Introduction
The VTC has now been running for a year. The intake procedure for the new batch has been completed. It was a very difficult job to select 35 youngsters out of almost 200 applications! The referral organisations know about our work now and we have obviously built up a good reputation in our first year of operation. The director of one of the organisations told me a while ago 'the vtc is the best school in Pokhara'. That's so wonderful to hear of course, but there is still a lot to do, learn and improve and we don't know the long-term results as yet.
Out of the intake procedure 38 new trainees have been selected. These trainees will have a three-month introduction period and start their actual course in August 2003. In order to have sufficient room for all trainees we have build three extra classrooms (for electrical, secretarial and theory lessons). We are all very exciting about the new group, which is coming. Due to Bandh (strike) we had to postpone our start date from April 29th to May 1st, and on this day we will all welcome the new youngsters to our centre.


Management
This year one of our big achievements was the affiliation with CTEVT (Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training). Our trainees are now able to do a CTEVT 'skill-test', which will give them a well-known recognised certificate.
The management team chose new staff for the hostels (hostel-assistants) to give support to the housefather and mother when the new batch arrives. We can also say officially “welcome” to our volunteer Khom Kumari, who has now a full-time contract as the 'Nepali/Math teacher'. Our CWS-UK director Douglas went on a fundraising trip to Hong Kong. Due to SARS sadly this rip didn't give the expected outcome. But we are happy to tell we found through other channels a sponsor for a new (much needed) girls hostel. Douglas has just signed the papers with the sponsor!

Staff training

• Anil, who is the language teacher, has been chosen to become the new technical advisor. He will be trained up so that he can take over the job as technical advisor by January 2004.
• The staff all received training in English conversation and Computer skills (Microsoft-Word) from the CWS-UK computer-specialist, Christoph.
• The staff have just received a two day internal training, which was focussed on teambuilding and quality (communication, organisation structure, report writing). The training was very successful, and a good refresher before the new batch of students arrives.

In this same period CWS organised a volleyball tournament in Bachok. Five of our trainees were selected to play for the CWS-team. Our main purpose was to give them a chance to participate in the tournament and make them more close to society (village-life), and the trainees did a great job in Bachok. They played a fair and good game and they were also very helpful and social. Nice to mention is that our friend and sponsor René (Stichting Veldwerk) was one of the supporters at the volleyball tournament.








At the moment the trainees are helping out in preparing the VTC for the new batch (cleaning, decorating etc.).
As expected not all the problems are over after the first year. Some of the trainees still have some behavioural problems but they are willing to work on it. Some trainees receive regular counselling to work on their personal problems (relational problems, loneliness, concentration problems and psycho-somatic problems). Many of the girls suffer from psychosomatic problems, because of that our counsellor decided to give weekly group counselling in the girls hostel. These days it seems the girls have fewer problems and look happier.

Courses
The 'Electrician' and 'Computer/Secretarial' courses are running very well, according to their planned curriculum. The 'Plumbing/Sanitation' course had to change the planned curriculum a little bit, due to the right tools and materials not arriving on time to start with the plumbing tasks (pipe fitting and board installations). However, the trainees are now very advanced in bench-work and have started two months ago with the real plumbing work. There is no concern because the teacher has enough time to catch up with the plumbing activities in order to complete the first year on target (July).
The Beautician group has been extremely quick; they have already learned 70% of the required techniques. However, they now have to spend time consolidating and improving their skills in practical on the job training, which they have started doing in the Hong Kong Beauty Parlour on Saturdays.

'The trainees are more active and attentive in the class now than they were before. They do not hesitate to ask questions and to share ideas. They have developed very positive habits, working hard and doing their homework regularly. They also help each other out; there is a good feeling of cooperation, and a healthy competitive environment amongst them. They have started to take their exams seriously and to prepare well for them' (Positive words from our Language Teacher Anil Poudel).

All the trainees are now getting prepared for their first work experience in their individual field. In May they will start with one day a week in a local company, observing and doing simple tasks. The trade teachers are currently undertaking company visits to organise these opportunities.

Social and extra-curricular activities

• The trainees also have extra-curricular activities, which are planned alongside their course programme. For those who are interested there are Kung Fu lessons twice a week (to work on body and mind), and on Friday afternoon there are various activities running for them, from making a movie, to drama, to environmental classes and then sport and games.]
• We hope to be able to provide more 'sports' in the future, but we need funds for more materials and to hire professional trainers/ teachers (such as Yoga).
• The social department have also made a plan to improve the social classes and the counselling sessions (with the recommendations/training last year from the Dutch volunteer Carin). They are now better prepared and more appropriate for the target group.
• The trainees have fortnightly meeting in their hostel, with a president and a secretary from amongst their own body, which rotates every month. Every three weeks all trainees come together for an 'interaction meeting with the staff and each other'. These meetings seems to work very well, everybody is starting to feel free to speak out.

Near future

• Coming week the new batch will start in the VTC. The first week will be focussed on 'getting to know each other' and making and understanding the rules and regulations. On Saturday we will all go on a picnic in a near area.
• During the month of May, the 'old batch' will start with their work placement. Probably the plumbing group will start a few months later (they will start now with group visits the companies and from July individual placements).
• In the introduction period all the new trainees will have introduction classes in all subjects. Though we think we must pay more attention to women in technical jobs, because of that we will organise an open women's day at the centre where we would promote “women as technicians”.
• At the moment we have individual sponsorships for 26 of our current 29 trainees. Hopefully coming fundraising activities will result in more sponsors for the new trainees. We also hope that referral organisations will hand over their individual sponsorships (from youngsters who are referred to us) so that we can all help the youngsters to have a new chance in life!