Day 23

Social Businesses 

• Kevin Rohan Foundation & 
• Seeing Hands

Kira's networks spread far and wide. Having the opportunity to visit the Kevin Rohan Foundation was yet another example of an organisation enabling disadvantaged Nepali people building capacity within their community. Kevin's father Krishna welcomed us to the Foundation with generosity and hospitality. 

Training is the common thread that keeps emerging over the last 4 weeks. This organisation runs seminars within their community facilities which is expanding as funds allow. An example of this was a 2 day training which involved 500 people so they could apply learning's to their villages. 

Compost is essential to the foundation

and the garden was abundant.

The following solar innovation was for

boiling water - pot at the center of panels.

Example only.

These brickets were made out of waste paper 

and sawdust.

Chickens being attended to 

by an employee.

Inside the foundation - what was 

captivating was the blend of age groups 

involved with the foundation.

The bottle house is an innovation

of the foundation. The materials

used are local mud, sand and bottles.

Inside view of bottle hut.

To date 10 houses have been built.

They are one bedroom - one bathroom

and sell for $342.00 US dollars.

The group was invited to lunch and this provided the opportunity to speak with global volunteers who work with the foundation. My next post - part 2 of the KRF will include their educational facilities currently being built. 

• SEEING HANDS - Nepal

Sourced from website 28/11/2014

When I first heard about this organisation while in Pokhara at the beginning of our trip - I was touched to say the least. Both Kira and Nina have experienced a massage at this social business in Kathmandu. Nina and I went in search of their Seeing Hands business established in Pokhara.

Receiving instructions
during training.
(Sourced from website) 28/11/2014

By chance one of the Co-Founders Sue from Great Britain (previously lived in Pokhara) was sitting in the garden with her manager Sherran. We were invited to join them as Nina had met Sherran in Kathmandu. When I was introduced and spoke Sherran commented I detect a New Zealand accent. What can I say! 

However, what struck me was Sue's comment on the philosophy behind Seeing Hands training links directly to work opportunities within the organisation. 

When we returned to Kathmandu the group booked massages. I was moved by the whole experience and the professional approach by all the staff. 

Day 15 - 22 November

Mind/Body/Spirit 

This most glorious butterfly greeted us when 
we arrived.
It was sitting on an orchid plant.

Our Nepal Meditation and Yoga Retreat at the Nagarkot Farmhouse was hosted by Kira Kay (whose meditation sessions bought together her rich life experiences / extensive practice in facilitation of self-discovery and intuition development) alongside Rafael Ebner's (many years of practice in different yoga styles synthesizing this experience with current training in Yin Yoga). 

What an insightful experience this has been for myself and those involved. Best way to capture this opportunity is I went in with an open mind and came out with a new set of tools - timely.

We received a: Meditation cushion & 
socks, shawl, yoga mat and journal.
The mat they are sitting on will be handed 
onto one of Hands with Hands the orphanages.

Now that I am back in Kathmandu (there are still more social business projects to share over the coming days) I now have the circumstances to reflect on the above retreat - over 9 days. However, even though I have access to consistent power I needed to be resourceful to find a plug that my cord stayed in. So back to the hotel wardrobe - set up the ironing board and packed containers under the power point to hold it into the socket. Yes!!

Our days at the retreat were spent with two sessions of: yoga and meditation (varying options) per day. The all male staff at the Farmhouse provided three meals a day and accommodation services. The surrounds were very peaceful and the opportunity to write or reflect in our journals was all part of the flow of each day. There was lots of sharing, reflection and laughter amidst these days and opportunities to explore the area by foot. The temperature was considerably cooler early morning and night. Out with the thermals!

Viti, Tina, Rafael, Nina, Buta, Kira and Shila.
Armin below - missing from group photo.

Nina and Tina both from Germany.

Kira and Viti.

The Farmhouse has its own organic vegetable garden. 'Sambhu K. Lama and his farming crew have planted 10,000 trees of which 2,000 are peach and apple.' (Sourced from brochure). I was surprised at how many flowers grown here are also found in gardens in Australia. The following images capture a snippet of their extensive surrounds. 

Strawberries

Our meals were all vegetarian and sourced 
from the Farmhouse gardens and fruit trees.

Shila below (Hands with Hands Chitwan microcredit projects facilitator) spent time with the chefs making apple pie. Now I have eaten many a variety of apple pie but this was absolutely delicious. It was a delightful ritual to be sharing the healthy food we consumed while at the retreat.

I was drawn to this elderly gentleman who each
day cleaned around the grounds.

This woman would set up her stall between 7-9 am
in the grounds of the Farmhouse and lived on the property.

Time to say farewell and and head back to Kathmandu. All things come to an end and I was grateful that this opportunity had aligned with this visit to Nepal. All bar two of the group had initial connections to Hands with Hands so that was rather special to spend time with this German/Austrian/Australian cohort. A special bond has arisen amongst the group and the essence of being connected to the philosophy of 'sharing and giving' from the heart was the key. 

While at the retreat the opportunity arose to read the book, 'The Heart is Noble, Changing the world from the Inside Out'. I have certainly seen many examples of this during my visit within the broader Hands with Hands network and those involved in their projects.

Day 12

On the road to Kathmandu from Chitwan

On the move again. Erin, Shila and I were heading to Kathmandu. Ramchandra (Shila's husband) ensured we were safely on the bus and we now refer to him as the Happy Banker. He reminded me that he was a Happy Banker to the Poor. With that in mind Erin and I were sorry to say goodbye but grateful that we had time with him. In particular, as he is taking on his new role in a commercial bank. 

The bus trip to Kathmandu was 6 - 7 hours which made for a long day. However, the scenery in some parts is spectacular when the fast flowing river is in full view. Particularly, when one could watch the many rafts that were on the river that day. It is a very popular tourist pass time here. This main road link is extremely busy with buses and trucks.

During one of our bus stops we were parked right next to a fresh food market. There were numerous stalls side by side and I was taken with the share volume of variety of Daal available. We were fortunate to have Shila (Nepali woman) with us because when we were unsure she would inform us.

The great thing about the bus trip was it allowed Erin and I an opportunity to explore ideas about community development and the possibilities we had seen over the last two weeks. It was also the day that we would go separate ways. She was meeting up with Nvari once again and I was joining up with a group in Kathmandu to head off to a Himalayan Meditation and Yoga retreat at the Nagarkot Farmhouse with 7 others including Shila, Nina, Kira and Rafael.So it was a day of mixed feelings to be saying goodbye to Erin. She has been a wonderful travelling companion.

Welcome back to Kathmandu 

Our taxi when we arrived at Kathmandu. There was 3 of us with luggage so my bag got sat on the top of the taxi and not tied down. When we drove off I was swiveling my head to the hotel to make sure it did not slide off.

Tomorrow we are heading off to the retreat but will be calling in to see the architects work that I spoke about in an earlier post. 

Day 11

Revisiting the microcredit projects

Up till now we have been fortunate with the power supply. However, in the last couple of days that has changed so I will need to slip back into Nepali time with my posts for the next week. Will see how it all pans out.

Viti Erin and Shila headed off on the 16 kilometer journey to meet up with the Jutpani members. The joy about this visit was to meet with some of the women I had interviewed previously plus new members. Erin and Shila in the backseat of our taxi and the road we travelled to the villages.

Our trip to the village:

Meeting up with the Jutpani members at their branch cooperative is always a joy. Shila had taken her copy of my book to show the members which was a surprise and joy. Ramchandra is planning on translating my book so the cooperative members can engage with it. Erin with board members and Shila.

Shila, Viti, Erin (my note taker) and the Vice President of the Jutpani Cooperative headed off to visit members of the cooperative.

1st was a new member who took out a large loan in the last two years from the cooperative to open up her fashion, gift, shoes and fabric shop. Owner on the left.

Young Jutpani member who has accessed training in sewing training and now works for an employer. It is here desire to have her own shop in the future.

Two women I had interviewed on my earlier visit. It was a delight to meet them both again.

Another woman I interviewed previously. It was particularly special to share this experience with Erin as we were able to cover our fieldwork in a shorter time frame which means we are not imposing in these women's

busy lives. I look forward to revising the book with the material that has been gathered on this visit to Nepal.

Off to find the dug well.

Erin spotted another mustard crop so photo time. She is studying Agriculture/Business at Curtin and was involved in the first semester JCLA Community Project linked to Hands with Hands. End of a wonderful day of fieldwork.

Heading back to our vehicle and to the city.

Day 10

Shila's Dal Bhat Specialty (Completed Post)

Our group had heard about Shila's cooking from Kira and we were all fortunate that time allowed us the opportunity to taste her cooking. It was also delightful for me to see Shila and Ram's home they have built since my last visit and a credit to them. The theme that has threaded throughout this trip has been 'celebrations' and it is ongoing. Naline, Viti, Kira, Nina and Rafael are enjoying the spread Shila prepared for our lunch. It was delicious and we valued her generosity and hospitality.

Later that afternoon we attended the opening of Parichaya Saving & Credit Cooperative Ltd which is connected to the Jutpani Cooperative Bank. Shila's husband Ramchandra is the new Bank Manager and it was a joyous occasion including local business people who came along to support and invest their money in the bank including women from the Jutpani Cooperative. 

It is hard to capture the poignancy of this but it was a moment for all to savour who have been involved with the Hands with Hands microcredit projects. The following are images taken from this new bank acquisition.

Ramchandra Manager, Sushila Gauchan Office Manager & Dipendra Co-founder of Hands with Hands.

The following are photos taken at the event:

Guests outside the bank waiting for the speeches.

Nina, Erin, Kira and Rafael inside the Bank

Women from the Jutpani Cooperative that we have come to know well.

As guests we were handed over a Lunchbox during the launch.

Jutpani women investing in the bank.

This was an amazing opportunity to be part of and reflect upon the progress made on so many levels linked to the microcredit projects in Chitwan District. I could not help but observe Kira and Dipendra Co-founders of Hands with Hands and sensed how proud they must have felt to what has evolved since their first case study of microcredit was implemented in 2005. I have not seen community development on this level and here we were seeing it 'live'.

Viti handing over a copy of her book to Shila and Ramchandra who translated during the microcredit interviews - 4 years ago.

Day 11 will see our group go off in different directions. Naline headed off to Pokhara for a trek, Kira and Rafael are off to Kathmandu, Nina heads to Kathmandu in a car with the architect and Erin and I will stay in Chitwan to visit the women I interviewed four years ago with Shila.