Global Reach International just completed a three-month trip to Nepal. Mike Cassidy, board member of Global Reach International went to Nepal to distribute funds for Global Reach International’s projects. Please see the email communications from the last three months.
Namaste,
I was met by former students, Amit and Anis, in mid-afternoon at the arrival section of the Kathmandu airport. all went smoothly. I was quickly reminded of the dusty, crowded, broken city on my way by taxi to St. Devi's Academy. I was greeted by the staff of teachers and invited to a wedding reception of a former student at the end of the school day. I met Pastor David and Devi and student from six to ten years ago! A group of young ladies were delighted to see me. Mike Sir, " I will always remember the stickers you gave in class.". Another said the cream cookie given each night " was her favorite treat." I was pleasantly reminded that I was part of their lives as they were part of mine.....
I made sure the deep fried Samosa (potato, pea and spicy stuffing) order was in place before I left for Bungamati and the Disabled Childrens Home outside Kathmandu by $8 taxi. I was greeted warmly by Daya Ram and his sons Argeet and Arpin who manage the new home. large spacious neat rooms and halls are in such contrast to the small, crowded rented rooms for the 52 blind, deaf and crippled children I was used to visiting for many previous years
I am with Hari Thapa in the low-vision department of LEI - the Lumbini Eye Institute. I arrived on the southern plains by a 14 seat plane this afternoon. I was told by Amod Singh, the managing director, of a low-vision pilot library being considered when I mentioned the increased need for low-vision devices. The Global Giving Matching Funds Program increased our budget this year, so we will be able to fund the low-vision library program!
The biggest program expense is the CC tv that enlarges scanned writing and also allows white writing on black, black writing on white, various shades of colors to enhance the individuals sight.
all is well,
mike Cassidy
Namaste,
Balwari village. - Dr. amit's home.- the smell of smoke from a wood fire, the squeal of the water pump and the roosters crowing means it is time to get out of bed. Mr. KC heats water in a blackened copper kettle while we sit on low woven stools around the fire and drink strong milk tea to keep warm on a foggy morning. we discuss our plans for the day and take our turn for the morning bath....I stay at this home and travel to do the eight programs from here.
School Screening from Butwal Lions Hospital - Two optomic assistants, a Lions club driver and I went by car to a poor, low-caste village area today to examine children's eyes. My first impression of the worn and faded rooms and uneven area was grim. That opinion changed when I went from room to room and engaged the classes in conversation and took pictures....200 plus children had eye examinations.
58th anniversary of Santi Gov't School.- A tent top covered the rows of plastic chairs in front of a raised cement stage area with two podiums and an awards table. The Minister of education arrived for speeches, folk dancing, awards, more speeches, skits of village life, more awards and speeches for the seven hour day. I was given a framed letter of appreciation for my ten years of service, and the funds for the low-vision library.
two donations - Mr.Krishna arrived at Amit's home in Balwari village after ten oclock 'lunch' to collect the $600
donation for the Eternity Orphanage. He spoke of paying the six month electric bill, four canisters of gas, kitchen items and clothing for the twenty-two children.....cash is hard to come by in this village barter system.
Lumbini Eye Institute - I stood for the one hour crowded bus ride to meet with Dr Selma and other administrators to discuss our $800 donation for the low-vision children. I wanted to insure that our donation was used exclusively by Hari Thapa for low-vision needs. The increased funds this year are to be used to buy as many devices as possible for 43 low vision children who do not have access to visual care. I was assured this will be so.
mike Cassidy
Namaste,
Parasi Eye Hospital - I left the Lumbini zone hospital management meeting with manager Tulsi by hospital vehicle for the 25k ride to Parasi . We were able to increase our yearly donation to the school screening and free glasses distribution program in this poor lower caste area bordering Nepal.Tulsi said that last year "your donation was used to provide 101 pair of free specs" to impoverished children......Tulsi and I went to visit the 13 blind children at the government school close to the eye hospital. The 'mother' of the home for eighteen years gave us a list of essential we offered to provide the hostel. A ten quart pressure cooker for rice, a large burner, a canister of gas, water filter for a twenty gallon tank, stainless steel bowls, sectional plates and cups, a kitchen rack just about completed the list for $3oo. The other $200 will be saved for future necessities.
Butwal Lions Hospital. Mr Karn was waiting in the courtyard when I arrived late by rickshaw from the bus station. He described the proposal he is writing to the Lions in New Jersey for a school bus. My friend Bill Sansone will rewrite and submit the grant. A school bus is needed to collect the 2,000 yearly patients for free cataract surgeries from the surrounding village area. The cost of a paying cataract surgery is $50.... I sat next to a man on the bus whose face was heavily scarred by small pox.i have not seen this condition since I was in india many years ago.
Our donation to the Butwal Eye Hospital for the School Screening program was increased by 20% this year. Part of this money will buy free pairs of glasses for poor children whose fathers can not easily afford the $8 cost. I am very much supportive of this program in Nepal. All children should have their eyes examined, it helps them to read and stay in school.
all is well
mike Cassidy
Namaste,
Ten optometry students from the Lumbini Eye Hospital had their first hands-on clinical with fifteen Santi blind home children with various conditions of low-vision. I told the children that 'you are helping these students learn to help children like you.'. They were very pleased to be part of this work today....we paid for 17 low-vision devices for the low-vision library. 2x,3x,4x, thumb size telescopes, various hand held magnifiers, thick eye to print lenses, half gloves and several other items.
I often visit with the six to eight gold smiths in a backroom of a gold shop in the late afternoon while Dr. Amit's eye clinic is busy. They are from Bangledesh and sit on raised cushions at low tables making ornate necklaces, earrings and rings. I have been sitting with them for years and am always warmly welcomed.
Eternity Orphanage at Kotihawa.- the presentation of the items to the home was a small affair but very important to the 21 children who all received a small plastic bag of clothing items: pants, half-pants, shirts, t-shirts, plastic slippers and socks. four canisters of gas for two months, a paid up electric bill and new kitchen items. All were pleased. Mr Krishna showed me the locked storeroom of rice, lentils, oil, bedding and blankets. The outside of the home was painted this year with money collected over the past twelve months......a visit to sleep-over at Roshan Pun's mothers house, he is living in France, in Suppoli village after Eternity dinner completed the day. This is a working farm with buffalo, goats and chickens, plots of rice, wheat and mustard seed plants for oil. I had enough starlight mints left from the orphanage for all to enjoy.
Parasi Blind Home program -- I was very grateful for Mr Krishna's motorbike ride to the blind home attached to the Gov't school next to the eye hospital. I didn't want to travel on two buses for two and a half hours for this small program. I considered not going since we already gave the $500 the week before and they decided on the items purchased.. It would have been a large mistake on my part not to allow people with such sincere gratitude not to thank me in person. "you have come so far to help use" the house mother said to me. The blind children needed to hear my voice and to take from my hands the oranges and biscuits to make them feel special. I took a picture of the children 'seeing' the new items on the display table with their hands....a wooden cabinet and mosquito netting is being purchased with the remaining $200.
today I went to Santi School to deposit the money for the cc tv and scanner of the low-vision pilot program library. I needed a receipt and I am leaving tomorrow morning by bus for Pokhara city for a few days of rest in this lake side
tourist resort. My work here in the south of Nepal is completed and successful. I will be in Kathmandu to start again in four days.
all is well
mike Cassidy
Namaste,
tues daythe 35 minute flight from Pokhara lakeside tourist area to Kathmandu was so convenient on a 24 seat passenger plane. I am now back in dusty, crowded Kathmandu for the next month.
Thur Shivaratri Celebration - Amit, my right hand man, met me at the Chandra's Flag shop in the Durbar Temple area. Amit and Raju went to pay the balance and collect the 25 pair of sport shoes we give each year as our holiday gift to the children at the Bracktapur home. also 12 tins of mackerel fish, 30 eggs, oranges and biscuits were taken by $8 taxi to this isolated area. Amit disappeared to find five kilo of cut up chicken....I saw the joy in the eyes of each child as I presented each one with a new pair of sports shoes. these moments are my reward for the work we do in Nepal....God Shiva's night was celebrated with a huge bonfire at the Bracktapur home for twenty boys. A pine tree was cut days before and the wood set in place. Candle pieces in paper ignited the blaze quickly. wire was strung for a light bulb and music played for singing and dancing late into the night.
my birthday. Tonight I was shocked at the size of one of the two rooms i rent for 4 of the ten boys rejected from the /Bracktapur home over the age of sixteen.. 8' x 10' at best, no bath area, a shared toilet for three rented rooms and water is carried from the first floor. I give $300 of my own money a month to feed and keep these ten boys off the streets.
A three day sports competition for twenty eight district schools ended today with St Devi Academy in the finals for boys and girls volleyball .... First I walked forty-five minutes to the Tibetian area to watch the Tibetans in their best traditional dress circle the dome shaped Stuppa clockwise for the beginning of Losar - the five day new years celebration.....we won the volleyball finals and the trophy was carried back by the forty chanting students with two drums announcing the victory St Devi's win throughout the shop-lined streets. All people stopped to smile and watch the parade from their open front shops. the students were truly happy. A celebration of music and dancing began when the troupe arrived back at the school courtyard.
It has not rained for six months and the monsoon rain that turned the roads and streets to mud, turned to dust and now to powder. I have started to wear a mask on busy streets of motorbikes, trucks and buses.
all is well
mike cassidy
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