The Story By Irene Clarke
This is the story of how we came to be involved in a small rural community called bhattidada in Nepal . In 2000 we were staying in Dhulikhel for a few days and enjoyed seeing how the people of the countryside lived. One day we asked a young man called Prem Lama to show us how to go to fields, and he offered to take us for a walk. We had a wonderful day with him acting as our guide and interpreter. He Told us later that he had bought himself few boots with the money we gave him.We returned to this beautiful and ascinating are the next year,2001 While walking in Dhulikhel we met Prem again. Peter always said he recognized the boots First!) Prem invited us to go to his village . This was about 45 minutes walk from the down along 45 minutes walk from the town along a high rides overlooking the terraced hillsides. The view were Breathtaking.
These are typical scenes from the area . The walk to bhattidada was along a high ridgeway looking down into the valleys. The people we met along the path ware always ready to return our smiles and say “ Namaste “ to us.We Did not realize at that time that our lives ware just about to be changing for every and this part of Nepal was to become almost a second home to us. Prem become our “adopted Son “ and is one of the finest people we have ever met. People said we gave a lot to the villagers but they gave us far more.We reached the end of the footpath and met prem with some village boys and this little waif who was called Maya. Together we all walked down to hillside into the village.We found that these people had no running water, the woman carrying water pots from the communal taps. They Cook on open fire in unventilated house, and they live very closely with their animals and cropes.During this vist, virtually without discussion Peter and I decided we would undertake to sponsor the little waif Maya, to try to help her to a better future. To go to school fees had to be paid and altogether some of the villager children went it was beyond the means of many. The village children had no real toys, the girl on the left is holding “her Dolly” and the others have a home made “Truck” and “wheelie”. Below a first photo of prem with wife Kanchhi Maya and son Zidan.
During this holiday we bought maya some clothes and arranged with prem that he would look after her. We paid for her keep and school fees for the coming year. Right: Maya as we first saw her ; in her new outfit; and later going to school with Zidan. When we return in 2002 we ware invited to visit the school where maya was now a pupil. It is at the top of the hill which runs down into Bhattidada. The school was neither English nora Bording School but they like the title!We were surprised to learn that they did not own the premises but payed a monthly rent, which they could barely afford. We were sad to see how dark and dismal the classrooms were and how few visual aids and stimulation they had. We resolved to try to help them and when we asked what we could do they said “ We need a new school building.” Back home we started work to raise the money for the project. We returned to bhattidada in 2004, having spent two years working hard collect enough money to build a school for the village. We had also contacted Saga Charitable Trust who helping to fund the project. We had come to see how the money raised had been spent. We had imagined a tiny school with a couple of rooms and were astonished by the palatial building we found being built. The whole village turned up for the opening ceremony and there was much entertainment. The children started lessions in the school , but at least they no longer had to pay to use a rented house.Costumes were borrowed or made up and the childres showed off their dance skills. Even the mothers dressed in festival red, joining in the celebrations.This is choysel, as we first saw him. He went small beacouse his mother had no milk and “weaned him on tea and biscuits.”we sponsored him to go to school. Later I sponsored his sister too. At every visit we were delighted to see “Our” children looking so happy and learning so that they could have a better future. It was a hune reward for our work. As part of their support project saga holidays took travellers to our school during their visit to nepal. Many of them made donations which were very helpful. Over the next few years the school building was finished and a toilet block was built in the corner of the playground with water taps for hand washing. Rooms were dedicated to many of the individual donors who gave generously and a plague was placed in the entrance hall. When we visited bhattidada we always had a great reception and wonderful parties! Speicial dance were displayed and once even every mock exorcism performed. Out of school uniform the village children congregated at prem’s house which was always open to all. We brought balloons and bubbles and kites to play with as these were easy to carry by air. We often donated children’s clothes for those who need them. Changes came to the village – prem built a new house where the village childrens were still welcome and fed. In 2007 each family was shown how to build a toilet as part a sanatation project started by some Australian friends. We visit bhattidada every year to see the progress of our children and catch up with prem and maya.
Sadly Peter is no more longer with us. Maya is now married and live in kathmandu. Now all our family are involved with the school and regularly visit Bhattidada. It is lovely to meet any new babies in the village and sometime join in with the local ladies group. Prem is now the chairman of the school Management committee Urmila Lama, a local lady who was educated at the school is now our Head Teacher. Above are all our family on a visit in 2017 and below lexie with prem’s new grandson. We hope that our Nepali family, support Himal jyoti Community School and that all will continue to flourish.
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