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All 292 students received new uniforms. Uniforms are required and many students end up wearing very tattered and dirty clothes to school to fulfill the requirement. The two new uniforms each child received will make it easier to clean or repair their uniforms.

We provided stationery items such as paper, packs of pencils and colored pencils, pens, a pencil case, erasers, sketch books, and rulers to 194 students to help in their studies and academic performance. 

Additionally, we distributed personal hygiene items such as soap, hair oil, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair comb, vaseline cream, nail cutter, etc to 194 students. 

We helped educated them on the benefits and importance of good personal hygiene in preventing children from picking up or spreading germs and infectious diseases.

Each child received the stationary and personal care packed in new backpacks for them to carry to school.

There is a lot of work to be done to help this community, and all the schools and families of the supported students who received the support were grateful and said that the support of the organization will make a positive impact in the students lives. 

Other stories about the students and families in Benighat:

One Child at a Time

Benighat Update From Mun Maya

Benighat Food Distribution Saves Lives

If you want to help support our outreach in Benighat, and beyond, donate today!

The post Supplies for Benighat Schools appeared first on HCC Nepal.

The month of March was interesting and went well. As International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March every year, along with it we also celebrated Sadhana’s birthday on the same day. We had small dance performances and captured the moments in our heart and camera. All the Khushi Ghar members were gathered and our excitement and happiness was limitless. Currently, we have been spending time with Maya Gold family. On our first meeting, we had very good time with all of them. Like always we were spread out into three different groups where different activities were done which was switched after every 30 minutes. On our next visit, we had a visit to Government school Tinkanya Bageshwori School in Dhading, There we had great time with the children playing different games and every one of them were provided with some gifts which brought beautiful glow on their face. Seeing the glow, we were overjoyed. Then we returned back with our hearts full. 

Talking about my studies, I am regular and attentive in every class. After about couple of months, I will be appearing for my pre-board examination of grade 11 and very soon after that I will be given my final examination. So for that I am my spending time in my studies and I will be giving my best performance.

Here in Khushi Ghar, I have taken responsibility for gadgets which I have done well and I will be giving my 100% in my every duties and responsibilities. I will never hesitate to take leadership in any of the works and happily help my brothers and sisters.

Thank you HCC for all the support, love and care that you have been providing me in every breath of my life,

Koshish

To help support Koshish and all the students in HCC’s programs, DONATE today!

The post March Was Busy at Khushi Ghar! appeared first on HCC Nepal.

After nearly 2 years of Covid-related delays, Ram is finally in Lyon, France, at the prestigious Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay.

Traveling to France was like a dream come true for me. The working hours are good because we’ll get a break in between. The hotel has a guest everyday despite Covid. Here  in Lyon, we don’t have a problem of Covid. I am still learning step by step because my chef will not provide me a recipe all at once. First thing I had learnt in France was dessert plating and I am still doing it. My chef is very friendly, funny and doesn’t speak English very well. I have friend in patisserie who had recently joined as a employ from August, even he does not speak english very much. So, mostly they speak broken english and like I do broken french it’s very funny having communication with them.

Most of the people I work with don’t speak English, even those people who have come from Poland, Argentina, Czech and all for an internship. It’s a challenge and I have to accept it. I won’t be able to take a photo because of the dish being prepared as per the order and it rushes so quick that you can see it. I managed to take some pictures of my dessert. I am still waiting on a chance to take a photo of mine within the kitchen department.

Still the same person, with the same name just a different mind set and a few new games and I am enjoying it. Keep chasing your goals even if you are alone, scared and tired, I say it to myself everyday to remain focussed and enjoy every moment of my life. Six moths of hard work and focus will put me on the right direction. That wouldn’t have been possible without HCC and  I am very thankful for this moment of my life that I have received from HCC family.

-Ram

To help support Ram and all the students in HCC’s programs, DONATE today!

The post January Update From Ram in France appeared first on HCC Nepal.

Travel to Dhading has been complicated due to the COVID-19, and we go as often as we can, but it felt like everything changed; the road, facilities, new buildings, students growing up to become a future leaders of the country. I am so happy to always be a part of the HCC Nepal team and help the students in their education. I see myself in those students who had no hope, no dreams and aspirations in life whose later perception changed to become independent, strong and an influencer of many people like us. It was so overwhelming to meet all the students, parents, and teachers who appreciate the work we have been doing all these years. It has helped so many students get good education, care and support. We are all a family now. Thank you to everyone who has helped in this noble cause to support these students.

During this trip, the we were able to meet with 65 students and distributed:

• Regular scholarship funds, family support stipends, and school stationery supplies as well as extra COVID-19 relief support and personal care items including masks, soap, and sanitizer. 
• Warm winter socks, caps and muffler to 65 students 
• Menstrual pads to 50 mothers and female students 
• Menstrual cups to 20 mothers and female students 

Emotional, academic and career counseling to the parents and students in grade 10 and above and provided information regarding applying to HCC Higher Education Scholarship Program for future study.

All the families of the supported students who came across were grateful and said that the support of the organization has made a positive impact in their lives.

This work was made possible in part thanks to a 2021 Family Empowerment Grant from Charlie’s Heart Foundation. To learn more about Charlie’s Heart Foundation please visit their website at charliesheartfoundation.org

The post Dhading Trip December 2021 appeared first on HCC Nepal.

The post Rising Children Issue 6 appeared first on HCC Nepal.

Due to limited internet access in remote villages the students have returned to Khushi Ghar to insure they don’t fall behind in their studies. 

For some of the students, this was their first time spending time with their family. We asked them to reflect on these experiences:

Tashi:

I finished my final exam and I came to Khushi Ghar for my summer vacation and my mom came to Khushi Ghar to take me to my village. I went to Kohlpur where I met every family members and I was really happy and excited. My village Kohlpur lies in the Terai part of the region. It is a very hot place. I had difficulties in accommodating with the weather. It was my first time going out of the Kathmandu valley with my very own family. It took me one and a half-day to reach there. I went to my sister’s place there.

I stayed for about three months in Kohlpur. Every morning I woke up at seven and had my breakfast and then I would study fo

r an hour. I would also help my sister in cooking. At ten o’clock we would have lunch. After lunch, I would do the dishes. Though I had my online classes regularly I only got a chance to join the class for a few days due to lack of internet connection.

I spent three months with my family and I got to know them better. It was my first time that I spent this long time with my family and I got to know and learn about my village and my family struggle in their day to day activities. Despite this, I also had a great time watching movies together, helping them in household chores, and helping in the field. I learned how to cook but yet I am not perfect. At this time I got to know and learn about village life better and also came to know about the difficulties people face in villages.

It was a long vacation for me. therefore, I had a lot of leisure time. So most of the time I slept, chit-chatted with my brothers helped my family in the field, and played indoor games like ludos. Besides, I  often helped my mother in doing the dishes, washing, and cleaning the house. 

Since it was a very long vacation, I missed my friends, brothers, sisters, aunt, and uncle at HCC. So I often used to call HCC and talk to everyone. It felt good to talk to them. Realizing how badly I had missed HCC and also since I was not able to take online classes as there was no internet service at my sister’s place, Dinesh’s (should just be Dinesh)  uncle came to take me. I was filled with happiness that I was finally coming to Khushi Ghar. It took me two days to reach Kathmandu. On the first night, I stayed at Dang as uncle had work there. Then the next day we drove to Kathmandu and I was finally at Khushi Ghar.

I’m very happy to be here again. I have started taking online classes. I shared about my experience in the village with the HCC family.

Rina:

The Novel Coronavirus has been spreading in the whole world like a wildfire. Day by day the number of people dying from this virus has been increasing. So the countries were forced to impose lockdown.

So far, we believe that the only medicine of this virus is maintaining social distance and avoiding social contacts. So I visited my family. We were three of us at home (my mother, younger sister, and me). My two older sisters are already married. We didn’t move out of the house often except in case of emergency cases like buying vegetables and grocery stuff. We avoided social contacts, we did our best to stay at home and we utilized time wisely.

Before visiting my family, I had attended the “Happiness Course” of “Art of Living”. I had learned different ways of breathing techniques that would help me in my health condition, concentration, and overall for succeeding in anything I do. But we had to give our hundred percent to what we would do. So every morning, I would wake up at six and do the various breathing techniques and Surya Namaskar for an hour. Then I would do concentration yoga and study for at least one hour. After this, I would go for tea and help my mom in household works. I would also help my sister in her studies. Besides these, we spent time playing Ludo (I think this is Parcheesi and it might be good to mention it that way)  , watching movies, and chatting with our friends and relatives through social media. We also utilized our time sharing our life experiences. I shared about my life at HCC with my family and they’re very happy for me because I am getting such a beautiful opportunity to build up my career. My mother talked about our past life. I had a very bad childhood story. I was deeply saddened when I heard how difficult it was for my mother to raise four kids. The positive aspect of the story of my underprivileged childhood as I was once again filled with the hope to do something better in the future.

I stayed with my family for about a month. I really enjoyed being with them. I am happy because I got a chance to learn about my history and now I am filled with a strong determination to become a successful person in the future by achieving my goals.

Suman:

After my final term examination of grade 9, I visited my village in Malekhu, Dhading. I went there with my mom. As soon as I went there the government declared a lockdown in the whole country due to coronavirus. I had to stay there for around one and a half months. During this time I learned lots of things. I went to my birthplace and I met with all the family members and got their blessing then I went to visit all the places around my village and the memorable moment was the time when I went to get the berries in the top hill with my friends. I climbed the tree and got almost half of the small bag. Then I got all the barley, millet, and buffalo ghee. Then In the early morning, I returned to Malekhu taking all the berries, millet, barley, and I learned to work with all the traditional technologies. Here in Kathmandu, we used to grind in an electric grinder but in Malekhu I learned to grind in dhiki as well as in janto. I learned to cook all the vegetables, I learned the way of cooking in a traditional cooking stove in which I had to burn the fire by blowing wood which was really tough for me in the beginning. I also grew crops and the learned way to do agriculture. In around half a month I learned lots of things in the village but still, the lockdown was not open so our school decided to start an online class which I joined after a week. There were lots of problems in the network there through which I was not able to join online class properly so I decided to come to Kathmandu during lockdown only. I woke up at sharp 4:00 A: M and came in a truck filled with wheat, around 12 at noon I reached Sukedhara, Khushi Ghar. I then was able to join my online class properly in well mannered. I spend my time playing guitar and singing.

Ambika:

After my pre-board exam, I had one month of holiday for my board examination but suddenly due to the outbreak of the COVID 19, there happened to be a lockdown. Before going to my sister’s home I had attended art of living class. I learned different kinds of breathing techniques. It was very effective and good for our health. It was different from the other way I learned. Then after a few days, I went to my sister’s home. I had taken my books along with me. During the holidays I prepared for my board exam. I used to watch reality shows as well. I love watching it. During the day, I used to read for two hours, and other times I used to do some light exercises. I used to play badminton and along with it, I used to play with my sister’s daughter. Also, I used to help my sister before her exam had been canceled. Apart from this, I had a very good time with my sister. I really enjoyed talking and sharing things with her. She taught me many things. I was more concerned with the things that I had to do in my daily life. This was my first time staying for a long time with my relatives. I learned more about my family relationship and I understood their values. I had learned life skill activities from my aunt in Khushi Ghar so I did not have to worry much about it. I was very happy as I had learned every kind of life skill activity in Khushi ghar after my SEE from my senior members and my aunt. I am very happy to be part of the HCC family. I would like to thank all my members for love, support, and for helping me become a strong and empowered girl.

Donate today to help support our efforts to keep our students safe and healthy!

The post Life in my Village During Lockdown appeared first on HCC Nepal.

Check out previous issues One, Two, Three, and Four.

The post Rising Children Issue 5 appeared first on HCC Nepal.

Mun Maya and Laxmi traveled to Dhading to deliver backpacks with supplies and warm track suits for the children supported by HCC.

They meet with each student individually to insure they are keeping up with their studies.

Many of the students have some surviving family, but without support they wouldn’t be able to stay in school. Children in remote districts, like Dhading, are especially vulnerable to early marriage and human trafficking. 

Your support makes this work possible! Donate today to help us continue to provide education and bright futures for these students!

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For me, success is achieving the target set by yourself and gaining it through your hard work and dedication (which also includes the life skills training that I got to learn at Khushi Ghar). Success is also being able to make people around you proud with all your achievements.

I feel successful being able to complete my responsibilities as a senior sister to all junior brother and sisters at Khushi Ghar. I also feel successful being able to live a life at a different area of the country, far from the capital city on my own and completing my university degree. 

I was very scared when I had no choice but to travel to Bhairahawa to complete my further studies. I had a very hard time adjusting to the new environment which was very different from the kind of life I had in Kathmandu. I finally got used to the way and started enjoying my life there. I take this as the biggest achievement in my life. And now, I have completed my studies and have planned to work in hospital. This is all possible because of HCC family. If it had not been the HCC family, I would not be this successful as I am today.

Thank you so much!!

Saraswati 

To sponsor a student like Saraswati and be an integral part of their success, donate today.

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