters at the time, but the Principal thought it wouldn’t have happened under her husband’s watch.
This was not only embarrassing for the school, but also for the Trust. It hadn’t been feasible to insure them, and I’d enquired earlier about the adequacy of security in lockdown and was assured it had been OK.
But how would we break this news to our generous supporters who had donated these funds? We decided to wait two more weeks for any news, then to request a police report.
And then, a breakthrough. Someone in the community heard someone talking ‘suspiciously’ on a phone. She told a teacher who told Tashi, who told the police. 12 of the computers were recovered (and there’s a good chance the other three will be tracked down too). And the thieves, four young men, were caught.
Tashi said: “I was in fact totally in despair and thinking myself being unfortunate and careless person in the world. Sleepless nights were spent thinking who had stolen and what we had done wrong to anybody, instead we had been helping and supporting many children. It was a nightmare for me to think of those stressful 26 days and nights…” We sent our appreciation for all involved, and said “We hope there’s an opportunity to make the thieves into better people, not just to punish them for their stupid actions.”
So… not exactly a happy ending. Apparently thefts have increased since the pandemic hit. But at least these greatly-valued computers are back, and students can continue to learn with these, once school reopens.
In Time Trust: What next?
Until last year, ITT had been considering a number of possible projects, at the Jumla school or elsewhere. But at this stage, with the school still closed and uncertainty around, for example, the number of students who will be returning to school when it reopens, consideration of any such projects is ‘on hold’. All funding available for the school will continue to be put to good use, supporting students, teachers and their families wherever possible. Meanwhile, opportunities exist to support additional Mentors through Little Sisters Fund, if additional sponsors are available. Overall, no new projects are likely in the next few months, at least. We will just continue providing support where we can.
Thank you, Dhanyabaad!
Thank you so much, for your support, whether by way of donations, sponsorship or moral support. It’s hugely appreciated, both here and in Nepal. In difficult times it’s been more important than ever that we continue to help and to stay connected. If anyone is interested providing support or sponsorship, for the school or for one of the Little Sisters mentors, please get in touch.
Bruce Gilkison, Chair ITT
The future of Nepal – children near Jumla, Western Nepal