NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2015

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or
even touched--they must be felt with the heart."
(Helen Keller)

Introduction A New Year has begun and new challenges will surely confront each
one of us as we follow our chosen paths through 2015. Old and unresolved challenges
will undoubtedly follow us, sometimes as reminders of our fallibility and at other times,
as reminders of the shear enormity of the challenges which we have chosen to pursue.
It is no less so with the efforts of S.E.N.
The social inequalities and injustices
prevalent throughout Nepali society, continue to plead for social change. The problems
loom so large, that many shrug their shoulders and turn away, feeling that there is naught
that they can do as individuals to bring about change or to make a difference.
But if such individuals unite, work together in unity, then change is possible. It reminds
one of the fictional story regarding a beach that was strewn with stranded star-fish at low
tide. A lone wanderer was to be seen bending down, picking up a star-fish and casting
one, then another back into the sea, time and time again. A passer-bye remarked that it
was a pretty useless task, there were thousands of stranded star-fish and throwing a few
back into the ocean would not make a difference.
Bending down once more, the
wanderer grasped yet another star-fish and threw it back into the sea. I made a
difference for that one! S.E.N. will go on picking up star-fish in Nepal. Why not
help??

Rina and little Lachsman Close to the beautiful Boudha Stupa in Kathmandu
and not far from the Hyatt Hotel (room rate $160 nightly b&b = NRs 15,753), is what
S.E.N. refers to as the Boudha Shack Village (site rent monthly $20 = Nrs2000 per
month excl meals) home to approximately 150 migrant Indian beggar and street hawker
families. Rina is one of the inhabitants.
A young beggar woman with two small boys and an abusive, wayward husband who
drinks what income he earns. Rina is thus solely responsible for generating sufficient
daily income to feed herself, her two children and to pay the site-rent for her bamboo
and plastic tarp covered shack. Extras cannot be budgeted for.

2.
Thus Rina has had to face severe hardship over Christmas and the New Year with the
youngest of her two sons (Lachsman) being diagnosed as suffering from pneumonia.
This necessitated the child being hospitalized for all of 10 days. The attention given in
a Nepali hospital is purely medical. The basic care of the patient is the responsibility of
the relatives, in this instance, Rina. She was required to stay with her child for the
entire 10 days! Fortunately, her sisters cared for the elder child (Rama).
Treatment is not free in Nepal. Not even for children. No money = no treatment. Plain
and simple! Thus Rina had to beg and borrow the sum of NRs 10,000 (round figures)
to meet the hospital costs. Bear in mind that her average income per month is around
NRs 3,500 ($35). However, for 10 days there wasnt any income as Rina was unable to
beg! The poor young woman has now a NRs10,000 debt in addition to having to find
sufficient income for this months food and rent. Frankly: She desperately needs help!
NRs10,000 would clear her debts, which in Western currency amounts to approximately
US$100: 68; Aus$130; 90.
If you would like to help Rina, then kindly send your
donation to the S.E.N. PayPal account via socialendeavoursnp@gmail.com (Label:
Rina). If the donations exceed the amount required, then it will be applied to buying a
gas cyclinder refill for Rinas simple 2-ringed gas cooker, thus avoiding her having to
light an open wood fire in her shack, the smoke of which is of course a major cause of
pneumonia.as her doctor has told her!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoudhaShackVillage

Kamlari Nirmala

I do not know my parents anymore. They sold me into

servitude when I was five years old and I had to scrub floors, wash dishes, collect
firewood, etc in this dirty guest house. Such a girl who is sold like that is called a
Kamlari girl. (Girl Rising - Nepal: http://youtu.be/L32OeswN47U
I was rescued when I was just 10 years old and Shanta became my foster-carer and
her Papa Eric found a sponsor in Australia to pay for my food and clothes.

3.
My mama and papa are so poor, they live in the jungle near Chitwen and
only have a plastic tarp over their heads as a home. Their food is what they can find in
the jungle as they do not have money. I never see them anymore since I was 5.
Now as a 12 year old, I am so lucky and happy to be able to go to school in Kathmandu
where I board in the hostel, My school is teaching in English, so I must only speak
English at school. Nepali is my language, which is like Hindi.
But my happiness may have to come to an end, because there is no money to pay for my
schooling.
I need another sponsor for my education which costs a lot of rupees!
Every month Shanta (my foster.carer) has to find an extra NRs4000 or nearly
NRs50,000 each year! That is impossible for her, so I will have to leave school and
start work I guess.
That is Nirmalas story in short! A beautiful child worthy of support. It is necessary for
Nirmala to live in the school hostel as her foster-carer Shanta is herself a student (for
the past 6 months in the UK) and it is practically impossible for her to care for Nirmala
properly at this time. Despite Shanta remitting close to Nrs3000 per month to the
school for Nirmalas care from Nirmalas original Australian (Canberra) sponsor, there
remains a shortfall of some NRs4000 (US$41; 27; Aus$51; 36)
Nirmala thus
desperately needs a second sponsor for her education.
Such sponsorship is best
arranged direct with S.E.N. by email to socialendeavoursnp@gmail.com. Donations
can also be made to our PayPal account via the same email address (label: Nirmala).

Shanta and Nirmala

4.
Shanta potential art teacher

'Shanta' is a young Nepali woman who has

beaten the odds by gaining a place at the Rudolf Steiner inspired Emerson College in the
UK to study 'Visual Arts' as a stepping stone to becoming a Steiner-Waldorf teacher.
https://www.pinterest.com/leo8839/appeal-for-shanta/
Her struggles to date were described in the last issue of the S.E.N. Newsletter. The past
5 months have been a real awakening for Shanta with respect to the differences between
cultures, as well as to the wonders encountered when experiencing the Visual Arts.
But all too soon, this stage of her career training is coming to a conclusion as Shanta
prepares to pack her belongings and head back home to family and friends in her native
Nepal.
Once in Kathmandu, Shanta hopes to be able to initially pursue her art studies locally. If
plans evolve as hoped, then she is keen to travel to Australia to gain even more
experience in the arts by having periods of internship with reputable Australian artists
in New South Wales and Tasmania. She has already received an invite to intern in the
art department of a Steiner-Waldorf school in Queensland and art studio in Tasmania.
With a keen interest in Early Childhood, investigations are underway to find an
internship in at least one Steiner-Waldorf school kindergarten.
All this of course, costs money! Shanta has none! To date, S.E.N. has raised 2000 of
the 4000 goal, monies that will be applied towards partially off-setting the education
and accommodation costs at Emerson College. Donations are urgently sought to meet
the outstanding 2000!
Any sized donation can be sent to our PayPal account via
socialendeavaoursnp@gmail.com (label: Shanta). Anyone wishing to make a bank
deposit donation should contact S.E.N. at the same email address, for bank details (there
are accounts in either the UK or Australia).

5.
Maitreya Pathshala Waldorf Inspired School situated in Pokhara, Nepal, is
nearing the end of its first year of existence. In our last Newsletter, the attention of
readers was directed to the need for volunteers to contribute to the work of the school
and the bio-dynamic farm that is an integral part of the community, for it is the farm that
generates a goodly portion of the income needed to operate the school as a social
initiative for the socially deprived families in that area. The community has in fact
welcomed numerous volunteers from the Europe, Asia, New Zealand and most recently,
from Sydney, Australia in the form of 4 high-school graduates of Glenaeon, the Rudolf
Steiner School in Castle Cove, Sydney. A report written by one of the volunteers is as
follows:
The amazing thing about the Steiner-Waldorf community is that it is large enough to be found
in pockets all over the world, and small enough that it still feels like a big family, a home away
from home. This was our experience at Maitreya Pathshala. After a crazy few weeks in India
arriving at this little school and farm at the base of the Himalayas, was like a breath of fresh
air.
We were greated by Sofiya who gave us a tour of the farm. They grow many kinds of
vegetables and tomatoes, and also own cows which are milked twice a day.
Sofiya also showed us the classrooms. At the moment they have only established a
small kindergarten, but the familiar circular rug, the seasonal table with faceless dolls and the
Steiner-Waldorf classroom aroma made me feel right at home.
Unfortunately the children were on their winter break, so we were unable to join any of their
classes. During the winter months though, the children of Mustang (northern Nepal) descend
from their snowy homes in the mountains to escape the cold and board here in some
buildingsat the rear of the property. It was really nice always having these children around.
During the evenings they would show us up with their superior hacky-sack skills and teach us
other games.
We spent the days building a rock garden out the front, and painting the schools logo, a lotus
flower, onto the front of the building. All the neighbours, particularly the children, appeared
fascinated by our work. We seemed always to be working to an audience.
Sofiyas delicious cooking kept us well satisfied. One of the evenings she taught a us how to
make momos. We all gathered around the table while she demonstrated how to fold the
dough to create beautiful styled bundles. Our clumsy attempts to imitate her caused a lot of
laughter on both sides.
Unfortunately Ritman Gurung (co-founder) and the other teachers were in Kathmandu for
teacher training for most of our stay, but we were able on the last day to share breakfast on
our last morning.
Sitting under the sun with views of the beautiful mountains we ate
homemade bread and feta cheese, delicious curry and cheese made from the milk of the new
mother cow who had given birth only the night before.
Overall we had a lot of fun. I would love to return someday to see the next stage of the
schools development.
Alison Pooley

6,
Ritman Gurung was delighted to be able to host this wonderful group of young people.
The school teachers were grateful for the teaching materials that were also gifted to the
school.
I am delighted that there is now a connection between Maitreya Pathshala and Glenaeon,
especially as I am most familiar with Glenaeon having taught there between 1995 and
2002 as a class teacher!

Steiner-Waldorf Education in Nepal - There is an increasing interest in

Steiner-Waldorf educational methodology in Nepal. An article written last year and
freely available on the internet describes this
(https://www.scribd.com/doc/237846103/Article-Waldorf-in-Nepal-April-2014). With
increased interest, there is thus a growing need for experienced teachers to share their
knowledge in workshops. Several have been held in Kathmandu and elsewhere over
the past couple of years. More are needed!! See: http://wen-nepal.wix.com/wenwaldorf-in-nepal
This is a call to all Steiner-Waldorf teachers who contemplate travelling to Nepal, to
consider volunteering their services by offering a short course over a period of 3 -4 days
in their preferred area of expertise, perhaps joining up with another known traveller so as
to share the experience!?
If you are interested, contact S.E.N.
(socialendeavoursnp@gmail.com) with your suggestions.
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Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

(Helen Keller)

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