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After two years of lockdown situation, we finally got two guests from abroad. Pillar Lopez Dafonte, Coordinator of South Asian Desk of Xavier Network, and Fr. Carlos Fritzen,SJ, Coordinate General of International Federation of Fe Y Alegria, arrived in Nepal on 16th Nov. The purpose of Pilar’s visit was combined with monitoring and initiating the process of evaluation and final reporting procedures of the Xavier Network funded earthquake relief projects. Fr. Carlos came to experience the context and ground been prepared for initiation of Fe y Alegria Nepal. NJSI was privileged to welcome them at this time and made use of their honorable and valuable presence to Inaugurate the Kavre Regional Center and to Initiate Fe y Alegria Nepal, by officially signing the MoU with the International Federation of Fe y Alegria.

 

 

Reaching the equipment for the Education Smart Hub to rural schools is always a tough job. Tila School and Shree Dev school in Oda village, Mahabai -2, in Kalikot district had three days of travel from Kathmandu including a couple of hours of on foot carrying everything on head to reach. The path was on the steep hills and a couple of land slides made it very dangerous to cross certain areas.

Kalikot is one of the least developed districts in Nepal towards the far western region. It has the population of about 136,000. The largest ethnic group is the Khas Chhetri which are 28.8% of the total population, The second largest group is Thakuri which is 25.1% of the total population. 17.7% are Kami, 17.1% Hill Brahmin, 5.1% Damai and 3.2% Sarki.^[3]

“Reaching the Unreached,” the maxim of of NJSI, goes very much along with the maxim “Fe y Alegria starts where the Asphalt stops.” The Students and staff from Tila School Carrying the equipment

Fr. Roy Sebastian, SJ. , Mr. Kamal Shrestha, Mr. Ramhari Thpa Magar, Mr. Kailash Thapa, Mr. Arus Magar constituted the NJSI team which went to Kalikot District on 9th November 2021, for the first time to start the intervention of Rural Education Improvement Nepal Program. The schools were recommended by the newly established Jesuit team looking for starting the Karnali Jesuit Mission, an area not much explored till today by the the Catholic religious.  It has been many years since the Nepal Jesuits wanted to start a mission in Karnali and Far western region of Nepal.

We were fortunate to be supported and to work in collaboration with Oda Foundation, a local organization running health care and village development. Mr. Karan Singh and his staff accompanied NJSI team to the village and did the necessary arrangement for the stay and fixing the smart hub. The students and the people are very excited about the new development in their village schools.

In collaboration with Bright Star Society, NJSI distributed nutrimental food items to 321 differently abled children’s family in the second wave of COVID 19. Bright Star Society is a nonprofit organization working for the empowerment of differently abled people through entrepreneurship development, capacity building and independent live skills. NJSI has been constantly supporting Bright Star Society in their endeavors through different interventions. Within the timeframe of 2 years, 2020 and 2021, NJSI has helped in distributing materials to the differently abled such as 4 sets of computers to the Bight Star Society itself for their training center, 2 sets of Computers to Shree Bandevi Secondary School, Sindhupalchowk, 2 sets of computers to Trinetra Foundation, Banepa, 150 pieces of white canes for the visually impaired. 90 sets of audio players and pen drives to visually impaired as educational aid during Covid lockdown.

In collaboration with the local Jesuit Communities in Deonia, Maheshpur and Sadakbari area of Jhapa District, NJSI was able to provide more than 800 families emergency food supplies and primary medical care. The target group included mainly tribals working either in the Tea gardens or daily labourers who couldn’t survive the lockdowns.

Maheshpur

Families covered: 254.
Places: Ujiyala tole (musahar), Matha tole, Badrapur 6, and 4, Mantri cowk, Bagan No 10, 3, Godamdura, Malik basti, Rangyadad, Gurung tole, maheshpur, Haldi bari 2 , Mittal, Gherabari, Salgari, Rajghat,
Items: Rice (25-30 kg each), Lentils (2kgs)f, Cooking oil (1.5 kg), Santizers (4 pieces of soaps)
Soya beans ( 500 g), sugar, toothpaste, face mask

Deonia

Families covered: 300 completed
Areas: Godamara , Tokla, Satigatta, Telgani, Garamani, Methibari, Deonia, Bhuttabari, Mechinagar.
Items: Rice (25-30 kg each), Lentils (2kgs)f, Cooking oil (1.5 kg), Santizers (4 pieces of soaps)
Soya beans ( 500 g)

Sadakbari and Simalbari

Families covered: 319
Places: Simalbari , Tappu, Phulbari, Haldar basti, Matola, Lalmohar, Jhapa Bazar, Nariyaltol, Sadkbari, Lasuna, Situmari, Panthapara, Phugachi
Items: Rice (25-30 kg each), Lentils (2kgs)f, Cooking oil (1.5 kg), Santizers (4 pieces of soaps)
Soya beans ( 500 g), sugar, toothpaste, face mask

Realizing the lack of opportunity for poor people in the village to have access to regular medical support during Covid lockdown, NJSI conducted medical camp at Church Hall, Hokse, Panchkhal Municipality-07, Kavre in collaboration with Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

On 12th August 2021, both the team went to Hokse, Kavre for general checkup and distribution of medicines. There were altogether 141 beneficiaries. Various Covid-19 protocol videos and news were prepared and played in TV for the people while they were standing to meet the doctor. Covid-19 protocol such as sanitizing hands, wearing mask were followed during the camp.

There were three doctors who were assigned to look after health issues of people, among them two doctors were assigned for general health checkup and the other one was assigned for special gynecology health checkup. The program was carried out smoothly and effectively. The ward chairperson, church head and the patients were pleased for the service.

Unfortunately, South Asia seems to have turned into the epicenter of the second wave of COVID-19 as most of the countries in the region, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan have been badly infected by the coronavirus. Instead of being controlled, the situation is getting more flared up as each day passes. The second wave of the pandemic has not only affected the Kathmandu Valley but also different cities of the country both in the hills and in the Terai. So much so that even the rural areas are also getting affected. It did not even spare the remotest of the remote areas in the far-off villages.

It was tough reaching out to these people due to strict lockdown rules. NJSI began to work with local Jesuit Communities in Jhapa districts and local organizations like Maiti Nepal, Nepal Nazareth Society, and Congregation of Jesus to collect need assessment data and based on the requests came from the local government began the relief work. Initially NJSI collaborated with St. Xavier’s College, Kathmandu participating in the “We Feed Program” supplying cooked food to Covid Patients’ care takers in the Covid care hospitals in Kathmandu which did feed about 3000 hungry stomachs.

With the aim of providing basic food materials for covid victims, daily labour, and tea garden workers,  NJSI targeted to distribute the relief for 200 families in Maheshpur, 220 families in Deonia and 280 families in Sadakbari in Jhapa district

In Kavre district, NJSI distributed package of relief consisting food materials to 300 families in Panauti, 150 families in Tinpiple and 110 families in Hokse who were all Covid victims.

Looking towards the problems that made people’s life hard due to COVID-19, NJSI distributed relief package to over 200 families in Pokhara, 300 families in Dhading district and 300 families in Kathmandu valley.

 

Melamchi have been facing a big disaster due to heavy rainfall and flood along with the second wave of Covid, looking toward the problem of the people of melamchi NJSI prepared a relief package and distributed to about 70families living in Melamchi.

 

The relief package distributed had made the life of people living in different areas a little sustainable and easier for some period of time.

NJSI built four classroom for jay Golma Devi Basic School, Bahrabise Municipality-8, Sindhupalchowk. NJSI handed over building on 8th April, 2021. The school did not have enough classroom for students since the Earthquake of 2015. The project was funded by Caritas Germany.

Students and Teachers welcomed all the representatives and NJSI team with handmade crown and beautiful decoration in schools. The program was commenced in the presence of ward chairperson of Bahrabise Municipality, Mr. Richard rai, representatives of Caritas Germany, NJSI team, Students and Local people. The program was carried out with speeches from representatives, thanks giving, dances by children, inauguration and handing over.

The students, parents and teachers were very happy and proud for this new four classrooms truss building. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Caritas Germany for supporting the construction of this building.