Last Day in Sunny Sauraha

A view of the Himalayas

It's fitting that I would post a blog on the last day of my time here in my little village.  Tomorrow, I’m booked for a bus ride back to Kathmandu and some days after that, a flight home to Toronto.

Mike and Max's Class

Once again, I blew the WELNepal budget.  But I do have great reasons for doing so! It is money (that I don’t have) well spent. For example, the women from “Mike and Max’s Class,”  followed me from village to village, asking for and then demanding a literacy class. I decided to give them the class, because, even though we reached our literacy class limit, I knew that the women from Mike and Max’s Class would be a great one.  Besides, I was afraid that they would wait outside my lodge door if I didn’t give in.

This year, we are trying to extend our target area to more remote places.  Raj, our coordinator, and I visited an area called Madi, where we were met by a group of very committed women who have asked for both literacy classes and organic farming training.

We have also been asked to help women acquire sewing machines and teach them how to use them.  And we would love to dig for some precious water in an area where we  know the women could use wells for both private and commercial use year round.

But our first priority is to open a vegetable shop, owned and operated by those women whose groups grow organic vegetables.  The women’s groups are super at growing vegetables but have a little difficulty selling them.  We feel that selling their produce through a shop would give the women and our project the best chance for success.  We have begun this process with a meeting with the women whose groups are most interested in being part of the shop.  That would be ALL of the women involved in our project. I’ve included a photo of the women at the meeting where discussions became somewhat intense. But it is truly wonderful for me to see a group of women hashing out details on a project that will be operated by them. Two or three years ago, the only skills the women had mastered were cooking and making more hungry Nepali babies. 

In summary, with all the projects we wish to start next year and all of those groups of women whose education we could not start this year due to a lack of funding, we only need to raise about a billion dollars this coming year to really do a proper job in 2014. 

But this year we did a great job with all the financial support, big and small, from our supporters back in Canada.

As to why I was a little remiss in my blogging this year, my only excuse is that my blog guru Ashley and her friends Anton and Kim were here visiting.  Kim waited in vain on the tarmac in Kathmandu for a flight around Mt. Everest that never took off (mist often grounds flights in Nepal), Anton had a million questions about WELNepal’s work that I was more than happy to answer, and Ashley spent most of her time cuddling little street puppies.  Diana, one of Tribe MayaFire’s belly dancers, spent time visiting those women’s groups who are being supported by all of our best ever belly dancers and their generous supporters. It seemed to me that Diana was a little more emotional than blasé about ALL the women that have benefited from her group’s help.

Barry Flatman and Harimaya

WELNepal’s long-time friend and our benefit’s master of ceremonies, Barry Flatman, spent considerable time here charming and videotaping everyone in his path. I've included a photo of Barry with him actually in front of a camera videotaping an interview with one of our alpha women. By the way, WELNepal’s coordinator, Harimaya Bhandari, is sitting beside him. 

Now WELNepal’s new friend Anh is here helping young and old with their English and also learning how warm and friendly and kind Nepali people are.

It has been a pleasure for me to host all my visitors.  My only hope is that I can do more of that.  Which leads to ask once more: when are you coming?

- David

Nepal's Canine Problem

A dog family living in Sauraha

Nepal’s Canine Problem 

Greetings,

For those who don’t know me (which is probably 99.9 per cent of you), I’m Ashley – the true master of this blog and, therefore, runner of this online joint. I edit and post David’s blogs and spruce them up with David’s pictures. Any ugliness or mistakes on the blog can be blamed on me.

I was recently in Nepal for two weeks, and got to see how much WELNepal’s work is helping women in the Chitwan area better their lives. David has often said that when he first met the local women, they were silent and shy. Learning to read, write, organize, hone new agricultural skills and develop a support system has changed them. The classes I met were filled with friendly and enthusiastic women who are dreaming bigger and wanting more.

Amazing.

But while the sight of the students and their families smiling and laughing and interacting was indeed an inspiring one, there’s much more that must change. One of the first things I noticed when I arrived in Kathmandu was the incredible pollution and chaos. The roads — which are in poor condition — were overrun with cars, pedestrians, motorbikes and animals.

Yes, animals. Cows, chickens, goats and dogs. Lots and lots and lots of dogs.

Stray dogs are a huge problem in Nepal. They’re plentiful in number and while most didn’t appear aggressive, many were injured and in poor health. Rabies is a problem. Mange is a problem.

A pet dog owned by a Sherpa family

While I did not see any locals mistreating the animals (actually, I lie, some old guy threw rocks at a dog in front of a restaurant), some people do abuse them. There have even been reports of locals throwing the dogs into the river to be killed by crocodiles. And while it’s important to remember that many Nepalese do feed and care for the dogs (and even keep some as pets), it’s equally important to note that, in Nepal, animal sacrifice is still common and remains a contentious and upsetting issue for many who witness it.

Now, some more bad news.

Because street dogs are considered pests, they’re routinely poisoned. And while some might shrug and say that that may be the only avenue of population control available to a developing country, that’s simply not true. Poisoning the dogs is not only inhumane, it’s ineffective. The dog population is still out of control.

Stray cats are less of an issue, but some still roam the streets. Another issue is malnourished equine animals, such as horses, donkeys and mules. The horses that ferry tourists around Chitwan are often underweight and suffer from skin conditions. Many had untreated open sores and cracked hooves.

One family we visited, who has a daughter involved with WELNepal, introduced us to their new puppy Fi-Fi (or Phi-Phi, if you prefer more authentic spelling). It was during our dinnertime cuddles with Phi-Phi that I asked if there were any shelters or organizations looking after the strays. As expected, many reminded me that, in an impoverished country, feeding and sheltering the people is paramount. The dogs come later. Much later.

A boy cradling a baby goat in a Tharu village in Sauraha

But who says human and animal rights activism need be mutually exclusive?

While WELNepal and other organizations seek to enhance people’s quality of life by tackling poor education and inequality, other groups do dedicate time and resources to helping four-legged Nepalese creatures improve their lot. Case in point — HART (Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust). A Pokhara-based charity, HART carries out mass humane sterilization programs, vaccinates street animals for rabies, rescues and treats sick and injured animals, and educates the public on animal sentience (to discourage cruelty and abuse) and responsible pet ownership.

It’s also important to remember that animal rights activism and pet ownership aren’t hallmarks of spoiled societies. In Nepal, the suffering of the animals often mirrors the suffering of the people. All needless suffering is unacceptable and needs to be addressed. When people lose their livestock in the monsoon, they lose their livelihood. When people freely abuse smaller living things, it becomes easier for them to lose respect for each other (especially those smaller – often women and children). When dogs are abused, they may become aggressive and pose a danger to locals (especially children). When dogs are sick, they can transmit disease to people.

Hard working mule from Annapurna region

A society that respects and nourishes its animals is a thriving, growing society. A society that can afford to provide all creatures — both great and small — with a comfortable and dignified life is a prosperous and healthy one. The more we educate the people, the more the people are able to adequately care for and control the dog population.

So yes, the people do come first in the sense that elevating them will elevate the quality of life of their wildlife. But it doesn’t mean you can’t help the animals and people simultaneously. You can – if there’s room in your heart, life (and, yes, wallet) for both, of course.

So, if you want to throw the dogs some monetary bones, check out HART’s website. If you’re veterinarianly inclined, you can also donate supplies or even go to Pokhara (a lovely city) and get your hands a little dirty helping the ground staff carry out their duties.

I’ll leave you with  a shot of little Phi-Phi.

Namaste,

Ashley 

News from Sauraha

Greetings from Nepal!

The women of Badahara

Actually, from my little village of Sauraha. While much has changed in Sauraha, much has stayed the same.  Every year, more hotels and lodges take up space where fields used to be.  Restaurants and t-shirt shops line roads where locals lived in houses made of mud and buffalo dung.  Those villagers knocked down their little houses and built the little shops that are adding income to their family coffers. Good for them!

Scholarship student Binita

Scholarship student Amisha

But some things do not change.  Drivers still have to avoid the ducks and chickens and goats that wander up and down the Sauraha streets. And the stray dogs that annoy the locals but charm the visitors still ply their trade in my little village.  Everyone – man and beast – still has to clear a path for the elephants strolling down the streets with their riders (mahoods) atop their backs. The one thing that NEVER changes here in sunny Sauraha is the kindness and warmth of the local people whose attitudes about visitors have always been positive. 

But it is time to get to work.  We have added two new young students to our scholarship program.  I've included the pretty and happy faces of Binita and Amisha (above).

  

We will be introducing more women's groups to our literacy class program.  Literacy is the basis and the foundation of women's empowerment here in the lowlands of Nepal. And while the training we provide after literacy is just as important as learning how to read and write, women's empowerment is our ultimate goal.

This year, our major goal is to open a vegetable shop in a small town where the women can sell the organic vegetables that they are doing such a good job of growing.

Two Bhokaha women

I've also included a photo of the women of Badahara (top of page) who, as you can see, are being supported by WELNepal's good friends George and Eva. Speaking of women's empowerment, the women of Badahara have organized their own co-op! They have elected board members and have assigned bookkeepers to keep track of money earned from both their organic produce and mushroom sales. That's what we like to see – organization. I've also included a photo of the two very happy women (right) who are part of a group in Bhokaha who have just harvested a beautiful bushel full of peas are also organized. 

And we intend to hold a meeting with representatives from all 14 of our women's organic farming project groups to discuss and make decisions on how their vegetable shop will operate.

Before I leave you, I want to mention one more project we have in the works. Over the past few years, women's groups from outlying, more remote areas of Nepal have been asking for our help.  Well, this year we plan to help them.  There is an area some distance from here called Mahdi. We’ve been informed of a women's group who are very active and very interested in bettering their lives through any channel possible. For those of you who are old enough to remember old TV shows, we intend to call these women the "Mahdi Squad". We hope to provide help as soon as we can. It may come in the form of literacy classes or organic farming training. Our plan is to meet the women and ask them what we can do to help them.

And finally, you may know that I always say "I wish you could all be here to see what we are doing. To see how your help is helping the women in our working area." Well, this year I will be welcoming Ashley, Anton, Diana, Kim, Barry and Anh to my village. Ashley is WELNepal's copywriter and Anton is her boyfriend. Diana is a huge supporter of our cause and is part of a belly dancing organization that hosts an annual fundraiser for us.  Kim is a new friend and WELNepalian. Barry, who helps us in many ways, is coming to video our work and Anh is coming to help in any way she can.  They are all MOST WELCOME, as are all of you.  

When are you coming?

Time to say goodbye...I've got to go to work.

A New Year, A New Nepali Adventure

A "little" friend I hope to meet again in Nepal

Raj (centre), Rabeeta (left) and Harimaya (right)

A New Year is upon us and it’s time to go to work. For me, going to work means going to Nepal. That is scheduled to happen this Saturday at 4 am when I leave my house for the airport. I’ll arrive in Kathmandu at 6 pm (Sunday at 8 am, Toronto time), cranky and smelly (it’s a long flight).

Last year we accomplished much: 33 literacy classes, all under the supervision of Jugganath Mahato, our coordinator for literacy.  Under WELNepal's Nepali staff's (Harimaya, her husband Raj, and Rabeeta) supervision, there were more books for our libraries, more libraries to put more books in, more health seminars, and more ecology training.  ALL of our women’s groups want to make money – and we can’t blame them for that!  Harimaya and others provided land for growing and selling organic vegetables and mushrooms. We started a successful candle making business for one group of women. The one and only benefit of living in a country with only six or seven hours of electricity a day is that everybody needs candles. Why not buy them from some enterprising women?

This past year, as in years gone by, Monica’s benefit for WELNepal made us a bundle. Thanks Monica.  

Also, this year we held our benefit at the Academy of Spherical Arts (thank you Rick Williams), a beautiful venue where our guests were treated to great entertainment and scrumptious food. The Academy gave us a “cachet” we never had before, along with tables with tablecloths, real cutlery and linen napkins.

This year, as in years gone by, loyal donors and dedicated WELNepalians George and Eva were over the top generous to WELNepal (thank you George and Eva). Diane, our talented treasurer, did us proud, and generous donations came in from our Ottawa Crew as well as our usual gang of contributors.  Thanks to all for helping us help the women in Nepal.

What is different this year is that we have added a veritable powerhouse to our board. I use that word “veritable” because that is one of my old friend Suzanne’s favourite words and it is Suzanne who has accepted our offer to come and help us.
Suzanne will pick all of us up by our socks and carry us with her energy alone to new heights.

Any time I talk about our work in Nepal, I always finish by saying “I wish that all of you could be there to see how the lives of the women are changing for the better.”

Well, this year I’ll be entertaining five travellers who are coming all the way from Toronto to see just that.  In other exciting news, Barry Flatman, a good friend of both myself and WELNepal, will be making a video/documentary of our work. Should I arrange for hair and make-up?
I should be in my little village of Sauraha in 10 days. I’ll leave you with a photo of my favorite place on earth.

-- David Walton

Holiday Thanks

An Egyptian routine

This holiday season, WELNepal has a lot to be thankful for. Two festive occasions — Halloween and the quickly approaching Christmas — have been especially good to us.

Gorgeous fan dance

On the weekend before Halloween, the talented and beautiful ladies of the BellyUp belly dancing studio in Oakville, Ont. hosted their annual Spooky Souk. All proceeds of the event, which totaled a fantastic $2,500, went to WELNepal. Just to put that amount in perspective, try to remember that just $500 funds an entire class for a year. A cool $2,500 goes much farther, so we’re very thankful to all the attendees who came out that night to not only see a spectacular show, but to support the women we work with in Nepal.

Some Halloween revellers 

The event was hosted by Tribe MayaFire (who also performed at the September benefit bash) and featured performances by dancers and dance troupes Joharah, Valizan, Shades of Araby, Jackie Pullar and Wild Orchid Dance Studio, Elysium Tribal, Jennifer Drummond, Earth Shakers, and Ala Nar. There was also a silent auction, which allowed guests to bid on everything from wine tour tickets to jewellery to gift cards for local stores and restaurants.

And since it was Halloween, prizes were given out for best costume. WELNepal would like to extend a special thanks to all who were brave enough to dress up!

But now that Halloween is long behind us and winter festivities are fast approaching, we’re pleased to say that Santa has, so far, been quite good to us and the women we work with.

Last week, we released our annual Christmas newsletter and we've already received several generous donations.

To everyone who decided to give the gift of literacy to a woman in Nepal this holiday season, we’re incredibly grateful. For anyone who would like to donate on behalf of a loved one email David at waltonda@yahoo.ca to ask for more details. 

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year,

From all of us at WELNepal

A Good Night for Us, A Better Night for the Women of Nepal

Attendees checking out the silent auction

Each year, WELNepal organizes an intimate benefit bash (with the help of good friend and great supporter Monica McKenna) to raise some money for the women we help educate. This year — our 11^th year, to be exact — was exceptional for a few reasons.

Firstly, we welcomed more guests than ever before, making the bash a little less intimate but a whole lot more fun. We hosted the bash at the Liberty Village hotspot The Academy of Spherical arts, and were pleased to see 120 guests crowd the elegant and spacious venue.

Secondly, our new venue got outstanding reviews from attendees. Many praised the ambience, tables and chairs (no one had to juggle a plate and drink while perusing the auction items), delicious buffet-style food and pool tables.

Tribe MayaFire 

Thirdly, we were once again blessed to experience wonderful performances by local artists. Canadian actor Barry Flatman hosted the festivities with ease and charm, and musical acts HoboWally, !DO! and Mother Tongue gave wonderful performances that had people dancing and swaying long after the silent auction closed. Belly dance troupe Tribe MayaFire mixed traditional Middle Eastern tunes with top 40 hits to create a fun and memorable dance routine that drew enthusiastic applause.

More auction enthusiasts

Our auction items, ranging from traditional Nepali art to musical instruments to original art, excited the crowd and drew some competitive bids. 

On behalf of the Nepali women who will now have the chance to begin or continue their education because of your generosity, we thank you very, very much. Every donation, large or small, can make the difference in the life of a woman in our project area.

To all who attended – thank you, and see you next year! 

WELNepal’s Annual Benefit Bash is Coming!

 Who/What: WELNepal’s 11^th Annual Benefit Bash

When: Friday, Sept. 21 2012 at 7:30 pm

Where: The Academy of Spherical Arts - Toronto

How: With a recommended minimum donation of $40, a night of music, dancing, dining and auctioning is in store for you!

The Academy of Spherical Arts
1 Snooker Street
Toronto

Fall is an exciting time. It might herald the unfortunate ending of long, hot summer days, but it promises Thanksgiving dinners, colourful leaves and, if you like candy and children, Halloween. It’s also special to us WELNepalians because it’s the season of our annual benefit bash.

The bash, co-hosted by WELNepal’s dear friend Monica McKenna (a Toronto photographer who used to kindly lend us her home and studio until the crowd grew too big to comfortably accommodate) is now into its 11^th year. Each fall, we’ve seen the benefit grow bigger and bigger, generating more donations for our work and alerting more people to the plight of illiterate women in Nepal. 

The bash, which will be held in Liberty Village hotspot The Academy of Spherical Arts, has always served two major purposes. It raises awareness, and it celebrates the support and contributions of our friends, family and generous donors. We aim to provide guests with a memorable night of live entertainment, exceptional food, a great silent auction and, most of all, a chance to see the difference their donations make for the women we help educate.

To add some star quality, Canadian actor Barry Flatman (ReGenesis, The Kennedys) will be hosting this year’s festivities.

On the musical side of things, we’re pleased to announce Juno-nominated musical group Mother Tongue will be performing at the bash. We’re also excited to welcome drum and organ duo !DO!. And, back by popular demand, the beautiful and talented ladies of belly dance troupe Tribe Maya Fire are set to perform.  

As far as food goes, guests can enjoy dishes generously donated by acclaimed Toronto restaurants Mt. Everest and The Roastery. Attendees can also peruse cuisine prepared by professional cooks and generous donors alike (don’t miss out on Nancy’s famous noodle salad!). And since no dinner is complete without a beverage, guests can purchase minimally-priced Steamwhistle beer and Pelee Island Winery red and white vino.

Our silent auction is set to be better than ever, with Mt. Everest and Playpen restaurant gift cards, hockey tickets, Nepali jewelery, masks, bags and artwork all up for grabs. And we’re accepting even more items! If you have anything you wish to donate to the auction, don’t hesitate to email David at waltonda@yahoo.ca and let him know.

To learn more about the bash, check out our newsletter here. 

You can also gain admission to the benefit by donating online. 

Hope to see you there!