“When I was 12 years old I had eye problems. I felt less capable in my class because I could not see clearly, but I couldn’t tell my teacher or my family what the problem was. I thought every one saw the same way I did. So, I could not study any further than 8th grade. Actually,I don’t even know when I first had cataracts in my eyes becauseI only came to know that I had cataracts 7 years ago. When I knew I needed to have an eye operation, it was the most terrible feeling because I knew I could not afford it. Now, I am so happy and thankful to the Women’s Foundation who helped me out of this problem to get the operation I needed. I am so glad that I have clear vision now.”
Leave a commentFebruary 17 – 27, 2015
This February, in only ten days, 1700 people in Kathmandu were treated at a free eye clinic held atWFN and financed and staffed by GLS TreuhandGermanyand Vision for the Future – Germany. Women, children and men of all ages came to be diagnosed and provided with medication and free eyeglasses. The camp was targeted at the many people in Nepal with untreated eye problems due to poverty and lack of access. The team, consisting of Dr. Karl Brasse and Sister Anja,Wehrmeyer, and health team of Netra JyotiSangh, provided eye exams and then performed successful operations on 79 cataract patients. For people suffering from loss of vision and cataracts, this has made an enormous difference in their lives – now they can live happily and independently with their eyesight restored.
Leave a commentMandira is 32 years old and has had heart problems for a long time. 8 years ago a doctor told her that she needed to have a new heart valve. For her full treatment and operation she needed to pay around NRS 400,000 ($4,500). Her family are very poor and her and her husband work on a construction site as laborers. From their income it was difficult to maintain daily expenses for themselves. They have one little son. She did not go to hospital because it is out of her and her family’s capacity to pay for the operation. Day by day she became weaker and weaker. They gave up on her ever having treatment. They were not able to send their son, Karan to school, he was already 9 years old and had never received any education. At that time WF started the non-violent school. Mandira came to know about the school and brought her son there. At school the boy could not study, he looked very sad. After talking with the boy WF found out about his mother’s health and the situation of family. We visited her in her rented room. A international volunteer also went to see her in her room with Renu. When they heard her life story, the volunteer decided to help her by giving some part of her hospital cost. We were very happy with this. We took Mandira regularly to the hospital. We also collected some money ourself but it is not enough. We continued to try to make an operation date for her. Doctors gave time for the operation but it had to be postponed several time because of her very weak heath.
Finally on Friday July 4th she had an operation which was a big success. The doctors say she is doing very well.
After the success of the operation her husband expressed his joy and thanks to God. “When Mandira had been very ill I contemplated suicide as I found it very painful to see Mandira in such pain and with such a depressing outlook. There was nothing I could do to save her. Now, after the operation, I have my wife back.”
Leave a comment22 children from Bipul School have successfully completed their School Leaver Certificates in the First division, four of whom received distinctions. This is fantastic news as in Nepal it is essential for students to pass this level of education if they want to progress with their studies. The fact that the children have done so well will allow them to continue with their education and give them the best foundation for their future careers.
We believe that this shows the benefits of non-violent educational principles as 100% of our students have passed a very hard set of exams. The examination board of the Government of Nepal reported that only 44% of students passed their SLC showing how impressive our results are. By learning in a non-violent happy environment, our children enjoy learning and therefore work hard and achieve success.
Five of the children are from the WFN shelter and we are so proud of them! Many of the children have been with us since they were very young and came from tragic backgrounds. The fact they have progressed through school and done so well shows that the WFN can help change the lives of children.
WFN would like to thank all the kind and generous people who sponsor our children and their success shows that your contribution really does make a difference to the future of the children.
If you would be interested in sponsoring a child please click on the link to see the children that require sponsorship. Sponsorship of school fees is only $25 and you will receive regular updates about our child. http://www.womenepal.org/get-involved/sponsor-a-child-at-the-shelter-home/
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This week, three other volunteers left the WFN office. Katharina & Robert from Germany and Carmen from Switzerland worked for WFN for the last two months. Together they updated our websites for both, WFN and Maheela Cooperative. They did a great work in writing, developing and designing our new face to the world outside. We are very thankful that they brought in their experience.
Leave a commentToday WFN proudly released the new websites for The Women’s Foundation Nepal and for Maheela Cooperative. WFN’s volunteers Carmen Lautenschlager, Katharina and Robert Sternberg worked intensively on this project the last weeks. New texts, new photographs and a complete new design catapult WFN’s websites in to the new century.
Please explore our new Websites – WFN is looking forward to your feedback!
Leave a commentToday WFN said goodbye to Suzanne from Canada and Felix from Germany.
Suzanne is part of the WFN family since many years and returns every year to work with us for six months. WFN is so thankful for her great ongoing support and happy, to see her again in autumn.
Felix is working for Changemaker, WFNs business partner in Switzerland. Felix visited WFN for business reasons and stayed with WFN for three weeks. Last year, he was our volunteer for five months. We are thankful for his knowledge about design and production techniques he shares with WFN.
Leave a commentLorraine Pendleton from the UK visited her daughter, Hannah, which is currently a volunteer at WFN. Lorraine surprised the girls living at the shelter home with her dancing performances (Turkish and Bollywood dances). She is a dancing teacher back home and the girls were eager to learn new dancing steps. As dancing is one of their biggest passion they quickly learned the Bollywood dance, Lorraine was showing them.
After the lesson, it was their turn. The children performed all kinds of Nepali dances. And of course, the volunteers had to learn from them and concluded the joyful day with a typical Nepali dance.
Leave a commentToday, a seven-day training in Bhaktapur, reached its highlight. 45 women, all of them farmers in rural areas, learned in the past days about efficient organic farming.
This training is part of the Vocational Training for Nepalese Rural Women Program funded by Marie-Schlei-Verein Germany. The training is about how to grow all kinds of vegetables in harmony with nature. The women learned about professional farming and how to make more profit from their farm.
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