Category: News

After signing the MoU between the Nepal Jesuit Region and the International Federation of Fe y Alegria in November 2022, this was the first invitation to NJSI to participate as a developing member of the Federation of FeyA. Even though We were invited by Entreculturas to participate in two world conference of FeyA at Madrid in the preceding years, this was the first time NJSI took part in the assembly held in Columbia for the board of directors and the and the national directors. Fr. Roy Sebatin, SJ as the National director and Fr. Agustus Ekka, SJ as the delegate had the privilege to participate in the Assembly from March 21st to 24th, 2022.

This was a unique experience for us to know the people involved in the Education Improvement program in Latin America, Africa, East Asia and Europe. There were many Latin American countries with similar socio-Political situation like that of Nepal. Fe y A with the 50 years of the experience has developed remarkable strategy and modules to work in collaboration with the local government and bring quality education the rural and urban population that are poor and marginalized.

We also had the opportunity to visit many Fe y A schools in Columbia, well-furnished with educational infrastructure and curriculum. The remarkable even of the Celebration of the 50th anniversary of Fe y A Columbia was colored by the Eucharist and the felicitation. It was a great joy and heart warming to see the Nepali Flag was brought in with other countriesdd and placed in the hall for the first time.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

The much awaited moment came to realization on 20 Nov 2021, when Nepal Region Superior, Fr. Amrit Rai and Fr. Carlos Frintzen, the international coordinator fo Fe y Alegria officially signed an MOU declaring the beginning of the process of initiating Fe y Alegria Nepal. It was also the occasion of the inauguration of the Kavre Regional Centre  and multipurpose training centre in Panchkal.

With the initiation of Fe y Alegria Nepal, NJSI takes the leadership in bringing Fe y Alegria to South Asia for the first time in a formal way. The similarities of Nepal with Latin American countries especially places like Peru, gives added affinity and collaborative possibilities of Fe y Alegria with Nepal and others. Fr. Roy Sebastian, along with Fr. Dani Villanueva, Cristin Fernandes, Miguel Santiuste, Pilar Lopez, Pablo Fune and many others from Entrecultaras along with NJSI staff and Nepal Jesuits had worked towards this achievement.

As Nepal being a Hindu country the modality of working of Fe y Alegria will be quite different from the Latin American Situation. NJSI had already launched the Rural Education Improvement Nepal Program as the forerunner of Fe y Alegria. The program is intended to improve the education in the rural government schools and we are well received by the local community. Moreover, the entry into the rural government schools, also opens the possibility of community and social development in those areas as well. NJSI is very much indebted to Entreculturas Spain for strong and steady accompaniment for this development of Fe Y Alegria Nepal.ç

                             

                             

                             

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.