Hands for Help Nepal Blog

School Strike Call Off

2010-04-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

Nepal Private and Boarding school association has withdrawn recently hiked fee. In return Student Union Revolutionary call off their strike, hopefully all schools resume again from tomorrow, on 30th April. Teaching Volunteers from boarding schools are requested to contact us or follow National daily news.

Private Schools Shut down.

2010-04-25T08:50:00.001-07:00

All private schools are closed today, still it has not been confirmed how long will it be shut down. The sister organization of Nepal Communist Party Maoist, the All Nepal Free Student Union (Revolutionary) demands to decrease the hiked fee from this session. Hopefully the concerned groups Student Union, Educational Ministry and Student Guardian Society will come in an agreement soon.

We inform our volunteers who are placed at the private schools contact us if they want to change placement in to Monastery, Orphanage and other programs.

H for H blog resumes again.

2010-02-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

After a long hassle in getting password of our account, luckily we are success. Now our blog will resume again. There are lots of new thing for 3 months of 2008 and whole year of 2009 that we should have to share with you. We hope we will keep posting about new stuff in near future.

Thanking you very much for your patient.

Patio Construction in Thecho Orphanage

2008-11-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

Patio construction

Volunteer Remark

2008-10-11T23:55:00.000-07:00

I decided to volunteer in Nepal because I am a student of Buddhism and an avid hiker.
Quickly upon arriving in Kathmandu, I decided the city did not offer what I was looking for, so decided to volunteer at the Hyulsa Gumba (monestary) near Besishahar, approx. 6 hours away. The lush, serene setting of the Gumba was exactly what I was looking for. The accommodations and lack of privacy took some time to adjust to (and it was also my first experience with a non-Western toilet!), but the warmth and beauty of the landscape and the monks put me at ease and made the days fly by. I hadn't realized how close Annapurna was from the Gumba--it is possible to start the trek from the Gumba if you're interested. Another tip I want to give is to bring plenty of pens--which are frequently requested by the children you will encounter near the Gumba.
Volunteering immersed me into the Nepalese and Buddhist culture in ways I would have not received as a tourist.

Barbara Ehlers

St., Apt. 208, Kew Gardens

NY 11415, USA

Happy Bijaya Dashami, BS 2065(2008AD)

2008-10-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

On The Special Occasion of Dashain The Hindu Festival,2065 BS (2008AD) We Would Like to Extend Our Heartiest Felicitation to All Our Previous, Current , Future Volunteers And Community Partners.

-Hands for Help Nepal Family

Hands for Help Testimonials

2008-10-02T11:10:00.000-07:00

Our experience with Hands for Help was excellent. We are a group of four eighteen years old lads, who decided to travel to Nepal to teach for two weeks, then going to University. We had an incredibly useful Nepal language lesson an hour cultural orientation day which taught us everything we needed to get by with our host family. We were split in two two’s and all had comfortable accommodation, were will fed, given filtered and boiled water but be prepared for having degrees of English spoken by the families.

The teaching experience was brilliant fun and our initial concern having little teaching experience, was soon forgot about as we learnt how delightfully willing the children were at learning English. We strongly recommend bringing foreign currency, a world map English story books to entertain the children. The organization of the teaching within schools differs to be prepared to use your imitative. The syllabus was les strict than our education in Britain, so there is plenty of opportunity to teach subjects your enjoy or have knowledge in *

At our time in Chapagoun, a village half and hour drive from Kathmandu, there were few days for religious festival. In this time we too us to the opportunity to play football with the kids and were taken fishing for one morning. Outside school the children are really down to eat love to talk to us and practice their English at any opportunity.

Badri and his family were incredibly helpful, even finding us people to organize flight from out side Hands for Help. Transport has covered to and from the airport which rounded off a good successful trip.

-Chris Hey
-Sam Forlkard
-Josh Folcard
-Sam Slatcher

* Our best advice is to make the lessons as introduce as possible, and work on their pronunciation, as they find it hard making certain sounds, such as ‘th’ and ‘sh’.

Hands for Help handed over a Cheque to Taprang School

2008-09-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

Last week, we have handed over a cheque, worth 1550 Euro to a standing committee member, Bhim Kazi Gurung of Taprang School on behalf of our previous volunteer Mille Thorsan who raised that money from her friends and families. She visited to Taprang School last year, found a school building project. After returning home Mlle started a fund raising campaign in her initiative with families and friends.

Bhim Kazi expressed a great thank to Mille and told that all the money will go to school fund and be spent for school building.

Also we would like to thank Mille for donating a good amount of money to a needy school. Moreover all the people who donated and helped her to raise that money deserve a big thank.

Hands for Help Nepal Server Downs

2008-09-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

Due to the technical problem our site http://handsforhelp.org.np has been down for few days as we are going to upgrade our site with new server. Hopefully it will be resumed by sunday evening, we appologise with all viewers.

Thanking you very much for your patient.

Hands for HelpNepal Team.

Program Director has been appointed as a sponsor for Agro Project.

2008-09-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

Today, the program director of Hands for Help Nepal, Badri Rai is appointed as a sponsor in Kaule e.V organization for socially sustainable Agro-Project. The Executive Director of Kaule e.V, Alina Schick has appointed him.

It is our pleasure Hands for Help Nepal will place volunteer in Kaule project for environment and agriculture program. Volunteer will work closely with the staff of Kaule e.V project in field and office base. As per Kaule e.V project they want to have some volunteer to teach English to local villagers for 2 to 4 hours a day so that the farmer can communicate with international project staffs and volunteers.

Volunteer experience with Hands for Help Nepal…7 week orphanage placement.

2008-09-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

I chose Hands for Help because of the variety of projects available and as a local, grassroots organisation I hoped the projects would be well tailored to the needs of the local communities and provide good support for volunteers. I wasn’t disappointed.

The induction in Kathmandu gave me an opportunity to acclimatise, learn a surprising amount of Nepali from my excellent teacher, visit some of the most beautiful sights in the city, and enjoy the wonderful rooftop views of the city from the Millennium Inn….

On my 4^th day I was met by Badri, the volunteer coordinator and Kripa Lama who ran the orphanage that I would be staying at, and taken to my placement on the outskirts of Bhaktapur. My room was in the orphanage ‘annex’ where 5 babies, and 6 small children, a cook, Kripa, his wife and Nima a relative all lived. The other 40 children lived across the road in a larger house (ours had 3 rooms, a kitchen and a toilet), and I was struck by how small the house was as well as how bare – but they had clearly made an effort with my room and were very welcoming.

The children were aged between 3 and 10 in the annex and up to 16 in the orphanage; I soon discovered how hard work, but great fun it was just keeping up with them all! Most of my time was spent playing games, drawing, reading and writing with the children as well as looking after the small babies – no easy task without running water or nappies. But they were all adorable, affectionate and full of life and I loved being around them. Mainly I felt I was there to be an extra pair of hands and someone new to take an interest in them and organise games and treats. I also took the opportunity to get them ready and take them to school and even spent 3 weeks teaching English full time covering for a teacher who was absent.

I learnt so much in my 7 weeks, and saw how much difference small things can make. I learnt to be more adaptable, patient, and resourceful and made some good friends. A little bit of time, money and initiative can go a long way in one of these projects and being involved is incredibly rewarding and enriching.

I would definitely recommend anyone thinking of volunteering with Hands for Help Nepal to go for it. It is an opportunity to experience things you may otherwise never get the chance to, to push yourself outside your comfort zone, as well as meet some lovely welcoming people.

I received all the support and help I asked for from Badri during my time in the orphanage. I felt the induction he organised was helpful and welcomed me to what is a beautiful and fascinating country, I am looking forward to my next visit….

My email address is vapresland@yahoo.co.uk and I’ll happily answer any further questions about my time in Nepal.

Tourist Visa Rules in Nepal ( Effective from 16 July 2008 )

2008-07-28T04:36:00.000-07:00

Tourists who visit Nepal must hold valid passport and visa.

Entry
Tourist entry visa can be obtained for the following duration from Nepal Embassy/ Consulate or Mission offices abroad, or at the following immigration offices in Nepal:
>>Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
>>Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
>>Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
>>Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)
>>Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)
>>Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)
>>Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)
>>Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)

b. Tourist Visa

Visa Facility	Duration	Fee
Multiple entry	15 days	US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry	30 days	US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry	90 days	US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency

Tourist Visa Extension
>>Visa extension fee for 15 days or less is US $ 30 or equivalent convertible currency and visa extension fee for more than 15 days is US$ 2 per day
>>Tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January – December).

Gratis (Free) Visa
Gratis visa for 30 days available only for tourists of SAARC countries.
Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal.
Transit Visa
Transit visa for one day can be obtained from Nepal's immigration offices at the entry points upon the production of departure flight ticket via Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal, by paying US $ 5 or equivalent convertible currency.

For further information, please contact:
Department of Immigration Maitighar, Impact Building, Kathmand
Tel:00977-1-4221996 / 4223590 / 4222453
web site: www.immi.gov.np

Korean students pouring in for volunteering services

2008-07-22T11:26:00.001-07:00

As Nepal is becoming a very favorite destination for the Korean people, many Koreans from various walks of life are visiting Nepal these days for different purposes.

In this connection, among many students visiting Nepal for various volunteering works, the students of Seoul National University have come here for volunteer services.

Seoul National University has a group called "Sathi". Through this group 14 students being led by Professor Jong Tae Won are currently in Nepal for volunteer service.

The students are rendering services at Bahira Balak School in Naxal and Sweta Sadan School in Lele of Lalitpur with the cooperation of Cooperation and Participation in Overseas NGOs (COPION), a Korean NGO.

COPION is an organization working for solving global poverty problems and improving education level with local NGOs worldwide.

In Nepal, two centers of COPION, Korea-Nepal Culture Center and Korea-Nepal Welfare Center have provided Korean language education, working for development issues, Nepalese language education, library service and various classes for children such as art, English and mathematics.

"Sathi", which means a friend in Nepalese language.

The students were also involved in the discussions aimed at sharing information about Nepalese education system.

Although NGOs from various countries already have supported diverse fields of Nepalese society, the volunteering works rendering by Sathi are also will be a meaningful experience for both Nepalese students and Koreans.

"We believe that Nepal and Korea will make true "Sathi" with each other," said Soh Yeon Kim the director of COPION.
Source:Gorkhapatra (National Daily Nepal)

Nepal Banda strikes daily life.

2008-06-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

After constituent poll, it looked like Nepal has been revived from political turmoil; no more Bandas (strike), chakka jam (wheel strike).Almost 90% Nepalese were optimist in the political situation will be stable, unfortunately the current scenario reflects that 90% people dream might be evaporated.

Today I went to Thamel to escort newly arrived volunteer to her placement monastery and orphanage home but there was no car running on the road, just motorcycle, government vehicle and foreign diplomat’s cars. However I took her to both places then had an ice-break with orphanage and Monastery personal.

I came to know that the current transportation strike is imposed by Public Transportation Association who is going to hike up the transport fare by 43 percent in all public transportation as recently the petroleum price was increased by 25 percent. The Nepal government allows PTA to make increment by 25% but the PTA is not ready to negotiate on 25 %.

Similarly there is another strike that is organized by a student union, their demand is student have to get 50 discount on public transport. There is third agitating group the young students who is partially demonstrating and protesting in empty road. Most of the young kids are from public schools that have not got any text book which supposed to be published by government then distribute to them.

This is Nepal the Bandhas and strike is quite usual here form one decades back.

Orphange Update

2008-06-15T23:18:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to visit the Langtang Orphanage home with Ram, the health in charge of PHCRC to check up children health. The other week I went there with a volunteer doctor Sonal as Victoria the British volunteer asked me to come with doctors to check up children health. After few checking up Sonal suggested me to find a Nepali health personnel who might be able to diagnose children disease and problem. Ram checked up children and prescribed vitamin, antibiotic, and worm tablets to all children. We found few of them; especially infants are needed nutritious diet as they are not getting nursing from their mother since they were left in the hospital forever. In few days Ram’s staff will teach them how to make super flower then feed to these babies. Super flower is newly invented by Phrc’s food and nutrition specialists.

volunteered at Alapot Health Post

2008-06-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

Last summer, I spent a month in Nepal volunteering at a health clinic
in Bhadrabas, a rural village just outside of Kathmandu. The
experience was significant for me in a number of ways. Though I have
traveled considerably in the past, I had never witnessed first hand
the challenges of third-world poverty. The clinic I worked at was
small, busy, and desperately short of resources. As a new volunteer
with virtually no previous medical training, I did my best to help
serve in the ways I could. I helped keep records, dressed wounds, and
comforted patients, mostly children, undergoing painful procedures.
When I was not working, I spent my time studying Nepali and reading
Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook, to enhance
my ability to provide support. Volunteering at that health clinic was
powerful for me because not only did I have the opportunity to assist
those in need, but I found that working in the context of health care
was uniquely fulfilling. Now more than ever, I am committed to
becoming a doctor to improve the well being of those in need.

i have been thinking about everyone in nepal a lot lately. i hope
everyone is doing well and that h4h is getting plenty
of volunteers to come to nepal. i have been in touch with kumar from
new diamond recently. please send my greetings along to everyone. i
look forward to hearing from you!

--gavin

Kathmandu Teaching Hospital, Nepal (19/3/08 – 15/4/08)

2008-06-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

To travel the world has always been a dream of mine since I can remember and there are many countries that I would like to see but the opportunity to see first hand some of the largest and most beautiful mountain ranges in the world coupled with the experience of such a rich and diverse culture, while being in one of the poorest countries in the world is truly unique. These are but a few of the reasons why I set out to complete my medical elective studies in Obstetrics and Gynaecologly in Kathmandu. My main objectives where to determine the similarities and differences between my previous experiences within the NHS system in the UK and the current system implemented in Nepal.

During my time in Nepal I gained insight into the health care system. I was able to learn how common conditions vary in Nepal as opposed to conditions in the UK. I was also able to witness how the management of such conditions differed in a setting with fewer resources. In addition I learnt about the day-to-day activities of students and doctors working in Tribhuvan, which is Nepal’s only government run teaching hospital.

Nepal has a range of common diseases. Many of the diseases reflect that Nepal remains one of the poorest and least developed countries of the world 1/3^rd of the Nepali population live below the poverty line

Health care, much like that in the UK, is split into both public and private sectors services.

The main difference that I encountered during my time at the government Teaching hospital in Kathmandu was that medical treatment was not free of charge and the recipient requires payment at the time of accessing them. This includes all test needed, such as blood analysis and X-rays to operations and outpatient consultations. This differs from the current NHS system in the UK, as health care services are funded through taxation and no payment is required at the time of use. Although, in Nepal, this can cause problems as not all people are privileged enough to be able to afford the cost hat is required when they become ill meaning that health care can not be universal. The government subsidize the hospital system in order to keep prices affordable as possible and there are also a few beds that are charity funded ensuring that medical care can still be provided to those who severely ill, but too poor to be able to cover their own costs.

My experience within the outpatient department was vastly different to those back in the UK. Consultations would take place within a room occupied by more than one physician. Patients would come and go as they please and often a doctor would be consulting more than one patient at the same time. There seemed to be no emphasis on privacy or patient confidentiality, the patients are just happy to be seen. A far cry away from the private consultation rooms that are provided within the NHS. In Nepal local traditions and culture play a large part in health care and a difference that was brought to my attention was how if a woman was not married, a full history of previous sexual history would not be explored. Assumptions are made, based on cultural values and questioning along this line can cause embarrassment for both the patient as well as the Doctor. It is also deemed inappropriate to perform an internal examination on woman who are unmarried unless heavily indcated. So a standard examination performed within the UK is rarely carried out in Nepal, and then only by senior members of staff.

While working at the teaching hospital I spent the majority of my time within the labor room, observing obstetric emergencies, caesarian sections and normal deliveries. In the Nepaly year 2062, the total number of deliveries was 3657: 77.2% being vaginal and 21.7% as a result of Caesarian section, a procedure that is becoming increasing popular in Kathmandu. These are usually carried out due to emergencies and in 2062, out of the 647 procedures preformed 214 where due to pre-term deliveries; 191 due to low birth weight; 57 due to Intrauterine growth reduction (IUGR); and 25 due to fetal distress. Elective caesarians are also performed when indicted by protocol and an increased Bishop’s score but this only accounted for 147 of the total births seen in that year. This differing from the UK as elective Caesarian sections have become increasingly popular in recent times due to its ease and convenience. Although the two system protocols are in fact very similar for normal deliveries, where observations and normal deliveries will be handled by the midwives and nursing students and Doctors will only become involved if there is any complications suspected or confirmed.

Infant mortality has in fact dropped from 82% to 48% per 1000 live births in the past 15years. This 41% can be attributed to increased medical facilities around the big cities within Nepal and increased attention to antenatal care. Although there is still problems with the accessability of healthcare and antenatal education within the rural communities. Woman may have to walk for hours in order to receive healthcare so at the first juncture most Nepali people from villages would visit a ‘witch doctor’ before consulting a physician in a polyclinic or other hospital. This could be an explanation why many conditions are not picked up till a late stage. In order to tackle this problem the government has begun to offer people 1000 RPS (approximately 8 pounds) to woman delivering within the government hospitals. This has led to a further 15% decresese in infant mortality with the capital but has tackled the problem for those woman who live within the rural communities. This approach differs to that in the UK as now more emphasis is being placed on the de-medicalisation of child birth, with home births and water deliveries becoming more popular with the appropriate precautions. Although this can be accounted for by the increased funds an fascilities for healthcare that are available within the NHS, something not yet available in Nepal.

My experiences while on my medical elective have enabled me to learn a great deal about the health care system in Nepal, and about the prevalent conditions occurring within obstetrics and gynecology, affecting the local population. I was able to experience the impact of poverty on the ability of the local population to access the available health care resources. It has been an invaluable experience that I am sure will enable me to become a better Doctor in the future.

Melissa's Birth Day

2008-05-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

Today is a special day as newly formed parliament is going to declare that republican country Nepal. The dictator Shah monarchy has been ruling Nepal for 240 years, since early Nepal unification. Another coincidence our volunteer Melissa’s Birth Day was today.

I drove Melissa to Baudha Nath to arrange her monastery class we saw thousand of people were marching pass with red flags and banners and putting red color mark each other, pedestrian and drivers too. We got a red mark on our forehead and a strong hand shake. All people are looked very happy to celebrate a historic movement of Nepal and clearly with cheer and smile on their face.

After a terrible drive we arrived to the Monastery then talked to Guruji about arranging class and lesson plan. After short discussion with guruji we moved to another monastery Urgen Jhyamling Gumpa, also where Melissa have to teach English to Buddhist monk for 2 to 3 hours a day. We talked to guruji then Melissa did a small peer teaching informal class with a nun, Dechen. After spending 2 hours at the monastery we went to the hotel where we have to arrange tonight Melissa’s birth day party.

I just left Melissa at her hotel and led her know to celebrate her Birth day at the Prime hotel at seven pm then came back home. After doing my private things I started by motor cycle, unfortunately due to VIPs embankment towards convention hall copes stopped us for a while on the road. Some how we arrived to prime hotel then celebrated Melissa’s Birth day she blew candle, cut cake, we were clapping and saying “ Happy Birth day to You”.

Phalebas Trip

2008-04-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

Having six hours micro bus travel finally we arrived in Kusma Bazar the district head quarter of Parbat district. Kusma looked a small town and came to know from Bhola that is a proposed municipality. Due to the long drought Kusma bazaar is getting hotter and humid but it is bearable. Bhola introduced us with some local journalists, NGOs personnel and his friends. After shipping cold drink we headed towards Phalebas which was our ultimate mission to visit volunteers and students who placed there for a community health post.

We crossed down through a pine forest and a heart breaking steep hill for 15 minuets then arrived at the Modi river suspension bridge. The Modi River flows with drift water, begins from Annapurna glacier then meets to another thrilling river Kali Ganadki after 50 meters down. We saw a bunch of rafters and crews were camping on the river site with colorful tents and boats. After taking a small break in a tea shop we headed further to way phalebas. Matrika and Badri got a knee shore whereas Bhola was running. The trail was narrow where people and donkeys the second major means of transportation use same trail. There is other option that jeeps also go there but due to off and winding road it takes more than 2 hours to get Phalebas hence people prefer to walk. Uually the trail is one and half hours from kusma to Phalebas for local people but for new comer it takes extra one hour.

After 3 hours trekking we arrived in Phalebas village, lies as a valley with plain corn field. Bhola arranged a room for us in his house, after having a short break we went to visit volunteer Vicky, Susie, Michelle and Merike all of them were working till late night as an accidental case came to hospital, so all of them were busy in dressing and switching wound.

The second day Bhola took us to explore his village Phalebas around. We found every single villager respect him as a social activist and greeted him with a “ Namaste”. Also we found Bhola established lot of projects in his initiatives like hospitals, library, Radio station and a huge library building is under construction. Moreover he took us to his agro forestry field where he planted lot of trees that are growing up.

Our entire team was inspired by Phalebas community who are strongly involved in developing this village we have best wishes for their efforts. Unfortunately due to the time constraint we could not spent any long time in this beautiful village. Thaneswar arranged a jeep to Kusma bazaar. We made a contract we will work with this community in future too.

Prabin