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April 2006 Newsletter

After delays in our building works we were finally able to admit our first seven boys to the Talbot Centre on 14th February 2006.  They were referred to us by CWIN, a Nepalese NGO that had rescued the boys from the streets of Kathmandu.  Unfortunately two of the boys proved to be very disruptive and uncontrollable and were sent back to the rehabilitation centre at CWIN on 16th March.

On the 24th March we admitted our first little girl, Shova, aged 6 years.  She has no parents and her grandmother was unable to care for her due to extreme poverty.  Another girl, Bimala, also six years old has since joined us.  Our project co-ordinator found her working in a local Nepalese cafe washing dishes.  She is an orphan who was taken to work in Kathmandu by a member of her extended family.

The children are now settled and very happy.  The change in them since they first came to the Centre is remarkable.  It just goes to show what a stable, caring environment and good food can do in just over two months!  Rajesh and Bishal passed their end of term school exams and they will be going up to the next class when they start back.  The younger ones will repeat their class but we have high hopes for them next term as Akshya, Sioux and volunteers are giving them lessons at the Centre.

Volunteers Helen and Steve Tate from Uckfield near Brighton in the UK came for two weeks on 15th April, bringing with them a mountain of toys, games, teaching aids, stationery and clothes for the children.  They have endless patience and the kids just love them.  I can see we will have some tears when it's time for them to leave.  Committee member Barbara Jones also came out for a 10 day visit to Kathmandu but due to the strike and curfews she was only able to get to the Centre for a few hours on two occasions, bringing with her some lovely clothes, books and much yearned for cheese and Cadbury's chocolate for Sioux.  Trustee Jenny's daughter Kate and her boyfriend Gary came with some more clothes and stationery etc. on 29th March before going off to trek in the Annapurna region.  Our thanks to all of them and all the people in the UK that donated many of the items.

Despite the dreadful problems with demonstrations, curfews and total ban on transport that Nepal has been enduring for the past 16 days, we have luckily been too far out of town for it to affect us.  Our biggest worry being keeping food stocks and gas supplied - so far so good!!

We plan to take another three children once the strike is over and we can get to a drop-in centre for street children in Patan.  There are so many children needing homes and the numbers are rising every day.  Many of the protestors killed in Nepal in the past few weeks will have left families destitute.

What we need right now

Funds for:

• Insulating the roof of the kitchen/dining hall extension
• Tables/desks for the classroom
• Tiling the shower room
• Establishing a vegetable garden
• Hospital treatment and medication
• A minibus to take the children on outings
• Transport for medical emergencies and shopping

"Sioux's Dream"

Initially it was my aim to have one centre catering for up to 50 children.  However, since starting the project, I realise that to have so many children in one building would be too institutional.  Children should feel part of a 'family' and this cannot be achieved with so many children in one building.  Doing so can reduce the children to mere 'numbers' with no opportunity for individual attention.

My ideal is to buy a large piece of land in the countryside and build a 'family village' with small houses each catering for 10 children, and with a communal hall in the centre of the plot where all could gather for social events.  Each house would have its own kitchen, showers and indoor toilets, and would be run by trained Nepali house parents.  A separate house would be built for staff and volunteers to stay, and a social worker employed to help 'damaged' children.  We would have a large vegetable garden capable of sustaining all the houses and the children would be encouraged to assist in its upkeep. 

To contact us please send an email to -

talbot@talbotcentre.o



Or to contact us by post:

In Nepal:

PO Box 8975

EPC 2791

Kathmandu

Nepal

In the UK:                                                                        

Phaedra Palfrey
Flat 25 Bethany House
St. Clement's Gardens
Bournemouth
BH1 4ED
Tel 01202 392776

All Talbot Centre Newsletters

February 2006	April 2006	May 2006	June 2006	April 2007	May-July 2007
Aug-Nov 2007	February 2009	March 2009	April 2009