Current Namlo News: June, 07:
Dear Friends of Namlo,
We are just back from a very productive trip to Nepal. Accompanied by Alan Olds, Chairman of our Board, Hugh and I arrived in Yarmasing in late May with our scholarship students from Katmandu and Chandeswori School. As in previous years, our reception was fantastic. All along the trail we were greeted with big smiles, garlands of flowers and khatas. It was a delight to have the scholarship students, who now speak English, translate for us during the warm reception that awaited us at the school.
The festivities continued the following day at graduation. We brought bi-lingual library books donated by Room to Read-Nepal, as well as school supplies and clothes from our sister schools and friends, which were distributed as rewards for attendance and top grades. We were impressed by our scholarship students who delivered brilliant speeches - both in English and Nepali, about the importance of education. They are a huge source of pride for the community and great role models for the younger students.
We also welcomed our first D2-Hawkeye Scholarship student. D2-Hawkeye is a software engineering firm based in Massachusetts, with offices in Katmandu, that has partnered with Namlo to bring the gift of education to top students from our schools in Nepal.
After graduation, we met with the women’s group. They reported that several new baby goats had been born this spring and that they have found an additional buyer for their medicinal plants. They also were very interested in learning to weave and asked if Namlo could help them learn this craft to support their school. Nepalese Dhaka weaving is characterized by colorful geometric designs. Using handmade wooden looms, artisans produce five to eight inches of fabric per day in this laborious technique.
Back in Katmandu, we meet with our good friend Rita Thapa and arranged for four women to start their six month training. The women chose to start their training on Ashar 20 from their Nepalese calendar. This corresponds to the 4th of July and we fully agree with them that this is a very auspicious day for them to take this huge step towards independence.
We also met with the Youth Group whose efforts in making greeting cards help support the private English teacher. They gave us a large package of beautiful cards that are now available for you to purchase.
During our stay in Yarmasing we had the opportunity to harvest the “trees of rewards” – and enjoy many delicious peaches. In earlier years we distributed peach and apple trees to students continuing their education past 5th grade. They are now bearing fruit – in more ways than one!
Next, we visited our school in Dhuskun where Alan instructed their 13 teachers on how to use the school supplies and books that we brought up with us. They now have about 450 students from 1st to 10th grades. The teachers were very happy to have the new teaching materials and asked for help with science lab supplies. The new principal showed us around and we learned that this year there are 57 students in 6th grade and 49 in 9th. It is a good thing that we built larger classrooms in anticipation of expansion!
We spent the last night, before returning to Katmandu, visiting our scholarship students at Chandeswori Boarding School in Barhabise. Ms Gita Gurung, the principal, invited us as their guests and this gave us the opportunity to experience the warm environment in which our students are thriving. The school has big plans for expansion and they are very appreciative of the highly motivated students that Namlo sends to them.
During this trip we have reaffirmed our conviction that we need to expand our scholarship program. It not only impacts the individual scholars but it is a huge motivation for the younger children and a great source of pride for their families and the entire communities.
We also discussed teacher training and they welcomed our suggestion of sending our teachers to them for further training. This will help prepare our students for admission to Chandeswori and enhance the quality of teaching in our schools.
We were sorry to leave Nepal but were happy to be back in time for the celebrations organized by the Institute of International Education to honor our Board Member, Morgan Smith, as he received the IIE Citizen Diplomat Award.
The following day, Namlo was again in the public eye at a Rotary fundraiser hosted by our friend Karen Sekich and organized in conjunction with Twin Peaks, Longmont and several other Rotary clubs. Their goal is to help Namlo raise $10,000 for our Miraflor construction project in Nicaragua. We are looking for additional Rotary clubs and business partners to bring education to the children of this needy community. Please contact Karen at rotaryinnicaragua@yahoo.com to get your club involved and let us know your available dates for a Namlo slide presentation.
Your lifelong gift of education helps break the cycle of poverty and improves the quality of life for generations to come. Thank you for your support. Together we are making a difference.
Magda King
Founder/Executive Director
