NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2015

“….we know we have reached maturity, when we put the needs of others before those of ourselves.”

Siegfried Rudel (my teacher, mentor and friend)

SAPNA DEVI

Sapna, a beautiful, gentle and kind hearted soul aged 24, sadly passed into the Spiritual World the morning 2 March 2015, from causes undiagnosed by the hospital, although accidental poisoning is suspected.

Sapna was a dear friend of mine and close bonded sister of Rina Sharan-Devi, both of whom grew up as part of a large family of 11 children in the migrant beggar village (Boudha Shack Village) in Kathmandu. The family are originally from Rajasthan.

Three years ago I captured Sapna's gentleness and love for her infant child in a semi-posed Christmas card, the proceeds from the sale of which went directly to Sapna.

Sapna has left behind two boys (3.5 and 5 year olds) who will now be cared for by a sister in Delhi. Sapna had been a widow these last 3 years, but recently Sapna had been in a steady and happy relationship.

Sapna will be sadly and sorely missed by her sons, sisters and close family friends. I too am devastated at the loss of a dear friend. Rest in peace beautiful, gentle Sapna.

2.

BERU JODIYA

It is with great sadness that I received firm confirmation that 'Beru', my friend and friend of many, passed away as a direct result of severe pneumonia which in turn had infected his blood leading to septicemia and resulting 'septic shock'. the latter was just too much for Beru's weakened state and despite the best of care being given, he departed his Earthly Life on Tuesday, 24 March 2015.

His family and friends, all resident in the Boudha Shack Village, gathered for his Hindu cremation at the Pashupatinath Temple yesterday where final farewells were rendered.

The next 12 days will be for prayer (puja) and remembrance of this kind, gentle beggar man who was always ready to share what little he had with those whose need was greater than his own

Rest in Peace Beru my friend. You have lived an honourable life.

Sincere thanks to Linda Ha and her circle of friends in Germany whose generous donations to the Boudha Shack Village in remembrance of Sapna (who died a month ago) was approved for use for the partial payment of Beru's medical expenses whilst in hospital. Thanks also to Michelle Rauenbusch (Tas/Australia) for her kind contribution to this fund. Your generosity was much appreciated by Beru's poor family.

SHANTA KHATRI A sincere thank you to all those who, through their kindness and generosity, made it possible for Shanta to attend Emerson College for the first six months of the Visual Arts Course. This has been a wonderful experience for her and one that will hopefully lead to Shanta returning to Nepal in due course, to share what she has gained with others in the Steiner-Waldorf educational sector.

Unbeknownst to me, Shanta became married a mere five days before I was due to escort her back to Nepal. I was notified post-event by email from her husband. Apparently, application has been made for Shanta to remain in the UK for the foreseeable future,

Her hasty decision came as a profound shock, coupled with the fact that it can be viewed as a betrayal of the trust her sponsors and supporters had placed in her professed desire to return to Nepal to share her new knowledge and skills with her friends and Waldorf colleagues in her country. I do apologise to you all for my huge error of judgement in recommending you sponsor Shanta as being a trustworthy recipient of your support. We live and learn the hard way!

3,

Once again: Sincere thanks to all those who helped raise GBP2000 of the target of GBP5000 for Shanta's course attendance as a partial repayment of the generous scholarship granted by Emerson College for Shanta's tuition, accommodation and food.

DIPU TIMALSINA

Dipu was a street child a mere 2 years ago. Since being taken off the streets and rehabilitated in Papa's Home for a brief 6 month period, Dipu ventured out into the world to find employment and to support himself.

Those who cared for him, kept a watchful eye on his endeavours as he stumbled with determination around the oft seemingly insurmountable challenges in a Third World city such as Kathmandu.

First as a garbage collector, then back on the street for a brief stint; then a position as a trainee chef in a new restaurant in his old stomping grounds, to his current employment as a janitor in a smart shopping centre. His employers are so impressed that he is being considered for promotion to 'supervisor' at the tender age of 17 or is it 18...or maybe 19? Births are not registered in Nepal! But I guess he is 19 tomorrow! Dipu has achieved all this through his own efforts. In recognition of his birthday, his tenacity and determination, I had the joy of taking Dipu clothes shopping. Thanks ever so much to Hildy Jaeger (Widnau/CH) Dipu's friend and unofficial periodic sponsor, who generously financed this special treat for Dipu!

First shoes..."Not too expensive Papa!!" Then to Dipu's delight, a pair of pants to match the shoes! New shoes and pants surely warrant a new shirt? And it goes without saying that no cool guy can walk around without a fashionable jacket...and of course a pair of new socks to go with the new footwear! Dipu could not believe his good fortune! Never had he, let alone anyone else...spent NRs10,000 on a completely new set of cool clothing! The result is this suave young dude!

4. WELCOME TO A GUEST . It is embodied in Nepali and Indian culture, that when a guest crosses your threshold, you are morally bound to offer sustenance. And so it was when, on arrival in Kathmandu in late February, 2015, I was warmly invited for an evening meal of chapatti, curry veggie and rice…and a cup of sweet milk tea in the Boudha Shack Village, home to over 150 poor people from India! It is normal for guests to eat first before the family, so I was not perturbed when told they would ‘eat later’! It was a lovely reception, especially as I travelled unexpectedly to Nepal alone from the UK, as Shanta who I was supposed to accompany back to Kathmandu after her six months studying in the UK, had decided to remain in the UK for personal reasons. Thus it was a lonely arrival!

I was gradually finding my feet again and made a return visit to the beggar village, Rina and family who had so warmly welcomed me two days prior. It was late afternoon and I noticed that Rina was making no effort to prepare a meal for her two little boys (she is alone, her husband having abandoned her). I then consciously looked around and realised that there wasn’t any food in the shack! After some firm questioning, Rina broke into tears! They had no food and her children hadn’t eaten anything solid for 5 days. The only sustenance they had was milk, reconstituted from milk powder! No wonder the youngest boy, Lachsman age eighteen months, had tried to wolf down an entire bar of chocolate I had handed them earlier in the day!

It transpired that the meal I had eaten three days ago had been donated by a neighbour.

To great protestations I virtually dragged Rina to the local stores to buy food for that evening and the next few days.

I asked her ‘why’ she hadn’t told me? Her simple reply was that she had received so much help in the past that she did not expect or wish to take anymore from me! So OK! I told her I would help her boys instead!!

In short, this is the plight of many of the poor people in Nepal, be they migrant Indian beggars or ‘Nepali home grown’ ones. Poverty is everywhere and it breaks one’s heart to see their quiet suffering.

Rina’s personal suffering is the more greater these days with the loss of her beloved sister and closest friend, Sapna.

5.

MAITREYA PATHSHALA WALDORF INSPIRED SCHOOL

The academic year 2014/15 of Maitreya Pathshala Waldorf Inspired School ended happIly with five children. The school started with fifteen children in April 2014 and with two teachers Bishnu Sherchan and Asha Dura. During this academic year, a majority of parents wished for their children to have formal reading and writing in the kindergarten. We made it abundantly clear that our school was for Waldorf education and we were not prepared to compromise our principles in this important area.

So we organized parenting workshop on the importance of early childhood development and the Waldorf Education with the parents. But ten families took their children away so as to attend the regular schools after the winter vacation.. But we steadfastly maintain that we are offering 100% Waldorf education in Pokhara, Nepal.

But we happy with the five children with their parents who support us for the development of Waldorf Education in Pokhara, Nepal.

By the end of this year we had a good documented curriculum for the whole Waldorf Kindergarten and Early Childhood Development, experienced and trained teachers, expanded the international networks, and two individuals have stepped forward to sponsor two of our children.

We would like to thank the Tashi Waldorf School, the Shanti Waldorf School and the Ankuran Waldorf Inspired School, together with Sarita Sanghai, all the trainers and mentors who came to Nepal to hold workshops: Also the Maitreya Pathshala team and all the volunteers for their precious time given for the development of Maitreya Pathshala Waldorf Inspired School in Pokhara, Nepal.

Parenting Workshop

Happy New Year 2072 !!

The Nepali calendar is the lunisolar Hindu calendar used in Nepal for both civil and religious purposes.

The year begins in the month Baishakh; usually around 14 April.. The official Nepali calendar

follows Bikram Samwat, abbreviated B.S., said to have been started by mythical Indian emperor

Vikramāditya.. The B.S. year is 56.7 years ahead of the (western) Gregorian Calendar (Info: Wikipedia)

6.

REMARKABLE ENDEAVOURS

Of several visits that impressed me during this trip to Nepal, two especially come to mind namely KRMEF and ECDC! Two separate projects of great importance and both gaining inspiration from Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy.

1. KRMEF – Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation

KRMEF (Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation) is a living memorial to Krishna Gurung’s young son Kevin who met with a sad accident aged 7 years. Since that time on, Krishna and his wife have dedicated their life to establishing a worthy memorial to their son’s memory. Whenever I am in Kathmandu, I endeavour to make at least one visit to this remarkable project and was impressed with the developments that had taken place over that last 9 months or so.

Having acquired a vacant, under utilized block of land immediately adjacent to the existing properties, Krishna supported with his enthusiastic team of co-workers and international volunteers, have transformed it into an oasis of activities including a bio-dynamic vegetable garden, craft workshops, a craft shop and an organic cafe.

In addition, the new Waldorf inspired school with three flourishing kindergartens with total enrolment of 74+, is housed in the new eco-friendly ‘Ankuran’ building, A new class 1 will be launched in the up-coming new school year in the same building.

Ankuran Kindergarten New café, workshops, etc

To find out more about this remarkable endeavour, visit the website at:

http://www.krmef.org/

7.

2. ECDC - Early Childhood Development Centre

The second remarkable endeavour I visited came as a totally new revelation. Having visited Kathmandu some 14 times in the past 5 years, I was under the illusion that I had seen or heard of every Waldorf inspired initiative either within the bounds of Kathmandu or for that matter, anywhere in Nepal! I was in for a pleasant surprise!

Events in another field of concern, had put me in contact with Puspa Basnet, a nationwide icon for her unselfish work on behalf of children incarcerated with their criminally sentenced mothers, to a life behind prison bars when there was no other known alternative for them. Thus in Nepal, well over 100 children at a time languish in Third World prisons that would have made UK Victorian period prisons look like guest houses!

Pushpa first met a few of these children whilst as a 21 year old, she was undertaking a social science degree 'practical' element and visited a woman's prison. She was touched to the core of her very being by the plight of these innocent, but incarcerated children, so much so that she resolved to devote her life to rescuing such children from such a squalid and inhumane existence. Some 8 years on, Pushpa continues with her task and currently offers a safe haven to some 45 children from 3 years olds to the eldest being 18 years old.

Interestingly, also during her degree studies, Pushpa spent time in another government centre for homeless children known as Bal Mandir. There she discovered a Waldorf kindergarten in action and was impressed with the calm and beauty experienced within its setting.

When Pushpa set-up her 'Butterfly Home' for the prison children, she set one room aside for 'therapy'...Waldorf therapy...in the form of a Waldorf kindergarten based on what she had experienced as a student intern at Bal Mandir. To further her understanding of Waldorf educational philosophy in action in the early years, Pushpa enrolled in the part-time kindergarten teacher training course in Sacramento, California which she continues to attend when finances and time permit. With this background and tremendous enthusiasm for Waldorf education per se,

Pushpa uses her kindergarten as a 'therapy' for those small children who emerge from the dismal prisons of Nepal. It is also a room for meditation of children beyond kindergarten stage who benefit from the beauty of the environment she has created. It is a 'special' honour to be allowed to enter the room at all!

8.

Pushpa, or 'Mamu' (mother) as the children refer to her as, maintains that to watch the transformation on the children's faces, in their eyes and how they relax and respond to the Waldorf kindergarten environment, is in itself, a joy to behold.

And to think that this has really only become known to the wider Waldorf circle within the last month through my casual meeting with Pushpa!

A remarkable kindergarten run by a remarkable, selfless women whose services to Nepali children was recognised the world over on receipt of the prestigious award: CNN 'Hero of the Year Award 2012'.

I am delighted to count Pushpa amongst my many friends and look forward to giving her endeavour what support I can.

THIS? or THIS?

For further photos of the beautiful kindergarten, follow this link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/…

About Pushpa Basnet see link:

http://edition.cnn.com/…/wo…/cnnheroes-basnet-nepal-prisons/ +++++++++

“For their development,

children need the respect and

protection of adults who take them seriously,

love them, and honestly help them to

become orientated in the world.” Alice Miller

Psychiatrist

Ed: Eric Fairman (S.E.N.)