Hello Everyone! I am Sulochana Thapa born in Darjeeling hills and brought up in Kalimpong, India. Prior to the volunteering programme with GFF Helps, I was working with Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment in Darjeeling. I have specialization in Community Development, Medical and Psychiatric Social Work and worked with organizations such as Bosco Mane (Working with street children), Kidwai Memorial Instiitute of Oncology (Working for children suffering with blood cancer), Asssociation of people with Disability (With a special focus on differently abled children), Pravah (A youth development organization), Hayden Hall organization (Working with Mother and Child Healthcare) Mercy Corps (Worked on school component of WASH). This is my second visit to Kathmandu, Nepal as a GFF Volunteer. Travelling across different places and serving communities gives me immense pleasure and energy to enjoy my work with Glenn Family Foundation Helps. I feel this volunteering programme provided by GFF Helps in Child Development Society, Nepal is a chance to give back to the community. I would like to put into practice the already gained knowledge and experience which I have acquired when I volunteered in 2019-2020. I am excited to start this new journey again and encouraged to conduct WASH awareness sessions with children, working on a project on Eco Brick to reduce plastic waste, assist in reporting and documentation of the organization, conducting training on gastro intestinal diseases and its prevention, conduct personal development workshops for school students.
Nepal
KAVRE WATER PROJECT
Sustainable Sources to Serve the Society
The Teen Ghare water project in Kavre is an initiation of the GFF Helps in collaboration with Child Development Society. The project incorporated a process of an effective selection of the place for water source, generous contribution of both the partners. and an effective channeling of the water ways into the fields of the community people.
The constant support from our benefactors and Panchkhal Municipality tying up for the upliftment of the project resonates sustainability of our contribution, especially at a time of the pandemic (health crisis) and impacts of climate change (water crisis), in Nepal.
Kavre Water Project has been a labourous project but the efforts have been fruitful since the locals are in partnership and in understanding with a sense of community work to empower not only themselves but, the generations to come.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT
Social media and digital youth are an asset for any nation, when given the platform to utilize it effectively.
Youth engagement and leadership program at a time such as the current pandemic crisis, is imperative given the number of dying opportunities and challenges.
Young people who access to internet in Nepal is at a constant rise.
Under the Youth Empowerment project, GFF Helps Nepal has opened space for young professional in the role of social media internship programs. As, Glenn Family Foundation believes in “Alte Pete” (Aim Higher), GFF Helps Nepal encourage youth to aim higher even at a time of crisis.
A young professional named: Abhishek Rai is currently enrolled as GFF Helps Nepal’s social media intern. The role of a GFF intern embarks the opportunity where the young mind can effectively coordinate with GFF team in terms of social media assistance.
GFF intern successfully led a virtual videography session under the mentorship of GFF Helps Advisor Ms. Minket Lepcha, for the GFF international team in the month of August.
RELIEF REACHES FAMILIES WITH MASK SAFETY
In the midst of the pandemic families of the daily wage workers have lost their livelihood. The ongoing lockdown has left them even more vulnerable in the face of this crisis. The lack of support from the local authorities is an issue, affecting the safety and health of both children and parents.
On 24th, June the joint support of GFF HELPS NEPAL and CHILD DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY (CDS) Nepal, reached out to over 30 families of daily wage earners, at CDS office Kapan.
Keeping in mind nutrition and health deemed necessary to combat the third wave said to largely affect children. Hand tailored masks by the GFF women tailor group were handed out along with the food items at the time of distribution. Relief items were: Rice, sattu (gram flour), and for sanitation – soap and masks.
Over 260, hand-tailored masks prepared by the GFF women tailor group were also provided to the Bal Kumari school. The Child Development Society Education Officer Mr. Govinda BK hands over the masks to the school authorities to be distributed to the children.
Promoting the health and safety of children at the time of the crisis. It is infact the top priority of GFF Helps Nepal and Child Development Society.
Multi Discipline Medical Camp – Nepal
The fact that human beings are complex living beings demands that their body and mind be catered to during any medical visit or camp. This very fact guided us to organize a one-day multi-disciplinary medical visit at Srijanshil rehabilitation and special education school for the disabled located in Chandragiri. The school has almost 20 students with different yet unique needs, and most of them belong to a family of economically disadvantaged sections of society.
Providing Technical Support to Local Partners
Community Mapping and Progression of Water Project
Mental Health Awareness Sessions
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the normal stressors of life have become more than bearable for a few vulnerable populations, that can result in chronic stress. If this chronic stress goes unattended or unidentified, it can lead to long term mental health problems, thereby reducing the productivity of the community people.
Evoking Imagination & Creativity through Digital Advocacy and Wallpainting
On 10th November 2020, the GFF HELPS Nepal team, CDS, and CSN held a meeting with a total of 28 students of Shree Balkumari Basic School to orient them about precautionary measures against COVID-19, cybercrime and the concept of mural painting.
Empowering Women and Supporting Children with Additional Needs
Many people have lost their jobs during COVID-19. Women in particular felt this impact which has not only affected themselves but also their families. This has inspired GFF HELPS Nepal to create a project that will develop valuable skills and can become a new source of income.