Still jetlagged from a long journey and a restless night, today would be my first day at ABC. I was looking forward to the meeting, but also concerned on how I would tell them I would not be staying at the hostel. After a night of trying to use the bathroom in the dark (I already shared my thoughts on the bathroom) and still cold while sleeping in a down sleeping bag, I was sure the next 1 ½ months would be too difficult living at the hostel. I still hadn’t taken a shower because of the lack of hot water and the cold water is VERY cold in the morning. I also would be getting two roommates and with my sleep hours it would be difficult. I definitely would miss the girls, who pop into my room all the time.
The ABC office is a 30 minute walk from the hostel through a maze of streets. One of the girls from the hostel walked me to the office. The office is a nice three floor building with a large conference room on the second floor. The Transit Home is a block from the ABC office.
When I arrive, I was introduced to the staff. They are all very nice; most of them have degrees in social work. I also met the founder / president, who reminded me of some of the founders of our non-profits back home. I didn’t know that ABC has been around since 1987. It is an amazing organization with three transit homes and offices in many of the cities throughout Nepal.
I was fortunate in that they were having a board meeting and I was introduced to all the board members. All the women are either social workers or teachers on the board. A brief note for the women reading the blog: their outfits were so beautiful and colorful. Their professional work attire consisted of a sarong and beautiful shawl. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to wear such beautiful clothes, rather than suits!
For those of my friends that are on non-profit boards, it seemed like a typical board meeting; although it was entirely in Nepalese, so I am not sure what they were saying. They passed around their Annual Report and discussed the current projects. There was a lengthily discussion about the issues at the transit facility (don’t know what they are). We had a great meal of a “flat rice” dish (I think it was called bitran) and some curry dishes. All I know is the dish had chicken, potatoes, and peas in it. I tried everything and finished only certain foods.
After the meeting five of the children from the transit home, ages from approximately 4 to 8, visited the office and had lunch. I did not know that they had children so young at the transit home. Apparently they rescued them from abusive environments. The Transit home is also used in cases where there is violence in the home. The children will stay at the transit home until they complete their schooling. I was surprised that they were not put in orphanages, rather that the transit home. I hope to understand more tomorrow.
There are 28 women/girls at the transit home. Most attend good schools in the area with the generosity of many donors. The donors are mostly Nepal people and other NGO’s (non government organizations) and INGO’s (international non-government organizations). In most cases, the girls are rescued from India or at the border of India and Nepal. The Indian police rescue them and hand them over to the Nepali police. The Nepali police pay to have ABC to help house and educate them. Some of the girls are beyond attending school, so the transit finds other occupational work, like two of the girls started a bakery and are doing very well.
Trafficking has been a major problem in Nepal, because the Nepali women are considered more beautiful that the Indian woman, according to one of the staff. What is happening today is that the traffickers set up a fake wedding, so the parents believe that their daughter is going with her husband. Once a girl is married, she can no longer return to her home, so these women have no alternative than to stay with their “husband”. It is also easier for a man to take a wife over the boarder without questioning, than it would someone unrelated. I hope to visit the transit home tomorrow.
I am still unsure of how I can be of help to ABC. I definitely want to make a difference but the question is how. We had a long discussion about this, but have not clearly defined a project. I know they would like to leverage my contacts to get donations to support the education of the girls in the transit home, but I am not sure how that would work. I am thinking through my role and hope to have a clearer picture in the next couple days. I also will be teaching English to the girls, but they are in school most of the days. Nepal schools are six days a week, with Saturday is their only holiday.
Regarding my living accommodations, I found a wonderful hotel not far from the women hostel and also the TEWA offices. I moved to Newa Chen Hotel this evening. It is in a 3xx year old renovated home. My room is amazing for $20 per night, which includes breakfast. I FINALLY TOOK A SHOWER!! It was a sad farewell and gave all my information to the girls, in hopes they would visit often.
Namaste
The ABC office is a 30 minute walk from the hostel through a maze of streets. One of the girls from the hostel walked me to the office. The office is a nice three floor building with a large conference room on the second floor. The Transit Home is a block from the ABC office.
When I arrive, I was introduced to the staff. They are all very nice; most of them have degrees in social work. I also met the founder / president, who reminded me of some of the founders of our non-profits back home. I didn’t know that ABC has been around since 1987. It is an amazing organization with three transit homes and offices in many of the cities throughout Nepal.
I was fortunate in that they were having a board meeting and I was introduced to all the board members. All the women are either social workers or teachers on the board. A brief note for the women reading the blog: their outfits were so beautiful and colorful. Their professional work attire consisted of a sarong and beautiful shawl. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to wear such beautiful clothes, rather than suits!
For those of my friends that are on non-profit boards, it seemed like a typical board meeting; although it was entirely in Nepalese, so I am not sure what they were saying. They passed around their Annual Report and discussed the current projects. There was a lengthily discussion about the issues at the transit facility (don’t know what they are). We had a great meal of a “flat rice” dish (I think it was called bitran) and some curry dishes. All I know is the dish had chicken, potatoes, and peas in it. I tried everything and finished only certain foods.
After the meeting five of the children from the transit home, ages from approximately 4 to 8, visited the office and had lunch. I did not know that they had children so young at the transit home. Apparently they rescued them from abusive environments. The Transit home is also used in cases where there is violence in the home. The children will stay at the transit home until they complete their schooling. I was surprised that they were not put in orphanages, rather that the transit home. I hope to understand more tomorrow.
There are 28 women/girls at the transit home. Most attend good schools in the area with the generosity of many donors. The donors are mostly Nepal people and other NGO’s (non government organizations) and INGO’s (international non-government organizations). In most cases, the girls are rescued from India or at the border of India and Nepal. The Indian police rescue them and hand them over to the Nepali police. The Nepali police pay to have ABC to help house and educate them. Some of the girls are beyond attending school, so the transit finds other occupational work, like two of the girls started a bakery and are doing very well.
Trafficking has been a major problem in Nepal, because the Nepali women are considered more beautiful that the Indian woman, according to one of the staff. What is happening today is that the traffickers set up a fake wedding, so the parents believe that their daughter is going with her husband. Once a girl is married, she can no longer return to her home, so these women have no alternative than to stay with their “husband”. It is also easier for a man to take a wife over the boarder without questioning, than it would someone unrelated. I hope to visit the transit home tomorrow.
I am still unsure of how I can be of help to ABC. I definitely want to make a difference but the question is how. We had a long discussion about this, but have not clearly defined a project. I know they would like to leverage my contacts to get donations to support the education of the girls in the transit home, but I am not sure how that would work. I am thinking through my role and hope to have a clearer picture in the next couple days. I also will be teaching English to the girls, but they are in school most of the days. Nepal schools are six days a week, with Saturday is their only holiday.
Regarding my living accommodations, I found a wonderful hotel not far from the women hostel and also the TEWA offices. I moved to Newa Chen Hotel this evening. It is in a 3xx year old renovated home. My room is amazing for $20 per night, which includes breakfast. I FINALLY TOOK A SHOWER!! It was a sad farewell and gave all my information to the girls, in hopes they would visit often.
Namaste
Ha! Was wondering when you were going to move to a hotel. Welcome to Nepal!
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