Alumni Impact: Hope for Children in Nepal
Anuja Khadka, who participated in the Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders in Journalism and New Media with FIUTS last summer, shared this blog post about her work to help children in Nepal continue their education in the aftermath of the earthquake. (You can read an earlier post from Anuja about her experience during and immediately following the earthquake here.)
“Didi! When will the soil stop moving?”- questioned a little girl.
It makes me blue because I have no answer of when the soil will stop moving and the debris will rise to be a building. Earthquake is such an unpredictable phenomena that neither the scientists nor the astrologers can stop it. If one could do it, I would have answer to it.
Thousands of questions and answers are stuck inside the rubbles. The reply from the dead soul inside and the conversation of cries from the outside. The innocent flames in the eyes of all Nepalis and the gaze of little children depict the images of their fallen roofs and broken dreams. As hundreds of aftershocks hit Nepal, children feel the terror. The rescue and relief works have been done in my country but the venture to settle the traumatized little minds is yet to be done. They hear about their broken schools and undecided length of holidays. Afraid to see the broken buildings directly, they hide behind the shawl of their mothers to watch the devastation. Of the wishes children desire in their break, this must be their worse holidays ever. They are waiting for the school to notify them of re-opening and desperately needing the normal situation.
Not being able to bear all this, I and my husband decided to teach all the children inside the camp we were living and now have extended our work to other camps in my community. Believing ‘where there is a will, there is a way’, we have started the camp school. School without the proper carpet to sit and a broken tent to protect from the sun and the rain. The roof is 20% tent and 80% the jute sacks and bed cover. But, it’s precious. It’s precious for us and for children. Each time we enter the camp, I can feel the charm of the children that I have waited for long. So excited, so much of want for learning. At the narrow corner, we have our small classroom. Right over there we have the world of friendliness and little bud of hope.
Your small help can be a lot for these children. Your small help can make the flower bloom.
We are not any organization. We are just team of two. Strong enough.
Thank you, Anuja, for keeping your FIUTS family informed about your amazing work.
Anuja and her family have set up a bank account to receive donations to help their efforts in the camp. If you are interested in contributing and are able to do so via bank transfer, here is the necessary information:
GLOBAL IME BANK LIMITED, Kuleswor, Kathmandu, Bagmati zone, Nepal
Account holder's name: Pravin Thapa Chhetri
Account no: 068010000226
Bank swift code: GLBBNPKA