Stichting Veldwerk at Nepal

Secretariaat: Stichting Veldwerk Postbus 163 1850 AD Heiloo The Netherlands

Tel:+31 (0)72-5339585 veldwerk@gmail.com IBAN nr. NL51ABNA0543703266 Attn. Stichting Veldwerk, p/a Egmond binnen Bank: ABN-Amro 543703266

Nepal, 23th of February 2008, First stonelaying in Dhading district.

Hello everybody,

As mentioned before in our newsletter and on the website is Stichting Veldwerk active in the Dhading district. This, on request of, and in cooperation with the local community. The focus of the activities for now is basic health facilities, awareness programs, reforestation of the bare hills, clean drinking water and sanitation facilities. Amongst others, through the construction of the new day-care health centers for young children and their mothers. Stichting Veldwerk is planning 6 of these centers where non formal education is combined with basic healthcare and awareness.

This of course means quite an expansion of our activities; however a big part of the load is carried by the local communities and organizations in the district. Already, a number of donors have committed themselves to support the project, with these funds, already 5 out of the 6 centers are covered, a promising start so to say.
Besides construction costs these centers will have running costs, it is planned to gradually transfer these costs back to the communities, making the project self sustainable. In order to realize this, we are starting income generating projects with them, making them financially strong enough to cover these costs. However, until that time, we are looking for donors to cover these running costs.

The first centre that we are going to build is supported by Stichting 1913, located in Zoetermeer. Furthermore, Stichting 1913 has also committed themselves to cover the running costs for the first three years. A big supports in helping us help; thank you!

The second centre is going to be build by the local community in cooperation with a construction team from Schredlen & Co, based at Amsterdam. They are coming on the 5^th of April to support the building-construction. It is nice to see a sponsor offer their time to experience the construction up close and personal.
The same goes for the team of Atos Origin, 3rd world found. They arrive on the 18^th of April and are going to support the local community with building the 3^rd health centre. In the last weeks the first stone laying ceremony took place for three of the six centers. This was done in the traditional way. Here, the first stone is indeed the very first stone, unlike a symbolic stone placed in the wall, as we see it in the West. We were invited to witness the ceremony and eventually even asked to place the stones by the community, what an honor! On our trip up we were accompanied 3 visitors; Yvette Depaepe, Ellen Meij en Nel Mocking. Nel wrote a report about the happening, see below.
Once again, a big thank you to everybody that made this possible.

For now greetings en our thanks to our sponsors in this project.

René Veldt, Stichting Veldwerk, action speaks louder than words, Nepal.

Dhading Project; The first stone laying, an exceptional happening! On the 23rd of February 2008 we left early in the morning towards Nalang-Salang in the Dhading district. The group consisted out of me and two other friends. We were joining René Veldt, the director of Stichting Veldwerk, to the organization's first stone laying ceremony of the Dhading health-daycare project of Veldwerk.
First, we had to drive 90 kilometers by jeep of which the last 15 kilometer off road, steep up a hill. On the way, we were lucky to buy a few liters of diesel, which secured our return trip. With the fuel crisis in Nepal, you're never sure.
When we arrived in the village Nalang-Gahate Chour, we were welcomed by an official delegation of the district. After a short tour around the foundations we had to sit on a chair to await the rest of the program. There were around 120 people, under whom a lot of children. Some people walked for like 2 hours to join the first stone laying ceremony. The sun was shining; the view was fabulous from this high hilltop and hundreds of locals that were watching us in a serene, hopeful and proud way. They were looking at us like we were big, important people but we felt smaller and smaller.

After the opening speeches by different representatives it was René that had to place the first stone. First, he had to wash his hands and the ground was cleaned with water. Then he had to put a tika "porridge" (a combination of tika pouder, rice and milk), money, flowers and a portrait of the goddess of education "Saraswoti" on the fresh-cleaned-spot. Because of this, the spot is blessed, what makes the chance of disasters less. Finally the first stone was laid. After this there were 5 young girls that put tika's and flowers on the stone as well as the district delegation. The ceremony was brought to an end with tea, biscuits and candy for the children.

The next day we went to the second stone laying ceremony. Arrived in Kalmalabari we were festively welcomed by the local band. There was a huge welcome-arch we had to walk through with the district officer and the representatives of the village. Next to the road there were hundreds of children in school uniform who welcomed us with flowers and stings around our necks.
After a tour around the foundations we had to sit again in the chairs that were reserved for us, and in the meantime we were completely decorated with flowers.
There were around 350 people under whom a lot of children. They came out of the whole district. After a word of welcome by different representatives René was invited to place the first stone.

A few days of festivities I'll never forget. On our way back I told my travel company laughing that these ceremonies felt like my second wedding.

Nell Mocking, February 2008, Nepal.