Earthquake Rebuilding Progress in Dadagaun Village
Dadagaun Village, in the hills above the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, suffered significant damage in the April and May 2015 earthquakes. Anatta and many others have been supporting rebuilding efforts, but progress has been very slow. Build Up Nepal has initiated a 16 day brick building training course for 10 of the most committed Dadagaun villagers. The hope is that the skills acquired in training will generalize to get the entire local community up to speed.
One of the disaster relief efforts many of us supported here post-earthquake was to import compressed earth brick making machines from China, largely orchestrated through our friend Steve Webster of Shivapuri Cottages (see Partners and Friends). The early stage brick making process revealed the need for greater expertise in order to mix correct amounts of earth, sand and cement for earthquake-resistant brick strength. Build Up Nepal is now providing that expertise. Once government approval is obtained, the villagers should be able to access additional rebuilding grant funds.
Saru Tamang provides on-site photos
Saru Tamang also shared photos of Dadagaun villagers finally rebuilding from 2015 earthquake damage after receiving the long awaited first installment of government funds. Shown below are " Houses #30, #16, #32, #42 and #51". Thank you SO much to all who helped; as you can see there remains much to be done.
December 2016 Report from Lumbini
Natalie Hernandez is back with her monthly update. Read on and be inspired!
“On December 8th Metta School and LSSF volunteers begun the first of many trash cleanups in Lumbini. Students from classes 5-8 spent the afternoon picking up litter from around the Central Canal and outside numerous monasteries. Although Lumbini is a beautiful place, it is unfortunately covered by lots of rubbish. Littering is a norm here, even in the World Heritage Site. It is crucial to inform and educate the children of Lumbini on the importance of taking care of their environment. While participating in regular cleanups they will understand and see what a difference a clean ambience makes.”
“Following on the 12th of December, the first ever LSSF Data Collection was carried out at Metta School. Volunteers and teachers were trained to assist in the collection of student and household information for classes 5-8 (Phase I). The goal for this collection is to gain a clearer understanding of students and their families to better serve them and their community. With the data collected we can form accurate statistics on education, health history, child marriage and more. This collection will be carried out in Karuna Girls School and as well as Punnihawa School.
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“METTA SCHOOL BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT- UPDATE
Metta School is looking beautiful as ever! Students have been creating amazing paintings on the walls of their classrooms, from flowers to birds and more. Young artist Sunil Harijan has been coming every Saturday morning to put his passion to work. Check out his latest painting on the class 6 wall.
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Learn how you can help our three Nepali Auxiliary Nurse Midwives begin their careers.
Over the past 2 years Anatta and CEBA have co-sponsored an ongoing Auxiliary Nurse Midwife Training Program for local girls. The first 4 girls graduated in 2016. This is a remarkable achievement in a part of the world where girls are undervalued and often promised in marriage by 7-11 years of age! These girls have inspired their community and are true leaders of social change.
Three of our ANM nuns, Mudita, Dhammadhina, and Sudharma have offered their services as volunteers in the Compassion Clinic in the Tsum Valley of Nepal. This region in the high Himalaya was devastated in the massive 2015 earthquakes, and is now accessible only by helicopter.
During the earthquake recovery efforts conducted by our group in this region, a strong bond was formed between our Lumbini team, Global Karuna, and the Compassion Project in Tsum. Our first ANM graduates are now growing this connection by offering their medical services to this remote region.
This means that our ANM novice nuns will live for a year in this isolated region of the Himalaya, in a climate and culture that is completely unfamiliar to them. Growing up near sea level in the warm Terai on the India border, they have never before been in a high mountain nor snowy climate. They will also need to learn a new local language to communicate effectively and care for their new community.
Anatta is inspired by our ANMs courage and willingness to begin their careers in this way, completely without financial compensation. Although our ANMs have no expectations of financial gain, we understand that without a salaried position, they will not yet have fulfilled their career goals. Our educational programs aim to empower local women to become role models and change makers of their society. Without compensation their achievements will not be seen as useful, valuable or sustainable; standards by which society will measure their success. Women are held to a higher standard in order to overcome the cultural bias keeping them locked in the traditional roles of child bearing and uncompensated manual labor. To break free and become true pioneers, these women need to earn a living wage.
We intend to make this a reality and pay their salaries in this first year of their employment. With your help, we can encourage and support these future leaders to 'be the change'.
Please visit our fundraiser site to follow our progress: https://www.youcaring.com/anattaworldhealtheducationoutreach-711153
November 2016 Report from Lumbini
You may remember Natalie Hernandez, Anatta's very first Reverse Scholarship recipient who returned to Nepal with our October 2016 Heavenly Himalayan Holiday group, this time to begin her gap year teaching English to our Metta School and Karuna Girls College students.
As one of her responsibilities, she will provide a monthly report to Anatta summarizing the progress as our 'on-site' humanitarian. November has been a busy month!
On November 5th the volunteers started the Metta School Beautification Project. This project was created by German volunteers Franzi and Carlotta with the help of Sell for a Well Charity and other donors. The goal is to repaint all 14 classrooms while giving students the creative freedom to paint their own original designs as well. Every Saturday a small group of students and volunteers come together to have fun and paint. So far 9 classrooms have been repainted and 3 rooms have student artwork. Soon the volunteers will go around the school and help students create artwork for a tile art project with the theme of friendship.
Following on November 8th the CEBA Lumbini Animal Clinic started with the tremendous help of Animal Nepal and Lumbini Social Service Foundation. The clinic which was held in Bodhi Institute ran for 4 straight days consisting of spay and neuter service, anti-rabies treatment, deworming and much more. The Animal Nepal team and volunteers not only ran around capturing dogs in the Animal Ambulance but spent time handing out information flyers. These flyers were used to help spread awareness/educate the village people on animal care. The number of treated animals grew each day ending with a total of 101 treated dogs!
Towards the end of the clinic Animal Nepal rescued a poor work horse that was suffering from a terrible wound on its leg. The horse was very malnourished and couldn’t walk correctly. Now “Harry” is staying at Peace Grove Nunnery, with a much better leg and lots of love.
The incredible beauty of Pokhara
Although it is the second largest city in Nepal, Pokhara has a completely different energy than Kathmandu. The pace is slower, and the natural beauty of the lakes surrounded by the Annapurna mountains is beyond picturesque. Our yearly meaningful travel immersion trips often make time for a bit of trekking here - we are happy to support our friends at Three Sisters Adventure Trek who pioneered an all women trek guiding organization, educating, training, employing, and empowering Nepali women. This trip we had no time to trek, but so appreciated the magnificent sunrise from Sarankot highlighting the majesty of Machhupuchhre and the Annapurna Range.
Preparing a feast Lumbini-style
In preparation for full moon day festivities at the Peace Grove Nunnery, our nuns and several of the village moms start the meal preparations early. The sickle with the curved handle the woman is using to slice cucumber squash is also used for harvesting rice. In this case the multi-purpose tool is easily held with the foot while the hands guide the slicing. Quite efficient!
One Kora around Boudhanath Stupa
To be in the presence of the ancient Buddhist Stupa at Boudhanath is an incredible experience. It is one of the largest stupas in the world, and houses one of the largest populations of Tibetan refugees around the perimeter of the numerous monasteries in the inner circle. Tibetans have been traveling this way for centuries - as the Kathmandu valley is part of a very ancient trade route. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was badly damaged in the April 25, 2015 earthquake that rocked Kathmandu. The scaffolding present in this video has just recently been removed and the site is almost ready for re-consecration.
Join us for one clockwise circumambulation of this very precious site...
Welcome To Our Newest Reverse Scholarship Recipient
Muriel Swanson is an enthusiastic 19-year-old and recent high school graduate from Edmonton, Canada. She has been interested in our work and projects in Nepal and has volunteered at some of our fundraisers ever since her mother, Melanie, first came to Nepal on our first Heavenly Himalayas Holiday in 2011. Her mother was very inspirational to her as she came to Nepal on two occasions and did all the internet wiring for both the Peace Grove Nunnery and Karuna Girls College. Melanie is excited for Muriel to come this year stating: “I think it will help her (Muriel) find her direction. I know my trips to Nepal helped me find mine.” Below is a letter to us from Muriel about coming on the trip:
Dear Bodhi,
I just received word from my mom today and I am very intrigued and excited about this opportunity. This proposal you have discussed with my mom is an opportunity of a lifetime. I would love to come on this trip and take in this new culture.
I have oodles of logged volunteer time not only with your organization but within the Cadet Organization. I offer my experience and knowledge to the trip and I think I will be an asset and a wonderful addition to the group.
I would love to see in person the work my mother put in for the nunnery and the school, because she changed hundreds of young girls lives for the better and would to follow in her footsteps. I have been known to be a very helpful person; I love helping people. I do small charity stuff here and there and donate what I can to make other peoples lives a little bit better. In addition to donating clothes I recently donated three recycling bags brimming with stuffed animals to the Goodwill which were all gone the next time I came!I have volunteer experience all the way back to 2008, when I first started cadets. I have now aged out as of this year but plan to come back to the Cadet Organization as an Officer. Just last year, I received the Cadet Citizenship award for my efforts of volunteering but also towards promoting the cadet program as a whole and being a spokesperson for my corp. I also received a Royal Legion Cadet Medal of Excellence for my services and volunteered time towards cadets and the legion.
I haven't gone on any sort of trips for two years, and I think this Nepal trip would be a nice change of scenery. The last major trip I took was to New York in my last year of high school and went to Connaught Ontario last summer. Albeit, Connaught was not that exciting, but still an experience.
I do hope I can be on this trip, granted I will miss family and friends, but I think this trip is a good thing for me; it will be sort of like a spiritual journey for me to discover what I am truly passionate about.
Thank you Anatta and CEBA for nominating and accepting me for this amazing opportunity and I won’t disappoint,
Muriel Swanson
A Major Anniversary for Anatta
What have we accomplished in 10 years?
Cake by Maddy Reichman
What have we accomplished in our first 10 years?
In Nepal:
Organized and executed annual large-scale medical and health-care clinics providing free general medical and emergent follow up care to over 1400 of the most marginalized local children and young mothers over the past 3 years. Clinics included workshops in hand-washing, dental care, ergonomics and exercise, and simple emergency medical procedures for common home accidents.
Co-sponsored an ongoing 18 month Auxiliary Nurse Midwife Training Program for local girls and provided all required medical training equipment (first 4 girls graduated)
Created a sanitary and healthy living environment for 42 orphanage children through renovation of disease and bug infested residence, and conducted dental and/or basic health care clinics annually for past 3 years
In Thailand:
Provided medical equipment and medicines over 5 years to the AIDS Temple in Lopburi serving 1200HIV + or AIDS infected children
Organized and executed annual health-care clinics offering free general medical and emergent follow up care to 150 Burmese refugee children (Akha Hill Tribe) in Childlife Shelter in Mae Sai for 5 years. Clinics included social work interviews and psychological support planning, nutritional support, and health/hygiene education.
In Peru:
Provided science laboratory (microscopes) and multimedia equipment to support science education expansion for secondary school students at Collegio Carlos Fermin Fitzcarrald in Puerto Maldonado.
Built hygienic services installations (toilets, showers, water fountain) and conducted basic health & hygiene clinics for 200 school children in two of the Ese Eja indigenous communities in the Amazon
In United States:
Lead annual meaningful travel immersion trips since 2006, connecting interested travelers with opportunities for direct participation in projects.
Created a 'Reverse Scholarship’ program allowing 'future humanitarian' High School students from underprivileged/impoverished backgrounds an opportunity to participate in Anatta's travel immersion progra
Deep gratitude to Maddy Reichman who so beautifully documented Anatta's 10 year anniversary celebration in the video below! Thank you to all who shared this milestone with us, and to all who have supported our work over the years. We are because you care. Let's dare to imagine what we can do in the next 10 years...together.
An ancient art, a modern-day artist
We are in the garden of the famous Kathmandu Guest House watching artist Binod Gautam engaged in slate mandala stone carving. This is an ancient Nepali art form. This particular carving depicts 5 different positions of the Buddha, along with the auspicious symbols. It is lovely to see and support this ancient art, which has been taught in its present form from one generation to the next.
The Super Heroes of Nepal
From our friend Eileen Spillane's blog The Balanced Nurse, about her experiences during Anatta's trip to Nepal.
Venerable Metteyya and the nuns of Karuna School
Two weeks in Nepal, two days of travel over 7,000 miles - I am happy to be home in San Francisco. As an outdoor enthusiast, I resonated with a quote from Lonely Planet's Nepal guide "while you first come to Nepal for the mountains, you return here for the people". I most certainly will be returning to Nepal for the people and I just might squeeze in a trek next time.
Exploring Nepal is not for the delicate traveler. The smog can do a number on the lungs, you need tissues for the encounter with the porcelain hole in the ground and you might be challenged with a stomach bug here and there. The flights aren't cheap and it takes a very long time to get there. Due to political challenges, India has placed a blockade on fuel coming into Nepal. This meant no heat in some of our hotels but for Nepalis it impacts their daily lives for cooking, heat and transport with outrageous lines at gas stations. We resorted to buying fuel on the black market, which can be up to three times the normal price
Practicing patience as we wait for fuel.
I had the added adventure of losing my luggage early in the trip. We literally watched it fly off the roof of the van while we in it. We turned around within minutes and it was scooped up by someone likely dealing with the economic hardship of post earthquake Nepal. I got a lesson in letting go and in return, I received a stylish wardrobe from my new friends.
Attempting to fit in with all the sweet nuns
I have never been surrounded by more productive people committed to improving the lives of others. As health care providers we often reap the benefits of feeling the impact we have with patients. Now imagine that ten fold. When I mentioned to Cornelia, the founder of Anatta that I climbed the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, she had also done that but only after building toilets for the indigenous people. So it should be no surprise to me that in addition to working full time as a neuropsychologist, sometimes talking to patients during an awake craniotomy, she created a non-profit called Anatta World Health and Education Outreach. Anatta is like an octopus with tentacles reaching out and sending love to the people of Nepal.
Susan, Debra and Cornelia
When Cornelia's team at Anatta partners up with Bodhi Sakyadhita's team at CEBA and Venerable Metteyya, they are a serious force to be reckoned with. A monk usually lives a peaceful life meditating in a monastery supported by the community. Ven. Metteyya is part monk, part super hero. With a soft spoken voice, a smile as wide as Nepal and a gentle disposition, he ingratiates everyone he encounters. This dynamic trio is committed to improving the lives of the people of Nepal, with a strong emphasis on health and education. Many children complete school at grade 6 in Nepal. Traditional Nepal culture does not value education for girls, leaving few opportunities for girls, in which they are arranged to marry young while others are bought into human trafficking or prostitution. Through Anatta, these children have the opportunity to go to college.
Bodhi and the Karuna School girls welcome us
This year, four young women will graduate as auxiliary Nurse Midwives. I had the honor to work with them and share stories of preeclampsia, hemorrhage and c-sections. I told them of a trend in San Francisco in which women eat the placenta and they shared that some villagers put cow dung on their babies umbilical cords - something they are educating the villagers to change and hopefully improve infant mortality.
Donna, Cornelia and Debra
In addition to the medical and dental clinic, CEBA sponsored a vet clinic and treated local street animals. We also had the opportunity to see the continued efforts of earthquake relief through Global Karuna during the catastrophic earthquake last April, which killed over 8,000 people. I learned how complicated rescue efforts were due to red tape created by the Nepali government, the UN and so called disaster relief experts as they debated over who would win the contract - all while people were dying under rubble.
Venerable Metteyya coordinating the rescue of nuns in a remote area
While the quake was nine months ago, the rescue efforts are far from over. As a Westerner, we thought we were troopers wearing our wool hats to bed and snuggling up with a hot water bottle. An unheated hotel is quite a bit warmer than living on the side of the road in a tent village. There is much more work needed to be done and we can be part of that solution.
If you feel called to help in the continued earthquake relief, you can donate through Global Karuna here
If you are like me and appreciate the freedom your country affords you to be educated and marry who you want, when you want and if you want and you would like to support the work of Anatta through training nurses, building a community hospital, supporting education of boys and girls or supporting an orphanage, you can donate through Anatta here
Come join Anatta next year, make deep friendships and cry all the way home!
Cornelia putting Anatta to good use during a medical clinic in Lumbini, Nepal.
Hospitality in a temporary home
These nuns are from Bigu, located near earthquake epicenter. They were evacuated and relocated by our Global Karuna team when they could not receive any assistance. The two senior nuns walked for 2 days to access a bus to Kathmandu where they finally found the Global Karuna tent city. Here we are welcomed to their safe temporary home, and enjoy a special yak cheese treat - Chirpee! Stay tuned for details on rebuilding their Gompa Village.
Two busy days at the Lumbini Medical Clinic
Some of the faces from our 2 day medical clinic in the remote village of Purnihawa, near Lumbini Nepal. Our team treated 850 people in two busy days!
Relief Efforts
Venerable Metteyya explains the incredible relief efforts following the devastating earthquakes beginning in April 2015.
Durbar Square, Kathmandu
Near Durbar Square on a beautiful December day.
Repairing earthquake damage
More repairs in progress
On our way to Lumbini!
Cornelia, Rockey, and Donna in Thamel, Kathmandu - ready to head out!
Kathmandu, December 2015
Enjoying the beautiful sights, smells, and tastes of Kathmandu before we travel to Lumbini.
A young humanitarian joins Anatta's upcoming trip to Nepal
Dear Friends: Anatta is very excited to announce our first "reverse scholarship" recipient. Natalie will be joining our Nepal trip this December to fulfill a dream and begin a lifelong adventure. Learn more about her and help us pay it forward! You can donate here.
Natalie Hernandez is a born humanitarian. Raised in what most would consider a disadvantaged urban environment, she has been through a lot in her 17 years. Natalie nevertheless has a kind, joyful nature, and a deep rooted desire to help others. She has already taken on a leadership role as part of the "Leaders in Training" program at the Trail Blazers Camp in Northern New Jersey for the past three summers. The program has a long history rooted in tradition and value building. Next year Natalie hopes to be a counselor. While she has no material possessions to give, she is ready to wholeheartedly devote her time and energy to relieve the suffering of those less fortunate.
Natalie shares her story:
My name is Natalie and I’m a 17-year-old senior in high school from Elizabeth, New Jersey. I have always had the desire to travel; to experience a new world. And as someone who immensely cares for global welfare, I’ve always felt the need to travel with a purpose. Helping members of a disadvantaged community and making a difference in their lives has been a mission in my life that I would like to accomplish. Unfortunately, because of critical financial reasons, my family has not been able to support me in a dream like this. It is something that my family has convinced me to believe that would just have to happen “someday”, when I have my own career and make enough money.
But that day could be now.
I’ve been given the incredible opportunity to volunteer in Nepal with Anatta World Health and Education Outreach in December. When I met with the founder of Anatta, and learned about the various projects and programs that Anatta has started and supports, I was hooked. I was amazed that this small, non-profit organization has dedicated efforts focused on education and healthcare, the most important necessities that many communities in Nepal lack. Every community should have the right to receive an education despite gender. And every community deserves to be provided with adequate health care. Anatta helps bring these needs into communities and it would be dream come true for me to help in these efforts.
Going to Nepal will allow me to directly help in activities and projects with the Peace Grove Nunnery, Karuna’s Girls College, and more in Lumbini, Nepal. As well as help in the capital, Kathmandu, with supporting earthquake relief projects and the Dadagaun Orphange for children.
It’s very surreal to think that it can actually happen; my vision of traveling to a country and helping in any and every way I could is finally here. I am certain that with this trip to Nepal I will bring all of my dedication, love and kindness to every person I encounter.
stories from the field
An occasional blog about Anatta's work in the world.