September 27st 2006; the grand day was there; the first stone for Hamro Gaun, the new ecological village with centrally our new child home. Whereas in Sankhu the last hand was laid to our temporary rented child home, preparations were going on for the ceremony of this day. Our guests were collected on the parking place of the 1905 restaurants to the edge of Thamel. All sorts of people were in the group, from volunteers of Veldwerk Foundation to the governing board of Bal Kshhetra Nepal (our local partner) and the children of Hamro Niwas in their beautiful dancing outfits. On behalf of the governing board of Veldwerk Foundation also president Jaap de Vries and treasurer Fred Valkering and his wife Irena were presently at this ceremony and celebration. Totally there were about 70 guests present at the construction area, including a lot of other friends and acquaintances from the Netherlands.

For the occasion we had hired a large Tatabus and a smaller Micro bus, which transported all together to the splendid location, just outside Kathmandu, in approximately an hour. But the first piece of the way has been so neglected that it was a hard drive! Many children could not do without the small bags for catching up their meals. The last piece of the way is Off-the-Road, which means ploughing through the mud without any speed. Then it has, however, something quite nice.
After arrival on the construction area and after just a bit of looking around, we were conducted underneath a large sunscreen, where a group of our Hamro Niwas children opened the ceremony with traditional Nepalese dancing.

Leaded by Ramesh Paudyal (secretary and governing board member of Bal Kshhetra Nepal) today's guest of honour came forward. Among them was the Chief-guest: the Member Secretary of the Social Welfere Council. He has laid the first stone together with three of our children. The Social Welfare Council is the government body and the extension of the ministry which concerns about everything that has to do with organisations and licenses when regarding to social work. Other special guests, like delegates from the village Sankhu and other persons who have contributed to the realisation of this first stone, were also present. Of course our direct neighbours also had been represented.
Afterwards, all our guests got explaned what the project exactaly implied. A large artist-impression made a good impression of which building is going to be build on which spot.

Whereas we walked back to the tent for the last part of the ceramony, a continuous procession of people came by; people who leave Kathmandu to visit their family outside the city. Bags full of family presents balancing on their heads, presents for the large Dashain festival which starts about now. This festival is similar with our Christmas celebrations. New clothing, house visits, delicious food and a small week of holiday.
Meanwhile the sky was getting darker and darker and we could already here the storm and thunder from the other side of the mountains. The time was there for a concluding word of our special guests, who kept it shortly because it started to rain cats and dogs. As the tent initially was intended for creating shade, now it was a fine large umbrella.

The day was an extremely succeeded one. Finally the sun came back from where it was, which resulted in a superb rain arc. This present just fell from the sky, this day was complete! As it was told on the site, rain after a first stone ceramony means special good luck in Nepal. Therefore I keep myself to this superstition. Rapidly we were treated on an extra dancing act of our children.
At last, after many years' of struggle like bureaucracy and an extremely unstable political system (what also stood in the way) construction can start. As the Maoist rebellion and the government of Nepal now are on speaking terms, we can finally start to build. Thus as our slogan “action speaks louder hen words!”

Once again I would like to give my special thanks to everyone who in one or another way has contributed to the starting of the realisation of Hamro Gaun in Sankhu.

On this Internet site a special “construction page” will be arranged, so every weekly progress can be followed. A visit to our child house and/ or the construction area are always welcome. Just give a call to our office, located upstairs 1905 restaurant at Kantipath.
Phone: 00.977.1.4239900 or 4239901 also fax.
We gladly speak to you.

Greetings from festival celebrating Nepal, signed by a very happy and relieved person.

With regards, René Veldt,
Stichting Veldwerk
Actions speak louder than words.
Kathmandu, Nepal.

If you have some reactions on this newsletter you can mail to veldwerk@gmail.com

Donations: (In Holland we are known as a Charity Foundation, so your donation can be calculated in your tax) attended to;
IBAN nr. NL51ABNA0543703266
Bank: ABN AMRO 543703266
T.a.v. Stichting Veldwerk p/a Egmond Binnen, The Netherlands