Noble House Nepal ENGELS

The Noble House Nepal Foundation

We came to Nepal for the first time in 1994. A step back in time. A beautiful country with friendly people, but what a contrast to our own way of life.

The first step in a country we now visit regularly and to which, in our own way, we try to contribute something without imposing ourselves on the existing culture, was taken. At first we were not particularly aware of the fact that by contributing in a material sense, one might simultaneously destroy something. As we have found out by now, here, too, one needs to start at the very beginning: offering children the prospect of a future by educating them.

Quite by chance, we embarked on this trail ten years ago when we helped Utsab, at the time a boy of 15 years old, to learn English. Utsab seized the opportunity and has since made full use of the chances he has been given to follow various courses. Ranging from language courses to training to become a guide and a computer course. He now speaks English perfectly and, to top it all off, a little Spanish and French as well. He is also quite good with computers and communicates with us a few times each week via the local village computer. We like to believe that ours, though small, was a contribution to his future. Quite a different aspect of his future lies in the fact that he now manages a number of projects for our foundation. And, we might add proudly, doing a very good job indeed. Utsab and his wife Sita are at present the key figures of our activities in Nepal. Utsab and Sita, father and mother of Noble House. Trusted people who we have known ever since they themselves seemed to have very few chances in life. For the purpose of consolidating Utsab's future and that of other children, we started out on a project that was incorporated in the Noble House Foundation.

The first project - Noble House - is a centre for underprivileged children who would otherwise have no future at all. Many children, often parentless, wander the streets and fields, exposed to prostitution and obscure practices. These children we can now help by giving them a home at Noble House. This is where they find a safe haven, are fed, given clean clothes, educated and loved and cared for by Utsab and Sita, who do everything within their power to provide the children with the affection and security they have never felt before. Consequently, many children are given something of a future, much in the same way as when we started out with Utsab.

Noble House opened its doors in November, 2005. And although children are being taken care of, much still remains to be done and we hope to ensure continual help through sponsoring. Every Euro counts, and the support of our sponsors helps the children.

Thanks to the personal involvement of a large number of sponsors, the foundation's activities by now include the following projects:

Noble House

Noble House takes care of children who otherwise would fade away into obscure practices. It is heartbreaking that these children cannot be taken in by other families, as they would then still be at risk of being sold into prostitution or as cheap labour to hotels or wealthy families. Noble House at present permanently accommodates twenty five children and provides a shelter for others during the day. Here they get the supporting care they much need from Utsab and Sita, a young Nepalese couple utterly devoted to the welfare of these children. They are assisted by two around the clock nursemaids and by Utsab's two brothers, who are at the same time being prepared for other current projects.

This all transpires with the utmost respect for the Nepalese culture. Most children have a traumatised past and should be allowed to acquire a well balanced sense of security without constant changes and insecurities. That is why it is wiser not to have any foreign volunteers work at the home. It is certainly not our aim to tell the Nepalese people time and again how to run their lives, as ours is a cooperation based on mutual respect. And mutual trust.

Ever since its construction, it was clear that the Noble House was in need of an additional floor in order to accommodate additional activities. A reading corner where the children can read English books in their spare time and can be accompanied in doing their homework. Additional beds for emergency cases have been obtained, and solar panels have been placed on the roof for hot water supply and two cooking systems specifically designed to operate on solar energy. This has proven to be of great importance, as the supply of (costly) calor gas is not always guaranteed.

At the end of 2008, Noble House was honoured with a visit by government officials. During this visit, it was established that Noble House merited the title "excellent", which is truly a special compliment for Utsab and Sita.

A particularly special milestone in the existence of Noble House came with the birth of Simon in September of the year 2008. Utsab and Sita's second son.

By now, Noble House has developed into a centre from which several projects are being coordinated. At present, children who are in need of temporary help are also being taken care of. These children can live in the house for as long as is necessary, but there are also children who are merely given meals and schooling in the Noble House day-care centre. Noble House also offers a helping hand to people working at the brickyards nearby. Theirs is hard physical (temporary) work that pays little, as a result of which housing and medical care are poor. Particularly in winter. Noble House provides medication and warm clothes for people such as these.

We are not changing Nepal; Nepal is changing us........

The following story of "the widow" typically illustrates Noble House's activities. It is the story of a widow who was not a widow, but had been abandoned by her husband. Left behind with three small children. Sadly, we recently learned that she, the mother of Anjana and Srijana, had died. She had been the first mother to entrust us with the care of her children at the time when we started the Noble House project. Living under the appalling circumstances in which she was left by her husband, she was no longer able to take care of her four and eight year old daughters Srijana and Anjana. And she did not want these two daughters being sold off into prostitution by her former husband the way her eldest daughter had been. She was a small, courageous woman who was entirely dedicated to the welfare of her daughters. She regularly visited her children and even did the laundry for Noble House as a way of giving something back.

Some years ago, her small shack was on the verge of collapse, but even her daily work in the fields provided too little means for her to afford a different place to stay. Until, that is, a Dutch sponsor took her plight to heart and offered to pay the rent for a small new home. There she lived with the son left to her.

We saw her when we last visited Nepal, seriously ill and bed-bound in her little home. Fortunately, we were able to haul the Jeep over the mountains and rush her to hospital. She survived as a result.

She recently visited her two daughters, urging them to never let go of Noble House if anything should ever happen to her. These now prove to have been a loving mother's prophetic words. It was her wish that we take on the task of caring for her daughters. A trust that was bestowed on us many years ago.

We are now trying to find out if it is possible for Utsab and Sita to officially adopt Srijana and Anjana. If so, then both children will be safe from their father's foul practices. Both can obviously count on the full support of the Noble House Foundation. Srijana and Anjana are doing well. Srijana once again has mischief in her eyes, and Anjana is able to read English news papers. The little son is now taken care of by our mountain project. A stark contrast to the way of living years ago in the musty little shack. The "widow" would have been proud to see what has become of her children.

And that, after all, is what Noble House is meant to do. Providing a future for all those underprivileged children who by now have become "our" children as well.

Noble House Day-care and school

Construction of this small school was finalised in the year 2007, enabling children in the vicinity to be taken care of during the day. Most of these children have parents who cannot provide for them or fail to understand that a lot more is required than a mere handful of rice each day. Children who would otherwise be out on the streets, now for the first time in their lives are given a form of education, while at the same time their further needs are being seen to. Much is done to accompany each child individually, which is something quite unheard of in Nepal, where general perception is still based on the use of classes. A qualified teacher whom we have employed meanwhile maintains contact with her training centre, taking special courses in the accompaniment of children. An exchange of teachers took place in 2008, as the first teacher had some difficulties in achieving our objectives of providing each child with a sense of security, treating them as individuals and supporting them. One of the basic principles is for the children to learn while playing. In order to support the development of the children, we have invested in a number of computers. Much as with children in the west, these computers serve to introduce children to modern means of working.

Much depending on particular individual circumstances, these children attend the English primary school in Bhaktapur. This is an excellent school to which other Noble House children are also sent. The children are even given Chinese language lessons and participate in handicrafts and sports. Truly unusual from a Nepalese point of view. Children are normally gathered and seated on rough benches in bare classrooms in dilapidated buildings, and they are drilled at taking in all sorts of elementary knowledge. It is heartwarming to attend the annual parents' evening organised between the Board of the foundation and the Bhaktapur Genuine School management, and to hear that 'our' children are doing their best, picking up good grades and behaving extremely well socially. The fact that they once belonged to the untouchable class no longer seems relevant now that they have found a safe haven with Noble House.

It is more than likely that some of the Noble House children will be able to learn well, or even extremely well. This has inspired us into thinking that it would be good to establish a scholarship fund, thus providing Noble House with the means to also offer these children a solid secondary education when required.

Jaharsingpauwa: the project on the mountain

The construction of the small school for children from the highlands was commenced in Jaharsingpauwa, on the mountain that lies approximately twenty five kilometres from Noble House. The aim is for medical aid, education for children and young women, and care for neglected children to be provided after construction has been completed. The many setbacks, most notably as a result of political unrest, have lead to considerable delays in carrying out the plans for construction. Fuel was no longer available, preventing the supply of building materials. The lack of water, an irregular electricity supply and a shortage of manpower seriously interfered with the project's progress. The start-up in spring was further met with complications, as the Dutch students of architecture that had been assigned to the supervision of the project did not entirely understand their role and responsibilities. As a result, the local population got the wrong idea of the foundation. No other option was left but to send the students back to where they came from. A process began of regaining the trust of the local population. All these events, including the effects of the monsoon, put an end to construction for months.

The many setbacks, most notably as a result of political unrest, lead to considerable delays in carrying out the plans for construction. Fuel was no longer available, preventing the supply of building materials. The lack of water, an irregular electricity supply and a shortage of manpower seriously interfered with the project's progress. The remaining old farmhouse was in ruins and needed to be demolished in order for the relief centre for children to be built in its place. The retaining wall, built to keep the ground in place and measuring 30 metres wide and 3 metres high, is ready. The entire project will be finalised within a few months, after which an activity programme can be drawn up. Even though the project has not yet been finalised, a number of cases of such urgency arose as to require the immediate care for three boys. Luxury, according to our standards, is lacking, but what has been realised is quite something to the Nepalese.

Project prison children

Women who are sentenced to imprisonment are forced to take their children with them. What happens to those children from then on needs no further explanation. The Foundation found itself in the position of being able to take care of these children in a professionally run relief centre that is rented in Kathmandu. In this instance we cooperate closely with the Early Childhood Development Centre, a Nepalese foundation that is supported with both knowledge and funding.

The responsibilities we have are considerable. Before being given permission to take care of these children, we need to prove to the authorities that they can be given a future. If in any way possible, and circumstances permitting, an effort is made to have the children returned to their families, in the situation of which care is provided by means of support and funding for education. After initially taking care of twelve children in the year 2007, we now provide for thirty five children. Plans have been drawn up for a second relief centre for prison children.

Medical projects

In spring we met a 10 year old girl somewhere in the vicinity of the Joharsingpauwa project. At the age of 9 months her face had been burnt. Her mother at the time had had to work in the fields, being forced to leave the child alone at home. This little girl on that occasion fell into the glowing remnants of a fire, altering and disfiguring her face. She had asked whether she could be given a new face. That was the moment at which the medical project was born. Since then, this little girl has undergone many medical examinations in the hospital, and the expectations are that she will be operated on sometime this year.

A number of other children came after that, and small operations have been successfully carried out as a result. A little boy with a harelip and a cleft palate has been treated. He is now well and running around happily.

Karuna, a girl with multiple disabilities, was helped by providing the means necessary for her to visit a day-care centre daily. This allowed the mother to go out and make a little money herself.

There was a mother of four who could not afford a desperately needed operation of her womb. The solution came in the form of a small amount of money that put her back into a position of being able to take care of her children. What to us is a small difference, means all the world to others.

There was Kavre whose arm had been severed during an accident. It required but a small amount of money to give him a prosthesis.

And then there is the sad story of a three year old boy, who spent nine months in Intensive Care following open heart surgery. We promised the hospital to which he was admitted that we would contribute towards the cost of treatment, but it was already too late. The boy died and the hospital declined the financial support offered by us. However, it was decided that the funds were to be used for the treatment of other children.

Project Down Syndrome: “forgotten children”

The project commenced in October 2008, when a number of handicapped children were visited in their own circumstances at home. Distressing situations. What can you do when you see a handicapped child locked up in a bamboo cage? What can you do when a baby with Down's syndrome is forced to spend its life in a dark shed? The forgotten children of Nepal, whose rights to a decent future are simply still not understood.

Today the Foundation supports a care centre where children with Down's syndrome are being taken in. Its playroom has been renovated, a snoozle room equipped, and there are plans for the construction of a therapy room. Furthermore, plans are being drawn up to organise transport for children living in the area, so that they too will be able to find a safe place within the centre.

This is a photograph of Shivangi and Bishru, two children with Down's syndrome for whom the Foundation was already able to provide care. They are now being taken care of in the day-care section of the recently renovated centre. Two little girls of two and three who have already found each other. There are still other children out there waiting to be taken from the desperate circumstances they live in. We intend to focus on them, too.

Sankhu Project

In Sankhu, a village twenty five kilometres away from Kathmandu, a plot of land was bought mid 2008 with an size of approximately 5,000 m2. A conveniently situated, fertile plot of land which we were able to buy at a very reasonable price thanks to well willing Nepalese relations. Initially the idea was to build a large relief centre on this land, big enough to shelter approximately sixty children. However, because of the disproportionately high cost of construction on the one hand and the ever uncertain political situation on the other, the decision was forced upon us to put it to different use. The land is now being used for agriculture and the experimental cultivation of crops, all the proceeds of which are meant to contribute to the activities of Noble House. In view of the present developments in the area surrounding Sankhu, this may well prove to be an interesting investment, and as such a means by which the children of Noble House will be able to sustain themselves in the future, even without Noble House to help them.

It can easily happen to you:

On an already cold and dark night, a little girl of seven years old carrying a baby of six months old was walking through a desolate street in the rain. Her other sister of two, dressed in nothing but an undersized t-shirt, walked aimlessly beside her. Utsab tried to offer help and took them home. A small, filthy room containing little more than a seriously drunk father lying on a mattress who claimed that his wife had gone out for the evening with other men. Utsab was forced to leave the three girls behind without being able to provide food or care.

The following day Utsab and I went back. The father initially thought that we were offering money for his children. Not much persuasion was needed to bring the father's attention to the future of his daughters, but we nevertheless needed to await the mother's return the next day. The children did nothing but stand resigned and were forced to watch their father try to negotiate their lot. Their bland little faces showed no emotions whatsoever. The rigidness of these children's faces at that moment made me decide there and then that they needed to be cared for as quickly as possible.

The following day the children came to the Noble House of their own accord, and we immediately took care of the formalities required to take the children in. As it turned out, the parents had been forced to move to the city after being cast out by village people some 40 kilometres further on. The reason being that the intentions of the father with his children had been rather more obscure. The same village as where another girl we know had been sold to a brothel.

I am deeply grateful to all the sponsors who have made this possible and I would sincerely like to share with them the suffering I have witnessed, but for now I believe that it is sufficient to say that these children are now well, and that the first hesitant smile appeared within two weeks of taking them in.

Engely Tersteeg

Donations

Your support will enable us to provide something of a future for those children in Nepal who otherwise have almost nothing to live for. Your donations are more than welcome, and can be transferred to our Rabobank account number 13.20.96.773 in the name of Stichting Noble House Nepal in Bosch en Duin, the Netherlands

IBAN nl 44 RABO 0132 0967 73
BIC: RABONL2U.

for more information please visit our website at www.engely.eu