By Freema Davis | Executive Director
From the Nepali Tihar Festival of Brothers and Sisters wishing blessings and long life, GFV extends this tradition to celebrate the Grandparent Program, and with it– the first completed community-based self-sustaining childcare program in Nepal!
What if you’re a child without a grandparent? Find one among your community and make it real! In a commitment ceremony, some elders become new 'grandparents' to children in need; they all gave and received Tika & Love!*
GFV is helping a children's home to become more family-centered and integrated into the community. The program started with a community-based preschool program. Last Saturday we inaugurated the final component of our model – the Grandparent Program, connecting the elders in the community to the children-in-need who are living in the Family House.
Six "grandparents" were paired with 6 children. The elder community joined in a conversation with the local organizations and the children about the joys and responsibilities of being a grandparent or grandchild, how they will celebrate holidays, visit each other's homes, listen to and tell stories, be respectful, and help each other. Then the grandparents and grandchildren gave each other Tikas *( a finger-print of red powder applied to the forehead) and flowers on heir head, as a symbol of their unique bond, as a show of love, respect and for good luck. It was a very lovely and of course very touching event.
We are looking foward to continuing to help foster these new relationships. We will follow up with these extended families and keep you informed.
We are now ready to begin replicating the model in other areas of Nepal. And, we need funding to do this. Please continue to support us so we can continue to help the kids who need our help!. Thank you so much for your generosity!
Namaste.
Freema Davis & the Board and volunteers at Global Family Village
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