Firefly Children's Home

December is well and truly here and we are certainly due for another update!

As I reflect on the year gone by, I am always so touched by people’s generosity. That includes you! So many of you give up what other people would spend on themselves, for the future of our beautiful Nepali children. Thank you so very much.

Here are a couple of the great things people do for Firefly:

Two children in Dubai who live a privileged life have spent a month collecting second hand shoes/clothes etc from their friends to take to Kathmandu in December when they go trekking with their parents. Mum tells me the project has been exciting and has taught them so much.

Glenn Marvin (NZ) just completed the Kepler challenge, beating his time from previous years. Glenn nominated Firefly as his chosen charity so all donations he got for competing have been donated to our home in Nepal.

View full stories and photos on our acknowledgements page or visit our facebook page.

The FCH children had a lovely time during the Festival of Lights. Extensive school holidays enabled them to go back to their original village and enjoy village life. The children always enjoy coming back to Firefly Home as they really miss each other!

We are currently getting quotes for a new fence to secure our complex as security of our belongings is always an issue. Thanks to the wonderful donations that have come in this year, we have enough money in our bank account to ensure this fence gets built.

We continue to have a good relationship with the volunteer organisations in Kathmandu who send keen volunteers our way to help where they can. A big thank you to all those wonderful people who have spent time at Firefly in the past year. We value your time and commitment!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Thank you again for your support and encouragement this year.

We have received the recent grade results for the children’s school exams. You’ll be most delighted! Over half the children got A+, the rest got B+. Nobody failed. Now they will have their annual holidays which last for over a month. Some of them like the holiday and some of them really miss school!

The two week Dashain festival, which begins 28 September, is a celebration much like the Western Christmas. It is a national holiday where people return to their villages to be with family, have delicious meals and celebrate with colourful processions. Tihar, a celebration of lights, begins after Dashain finishes during the month of October. Cultural acts of dances and songs are integral parts of these celebrations.

Our children, where possible, will return to their villages or spend time with their parents in jail. Some do not have a village connection so they will stay at the Firefly home. The hiccup we are facing is the chaos and damage caused by the earthquake which hit Nepal on 18 September. Mudslides have closed roads and poor weather has hampered attempts to restore order. If you would like to read more about the Nepal/India/Tibet earthquake, visit www.earthquake-nepal.com/news.html

If anyone did not see the lovely photos of Womens day, scroll down to last month’s update. I will post photos of the colourful Dashain celebrations next month!

Here are some pictures of the new sewing machine we have purchased. The didis (staff) are teaching the girls how to tailor their own garments and learn something of the trade.

Tomorrow is Women’s Day in Nepal, a highly celebrated event. Married and unmarried women sing and dance all day long in public squares and temples. Generally the women are dressed in red saris and fast on this day for longevity of their husbands, or if unmarried, to have good looking husbands! It’s a loud and cheerful celebration until late at night. I understand the children at the orphanage will be celebrating so we may see some pictures of that.

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Update: Here are some pictures from the Women’s Day celebrations!

Exam results! Off to college! Work opportunities! I hope you will enjoy reading this update.

I will email you all with a document on each of the 23 children, detailing their social and emotional progress. I trust you will enjoy reading about your sponsored child/ren.

The day was always going to arrive – when one of our children finished school – but it is hard to believe we are there!

Bijay, one of the first children to enter our orphanage in 2004, is now 17 and finishing school. He is being funded by his sponsor, Enora, to go to college in Kathmandu and complete a management course. In his spare time, Bijay has been working in a bike shop to gain work experience. All the best to Bijay!

Punam, our eldest girl now 16, is working in a cafe kitchen on weekends to gain work experience. She is interested in cooking and hospitality and with only one year left of school, she is keen to get some experience behind her.

We are looking at other work and apprenticeship opportunities for the children who are soon to be 16, especially for those who are not academic. These activities include sewing, handicrafts and beauty therapy. Under Indira’s guidance and with her business connections, we are keen to get them ready for the day when they do leave school and have to make decisions about their future. Naturally, all the children will always be a part of the Firefly family (and some may choose to be involved/employed at the home). Our goal now is to nurture them into further study or employment as far as we see fit, and if appropriate giving them a bonus to get them started.

As for the younger ones, they continue to focus on school, helping out at home and learning about gardening, hygiene and social awareness.

Volunteers recently created a cartoon film as an afterschool activity, with the children as actors. The children enjoyed learning about the process and of course loved watching themselves!

Below are the children’s exam results for the first school term of their year (April-July). Five of the children failed in Maths options, so we are going to get the afterschool tutor to make it his focus this term. The other subjects include Nepali, English, Science, Art, Geography/Social Studies and Computer Studies. The percentage is an overall mark for all the subjects.
Bibek 85%
Nishu 91%
Bishesh 95%
Bidi 86%
Ashish 85%
Arati 78%
Laxmi 95%
Sabin 75%
Rajib 78%
Bikash 78%
Sujan 86%
Sarita W 46%
Kashmir 89%
Sajina 92%
Santosh 80%
Sarita L 62%
Sushma 74%
Kalpana 72%
Punam 48%
Shanti 85%
Ranjana 46%
Aita 65%
Rupesh 59%

Thanks for your continued support.

I hope you have found time to view the recent photos of the children posted on the website and on our Facebook page. Haven’t they grown?!

The children sat their final exams three weeks ago and we have the results in. This week they are back at school after having a brief holiday… with no homework! The tutors are working out well. There are two of them who come in after school and help those children who particularly need it. We have seen good progress from both Saritas, Sushma and Kalpana. Exam results are below.

The weather is very pleasant in Kathmandu and it is trekking season so there are quite a few volunteers popping in each day to help out. This has been helpful given there is not much for the children in Kathmandu to do during the holidays. Nothing like our kids who have an abundance of things to do!

From what I have heard, our sponsors based in Christchurch and Japan have weathered the natural disasters. But I am sure there is much to sort out and work through for them all. My thoughts have been with you.

Finally, Nonna (who helped me set up the orphanage) has had a baby boy. Congratulations Nonna!

Exam results are an average of all subjects: English, Nepali, Social Studies, Science, Maths and Computer Studies.

Aita	TBA
Arati	40%
Asish	89%
Bibek	90%
Bidi	90%
Bikash	40%
Bishesh	96%
Kalpana	62%
Kasmir	90%
Laxmi	97%
Nishu	96%
Punam	47%
Rajib	TBA
Ranjana	TBA
Rupesh	68%
Sabin	39%
Sajina	92%
Santosh	79%
Sarita Lama	62%
Sarita Waiba	47%
Shanti	81%
Sujan	86%
Sushna	64%

For some of us, it’s hot and humid. For others, like our lovely kiddies in Nepal, it is freezing!

The children have finished their winter vacation and are back in the classrooms again. Wrapped up in woollens, they brave the cold mornings and skip around the many puddles as they make their way to school.

This year we have the funds to pay for an after school tutor to assist those children who particularly need help. A few of the girls are struggling with mathematics so we will place emphasis on that subject. We are also looking at getting all the children into an activity to enhance their education, for example soccer, dancing, art and craft. The three children who have been doing karate for the last few years have really benefited from the experience.

Some words of appreciation: Thank you to the women from Auckland who knitted jumpers for the children. They have been wearing them non-stop this winter!

A big thank you to our accountant Hari who is such a dedicated member of our team with a strong work ethic. Hari emails me financial reports and daily updates at 11pm – well after his bedtime! Kathmandu is experiencing 11 hour power cuts which limit the opportunities to get on the internet. Thank you Hari!

Below are the exam results from their January 1st exams. The percentage is an overall average of all their subjects.

Aita	61%
Arati	80%
Asish	86%
Bibek	86%
Bidi	88%
Bishesh	95%
Kalpana	63%
Kasmir	86%
Laxmi	93%
Nishu	96%
Punam	55%
Ranjana	51%
Rupesh	66%
Sajina	89%
Santosh	70%
Sarita Lama	58%
Sarita Waiba	40%
Shanti	79%
Sujan	83%
Sushna	62%
Bijay	(to sit different exams)
Bikash	(new to school, did not sit)
Rajib	(new to school, did not sit)
Sabin	(new to school, did not sit)

 

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Please read this insightful letter from a volunteer who recently returned home…

Hi I’m Melissa from NZ. I volunteered at FCH for 2 months this year. It is one of the best experiences I have ever had and one I would like to repeat. The children are vibrant and full of energy. All of them have their own personalities. I know they would love to learn about yours, so go ahead and write them!

Their life is not as easy as ours but with the help of FCH it is a lot better than it would be. To give you an idea of what it is like to be a volunteer, here is a normal day:

Before breakfast – reading or finishing their homework because if there is a power cut the night before then not all the homework can be finished and candle light is difficult.
Breakfast – Daal (rice with a vegetarian curry and lentil soup) I loved this large meal of which they have twice a day.
Dishes – Children wash their dishes with a soap bar in a large laundry sized container outside with rain storage water or well water pumped up.
Time for school – Volunteers take the children to school but the older girls are very responsible and organise the younger children to ensure they are together to walk to school (6 children go to one school and 26 go to another school) They walk them to and from school crossing a main road (the compact size version of a two lane highway) that has no pedestrian crossing so you have to block the road to get the children across safely.
Cleaning Clothes – Cleaning clothes is very hard work and time consuming for such a large household. All clothing is washed by a buddy system with the younger children having an older child to wash their clothes. The clothing is washed by well water pumped up to fill 2 large containers. The clothes are scrubbed with laundry soap and scrubbing brushes outside on the concrete ground. The clothes are rung out and then hung on the clothing ropes outside or on the roof. There are no washing machines or electrical appliances.
School Homework Time – The children complete their homework with the help of volunteers. Older children help the younger children finish their homework. Homework with a number of children is difficult but it is more difficult when there is a power cut (often 8 hours a day)

This is just a glimpse into their life but I hope it lets you see what amazing help you are doing and how a little can go so far.

Melissa

Thanks Melissa. I know the sponsors will love reading about your experience!

Some of you might be aware of how the Nepalese love celebrations. Recently, the country celebrated Children’s Day. Some of our children were lucky enough to meet the President of Nepal to discuss children’s rights.

The next celebration in October is the big one – Dashain, the Festival of Lights. The children are very excited by this. Traditionally everyone wears a new outfit, has a special meal and travels home to their family village for a couple of weeks. We do our best to ensure the children go back to their village or to relatives, if they have them. Each year we budget to buy each child new clothes (which of course they all desperately need and love!)

Recently, a NZ volunteer just returned from 3 months at the orphanage. Mel has brought pictures and letters from the children to their sponsors back with her, so I’ll be sending those out to you all soon. Mel did a wonderful job of disciplining the kids, helping them with their homework and monitoring basic hygiene. The kids miss her indeed. Just as well we have some great volunteers heading up there soon!

Also, a big thank you to the Year 3 and 4 students at Stella Maris Primary School in Orewa, who wrote to the orphans and sent photos. The FCH children loved learning all about NZ kids and NZ culture and have sent back some lovely letters about their own lives and Nepali culture.

Some of the children have received letters/packages from their sponsors of late. It is comforting to know that everything being sent makes it. You are welcome to post something to your child – they love letters and photos. Or if you want to email me a message/photo, I can forward it onto Indira to show the children.

Thank you for your contribution towards the future of these gorgeous children!

We have the latest exam results below. The children sat exams in the following subjects: English, Maths, History, Nepali, Science, Social Studies, Computer Studies. The final percentage is the average of all the subjects. Most of the children did really well but a few are struggling with Nepali and Maths. So we are looking at getting a tutor into the orphanage after school to help those who need it.

Name	Percentage
Bibek	87
Nishu	99
Bishesh	86
Bidi	91
Ashish	98
Laxmi	98
Sujan	86
Sarita	46
Kasmir	90
Sajina	92
Santosh	75
Sarita	65
Sushma	65
Kalpana	62
Punam	55
Shanti	77
Ranjan	56
Aita	55
Rupesh	69
Bijay	51

Remember, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to email me or post a message on our Facebook page. Have a good month!

The children are delighted to be back at school after being stuck at home for two weeks while a political strike ensued.  All streets and schools were closed with curfews in place. No decision has been reached by government but the team at FCH hope that the nation’s leadership will find a peaceful resolution.

A few of the older children are really happy to be part of filmmaking workshop that Indira has organised for them. They have been to a few sessions already and will go about making their own mini-documentary towards the end of the course.

Check out our facebook page and let others know:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Firefly-Childrens-Home-Nepal-Orphanage/127222573957765

As you know, Orphan Help Center re-registered in Nepal in January 2009 under a different name – Firefly Children’s Home. At the time, it was easier for us to continue operating under OHC back here in New Zealand.

Now the domain name has come up for renewal, we have decided to make the change here too. The children and the staff in Nepal are now used to their new name and new set-up. So by us making the move, it helps volunteers and new sponsors understand the operation better.

 OTHER NEWS:

The children were involved in ‘Parents Day’ at school this last term. Ranjana and Aita were the MCs and a few of the girls did some traditional Nepali dancing on stage. The staff and volunteers from the orphanage attended – see the photos on the new website.

School exam results from last term show that all the children passed including both Sarita’s who failed last time round. I am told they have been working hard at their homework! All the children shone in English language, which is a wonderful investment for their future. Other subjects include Science, Nepali language, Maths, Social Studies, Computer and Physical Education.

Outings: This week the children caught a bus to our sister orphan home in Sankhu, in rural Kathmandu, where they danced and sang with the other 40 children. They had a fantastic time socialising and enjoyed the outing.

A big thank you to Maria Atkins who donated her time and talent to create this new website. She has done a wonderful job with the photos – you will love them! There are a few things we need to finalise on the new website, and a possible delay as we change servers. Soon, there will be an opportunity to register so you automatically receive updates.

 

First, a big thank you for the recent donation from a NZ family to buy a new computer for FCH. Our administrator Hari is extremely happy about this and we hope to get the children using it too.

At the moment, the children are enduring Kathmandu power cuts of 9 hours per day!

As you know, the children sat exams in January. Here are their results. Please know that this is the overall average percentage of all the subjects.

Nishu Mohato	98
Bishesh Aryal	98
Bidi Aryal	96
Ashish Shah	83
Laxmi Tamang	97
Sujan Tamang	84
Sarita Waiba	46
Kashmir Tamang	85
Sajina Gurung	86
Sarita Lama	61
Sushma Gurung	78
Santosh Lama	71
Kalpana Tamang	65
Punam Tamang	55
Shanti Tamang	78
Ranjana Dhakal	57
Aita Tamang	60
Rupesh Tamang	72
Bijay Waiba	60
Bibek Mohato	waiting

Have a good month. Thanks for your support!

Happy New Year! 2010

A big welcome to new sponsors and a huge thanks to those sponsors who continue to support us! We have some exciting changes coming up in the next month. OHC will officially become Firefly Children’s Home (FCH). I will keep you updated.

It is winter in Nepal at the moment. Brrrrr.This week the Solar Panel has been bought so the children will be able to wash in warm water, not icy cold water! Thank you donors.

Thanks to Western volunteers the children celebrated Christmas and they had special food at home. Just not the kind of food we know!

The children have been involved in various activities in the last month. The children went to the theatre to see a drama about child psychology entitled ‘Inside the brain’. It was performed by the children from the Sankhu home.

Rupesh and Aita achieved a higher belt in karate.

Ranjana participated in the 5th Asia Girl Child Peace Camp in Kathmandu in November and loved it.

Bijay and Rupesh are going to participate in a documentary production programme at PA Nepal, organized by UN Habitat Nepal & the Kamala Foundation of Canada. The course starts in January 2010 and they will learn elements of filmmaking, editing and lighting.

Punam & Kalpana are going to visit Jhapa, the PA Nepal sustainability project in East Nepal .

Finally, the children have their third monthly exams now, then they have winter holidays from 10 – 20 January.

Enjoy the new beginnings of a New Year. I’ll be in touch soon.

The past month or so has seen our kids enjoy some days off school due to public holidays and political strikes. The donations of crafts, games and colouring books, by some of you, have helped them endure the boredom of no school! They also went on a school picnic recently and had a wonderful time. This is a rare event and very new to many of them.

Below are the latest exam results. Two of the girls failed, so they have been getting extra tuition from the staff and volunteers. These marks are the overall average of 7 or more subjects.

Student	%	Class Rank
Nishu	98	1
Bishesh	98	1
Bidi	93	9
Ashish	87	9
Laxmi	96	2
Sujan	80	15
Sarita (sm)	40	Fail
Kashmir	87	3
Sajina	88	1
Sarita (big)	52	Fail
Sushma	80	10
Santosh	76	16
Kalpana	66	15
Punam	57	23
Shanti	72	10
Ranjan	54	17
Aita	65	9
Rupesh	75	9
Bijay	62	5

Merry Christmas and thank you for your continued support!

As you know I’ve been up to visit the kids in Kathmandu again. Like all kids around the world, they have boundless energy even in the Kathmandu heat. Although they are without parents, our big family at FCH provides them with much interaction and entertainment. They all enjoy playing with each other and are never short of a playmate. I am constantly amazed at how well they get on  there are rarely fights or disagreements about whose turn it is etc. I am also in awe, as always, of their contribution to the home. Chores isn’t such a nasty word in Nepal! FCH remains a very organised home in both the daily household functions and the administration. Geeta, our house mummy, holds it all together beautifully. FCH also remains a place of love and nurture for the children . All 20 of them are very content and they are very happy to be sharing a home with 20 of the PA Nepal children – all of whom have become a big family. Since partnering up with PA Nepal in January this year, our opportunities are abound. PA Nepal has two other children≠s homes, both set in rural areas. Our children come together and go camping or picnicking with them during specific celebrations. While I was with the children, we played a lot of badminton, read books, sang and danced, played pass the parcel, treasure hunts and other party games. I took them to the pools for a swim and out for ice cream. They had a ball. My brother, a sponsor family from Taranaki, NZ, and of course the kids, helped me paint the internal bedrooms of the home making it look fresh again. Between my brother, my husband and I we took over 60kgs of donated clothes and books which the children loved. Thank you to all of you who donated goods. Indira and I talked in length about self-sustainability projects (gardening, organic farming) and new programmes to assist the older children as they leave school. Since being there, our oldest girl has taken on a weekend job in a café, learning how to cook, with the intention of going off to chef school one day. Other connections we have made include beauty school, teacher training, nursing, pharmaceutical and the hospitality industry. Indira is doing a fantastic job with the children. While I was there she took them along to a Nepali film about trafficking, so the girls could be educated about the shocking reality of what goes on and how to avoid it. She also took the older children to a public speaking workshop to gain confidence. Geeta is also attending workshops when she can about social work and child welfare. A lot was achieved for me this last trip and I am pleased to say the children have never looked happier. It takes a while to set up these kind of establishments and it is good to say it is running as smoothly as one could ever hope for.

Nepal is a nation that loves to celebrate! Teej holidays were held in August, which saw the kids have two days off school. It was also ‘Women’s Festival’ where all Nepalese women fast for a day and use the time to sing and dance all day and visit the Hindu temples. In August, the children also had the opportunity to visit PA Nepal’s other home/orphanage in Sankhu, East Kathmandu for a weekend. They got to meet the other children connected to our organisation and enjoy the fresh air in Sankhu that they don’t normally get in central Kathmandu! It was good for them to travel and see something beyond their own little community. Thankfully, we are picking up on the sponsorship. Rupesh, Aita, Kalpana and Shanti are the only children left who require minimal part sponsorship now. Thank you to all those supporters who have sent in clothes for me to take up in a couple of weeks. I have now packed the bags and they are full – 60kgs worth! Much appreciated. I will be sending out new photos, letters, drawings and updates of individual children in October on my return.

This month the children have had some unexpected time off school due to political strikes. Like all kids, they love a change of routine! A bout of chicken pox is going around, affecting a few of the girls but the staff are doing a great job of isolating the afflicted! Capital Cause, who recently ran an online competition to “Win a Trip to Nepal”, raised $2,600 towards the ongoing costs of OHC. This has come at a needy time for us. Thank you to everyone who entered the competition in support of our children. A final reminder to those who wish to donate second-hand clothes for the children which will be delivered to the centre in September. There is a about 20kgs of luggage space left! Thanks for your continued support

The kids are well…Sarita Waiba has fractured her arm which is now in a cast but apart from that, they are studying hard and enjoying visits from sponsors and volunteers. Punam and Kalpana’s mum is much better, she is now able to walk. Thank you to our general sponsors for supporting her in the road to recovery. Due to tough economic times, we are short on sponsors. The following children need sponsors: Nishu, Bidi, Bishesh, Rupesh and Aita. So if you know of anyone wanting to help, please send them my contact details. Thank you! Check out the latest campaign where you can win a trip to Nepal, visit the kids, get a free Intrepid Trek in the Himalayas and some new Icebreaker gear. Go to: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=87895633646&;ref=ts Finally, I want to thank the supporters who have given the kids calculators and new colouring books/pens recently. They are much appreciated!

It is wonderful that so many people are willing to help our Nepali children, who would otherwise be subjected to a life of poverty and/or abuse. The NASA team recently checked the children’s eyes whilst they were in Nepal and they are soon to be sending out complimentary eye glasses to Bijay, Laxmi and Aita. It is great to be able to help Ranjana who has epilepsy and has just been for her second follow up treatment to determine whether her medication needs changing. The children are typical children and have had their bouts of sickness: fever and conjunctivitis of late. But we have a staff nurse that PA Nepal provides to take care of them. Glenn Marvin, a major fundraiser from NZ, is in Nepal now visiting the children. He reports the children and staff are very happy in their new home. At the moment all the kids are practising dance as they are having a music festival on May 24. It is a programme conducted by PA Nepal to advertise the organization. I will send you some pictures of the children. Finally, we have two new children who we are seeking sponsors for. Please view their profiles: Bidi and her brother Bishesh. There is also Nishu to be sponsored. So please spread the word! All in all, we love and nurture 19 children at FCH. Have a great month!

It has been a great month for the kids, all of whom are nicely settled into their new home, which they are now calling FCH (Firefly Children’s Home). Under the Nepali law, we are not able to call ourselves OHC anymore, because we have re-registered as a new branch of the umbrella organisation PA Nepal. The Nepal government is closing down small, private orphanages, particularly those that are foreign funded. If it weren’t for the changes made earlier this year (making ourselves part of PA Nepal) OHC would no longer exist. So I am thrilled and relieved with the events that occurred. Our children are safe! The website will remain as OHC, as the name doesn’t effect our side of the world. However, we will eventually change things over to the new name of FCH when domain name fees are due. Back to the kids… they were excited to receive visitors from NASA last week. Indira had connections and the NASA members visited the children at home when they were on their way to do an Everest Trek. The children learnt a lot about travelling in space and I’m sure many now plan to be astronauts! This exposure to knowledge is so good for the children who would otherwise not learn about such things as space. School exam results are listed below (some of the kids are missing from the list below – will send separately)

Laxmi Tamang	99%
Sujan Tamang	95%
Sushma Gurung	96%
Kasmir Tamang	85%
Sarita Waiba	58%
Kalpana Tamang	70%
Poonam Tamang	51%
Shanti Tamang	79%
Ranjana Dhakal	58%
Santosh Tamang	85%
Hom Bahadur	68%
Sarita Lama	64%

We have a few more children ready to be accepted into our home but are in need of more sponsors, so please let me know if you have any friends or family who are interested.

It’s been a while since the last update but a lot has happened at a very slow (Nepali) rate. As you all know, OHC has partnered up with PA Nepal, Indira Ranamagar’s reputable organisation. In January the children moved to our new home, still in Naya Bazaar. The house is bigger so the older girls now sleep in a separate room than the younger girls, which is making everyone happier! We also have a study for the children to do their homework. The decision to move is benefiting our children immensely. First, there is a water crisis in Kathmandu, meaning it is difficult to have running water in all parts of the city. People are getting it delivered in taxis/rickshaws. Indira’s family is being extremely supportive and we are getting clean water from a family members restaurant. We have bought a new water pump to get water from the reservoir under the house, up to the roof. Wells are being dug, deepened and enlarged all over Kathmandu so the well diggers are flat out but we are getting a quote to deepen the old well we have, hopefully allowing us to access the cleaner water in the lower levels. Everyone is settling into the new home well. Geeta, our house in charge (the kids’ mummy) is enjoying being partnered with Indira, who has a wealth of experience and is able to guide and mentor Geeta as well as keep a good eye on the running of the organisation. Indira’s office is based in our new home. PA Nepal has some great programs running and they are working in a sustainable way. Food is brought in from farms on family land in Eastern Nepal which means if food shortages occur we will be less affected. We have one months’ food stored in case there are major strikes or political unrest, which happens often. The children are all fine, studying hard for the final exams next week. They have had quite a few days off because of strikes and “National Womens Day” which gave them plenty of time to start the new garden. Next on the list is starting work on a compost heap. One of the public holidays was Shiva Ratri, where tradition has it that kids set up blockades along the paths everywhere and exact money from strangers to buy lollies and water balloons. Our kids finished the day off with a campfire in the backyard. Geeta and Jim are working hard to discipline (yet again) the children in personal hygiene, particularly hand washing, nail trimming and water drinking, to avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital. This month we have invested in new sinks (to keep hands clean) and we are looking at setting up a system to dispose of the rubbish that accumulates outside our home. Those of you who have been to a third world country will know exactly what I mean! Also, as we lose some sponsors in these tough times, I am pleased to say we welcome three new sponsors resulting in accepting two new boys from very poor backgrounds into our home. Their information will be on the website soon.

I have just returned from a lovely trip to Nepal to visit the kids at OHC. We played lots of games, braided hair, performed dances, learnt lots of songs, went shopping for clothes. We had a ball! Part of the reason for this trip was to find a solution to the local and political issues that go hand in hand managing an NGO from a distance. In a great turn of events, Indira from PA Nepal, who works with our other charity GEN, has welcomed us to form a partnership with the PA Nepal orphanage. Everything remains the same except the children will be living at PA Nepal, five minutes down the road from where OHC was located. They will still wake up to and be nurtured by the same loving staff and attend the same school. They will remain a family – something that we have always prioritised at OHC. Please visit panepal.org for more information about Indira’s organisation. I strongly believe in their values and am thankful for a solution that exceeds my expectations. The children were most grateful to receive the clothes and gifts I took over for them. They loved learning about their sponsors and continually asked me questions about you all! What is her job? Do they have children? etc. I did the best I could on your behalf! Have a Merry Christmas and thanks for your support this year. All the best for 2009! Amanda

Below are the latest school exam results.

Laxmi Tamang	99.73
Sujan Tamang	91.15
Sushma Gurung	88.77
Shree Krishna	86.13
Sajina Gurung	87.89
Kasmir Tamang	71.45
Sarita Waiba	48.68
Sarita Lama	61.18
Santosh Dimdung	82.78
Chhewang Tamang	84.63
Hom Bahadur	66.13
Kalpana Tamang	69.18
Punam Tamang	53.95
Aita Tamang	79.83
Shanti Tamang	77.25
Rupesh Tamang	79.50
Ranjana Dhakal	59.20
Bijay Waiba	65.29

HAPPY DASHAIN to our children in Nepal. Yes, it is that time of year again when Nepali people celebrate the 15-day national festival of Nepal. This festival, like our Christmas, is known for emphasis on family gatherings. People will return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together. So most of the children in the orphanage have returned to their villages to celebrate…and to enjoy two weeks without school and homework!! The children who remain at OHC are with Geeta, our new house-in-charge. Geeta is doing a wonderful job! The children adore her and she is bringing so much love, discipline and good values to the center. She is attending to their health issues and revising their daily nutrition as well as learning how to do the administrative work. We are incredibly happy with Geeta’s work and diligence. Recent news… We are integrating our new arrival, Sushna, into the OHC family. I will have more information on her later. We have bought two new beds for the girls who have been squeezing into one. Little Laxmi had a wort on her hand removed by minor operation. Shree Krishna will meet his brother after Dashain vacation. Punam and Kalpana continue to be at OHC daily while tending to their mother in the evenings. Finally, a big thank you to Kiwi Glenn Marvin who hosted a fun and very successful fundraising evening in Auckland. About $10,000 was raised for OHC and GEN. Already we have put some of it to good use at OHC – new government rules state that all charities need a safety fund in the bank (in OHC’s case USD $1500). So we have been able to do that and consequently successfully renewed our charity registration in Nepal a few days ago. We have also spent some of the money on setting up new girl Sushna (school uniform, clothes etc) and also furniture for Geeta, as well as covering the hike in food and fuel costs that sponsorship no longer meets. Throughout the next year we will continue to tell you how this money is being spent. A big thank you to those people who have sent clothes my way so I can deliver them to the kids in November. I now have well over my quota!

At OHC we welcome a new ‘house-in-charge’, a woman called Geeta Pathak who was once an orphan herself. She is going to take over Anandi’s position who has gone on to start a life with her boyfriend. Geeta starts this week, she has experience teaching and working in NGO’s in Nepal and is passionate about children’s welfare. The children are doing well. After an eye check up, two of them needed glasses; Ranjana and Sarita. It was great to have the money to provide these essential items! In New Zealand, a big fundraising event is happening on 13 September, hosted by an inspirational Kiwi guy Glenn Marvin. Glenn is training for the Everest Marathon 2009 and has chosen OHC as one of his charities to raise funds for. Check out his website for more information: www.knockthebastardoff.blogspot.com I would like to thank the following people for their generous contributions to the evening: Smith and Caughy’s Newmarket gift basket – Kinesiologist Naomi Kitchener Voucher – Artist Linda McFetridge Painting – Gordon and Belinda Kyne Waiheke Getaway – Chardy Ridge Accomodation Waiheke Island – Rangihoua Olive Estate Waiheke Island – Sky City Newmarket Movie Tickets – Kym Vickery Dancers (who will perform on the night) Finally, this week we received our Certificate of Registration from the Charities Commission. We are listed as the New Zealand Orphan Help Centre Charitable Trust. This means all future donations from New Zealand residents are tax deductable. If you have any questions about this, please contact me. Thanks for your continued support!

This month at OHC some sad news has occurred. The mother of Punam, Kalpana, Sujan and Kasmir has been in a horrible accident. Hit by a motorbike when walking to work, she has damaged a leg and an eye. Thankfully the four children are well entrenched into the OHC family and are being taken care of with extra compassion and sensitivity. The emergency fund, made up of one-off donations, will be used to take care of her medical expenses if necessary. The children will be escorted to visit her in hospital regularly. On a happier note, volunteers Sarah from Auckland and Chloe from Cananda have recently finished their time at OHC. Both had a brilliant time and brought a lot to the kids and to the running of the center. It seems we have four new volunteers lined up from August through December. Remember if you ever want a new uplifting experience – we’d be happy to welcome your visit and/or your volunteering! Times continue to be tough in Nepal, as they are globally, with food and petrol prices hitting the roof. During these times we are extremely grateful for the extra funding we receive from one-off donations. Thank you!

They say it all happens so fast – With our four year anniversary approaching in August, OHC is going through some changes…nothing to do with the monarchy! Not only are the children growing up (voices breaking, acne apparent and talk of further study and careers!) our organisation is making some necessary changes. We are setting up new administration structures to meet Nepal government requirements. Part of this process is making changes here in NZ. For NZ sponsors of OHC and GEN, the recent changes to the NZ Charities Commission Act requires all charities to be registered. Accordingly, the Orphan Help Center has applied to be registered and we are currently awaiting our confirmation and registration number. The significance of registration is that all donations to the Charity will be tax deductible to those giving the donation. The earliest this will apply will be in the 2009 income tax returns. We will be sending out certificates highlighting donations made immediately following the end of the 2009 financial year to facilitate your claim for a tax deduction. This seems a very fair an equitable result for those generous enough to donate to worthy causes. At OHC we currently have two volunteers; Chloe Rew from Canada and Sarah McDonald from Auckland. They will both be with the children until the end of June. I am sure they will update us with their experiences. Aside from that OHC is ticking along nicely, the children continuing to enjoy school and bonding together as a family at home.

Nepal is currently in “Constitution Assembly Election” mode and the political leaders are dedicated in spreading information about the CA Election among the Nepalese people, so a fair and just election can take place. Most schools have final examinations now in order to finish exams before the election. On election week, everything stops! Our children’s school exams started 16 March. The younger children have exam in the morning, the older students in the afternoon. Worth a special mention; in the second term exams, Laxmi ranked first. Others including Sajina, Aita, Shree Krishna and Cheewang did very well in the second term so we shall see what the latest results will be… Recently, we received a generous donation (thank you!!!) so we have spruced up the orphanage, which was in dire need of it! All the walls have been freshly painted which has delighted the children. They were really excited when the painting was finished and they felt they had a brand new house. We have just renewed our licence to run as an orphanage. The welfare inspectors have insisted that we improve the accommodation for our children. So our next job, using the donation received, is to carpet and lino the floors, buy tables and chairs for the children. This means winter will be a lot more bearable and the kids will be able to sit up and eat their meals and do their homework. I am very pleased that the authorities are cracking down on the standard of orphanages throughout Nepal. By doing this, orphans are being looked after on a national front. The children at OHC are growing fast particularly those who are reachingtheir teens. Bijay≠s voice is deeper and acne is prominent. Bijay has become a great leader for the other children when Anandi not at the home. Other children; Ranjana, Shanti, Aita & Rupesh are also growing up and changing physically. Ranjana is very mature in her speech and takes responsibility for the small children. Sometimes, Ranjana organizes a dance program at OHC for the girls and teaches them how to dance. Sajina, in particular, has become an excellent dancer. Rupesh≠s English has improved so much that he is becoming really fluent. He is the first one to talk to volunteers or visitors who come to OHC about all sorts of topics! This last month, we have had a Danish volunteer, Camilla, at OHC. A kind and dedicated young woman, she has helped the children with their homework and has taught them many games and creative activities, often taking the children to the park.

Tis the trekking season in Nepal so we have had a lot of visitors to OHC – some sponsors who have gone to meet their children and some ex-volunteers who have returned to see how much the kids have grown! Leen is back for a few months and has been in full swing at OHC; helping the children study for the exams they just sat. (We will get the results once they return to school). The tutor, Anandi and Leen gave a lot of attention to the kids studying an exam they failed last time. They were all a little nervous about mathematics! At the moment Nepal is celebrating Dasain (a religious and cultural festival entailing the ‘Festival of Lights’≠ much like Christmas in the Western world). So the country shuts down for 2-3 weeks. Many of the OHC children have returned to their villages to stay with relatives, which is very exciting for them. New bed linen and towels are being purchased in the meantime. Kasmir and Sujan (the two brothers we have taken in recently) have adjusted wonderfully. Although school is a new concept for them, they seem to be enjoying the learning and the social interaction. For two boys who were quite malnourished when they arrived, they appear to be doing well now. I will be in touch with the school results very soon.

In July the children did some lovely drawings for their sponsors. I hope you have all received them. So far this year we have had a run of excellent volunteers, who have stayed for long periods of time, which is best for the children. Our most recent volunteer Diarmuid has returned home to Ireland after having a wonderful time at OHC. Diarmuid put in place a few child protection measures namely reducing the number of candles the children handle during power cuts. Four rechargeable lamps have been purchased and a new rule that candles are for adults only! Diarmuid took the children swimming twice during his time there √ we have bought swimming costumes for all the children and there are now enough inflatables to keep most of them afloat. The children absolutely love it so they will now go regularly as it doesn≠t cost much at all. Another regular activity has been established to keep the children involved and interested in life – a measuring stick has been painted on the wall recording each child’s initials at their current height. The idea is to do it every year. Diarmuid says “Thanks for the opportunity to help out at OHC, I had a fantastic time, they are a great bunch of kids” Last month’s donations saw all the children have a new pair of black shoes for school. The smiles on their faces were priceless! It could be the new shoes…but these latest exam results are excellent. In particular, our two new boys Kasmir and Sujan (brothers) did extremely well considering it was their very first term in school and their first exams ever!

1	Laxmi – first	98.89%
2	Sajina – first	96.99%
3	Rupesh – second	83.75%
4	Bijay	60.04%
5	Aita	69.83%
6	Bina	55.08%
7	Shanti	71.03%
8	Shree Krishna – third	94.04%
9	Santosh	76.67%
10	Hom	63.31%
11	Chhewang	80.68%
12	Kasmir	84.00%
13	Sujan	98.00%
14	Sarita	73.09%
15	Ranjana	59.63%
16	Kalpana	60.53%(failed)
17	Punam	48.48%(failed)
18	Yubraj	38.84%(failed)
19	Big Sarita	53.41%(failed)
20	Dhan Maya	79.06%

We have just received the latest results of the childrens’ school exams. Once again we are very proud! The children have been working very hard at their homework and after school tutuoring so it is really paying off. See below:

Laxmi	99%
Sajina	99%
Shree Krishna	98%
Sarita (small)	92%
Cheewang	91%
Santosh	89%
Rupesh	82%
DhanMaya	80%
Aita	73%
Shanti	66%
Hom Bahadur	65%
Bijay	65%
Sarita (big)	63%
Kalpana	62%
Ranjana	55%
Punam	51%
Bina	51%
Yubaraj	50%

A New Zealand television documentary has been produced about OHC, by a tv company who make the ‘Intrepid Journeys’ series. The documentary will give you great visual insight into the orphanage and the individual children. We are unsure when it will air but I will let you know in advance so you can make a night of it! It has been suggested it will air towards the end of this year. We have two new additions: Kalpana and Pumam’s two younger brothers have become part of our OHC family. Their mother is still very ill, so we are feeding, clothing and educating all four of the children and they go home to sleep at night. Originally we only took the girls on but we now have the resources to take on the little brothers. Just recently, we paid the school fees and purchased new uniforms and shoes for all the children. They are very proud of their fresh and fitting outfits so I’m sure that will help the studies move along nicely too!

Happy 2007 to you all! Well into the New Year now, OHC continues to evolve and the children continue to blossom. With Biba now in the US with her husband and sons, Anandi is at the helm…and shining. Biba obviously trained her well! The kids seem to love her a lot and the fantastic recent exam results show Anandi is keeping them in line! But before we boast about the results, here¢â¡Ás what has been going on. Leen (who helped Nonna and I establish OHC) has been back in Nepal for a few months and doing a wonderful job at OHC. Leen’s specialty is discipline and she has kept a close eye on that whilst she has been there. Pratista (a Nepali Kiwi) has also been volunteering there for 3 months and is doing a wonderful job. Exciting news – Leen married her Nepali finance in December and invited the children to the wedding. I understand they had a wonderful day! More good news – Nonna is back in Kathmandu on a work contract for three years. The children are thrilled to see her back and I think they will be particularly grateful for their recently acquired electric water heater organised by Nonna, so they can have hot showers in winter. With the temperatures dropping to below zero degrees soon, cold showers aren’t exactly inviting! Now, the results from their exams. We are so proud of them. Those who failed last time – Bina, Yubaraj, Punam and Ranjana – did very well. The exception being Punam. She gained 48% but we know her mum is very ill and being the oldest child, she has been working a lot around her own house and cleaning other houses with her mom for income.

Bina came 19th in her class	50%
Yubraj (class 2) also passed	50%
Ranjana (class 4)	58%
Shanti (class 3) passed	57%
Kalpana (class 2)	62%
Bijay (class 6) 9th in his class	64%
Aita (class 3) 18th in the class	67%
Hom Bahadur (class 2)	67%
Sarita Lama (class 1) passed	77%
Rupesh (class 4), third in the class	78%
Santosh (class 1) 7th in his class	90%
Chhewang (class 1) 6th in his class	91%
Sarita Waiba (UKG)	96%
Shree Krishna (UKG) 9th in his class	99%
Sajina (UKG) 2nd in her class	99%
Laxmi (LKG) first (again!)	99%

Thanks again for all your support – you can see what a difference it is making! We now have a new volunteer from Denmark at OHC who will stay for 5 months. I will keep you informed about her experience.

Sadly, the day has finally arrived… Biba and her two sons have gone to America to be with her husband Jay. This is a great opportunity for Biba’s sons but she is very sad to be based away from the rest of her sons and daughters – the OHC children! Biba will continue to keep in touch with Anandi on a daily basis to see how the children are getting on. Anandi is well-trained by Biba to run the orphanage and the children adore Anandi. She has a lot of energy and love and is pleased to be in a position to make a difference in her own country. Anandi is helped by the other OHC employees and volunteers. Biba intends to go back to Nepal as often as she can. Meanwhile, the children have celebrated Dashain festival (like Christmas to our children) so it has been an exciting time of good food and new clothes. Nonna is in Kathmandu for two weeks and tells me the children are doing extremely well. Leen is also back. She is spending time with a few of the kids tutoring them in subjects they are struggling with. Go Leen!

Judo is the way our kids are keeping fit and healthy! Bijay, Bina, Sarita, Yubaraj, Aita and Rupesh have all started judo classes and they’re loving it. As the others get older and take an interest, we will look at putting them into classes as well. Three Hep B injections later, all the kids are doing well. It is wonderful for these children to be immunized against a rampant disease that causes terrible illness and takes lives in Nepal. Thanks to sponsors’ money we have been able to give the children this extra protection. Aita is much better after his dog bite too, thanks to medicine and Biba’s loving care. Anandi has stepped into a more significant role at OHC, doing all that Biba does. She is a great ‘mum’ to the children and they love her to bits. Mine, our teenage helper who lives at OHC, continues to be an excellent help to the children especially to the bigger boys who look up to him. I will be sure to let you all know when OHC features on the upcoming episode of ‘Intrepid Journeys’ here in NZ. I’m certain you will find great delight in seeing the kids in action!

At long last, after a busy (political) time in Kathmandu, we have updates about the children. They have just sat their recent school exams and the results are as follows:

Laxmi	99.96%
Sajina	98.4%
Shree krishna	97.4%
Santosh	89.55%
Chhewwang	86.57%
Little Sarita	81.71%
Dhan Maya	80.95%
Rupesh	71.67%
Kalpana	65.76%
Aita	64.5%
Hom	63.63%
Punam	59.76%
Sunil	56.25%
Bijay	54.05%
Big Sarita	53.52%
Ranjana	48.65% F
Yubaraj	48.25% F
Shanti	44.93% F
Bina	44.02% F

As a result of the four failed examinations, Biba is hiring a new tutor for two to three hours a day after school. Hepatitis B is a huge problem in Nepal so we have just begun a series of immunisations for the children. Recently Aita was bitten by a dog on the way home from school and he is under treatment for that. At times like this it is wonderful to have the funds to help our children, especially on the health and education front, so thank you sponsors! Finally, a volunteer group of Americans based in Nepal have fitted a water filter at the center which is a lot less work for Maya, the didi, when it comes to purifying the water every day! Biba is consulting with this US group to see if they can provide any medical assistance in the future. Apparently they are one of a few groups who are in Nepal to provide health instruction. So many people doing such wonderful things around the world!

It has been a month of unease in Kathmandu with strikes and curfews. You might have seen media coverage of the rioting and demonstrations and the subsequent reforming of the parliament. Prices have soared and many people have been affected. Things have now returned to normal, and the air is full of excitement and anticipation. This is just the beginning and Nepal has a long way to go to full democracy, but at least it is a step in the right direction and fighting has stopped for now. Our OHC children have started going back to school again and our volunteer Tania from NZ can now go out and see a bit of Kathmandu. Below is a recent email I received from Tania about her time at OHC…. “I just want to say that I am having so much fun at the Orphan Help Centre. The kids are fantastic, Biba has been great and I enjoy every minute I spend with them. They have become like my family. I will be very sad to leave them all. I think it is fantastic how the sponsership program is helping them and I can see how the kids have blossomed from it. It’s really neat to see.” Regards, Tania Ruddell

You’ll all be pleased to know the fire damage has been cleaned up and everything lost has been replaced. As seasons change quite a few of the children have been sick but visits to the doctor have kept things under control. Without sponsors these children would not have the opportunity to seek medical attention, so we are truly grateful! OHC now has a new didi (mother) called Maya. The children enjoy her cooking and she looks after them and the orphanage well. Maya has a 9-year-old daughter Shanti whom also lives at OHC now. Our general donors help pay for Shanti who attends school with the other orphans. Such a lovely opportunity for a lovely girl. We have a NZ film crew shooting an episode of Intrepid Journey with a NZ volunteer working at the orphanange. I will let you know when this airs on television. I’m sure the children are finding this very exciting!

Hi all. There have been a few changes at OHC of late. The girls now have their own room, which is fantastic as some of the boys and girls are approaching adolescence and need their privacy! News of Biba going to join her husband in America is on the cards. She has gained a visitors visa and will stay in America for 6 months initially. Anandi – a lovely woman whom I have great confidence in – is going to take over, using the training Biba has given her in the last few months. Also, it has been an eventful fortnight…we had a fire at the orphanage. All the children were in the kitchen and nobody was harmed. We lost everything in the boys room – uniforms, clothes, beds, books and toys – but the fire was put out before it reached the office or the girls room. Thank goodness! Biba and the children are cleaning up the aftermath and repainting the room. A local sponsor has donated US$250 towards the replacement of items and the building repairs. Thank you!

Happy New Year to you all! We had a very successful year in 2005 – all the children are doing so well and thanks to you – our sponsors – the children’s needs have been met. Your support has been amazing! Volunteers Faye and Anna had a great time celebrating Christmas with the children. They bought them some little gifts and made a christmas tree with stockings. The children made their own decorations and had a wonderful time. They were sad to see Faye leave on 27 December – she has been a great help to OHC in her short time there. Anna is also leaving after some very rewarding months at OHC. Unfortunately our NZ volunteer Khylie missed home and left her post early. So if anyone is keen (or you know of anyone great with children) to volunteer at a wonderful home in Nepal, with 17 beautiful children, then we welcome you! Contact me anytime. Well, have a wonderful 2006 and I hope all your dreams become a reality. Thanks for making our dreams a reality!

Congratulations to the children for their latest exam results. You can view these under the individual children’s names. A big congratulations to Sajina and Rupesh who got top of the class! At the moment a woman called Faye Hauwai from NZ is volunteering at the orphanage. She is having a great time and it sounds like the kids are loving her energy and passion. She took over a lot of learning tools, games and activities. Apparently the children love playing Connect Four and Pick Up Sticks. They are also enjoying the colourful posters she took with her – from jungle animals to the alphabet. Faye has taken on tutoring the children after school in Maths and English. Since she has been there, she has celebrated the Festival of Light with the children by marching the streets in colourful attire, singing and banging on drums. Sounds like they had a lot of fun! Our next volunteer Khylie Tesar from NZ arrives end of November for two months.

Amanda is back after three wonderful weeks in Kathmandu with the children. “I am so thrilled with the children’s behaviour and progress at school. They are extremely happy at the orphanage, are being loved and looked after so well. They are so grateful to their sponsors and know people on the other side of the world care for them.”

OHC has a new “mum” called Laxmi. She cooks and cleans for the children. We have also hired a tutor, Shova, who comes before and after school to help the children with their homework. Also, we sponsor Mine, a 16 year old boy, who lives at the center, goes to school and is paid a small fee to look after the children when they are home. We don’t know what we’d do without him!

Amanda spent time at the school, meeting with the principal who commented on how well the children are doing, thanks to the good work at the orphanage. She also dished out the new clothes and books donated by people from New Zealand before she left, the children couldn’t believe their eyes. So thank you!

Amanda and Nonna spent a lot of time developing a new programme called Girls Education Nepal. They already have enough funds to sponsor 20 girls and are in the process of setting up a website which should be live to the world in September. “We are really excited about being able to sponsor girls to go to school with the same values we foster at OHC.”

Check out the website www.girlseducationnepal.org

It is wonderful to report that almost all our orphans are sponsored. Thank you so very much to our new sponsors and one-off donors. We now have enough funds to start our Girls Education Programme, where we sponsor girls from poor families (not orphans) to attend school, complete with uniform, books, shoes and bags. Girls will be plucked out of the workplace, where some of them work from dawn till dusk six days a week.

Thank you to our new sponsors and interested volunteers! We are thrilled to have you on board. A big thank you also for the generous donations of clothes, stationary and a computer that have been donated recently. Amanda will take those to Nepal in July. We have fantastic news! One of our older children, Bijay, is learning to use the internet to email his sponsors. This is our dream – to connect our children to their sponsors in a personal way. Bijay’s sponsors were thrilled to have this kind of communication with the child they are giving a bright future to.

Congruatulations to all the children for their latest school exam results! Everyone did so well. You can see their results in their personal profiles. We would also like to welcome three new sponsors – Ute, Jean-Martial and Enora Marenne from Belgian, Kiwis Belinda and Darren Walker and a group of dynamic business women from Auckland who meet once a month. Thank you to all of you!

Nonna, a longstanding volunteer, is visiting OHC now. She is amazed at how good the childrens’ English is. Well done kids! They have all just finished sitting their school exams. The results will come shortly.

Most of you are probably aware of what is happening in Nepal. Basically the parliament has been dismantled, the PM sacked and the country is under martial law with the king acting as a dictator. Most civil rights have been suspended, many students and human rights activists have been arrested. The situation is worse than ever. This means that for the average Nepali person things are pretty grim. Economy is at total standstill, there are routine general strikes and blockages when nothing moves - people cannot work or get basic goods such as vegetables.

So WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR ONGOING HELP. OHC is running 100% on private donations. Please tell your friends about us.

Wonderful news! We have our first outside sponsor, a New Zealand woman who has chosen to sponsor Santosh. Thank you for your contribution Jillian! We hope you are able to visit Santosh and the other children in the future. Also, a big thank you to the couple from Germany who are choosing to make one-off donations to OHC. Also to a young New Zealand woman in London who is making a donation. Thank you all so much!