HOW FAR CAN ONE STRETCH A DOLLAR, A POUND, A EURO?

My connection with Nepal, especially Kathmandu, and in particular with those who are less fortunate than I, has been ongoing for all of 12 years since February 2010, when I paid what was intended as a swift, one-off, 2-week stop-over en route to the UK from AU. Those 2 weeks morphed into 2.5 years of accumulated visits between Feb 2010 – Feb 2019. Unexpected poor health prevented further visits throughout 2019, and by the time I was raring to go in 2020, I was prevented from doing so as a result of the corona pandemic. I was ‘grounded’, but not defeated! My visits became ‘virtual’, almost daily in fact, enabling me to continue with my charitable endeavours. The corona pandemic had and in fact is still having, a devastating impact on the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. Where a day’s work was rewarded with a paltry wage at the end of each day, now there were no jobs, no pay. The result was immediate, without money to buy food, cooking gas, pay rent, etc.,. This is in a 3rd world country where government support is but an impossible dream. How could anyone, aware of the situation and with a snippet of compassion, close their wifi link, turn their backs and walk away? I couldn’t! I have thus spent the 2 years since UK corona pandemic restrictions started, in giving what support and aid was (and is!) within my personal capability, and by reaching out to friends, acquaintances and total strangers, for the wherewithal to bring succour and concrete support to those in-need …. and believe me, there are an enormous number of brothers and sisters in humanity who fit into this ‘in-need’ category! I have been privileged in cooperating from the very beginning, in the establishment of a Nepali NGO that has gone on the feed several 1000s of meals to the hungry, the setting up of a temporary hospital for covid victims, to facilitating the supply of urgently needed oxygen for covid sufferers ….. and the work goes on under the leadership of my big-hearted friend, Anamika Aryal (Mrs) and her new NGO ‘Warming Hearts Nepal’.

Personally, I have continued my engagement with what I refer to as the ‘Indian migrant settlement’ in the Boudha district of Kathmandu. During the last quarter of 2021, there was a simple daily breakfast for the children, numbering about 45 souls, prepared by my long-term contact Reena, a resident and mother of 2 lovely sons (7 & 9). Mattresses and blankets were also purchased for the poorest families, Warm clothing for the children ... and a few elderly, ‘Food parcels’, financed by donations from Facebook friends, were supplied and distributed by ‘Warming Hearts Nepal’ (Anamika) to all my Indian migrant settlement families on at least 3 occasions. Nearly everything was financed by my personal friends via PayPal, GoFundMe and my personal resources. Life is gradually returning to a semblance of normality ….. i.e: generic poverty for my Nepali friends. I continue to raid my loved-ones intended inheritances, to the point where there may just be enough left for drinks in the local pub, after my pauper’s funeral! Currently, I am trying to support the education of a couple of college/university students, both of whom I have given occasional financial support to over the past years, Support is also given on occasions to a physically challenged mother and infant. Another recipient of support is a parent-less 18-year-old, who ceased her education to care for a sick and dying mother, a couple of years ago. Now struggling on her own to re-open the modest cafe that I financed in 2018. Corona saw its demise in 2020.

Confronting the resultant effects of poverty, is central to my other endeavours, especially with respect to the ‘Tashi Waldorf’ school, where 95% of the enrolment from Nursery through Class 4, are from socio-economically challenged families. Unspecified sponsorships are urgently needed. A full monthly fee for the primary classes is £45 per month! Or a phenomenal £540 per annum! Or in Nepal rupees: NPR67,000 !!! That’s a fortune for these Nepali families. I am indebted to my 5 UK friends who together, donate £88 per month (approx NPR13,500) towards school fees. I should explain that the fee covers all school materials, a mid-morning nutritious snack (eg: boiled egg and a mug of warm milk); a hot, nutritious vegetarian lunch and of course: An Steiner inspired education!! Health care checks, including dental and sight tests, are included, and follow-up treatment where necessary.

‘Tashi Waldorf’ on Facebook, is the only legitimate school FB Page. Others are redundant and should be ignored as being outdated. We are having great difficulty getting these irrelevant pages permanently removed. 'Tashi Waldorf’

 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000044045794) 

 HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT! Please specify the intended use of your gift! eg: college study/cafe support/Tashi fee support/or other. 

 Donations gratefully received via: paypal.me/socialendeavoursnp 

 Donations or Sponsorships via monthly Direct Debit, can be transacted via: 

 UK:- 

 BARCLAYS BANK 

 BSB: 20 50 40 

 Acct name: Eric K.Fairman Nepal 

 Acct number:831 564 78 

 SWIFT/BIC: BARCGB22 

 AU:- 

 COMMONWEALTH BANK 

 BSB: 06 21 38 

 Acct name: Eric K.Fairman 

 Acct number: 1000 8505 

 SWIFT/BIC: CTBAAU2S