As you know Nepal underwent a rather chaotic time this past year. Today Nepal is a democratic country. As a result, IWEN also underwent a rather chaotic time since IWEN's two projects were in Nepal .
Both of these have been completed despite weeklong strikes of everything that moved, 3 to 6 daily electricity blackouts, valley road blockades, curfews, telephone and internet communications cut for weeks and finally “a King who gave in” to his people. One certainty about the Nepalese people is that they are persistent. I too am persistent. So together we managed to complete IWEN's projects which IWEN promised in its first newsletter back in October and November of 2005.
As IWEN's Nepal Director I sincerely apologized for the terrible lateness of this newsletter . Working a Non-Profit Organization from TWO CONTINENTS is somewhat of a challenge. IWEN has had its growing pains as well. However what is important is that what IWEN promised to do has been accomplished. IWEN has grown from giving 10 female scholarships to the possibility of giving 200 female scholarships. Now in one year that is quite a feat! In addition since April 2006 IWEN has 315 members.
To know more, to read the stories and see the pictures of these young girls please view IWEN's new website; www.iwencanada.com . All the information you need to need on IWEN can be viewed on this user friendly web site which was designed by a Nepalese group. There are still a few glitches to work out but I do think that you will enjoy viewing it.
I arrived! I worked! We did it!
IWEN's 2005 COMMITMENTS COMPLETED!
Nepal 's spectacular natural beauty is only surpassed by the beauty and innocence of its children. Daily, I continue to be amazed at how resilient these young ones are. They have adapted to this war-torn Nepal that the adults have fashioned for them.
Children are children no matter where they live in this world. In the crowded spaces of Kathmandu , children continue to play, laugh, run, chatter and cry. Street children continue to share small nightly fires on the sidewalks. The estimated 800-1000 street children daily hustle out a miserable existence by begging for crumbs of food. Young girls carry their baby sisters and brothers on their backs. Children fortunate enough to go to school pass armed police and army in their crisp, clean school uniforms without even a glance at the guns pointed in their direction. Small children smile shyly, folding their hands in the traditional “Namaste” greeting or hide frightened behind their mother's “kurtas”.
Yes children play! They continue to play! Their play has been the symbol of hope for this country
embroiled in civil war for the past 11 years.
IWEN's commitment to educating female students is made to these very children who carry Nepal 's hope in their play, chatter and laughter. As members and donors we plead with you to be part of this hope which I have seen alive in the smiling faces and tears of Nepalese children.