(2/6/12)
Our library in Phulkarka village has started. This small structure, the first of its kind in the village, will house a collection of donated books in English and Nepali. The library, the first one in the area, will be run by local villagers. We seek to train and tutor them in the management of library books, and how to utilize the building for community meetings as well. Two donors, one the Dworak family who were instrumental in helping us finish school number two, are largely responsible in making this library a reality for the children and villagers of Phulkarka. HANDS in Nepal funds will be used as well to buy books in Nepal, help pay to have porters and mules take the books to the village, and pay the salary for a library manager for the first year. Bhupendra Adhikari who successfully managed school number two for us, is our liason officer in Nepal for this project, as well as our advisor for cultural sensitivities in regards to teaching and helping the community with how best to maintain and manage their new library. Jan Sprague Chaffin, Danny’s Mom, will go over in April to oversee the opening of the library and audit the books with Bhupendra on expenses.
We are projecting the total cost for the library to be $7,500 for the construction of the 20 x 40 foot library building, which consists of two rooms. Another $1,000 is being reserved for books purchased in Nepal, building of bookshelves and transporting books up to the village.
Currently we have paid $2,000 of this amount to the village via Bhupendra. We will continue to make installments of $1,000 for March and pay the balance when Jan goes over in April to oversee the books and visit the final building.
We are so happy to be able to offer this wonderful opportunity for a remote, Himalayan village to experience how enriching it can be to have a reading room, a library, for the local children and adults. We hope the future will hold an opportunity for volunteers to come to the village to teach English and be part of a cultural exchange that will help open the world to these amazing people. Stay tuned to the web site as we continue to update the progress on our HANDS in Nepal library and upcoming visit to the village!
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(9/30/11)
Dear Supporters,
I am in Chiang Mai, Thailand now taking part in a study abroad. Working to take care of a heap of elective credits that need to be finished before I can continue on with the rest of my Peace Studies Degree work. Bree is here with me and we are experimenting with the challenges of living in a foreign country. She has been trying to find a job with an NGO or non-profit of some kind and has had a difficult time with it. The study abroad program is a bit basic compared to the classes I’ve been in at Naropa and its left me feeling a little unfulfilled. But for what I’m doing Thailand is at least an interesting environment to be in, surrounded by lots of dense jungle and amazing food opportunities.
Its proximity to Nepal is also very appealing and Bree and I are wondering when we will be able to make a trip over to visit friends and check on our work. Nepal has been on our minds a lot lately, being in a place with a lot of similarities in culture. We hope once our work and school situations become settled a bit we will have a chance to travel and take a 1-2 week trip there. Hopefully by that time we will have some idea of another project to begin.
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(8/20/11)
Hello,
I have been updating little bits of this website for a while now and if you haven’t yet be sure to check out all the videos, they have been a great tool for sharing our work. I have also been writing a lot about our trip, for my class at school and to try and publish articles, here are a few;
Community Development in Nepal Paper
Beyond this I have been busily getting ready to depart for Thailand, where I will be spending the next year. I found a study abroad in Chiang Mai and found that my home university, Naropa, accepts the credits as long as I fill out the paperwork. It is all settled now and I leave on Wed. from LAX. I’ll be attending Chiang Mai University and taking classes ranging from Thai culture/language/cooking to Buddhist philosophy and business management. This school offers courses taught in English so I am looking forward to a variety of classes in the setting of a beautiful city.
While I’m there I will be focusing on researching different programs that exist in Nepal. I am thinking of trying to find some teacher training programs and raising money to send the teachers from our schools there. Thailand to Nepal is also a very doable flight so there may end up being a trip or two to Nepal while I’m living in Thailand.
Love to everyone and I will continue to update this site and add writing from Thailand. Feel free to e-mail me questions or comments at handsceo@gmail.com
-Danny
