Bravo to Kate Jewell and Kim Hooker who spearheaded our first team to Nepal with AIRINTERMED to support the Eco Farm in the Sanku Valley. The girls spent days with the children there who had lost their families in the earthquake, or been abandoned or abused, but were open and grateful for friendship with the team from Airline Ambassadors. Here is a quote from Kim after the trip: “I had a wonderful experience! Working with Kate was great and we had such a good time with all the children and staff at the EcoFarm. I hope to go back again someday and this is making a difference in so many lives.”
See this article by Kate in Orcas Issues magazine that gives an overview on the experience. Here are a few pics from the trip and other contacts made as well:
Warm coats just in time
Thanks to a generous donation from Katrina Ynclan and Airline Ambassadors International, warm coats were purchased and delivered to the children of the Eco Farm….just in time for the first chill of autumn! (pic of the kids with with Abaya Khanal, Krishna Silwal, Jay Karki and Pundhi.)
Thank you to Angels of Hope
Colorful shirts were also a welcome gift from Angels of Hope. The children enjoyed the coloring books and inspirational cards (printed in Nepali) too! Airline Ambassadors teams have delivered these shirts to Haiti, Colombia, Philippines, Hungary and now Nepal as well. See more pictures from Angels of hope HERE.
pictured: AIRINTERMED Kim Hooker, Kate Jewell and Eco Farm Staff.
Kate Jewell had the pleasure of meeting some of the women who make the beautiful beaded bracelets sold by AAI to support our work fighting human slavery. These talented ladies string the tiny beads and then crochet them into a lovely bracelet. Devendra Amgain is the artist behind the designs and supplies to beads and supplies to over 400 women, who can work from home in Kathmandu, Gorkha and another area of Nepal creating wearable art.
MAITI NEPAL founder, Anuradha Koirala was named CNN Hero of the Year for saving over 12,000 victims of trafficking. MAITI NEPAL is instrumental in rescuing the girls and providing them with shelter and a place to heal. Kate had the honor of meeting with Anuradha Koirala, and the facility director, Bishwo Ram Khadka. They discussed a partnership with AAI to train airline personnel internationally and implement the training protocol in Nepal and India.They would like to see all airport customer service agents trained as well as security people.
We are also now researching programs of support for Maiti Nepal and teaching some of these girls how to make these bracelets for Airline Ambassadors, as shown above.
Kate is pictured on left with Abaya Khanal, Anuradha Koirala and Bisho Ram Khadka
Below is one of Kate’s -Reports from the Field:
Namaste,
I am very pleased with the experience at the Eco Farm. I am confidant that all volunteers will be well taken care of and made as comfortable as possible. Abhaya Khanal accompanied us to the Farm and is invaluable …I know the volunteers are in good hands. Jay Ram is an excellent cook…..his spices make each dal bhaat meal delicious and a little different. The Eco Farm is truly wonderful. The children are healthy and happy. The staff is very attentive and loving.
Some observations-
I will be encouraging volunteers to bring activities to do with the children. Children do not need help dressing or with homework. Kim Hooker started a morning exercise program which they loved and hopefully will continue. They also LOVE doing new games and activities after school and in free time. Walking to school with them is fun as is taking a walk for ice cream on Saturday. Just talking with them is a joy, encourages them to use their English….and helps us form a bond.
As far as the Divine Light English School — I think volunteers just going into each classroom to introduce themselves, talk about where they live, what they do — then ask and answer questions from the students will be a great asset to all. Of course, ask the teacher what he would want or need you to do. I had the best time….writing my name on the board, drawing a cat…..and they “got it”. Then I showed them photos of my cats on my ipad and had them repeat my cats names….Fritz, Punky Kabunky, Pooky Kabooky and Scoogie MaGoogie. By that time, they were all laughing! Some classes really responded…asking lots of questions…singing and dancing for me. One boy drew a picture of me. Delightful!
Meeting with Parbaty and Gopal Karki, founder and principal of the school will be essential for goodwill and PR. Parbaty will probably give gifts.. she gave me the fashionable chapeau (shown in the photo with the boys drawing of me), so I will advise volunteers to bring a small token….It is interestng that two people who run an English school have trouble understandng and speaking English.
Health Ed was the biggest surprise. The basics are still a work in progress. The school bathrooms smell terrible. There is no soap. kids are not washing their hands after using bathroom or before tiffin (lunch). Gopal’s excuse is that the children broke pipes and tiles in the bathroom, 
soap diasppeared….so ke garne? (what to do?). I know they can do better. So, we talked about handwashing in an assembly of the children. I also spoke at length about school pride and how a littered school yard is not something to be proud of! I suggested trash cans in each class and a large can by the stairways and in the school yard. The principal joined me in a plea for school cleanliness We suggested that after some time, if a student is caught littering, he will be fined. We also suggested having a prize for the cleanest classroom. Abhaya suggested the prize be a nice pen for the children. I just received over 50 pens from a tourist here so the prize is already available to the winner….if there is ever a winner.
