She transformed the day she became a mother (Story of Transformation 12)

Being a mother is not what you gave to have a child, but what you have gained from having one.

Girl with evergreen smile, Sita Katwal

Recently, I met her after approximately two years. She, a carefree girl who used to love shopping, chatting and talking aloud. We used to be room mates. Oh, not only room mates we were more than that. Working at the same place and also staying together, we used to be together 24/7. I must say her company never bored me. Her laughter was so loud that it used to fill the room. I guess even the people next doors used to listen what we used to talk about. So, loud she was. Always holding her cell phone with her, she was always ready to receive the call. She used to scold every other day to her best friends if they miss any of the days to call her.

When I met her this time, she was holding her two months son on her lap and trying to make him sleep. Yes, I could see her big wide grin in her face just as before when we used to be together, 

Apart from that, I found so many things have changed. She has grown a lot, much more matured. In short, she has transformed a lot. 

Aatharva, Sita's sweetheart

I noticed how carefully she was handling her child. She was no more care free; the way she was touching her child, dealing with him… ahh…I was overwhelmed to see that. I had never thought that she would be so…so careful in any thing. (I really mean it as she was so careless about most of her thingsJ)

When her baby had a short nap, she was so desperate to share her feelings about the day she became a mother.  "Bhawana di…kasto garo bhayo tyo din" (Sister, it was too difficult to give him birth).  yeah, it would definitely have been difficult for her as she had to wait for unsuccessful long hours for normal delivery and then had to be operated. She remembers that it was her most rewarding as well as her most frustrating experience. How much painful the day had been of her son's arrival, she has never stopped feeling content these days. She shares her life has a purpose now. "Whatever I do, I think of my child. I think the pros and cons even when I eat as my son will be affected." she shares so joyfully.

Our moment...

To my surprise, she has her cell phone, but she doesn't care much. She now can be found apologizing to each and every one for not being able to receive the call as she was busy with her baby. With more joy and laughter after the birth of her son Aatharva, my soul sister Sita is enjoying her unique time of her life- motherhood. I could see she had not just given birth to a new life, but she had gained a rebirth of herself. I was so surprised to see, how she had grown up so quickly. A girl who never cared about how her day after would be, was now already being concerned about her child's school, which really had some years.

Even in that short meeting, I could touch her fleshy but beautiful hands and feel how well she has been able to manage her plump body, which she hated before. I could smell the warmth she showers to her baby. I could hear her babbling talk with her son. I could feel her happiness. All in all, I could realize how changed she is now.

I still remember how she used to exclaim, "didi mobile bhayena bhane ta ma k garchu hau?"( I would I live without my mobile phone?) And today I could see how she had overlooked her mobile phone.

Looking at her, I can surely say that being a mother is the most amazing transformational experience a woman can ever go through. 

I just wish she would keep on growing as a mother and may always lead a content life. I only think one thing she should not change about her, that is her big bold laughter. It inspires others to laugh in its own unique way. Others I won't mind whatever she changes. ;) 

Six months after Nepal earthquake: school children suffer from fears and anxieties

Published on http://www.aworldatschool.org/global-youth-ambassadors/entry/Six-months-after-Nepal-earthquake-children-suffer-fears-and-anxieties-2371

Six months after the earthquake, children face other insecurities in Nepal. Of the 8897 people who were killed in the devastation six months ago, a third of them were children.
For some people, the earthquake may be just a memory now - but the children in the hardest-hit zones are still facing insecurities and problems.

Abhishek from Chapagaun, a grade nine student, had just turned 13 when the earthquake struck and damaged his shelter. Although he has returned to his school, which luckily was not badly damaged, he is still sad because he sees his future as bleak.

He used to be top of the class and was very confident about becoming a doctor. But, after the earthquake, it was noticeable that he was not able to concentrate on his studies. 

Abhishek said: "On the one hand our family is facing financial crisis and on the other hand, we four families with seven members each are now living under the same tent, which has created a lot of mess in my life.

A temporary learning centre in Nawalpur Picture: Manoj Pandey

"When I sit down to do my homework, either I become distracted with the fear about our finances or get disturbed by the people who are busy in their own work."

This is a great load of insecurities for a child who has recently become a teenager. Abhishek is just one example. There are thousands of children who are going through the same insecurities.

Since the earthquake, many organisations like UNICEF have helped over 100,000 children continue their education and helped to provide psychological support and health facilities. But there is a lot more to do.

Although the government, along with other organisations, worked on building temporary learning centres made up of zinc and bamboo, the dream of quality education seems just a dream if the process of rebuilding isn't completed soon.

Teachers are finding the temporary learning centres are not as effective as their schools. They do not have enough good teaching materials and they have to speak loudly so that hundreds of students can hear their voice.

Children have become disturbed. A report by UNICEF and partners three months on from the earthquakes revealed those children's fear and anxieties at losing their homes and living in tents.

Most of them are afraid, as they are in the vulnerable zone which is frequently hit by landslides and floods in the monsoon season. It's very sad that nearly 900,000 homes were destroyed in the earthquake, leaving thousands of children homeless.

Mahakali Secondary School lies unused
Picture: Prakash Shrestha

In this context, monsoon not only brings heavy rains and triggers landslides but also increases the risk of water-borne diseases and worsens the sanitation conditions.

In these six months, although people are working to return to their normal lives, many survivors - mainly in mountainous and hard-to-reach areas - still need urgent help according to a UN report.

Recently I got an opportunity to talk to a secondary level science teacher - Bikash Deshar of Nawalpur, Sindhupalchowk - about the conditions in schools and for children after earthquake. Here is what he said.

Tell us about your school and how was it affected by the earthquake?

The school where I teach is Nawalpur Secondary School. There are 15 teachers and 458 students. We lost two students in the disaster. One student was a primary-level student and the other a girl in grade six.

Living conditions for earthquake
survivors in Chapaguan

All the students are now living in temporary shelters as all of them have lost their homes. 90% of our school was damaged and now we are teaching at temporary learning centres.

Are you facing any problems at the temporary learning centres?

After the earthquake, the number of students at our school increased. The nearby schools of the village were totally damaged so we started teaching in temporary learning centres. Although it was good that many children returned to school, the centres have no proper and permanent walls. The noise disturbs both the teachers and the students and they cannot focus on what they are doing.

Do you think this problem is going to end soon?

No, I don't think so as it will take a long time to complete the task of reconstruction. It seems that it will definitely take two or three years to make the school as it was before.

What are the other problems children are facing?

At school, children get the care from teachers and support from their friends, so it seems that they are trying to go back to their normal life. While some of them are still fearful about the next disaster, most of them seem to have overcome the fear of disaster but are still insecure about their financial and household problems.

Are there organisations working with them on these issues?

Plan International and Oxfam are the main organisations working here. Plan International has mobilised the youths of the village in the reconstruction and cleaning after the disaster and created a source of employment for the villagers. They provide $150 as their monthly stipend.

As the big Nepalese festival of Dashain and Tihar is soon, when people need more money to celebrate, Oxfam has started a road construction programme where they provide $160 to the workers so that they can celebrate the festival. To increase the students' attendance in school,Teach For Nepal had started a mid-day meal programme and provided some stationery to students.

Is there any help from the government?

The government fulfilled its promise by providing $150 to people for their temporary housing. Apart from that there is no effort from the government. Permanent shelter is very important to protect people from other disasters and health issues.

What do you think should be done to improve conditions?

Although all these efforts are being made, I think these are not sufficient in the long term. I think some income-generating skills should be given - training should be provided so that people can at least start their own business or work.

Otherwise, financial insecurity will increase and the work of reconstruction will take much longer than we had imagined. And this will further increase other insecurities.

The Grassland

Hedges and the shrubs

rural or suburb,

beauty stitches its loom

yet with no flowers there to bloom

welcomes you with its charm

you too will embrace with open arm, the grassland.

A letter to me on my first day of teaching

                                                                                                                                        

source: m.rgbimg

                                                                                                                               April 16, 2013

Dear Bhawana,

I know you are too excited today. Yeah! You are nervous as well. I know you haven't slept the whole night for your first day at school and you are going on all these roller coaster rides. I am writing you to suggest you to to cool and calm and also yeah do enjoy the day.

You are neither going to get this day back nor you are going to get these feelings back so make it your best, give it your hundred percent. When you look back you will treasure this day. Before I say you anything, please go and check are you ready with every material that you have planned for today's introductory class? Be ready with it first. You may forget later and run without taking it.

Have you got it all? - Good, they are all ready.

Bhawana, remember your school days, how you used to think when a new teacher would come at your class? Of course, some would make a good impression on you on their very first day and some may not. You slowly had a liking for some of them later on but some you really didn't like even a single day. You too will be judged by your students. Some may like you, some may not. But don't panic and don't stress on that. It doesn't matter whether they like you or not. You are there for a change and yes, they definitely will remember you one day when they will reach their dream. The dream; that you make them visualize.

Don't you remember all your teachers now? Yes, you do. You feel that all those teachers whether you liked them or not have an influence on you.

So are your children. But yeah, do make them realize that you are not the one with the stick on your hand; you are with them to shower them loads and loads of love and care. Your children need that. Have you found out about them? Some of them are orphan, some are too poor to afford a good pen and most of them have many family and social issues. They are having a very miserable life. Do make them realize that you are with them to share their happiness and sorrows, to understand them.

You are going with a commitment that you will give your two years in that place. Bhawana, be patient and work. I am reminding about your commitment because every day is not a Sunday. You will see rain and shine both. Control your temper; you may get mad because children are not going to do the assignments you give. They are not going to go through your instructions. They are not going to follow the classroom rules. They may make funny excuses which you know all will be fake. How much you try some will still be there talking in the last bench while you are teaching, some will still bring zero even you concentrate on them so much.  

But never give up. Make them feel that you expect from them and you have a hope for them. Also make them realize that they can do it. It seems difficult and definitely needs a hard work, but they would surely realize it. One day they will understand, they will finally start listening you, start writing at least some words. They will start doing their assignments. First know them, their interest, hobbies. I suggest you to be their friend and a guardian. A friend who would know them all but also a guardian, who would guide them to show them their way. Make them realize why education is so important for them. Why coming to school is so mandatory for them.

I know so many questions are there within you now. Don't worry about them now. They all will get answered one by one. You may face problems but you will find their ways to get out too. You will learn each day. Reflect each day, learn from each mistakes.

Umm! I am pouring out a lot. I need to halt as you need to reach school on time. Just a reminder for today and everyday. I know you may make mistake and children are smart these days, they will definitely catch you but do remember apologize. Don't hesitate to say Sorry.

Best of luck for the day.

                                                                                                                            Warm love

                                                                                                                             Future Bhawana

Vigour behind silence

Source; fils.enjin

Today a boy may be of 10, boarded the same bus on Gwarko, that I was travelling on. He was on school uniform. Besides that I didn't notice much about him that time. After some minutes, I dropped at Chapagaun Dobato, the boy to dropped with me. We both waited for the bus to Chapagaun. After about 15 minutes, the bus came and we searched some seats. Thank God, we were the first to find seat among 10 of us who were waiting. We sat together. Then through his activities, I knew he was travelling to school alone and also via public bus for the first time. He shared that his school bus is not going to bring him now on due to shortage of fuel. He with a big grin too said, now I have to be independent. He was frequently questioning me about if it was the same bus that would halt at Thecho or not also being conscious about the time. The way he was being conscious about he place really was kind of gaining attention. I am happy that today he reached his school and that also on time.  

Mum is our mouth

neither we are afraid of you

nor we are against you

you did what you thought right

may be you are in a delight

when thousands of people are crying,

also hundreds among us are dying

may be you are born for that

this is not the first crime you have had

We are silent

to gain our strength

to be ready to endure any treachery and pain

We don't want to waste our power

which we may need at any hour

Don't take us weak

as we don't speak

It's simply that the chances you hear us is bleak

Why shall we groan,

for the person who doesn't mourn

even on the massacre of his own countrymen?

It's shame of you that you are on power

because of you even your people are feeling sour

We the child of the country where Buddha was born

He has taught us to look at positive even

when the time is to shun

You have made us realize how powerful we are

We can rise on any disaster or forgery

We know this time shall even pass

Yes, we will rise again

but be careful will your power last?