Rice Planting, Swimming and clothes...

OK, I've learnt my lesson! Last time I said how quiet it had been...well not any more!! We've had an extremely busy two weeks (but that's how I like it!)

We started the week off by going to Annapurna Primary School for an assembly whilst the Lions Club of Pokhara donated them new school uniforms. The children were so proud to have new uniforms (right down to their socks!) and all looked very smart the following day at school. Having a uniform is a point of pride in Nepal, as many families cannot afford to buy uniforms, or they are passed down for years and often very tatty and mis-fitting. To have uniforms is so special for them and we were happy to have been invited to this event.

Speaking of clothes...last Friday, myself and the volunteers went to Asha Foundation to spend some time with the children there but also to donate 2 sacks worth of clothes. We had lots of T-shirts, dresses, trousers and a few pairs of shoes for them. Unfortunately for the boys, it was mostly girls things, but the boys got at least one t-shirt each. Thank you to every one who has donated clothes to us over the past couple of months - it's like a jumble sale when we give them the clothes, with all the kids sifting through it all looking for the most fashionable item!

In sadder news, Ama (from the Street Kids Center) has been unwell over the past few weeks, from what appears to be intestinal problems. She has been in and out of hospital, at one point they wanted to keep her overnight, but due to her responsibilities (having 10 children to look after!) she was unable to. She has been having to foot her medical bill by herself which has become quite expensive. After speaking to her at length and hearing her struggles, I contacted the PoD head office to see if there was anything we could do, and the PoD Charity has very kindly offered to help out with her medical expenses so that she does not need to worry. (Another great example of the help the PoD Charity can do)

 

On Saturday, for volunteer Daniels last day and the start of the holidays for the Street Kids, we took them swimming to Penguin Pool in Pokhara....So much fun!!! The kids had an absolutely fantastic time, diving, swimming, playing around. It was great to see how much they have improved since the first time I took them back in September 2012. Cheeky BJ who is quite a competent swimmer anyway, spent quite a bit of time with me wanting to learn different strokes. He would then go and teach his younger brother what he had just learnt! He got the hand of backstroke and breaststroke pretty quickly but for s

ome reason can't quite master floating on his back!

Now the monsoon has started, everyone is busy getting their rice planted. Georgie and Elizabeth spent Sunday at a local Rice planting festival which is held annually. From the sounds of things there wasn't much actual rice planting, but a lot of mud fights, races and a tug of war. It sounded like a lot of fun! They got covered in mud!!

No it's the school holidays, the kids have finished yet more exams, so our current volunteers are spending their time with the girls from Bahini trying to help improve their confidence in conversational English and then the afternoons at the Street Kids.

If you would like to join the team at PoD Nepal, then please email Gemma at gemma@podnepal.org