Disaster Support for Families in Nepal

Namaste! Thanks to your support, our 3 partnering organizations, Chhatrapati Free Clinic, HimRights and Global Family Village-Nepal continue to work together for the benefit of some of the most vulnerable of Nepal's earthquake victims in the Kathmandu valley. GFV believes in the exponential benefits of working collaboratively– supporting the health, educational, financial, medical and emotional needs of the community as a result of Nepal's devastating earthquake.

HIMRIGHTS (Himalayan Human Rights Monitors)

Workshop on Local Governance Process, Thecho, Lalitpur (12 August, 2016) , and Training on Human Rights and Policies of the Government of Nepal on Earthquake Relief, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, Khapinchhe, Lalitpur Sub-Metropolis, Lalitpur (25 September 2016)

HIMRIGHTS has been implementing the project "Earthquake Recovery through Empowerment, Leadership, and Reconstruction of Marginalized Survivors of Lalitpur". It has three stages - (i) Training on human rights and policies of GoN on Earthquake Relief, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (ii) Workshop on good governance, advocacy and Local government planning process, and (iii) public hearing with the officials of the Municipality and stakeholders. The 1st 2 stages have been completed in 2 affected and vulnerable villages in Lalitpur.

The trainings on Human Rights and Earthquake Policies, with 29 and 43 participants respectively, dealt with the concept of human rights and earthquake policies and provisions for emergency responses (relief and reconstruction) announced by the Nepal Government. These activities focused on enhancing participants' understanding on concepts of human rights; political and civil rights; economic, social and cultural rights; women and child rights; right to information and right to development; Government of Nepal's policies on relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation; and access to the goods and services pertaining to the policies of the marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Chhatrapati Free Clinic (CFC) HEALTH CAMPS

Chhatrapati Free Clinic organized six free health camps between 13 May 2016 to 30 Sept 2016 to the most disadvantaged earthquake victims (senior citizens and poor school children) in and surrounding Kathmandu.  This included Bidodaya School Jhoche, Eye & Dental Check up and Treatment for 67 children; Tyeuda School, Dental camp for 211 students; Nhapangu Pala, Center for senior Citizens health check-ups for 60 Earthquake victims;  Joint Disability Unity Awaj Center, Gokarna, Shelter for Children, check-ups for 45 children; Baal Bhojan - Healthcare for 23 Poor Children including weekly lunch every Tuesday; and Health checkups for 101 Senior citizen of Ward 17, Kathmandu.

It is noteworthy and heartwarming to know that the staff of Chhatrapati Free Clinic work full time and then donate their 'free' time to assist at the clinics.

A New Children's Coloring Book “Drop, Cover and Hold  - How We Survived an Earthquake"- Global Family Village-Nepal is bringing out a new children’s coloring book on earthquake. The overwhelming successful use of the previous coloring book “Gita and Shyam: The Day the Earth Shook” is about children experiencing an earthquake and the recovery process. It is geared for children 3-7 years old. Its growing demand has prompted us to bring out another coloring storybook targeted to children above 8 years of age. This new book also is about a family and how they survived an earthquake. The story and contents included in the book help children and adults to learn more about how they can protect themselves and how to prepare if there is another big earthquake. Besides ‘drop, cover and hold’, the book also talks about other important safety measures. The book will be published both in Nepali and English languages, and will be available by December this year.

We are so pleased that we were able to help so many people who were still in great need of support. We are very grateful to you, our friends and generous donors for your help in making it happen. Thank you so much!

With gratitude,

Anjana Sakya (HimRights); Bijaya Mali (CFC); Kishor Shrestha (GFV-Nepal) and Freema Davis (GFV, Inc)

Links:

• HimRights -TV broadcast version on News24 TV (24 Mins)
• Full Version (2 Hours)

The Power of Collaboration and Education

Our 3 partnering organizations, Chhatrapati Free Clinic, HimRights, and Global Family Village-Nepal have been working together in Thecho, an old Newar settlement situated in the south of the Kathmandu Valley. The mega earthquake on April 2016 devastated most of the old houses which were made up of brick, mud and wood taking lives of 3 persons and injuring hundreds. (More than 120 houses were completely destroyed and more than 300 homes were partially destroyed). The people are mostly poor farmers. GFV believes in the exponential benefits of the efforts of 3 organizations working collaboratively– supporting the health, educational, financial, medical and emotional needs of the community as a result of the earthquake.

CHAATRAPATI FREE CLINIC - Free Health Camp in Thecho, Lalitpur - Chhatrapati Free Clinic organized a free health camp on April 23, 2016. The camp was held at a local Monastery where the Buddhist monks happily provided the use of 12 rooms. The Thecho Mali Community played an active role by informing the mostly farmers' community about the camp through the distribution of pamphlets and mobile public address. The health camp provided a much needed relief to the people as medical relief operation from the government had not taken place despite the fact that nearly a year had passed by since the April 25, 2015 earthquake. The camp was possible because of the financial support provided by Global Giving and an incredible team of volunteers from the clinic and Thecho community. 19 doctors, 15 paramedics, 3 nurses, 8 administrative staffs, 14 CFC board members, 20 local volunteers participated in the camp­– offering advice, treatment and medicine for Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Gynecology, Ophthalmology, ENT, Wound Dressing, Physiotherapy and Dental Care. Together with the local partners 404 village people were treated.

Global Family Village Nepal was on hand distributing the children’s coloring story book “Gita and Shyam” to young children attending the health camp. The story/coloring book is about the earthquakes, designed for young children so that they could identify and share their own experience with that the characters in the book.

HIMRIGHTS - Workshop on Human Rights and Earthquake Policies - HimRights conducted ‘Workshop on Human Rights and Earthquake Policies’ in Thecho, on June 13, 2016. The main objective of the program was to raise the survivors' understanding of their human rights, their roles and responsibilities and existing earthquake policies. They got to know about claiming their rights in concerned agencies. They gained a clearer understanding about existing earthquake related policies. They became aware about the certain provisions which are directly linked with earthquake victims such as government reconstruction policies.  A WCF member said, “We are now able to go to concerned bodies and ask for our rights. I, as a member of WCF, am more responsible for bridging earthquake survivors and Ward Office during reconstruction process and flow of information.”

They actively participated in interactive sessions and discussions. A participant said, “Very few of us have participated in this kind of program. I wish there are more programs of this kind to incorporate more earthquake victims.” The participants are very excited for next programs.

Fifth Edition of Children's Coloring Book “Gita and Shyam: The Day the Earth Shook”  - Recently, Global Family Village-Nepal printed and distributed the fifth edition of the book. Out of a total of 5,000 books reprinted 1,000 books have been already been distributed to the school children in Kasi and Kerauja VDCs of Gorkha district (see photo). The books were reprinted and distributed in partnership with Karma Foundation, who delivered them with the help of trekkers, tour guides and donkeys! The remaining copies will be distributed in other part of the same district.

So far, GFV-N has partnered with over 30 national and international non-governmental organizations and distributed the books to over 75,000 children living in the districts mostly affected by the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN) made the coloring books available to the children attending the Child Helpline Centres in Kathmandu, Hetauda, Nepalgunj, Pokhara and Biratnagar.

The feedback received has been excellent.  Children loved the book and kept it to show others. Parents and teachers were very appreciative of the information The psychosocial counselors found the book to be a good working tool.  

Coloring Book in English Language - “Gita and Shyam” now speak English! One thousand copies of the book have been printed and are being distributed to children, parents and teachers of the non-Nepali speaking community living in urban areas of Nepal.

We thank our friends who have supported us during this critical time for Nepal. This is really just a start. We plan to continue as long as there is a need. Please continue your generosity and friendship. Donations of any amount are always greatly appreciated. They allow us to continue what we are doing. Come visit us in Nepal!

Thank you again. Namaste.

Freema Davis (Global Family Village), Bijaya Mali (Chhatrapati Free Clinic), Anjana Sakya (HimRights) and Kishor Shrestha (Global Family Village-Nepal)