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| - Project update 20May08: Report on my 2008 visit is now available. My arrival saw a flurry of activity in many differing areas. Children were organised into groups. A vegetable garden was dug with beans, cabbages, onions and spinach being planted. This year it was decided not to plant cauliflower as it had not been a success last year. I think it was too late in the season..... click here to read more - Bayside Leader did an interview about my work in Nepal in its 10 Aug 2004 issue. Click here to read the article: "Nepali Sister committed to help others". |
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An appeal from Zandra Eccles, 68-year old Australian | |||
In 1999 I went trekking in Nepal and so loved the place and people that I decided to go back and do some voluntary work. I return to Nepal each year, staying about two months each time. If you also love this Himalayan country and are looking for ways to give back, please read on. You may gain some insight from this website and start your own projects and voluntary work, or you can bring donation in the form of materials or cash to the projects I support in the Tourist can Help and Volunteer Opportunities section. |
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| How it started: some sharing | ||||
The first year I spent time with the babies in one of the largest orphanages in In 2004 and 2005 I was deeply involved with the Disabled Newlife Centre (email : dnc@infoclub.com.np) in Chabhil which is close to Pashupatinath in Kathmandu. Many of the children lack limbs due to accidents or congenital defects, twisted limbs, some have Polio and others have suffered severe burns. Poverty is such in Nepal that should they be left in the village they will die very young as the parents cannot afford remedial treatment. This organization provides corrective surgery, prosthesis and physiotherapy so that the children can attend school and eventually graduate and go out into the world as rounded individuals. My time, whilst home in Australia, is spent talking to groups such as Lions Clubs, Probus Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Church Groups and Social Clubs, thereby raising funds to take back with me the following year.
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| How you can help | ||||
1) Donation Donation in the form of goods or cash will be welcome. The need for goods donation varies from sponsorship, clothing, school fees including english books, educational toys, good plastic building blocks and uniforms, general assistance in household goods such as bed linen, towels, flannels, soap and toothpaste. The above items would preferably be durable and environmental friendly so as to protect the beautiful environment of Nepal. Click here for details. You can also sponsor the education of individual children, please contact me or send the money directly to the organizations listed under Volunteer Oppoturnities. 2) Bring donated goods to Nepal If you are travelling to Nepal it'd be appreciated that you could bring some clothing, stationery, etc. Your help would save a great deal of transporation cost. Please refer to the guidelines of goods donation before you bring them to Nepal. You can send the goods to the organizations who need them. Alternatively, you can drop the goods off at Himaland Adventure Treks (in Thamel, their office is down a side road opposite the Himalayan Bank in Tridevi Marg between Jyatha and Kantipath. About 6 min. walk from Kathmandu Guest House, See location map below). This company is kind enough to provide storage space. Otherwise, you can leave the goods at the reception of the hotel you stay and contact me or Mr. Tilak Lama (Tel.: 9841 248035) to pick up them. (Tilak is happy to pick up the parcels and store them for me. In the time when I can no longer go over there myself, he will continue to look after the goods and distribute them between the DNC, Olga's Orphanage, Street Children and remote villages.) Each time I visit Nepal Thai Airlines very generously gives me an extra 30kgs in baggage allowance. You'd also need to make prior arrangement with airlines for additonal baggage allowance. Email of Mr. Tilak Lama: trek@himaland.wlink.com.np Address: Their office (Himaland Adventure Treks) is in Thamel area of Kathmandu. Down a side road opposite the Himalayan Bank in Tridevi Marg between Jyatha and Kantipath, Nepal. See location map below. Thank you for your kindness. - Zandra Eccles (Email: zandra_eccles@hotmail.com) |
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| Where to drop off donation material | ||||
Himaland Adventure Treks, Thamel (click to see larger map)
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Kathmandu and then went on to work with the children in Mother Teresa's clinic near Mitra Park. In 2002, together with a friend, we were invited to set up a Hygiene and Nutrition Centre for the mothers and babies at the Budhanilkantha branch of 
