Shopping list

The younger boys share beds until we can afford to buy new ones.

Since establishing the home we have been trying to source the furniture, cooking utensils and household items we will need when we relocate to our new location. We started a list but each day new things crop up that are required to keep children happy and healthy.


The list so far:

2 bunk beds

7 single beds

12 mattress

28 sheets

12 pillows

24 pillow cases

12 quilts

12 towels

3 tables

5 benches

extra chairs

1 blackboard and chalk

2 rice cookers

2 pressure cookers

2 frypans

15 bowls

15 plates

15 teacups

15 forks, spoons, knifes

15 water glasses

buckets to fetch water

This is just the bare essentials list. We haven't even looked into the water pump, the new glass for the solar panel, the possibility of springing for a TV. 

There is so much fundraising to do.

Travelling Koreans

We have had a very special group come and stay with us. A traveling school of Korean students stayed at the Eco Lodge for a month. They gave the children a number of music lessons and put on many singing and dance performances.  

We are very sad to see them leave and we hope they come back soon.

Snapshot - The Park

Most days the children go to the park for an hour or so. We like them to have a run around and some fun. Things shouldn't be all school and homework. It is about a ten minute walk from where the children are currently living.

Everyday we make a line and shamble down the lane, pass the shops, pass the water waiting to collect water, across the road, pass the soldiers with ancient riffles and to the park.

The view when we get there is amazing. We can see the snow capped mountains on one side and a lake on the other. We love going to the park. But it presents us with a few problems. Firstly the children do not know how to swim. Learning to swim in Nepal is not a huge priority and people drown in the lake every couple of weeks.

The second problem with our favorite park is the rubbish. The children play surrounded by chip packets, broken bottles, plastic wrappers and food scraps. Nepal has a huge waste management problem. There is no garbage disposal system to speak of, so it just piles up in places like the park where children play.

The last problem with our park is there is no equipment. We have a big open area for football but the goals where taken away. Despite this the children love going to the park. It is the best part of their day.

New Homework Routine

We have been working on the children's homework. We realised we were not meeting the supervisory needs of the children. Sometimes they did not complete all their work.

Bishnu helping the children

Bishnu has been helping with supervision but we have encouraged our volunteers to give the children extra, more challenging work. The homework set by the school is often too easy for their level. Our volunteers have been a big help in creating stencils for the children and coming up with educational but fun activities. We have tried hangman, dot-to-dot, colour by number, spelling quizzes, find-a-words and many other activities.

After speaking with the school we have decided to focus on maths, reading, spelling and handwriting as most of the children are having some problems in these areas. 

We have already seen the results of the new homework routine. Three weeks of study and focused homework time have lead to a great improvement in the children's marks in their most recent exams. Kamal managed to top his in all subjects and the other children were all in the top ten students in their classes. 

Kamal receiving his Tikka for first place in his grade

We are very proud of their results and home to see them keep on improving.

Rhea Auntie

Recently we had our first official volunteer come to stay with us. 19 year old Rhea from the UK stayed for four weeks. 

She helped with setting the children on a regular homework schedule. She was responsible for teaching Herod how to do double digit multiplication and teaching Pritta her colours. 

Rhea and Herod do some math

Rhea Auntie was also a lot of fun. She took the children on regular trips to the park.

Pritta the baby lion

She also had many gifts and games for the children.

Manisha and Rhea after a messy trip to the park

We would like to give a big thanks to Rhea and we hope she will come back and visit us soon. 

New Logo

Today we received our new logo for the website and blog. Now I just have to work out how to attach it.

Football

A few months ago the staff, volunteers and children were very excited about watching the world cup. Eventhough Nepal did not have a team we still enjoyed picking sides and following the competition. The children were big fans of Argentina's team.

Once the cup was over we decided to get football for the children. A few of the volunteers have spent many hours at the park kicking the football around. In true english style, volunteer Ayaz taught the boys a crazy goal scoring dance.

Back to School

Everybody ready for school

We are pleased to announce that 8 or the 9 children have started the year at their new school. We have opted to send the younger children to the Pokhara Cambridge English School instead of the government school they were attending for a number of reasons:

• Quality Education - Pokhara Cambridge has a better reputation for providing children with a well rounded education and smaller class sizes. Already we can see an improvement in the children's reading and discipline.
• Cost - while the school fees are higher we think the expense is worthwhile. Pokhara Cambridge is much less costly than other private schools in the area.
• Opportunity - attending a private school in Nepal has a certain amount of status attached to it. For children who have the odds stacked against them in life, attendance at a school with a good reputation can mean better opportunities in the future.

Hemalal waiting for the other children to dress.

The children were very excited to try their new uniforms and shoes. They were so happy when they were handed a pair of school socks and new shoes, some of them for the first time. The first day they were bursting to get to school and see what their new teachers and classmates would be like. Unfortunately we have not been able to find sponsors for all of the children. We are working to ensure the cost of private schooling is met and the children can stay at the new school.

Bishnu, the oldest child at the home will remain at the government school as the expenses for him to attend private school at this time are higher then we can cover.

Poojan and Herod getting ready for the first day of school.

If you would like to help us cover the cost of private schooling please contact us on ecochildrenhome @gmail.com