The Asha Project

Group Study Exchange from Nepal to visit our District 7475 in Mid-April to Mid-May 2022. Need your club support.

Our most recent District GSE program started in PDG Ray’s term of Governorship. Our district send four GSE team members to Nepal in early January 2020. We had a plan to bring the group from Nepal in April 2020. But due to covid pandemic district had to cancelled the program. Now with Covid pandemic slowing down, we are planning to bring the team in Mid April to Mid May 2022 and have them attend our district conference in April.

Rotary International is a 116-year-old beacon of World Understanding that crosses all political, religious, and international borders. Rotarians have spread the message of World Understanding through acts of kindness, compassion, fellowship, and a common theme, Service Above Self. Our 1.2 million members have seized opportunities to serve at home and abroad through hands-on projects, International grant projects and other financial commitments. Rotarians around the world are working tirelessly to spread goodwill and peace.

For me, Rotary is one great gateway that leads to many doors – the chance to meet wonderful people you would otherwise never meet, to learn about cultures you never knew existed, to break bread with otherwise total strangers and so break down the barriers of ignorance and intolerance, to support a strong Rotary Foundation and its programs and participate in a crusade for building world understanding and peace.

Our real legacy will be once we eradicate polio from this earth.  We are “THIS CLOSE”.   Rotarians around the world have embraced the dream of a Polio-Free world and if that isn’t World Understanding I don’t know what is.

Our Rotary district 7475 is planning to honor Rotary’s goal of world peace and understanding by inviting one Rotarian leader and 4 Rotaract members to our district in coming Mid April-May of 2022  and planning  programs and activity during their visit to emphasize Rotary’s “understanding and goodwill as essential for world peace.”

As I reflect on my 2020 GSE team visit to Nepal as a GSE team leader with two Rotaract members and one Rotarian co-leader, I am truly humbled by Rotary’s undertaking to affect change on a global-level through simple ideas such as education, community service, and relationship-building between individuals. 

Rotary’s unwavering commitment and its dedication of resources to projects such as Youth Exchange, Vocational Training Team, Global grants, Group Study Exchange (GSE) are exemplary. These and similar programs are not designed to bring an immediate return on investment but to build a foundation for the future.  They are progressive as well as deliberate; they offer grassroots, long-term solution to building peace and goodwill among individual citizens. In addition, our countless joint international service projects between Rotary clubs around the world also contribute to this vital objective.

“Our district has conducted many wonderful projects around the world. In 2022 as part of the Global Peace and Understanding month, we hope to have many celebration to highlight our past, present and future International projects”.

PDG Tulsi R. Maharjan

My own club Rotary club of Branchburg has done more than million dollars of Global grant projects around the world. If you like to learn about those projects and future joint projects, let me know, we can give a special presentations. Pictures from our Humanitarian mission to Nepal.

Our current District Governor Shelby Rhodes and PDG Ray Freaney are working hard to make this special GSE visit a reality with funding from our district and many supporting clubs. All district clubs will be playing a big role in inviting our GSE team from Nepal by arranging programs with our special guests and inviting friends and families.    

This will be a great time for our district clubs to launch an international community service project in your community with our visiting Rotaract students, sign sister club agreement, inviting your Rotaract and Interact students to share their experiences.

Through Rotary and its Foundation, we foster personal relationships that transcend borders and form a foundation for peace. GSE team visit from Nepal will be like celebrating World Understanding Month and a great opportunity for every club to pause, plan, and promote the Fourth Avenue of Service – Rotary’s continued quest for goodwill, peace, and understanding among people of the world.

I would love to hear about whether your club will be able host them in your county and provide home stay. You can reach me via email at trm7510@gmail.com or call my cell (908)458-7712.

PDG Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan

Branchburg Rotary is proud to announce that 2021 The U.S. President’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Ms. Kabina Singh Maharjan on November 20, 2021 during the 20th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner and Diversity Awards ceremony at the RVCC College in Branchburg, NJ.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) is a civil award bestowed by the president of the United States. Established by executive order of George W. Bush, the award honors volunteers that give hundreds of hours per year helping people in need.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award can be granted to individuals, families, and organizations located throughout the United States. Depending on the number of service hours completed, recipients can earn the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and/or the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“The purpose for the President’s Volunteer Service Award is to honor those who volunteer hundreds, if not thousands of hours over their lifetime,” said Past District Governor Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan of the Branchburg Rotary club. “Volunteers are the engine of every organization, community, state, and country. They truly help make a difference.”

According to Dr. Maharjan, Past District Governor of the Rotary District 7475 “Kabina has found her passion, purpose and mission in her life. For the past 12 years, she has freely performed in many local and national stages various Nepalese cultural and historical dances”.

Kabina Singh Maharjan is also a Cultural Ambassador and coordinator of of the FONNJ (Friends of Nepal-NJ) http://www.fonnj.com.
According to Dr. Maharjan “We are delighted to have Kabina Sing Maharjan being selected as a recipient of this prestigious award”.

KABINA PERFORMING AT VARIOUS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

Kabina has been presenting her performances at various special functions in the tri-state area for more than 12 years.

According to the FONNJ Vice President Roshan Karmacharya “We are very happy learn that Kabina is receiving this prestigious award and recognition from the United States President”.

Kabina was born in Khokana, Patan and has been performing in variety of programs ever since her high school year, she had also taught dance classes to children in school. Dancing is her passion and she would like to continue teaching dances and promoting Nepalese cultural heritage in America. If your organization is interested in having her perform, please contact her at http://www.fonnj.com.

Shailesh was one of the first Nepali to live in NJ. We almost came to America same time in early 1970s. I had a plan to celebrate our 50^th Year of COMING TO AMERICA celebration next year. But he left us early.

When we moved to NJ in 1987, we met up again after 20 years. May be that was my destiny to hear his dried sense of humor.

Then our small Nepalese community of 5 to 6 families regularly gathered during various Nepalese festivals. Now after 30 years we surpass more than 1000 families in NJ.

Nepali Gathering

I still remember a special gathering in his first house in Metuchen. One of the guest Mr. Kanak MANI Dixit, who worked at the United Nations came one hour late.  I thought that was a Nepalese time, but he could not find Metuchen. With his best Nepali accent, he asked a police officer where is the Me-tu-chen. Police told him that there was no me-tu-chen in New jersey. We had a big laugh.

Shailesh was born only two days before me. I asked him if I need to call him DAI – meaning Elder brother in Nepali. He just laughed and said it is only two days we are twins…

We started our THREE AMIGOS birthday celebration tradition. Celebrating our June birthdays together with Shailesh, Ashok and me. During the birthday celebration we always discussed about our favorite drinks. I used to buy only CORONA beer and Ashok and Shilesh used to have a good discussion about which one is the best beer. CORONA or Amstel.  For me it was just a beer and used to be happy with a cold beer and Newari choyala – roasted spicy meat.

When my son Anil was born in June 1992, we became 4 amigos and I made Shilesh  Anil’s GOD father according to American tradition. Shailesh used to imitate as DON CORLEONE from the movie Godfather and try to have kiss his ring. But that did not work.

Periodically when his father Foreign minister of Nepal Mr. Shailendra Kumar Upadhyay visit us in NJ, we used to have nice American Dinner ( you can guess what that is) and talk about Nepalese and American politics. That will be the highlight of Shailesh’s day.

Shilesh was always witty, he has a knack for telling Jokes about everything.  He was a renaissances man who has curiosity and desire to learn about everything. His smile, Jokes and boundless energy mesmerized everyone who he met.  He made friends with everyone easily. His unquenching desire to learn continued and read many American novels. We even found his latest novel he was reading in his bedroom before he passed away last week.

I am sure all of you have a different story to share about your encounter with him.  His funny jokes, his dried sense of humor and most of all his smile. I am sure he is watching us at the moment and laughing in the way only he can laugh. (ha.Haha …YO MULA HARU ke gari rahekohola) What these fools are doing.

He was a GREAT family man and he adored all his children. In order to keep his memory alive and with his children’s desire to keep his LEGACY going, we are setting up a MEMORIAL SCHOLARHIP in his name in Nepal so that we can continue providing HOPE and OPPORTUNITES for many poor children and continue his life’s quest for gaining more knowledge and continue his LEGACY many more years of come.

We are all going to miss him dearly.  We should take his LOVE for LIFE today as we say farewell to him and LIVE our lives with the JOY that Shilesh embodied.     

MAY YOU REST IN ETERNAL PEACE MY DEAR AMIGO…

CELEBRATION OF LIFE & LEGACY OF

MR. SHAILESH KUMAR DAHAL (UPADHYAY)

BY: Amanda Green, Former RVCC Rotaract club member

The Asha Project’s GAP program started sending Rotaract students to Nepal to have them gain a lifetime experience. Visit http://www.theashaproject.org to learn more about the GAP program.

Travelling to Nepal was an incredible opportunity that I stumbled upon as a result of being a member of the RVCC Rotaract club. It was a really unique experience that I’m so thankful I got the privilege to be a part of.

The highlight of my trip was getting to meet the amazing members of the Newroad Pokhara Rotaract club, who were so welcoming, friendly, and amazing tour guides! We built strong friendships and developed a fantastic bond between our twin Rotaract clubs. I was really impressed by was the fact that most of the Rotaractors we met were entrepreneurs of some sort, having started at least one business or company and were already running it successfully. I was so impressed that many of them were starting off their business careers at a young age, and I found that inspiring!

Another memorable part of the trip was getting to experience the beautiful country and culture of Nepal. I was absolutely amazed at the beauty that was all around us wherever we went. It was inspiring to witness the vibrant and beautiful culture of Nepal, which is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. It was remarkable to be welcomed into so many different homes and get to see little parts of life in Nepal, all the people we interacted with were so hospitable and friendly.

We assisted with several service projects while in Nepal, such as distributing school supplies, painting walls and benches, and doing construction work in Kathmandu. This provided credibility to the missions the various groups are accomplishing and supported what they were already doing. This opportunity to come alongside these groups and support them was very encouraging and inspiring to me, as well as beneficial to the community. It was impressive to see how the Asha Project is helping people in Nepal, and to be a part of that.

I was so thankful for this opportunity to travel to Nepal, and really grateful to all the people we met for coordinating it and organizing everything so wonderfully. I look forward to when I can return.

Darai Community Project Progress Report:

By: Prithivi Shrestha, VP Rotaract club of Rudramati-Babarmahal

Darai is one of the nationalities of Nepal. Darai is an ethnic group. Darai cast is one of marginalized group of Indigenous nationalities in Nepal. Total number of Darai ethnic is 14,859 in Nepal, according to Census 2001. They speak ‘Darai’ language as their mother tongue. 10,210 Darai people speak their Darai language in Nepal. The greatest number of them have been living in the inner Nepal for several thousand years. Most of these people live in Tanahun, Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts in the area of western part of Nepal.

        In some studies reported about the origin of Darai. They are known as Daroe, Darhi, Daraie, Daras, Darad and Darai. Darais are Mongolian stock with short stature, depress nasal ruts and they have stumpy nose. They display great health and strength. Darais are economically poor and the literacy rate is also very low in their communities and their livelihoods totally depend in traditional agriculture and fishing. Although Darais are agriculturalists lacking specific skills to carry out other special jobs. Men and women both work in the field and keep cow, sheep, goat and hen at home. Most of the women prepare beer (wine made out of maize or wheat) called ‘Mod/muna/jaad’.

As part of the economic and community development project the Asha Project hopes to work with the community leaders and women’s group to:

1. Promote and preserve their own language, custom, religion, traditional rituals,
2. Teach them about personal saving and microcredit projects,
3. Provide Educational opportunities for children,
4. Vocational training programs to engage women,
5. Help promote their homestay business and community development.

    Darais are not getting much help from from the government so the Asha project started a pilot project with them to support them. In early January 2021, the Asha project with the help of the Rudramati-Babarmahal club distributed 150 chicken to families in the village. We were happy to learn that they were able to take care of those chickens and about to lay eggs and very soon they will share their chicks with other families who did not receive chicken. According to chair of the Asha Project Dr. Maharjan “In a special ceremony villagers will have a “GIVING DAY CELEBRATION” this way, community will learn the concept of how caring and sharing is important to further develop their communities”.

According to Dr. Maharjan “As part of the Indigenous Community Economic Development project, The Asha Project hopes to distribute more chickens, develop new bee project in the village as well as promote their homestay business. We are happy to be able to help these backward community people. We hope to work with these communities to preserve their language, customs, festivities and promote their distinct identity.” Your support is greatly appreciated to protect their lands, language, traditions and cultures. If you like to support this project, please visit http://www.theashaproject.org and make your donation.

By: Chandra Bhakta Adhikari, President Rotaract club of Sukhedhara.

Education is a basic right to every human being , rich or poor, any colour, caste or religion. In this joint venture between the Rotaract Club of Sukedhara, Rotaract Club Baneshwor and Rotaract Club of Baneshwor Royal, supported by The ASHA Project and FONNJ (Friends of Nepal New Jersey).

Rotaract club of Sukhedhara and Baneshore were able to donate a total of 1176 books to Hari Kirtan Basic School with financial support from the Asha Project. Rotaractors also conducted fun programs such as musical chair, balloon blast games and and spoke with students about how they can benefit from this library and getting to know the children and their lifestyle. According to Chandra Bhakta Adhikari, coordinator of this event “It was a very fulfilling event being able to help poor children in Dolkha and in this event we gained the goodwill of the teachers and the greater appreciation from school students” School library books consists of new novels, course books and books regarding general knowledge and world geography.

Pictures from Dr. Maharjan’s 2019-20 Humanitarian mission to Nepal.

Due to COVID-19, the chairperson of the Asha project, Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan, past Rotary District Governor of 7475, USA could not make his annual trip to Nepal this year. However he said “His heart and spirits are with you” (Nepalese students and Rotaractors). He further said that “Whenever, I see student’s eyes wide open with a hope and aspiration then I feel that our Asha Project’s mission is achieved and that’s what brings me happiness”. The USA-Nepal Humanitarian Service projects have been going on for the last 30 years in Nepal and this year the Asha Project hopes to complete 30 projects in different parts of Nepal as part of the 30th year celebration. Just recently, they completed school project at the BalKumari School in Sunakothi, Laliltpur. (pictures belowe)

The Rotaractors felt a warm feeling of love and affection from the children, and a sense of goodwill from the teachers. “It is a great feeling to be able to add a small drop of humanity in an ever troubling world” said Mr. Adhikari.

Project : RotaAsha Library
School : Hari Kirtan Basic School, Dolkha
Books donated : 1176

CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF BRINGING HOPE TO NEPAL

A Fateful Day

When Dr. Tulsi Maharjan stepped out of his home in the city of Patan, Nepal to go on an early morning walk, he not only encountered two little girls collecting pennies from the famous Chovar temple, but in a flash of memory he recalled his own economic disadvantages as a youth.
As a high school student in Nepal, Tulsi had anxiously waited for the Nepalese New Year to receive a small gift box from the American Red Cross. It contained a few pencils, erasers, a ruler, a couple pens and maybe candy. “I was in the receiving end 50 years ago,” Tulsi recalls, with a wistful smile. He had been very fortunate, however. His parents’ economic sacrifices eventually provided him the opportunity to study abroad.

Tulsi made a personal commitment to help educate those two girls when he met them in 1989. After he returned to the United States, he planned and developed various fundraisers and programs to provide funds to send more students to school. His employment in higher education, provided him an acute understanding of the transformational powers of education, this Tulsi to work tirelessly over the years, to raise funds to assist young students to attend school. In 1988 he joined the local Rotary Club, an international humanitarian organization. Soon he was involved in various projects and brought awareness of the needs in Nepal to the Club. He also started the Friends of Nepal-New Jersey organization which promotes cultural awareness and provides critical support for poor people in Nepal.

On the fateful morning in 1989 in Nepal, at the foot of the Chovar, 17 years after leaving his country of origin, Tulsi’s focus turned to the children in Nepal; with special interest and intensity, because he knew the importance that early education played in people’s lives. When he asked why the girls were not in school, he learned that the $25 yearly cost per child was prohibitive for their parents.

It Begins with Hope

Asha means HOPE in Nepalese. While Tulsi tacitly understood that it was not possible to give hope to all economically struggling families in Nepal who wanted their children to receive a basic education; he knew he could provide Asha to the two little girls. Hope for a better future for those girls was within his reach. That simple commitment to nurturing and giving hope– would prove to have the power to multiply itself when it was put into practice. That was his promise.

At his return to New Jersey from Nepal, where Tulsi now lived and worked, he embarked on a fundraising campaign, tapping New Jersey Rotarians as well as Friends of Nepal-NJ’s, Nepalese community to contribute to educational projects in Nepal. The fundraising campaign surpassed the initial $3,000 mark.

Hope Grows and Multiplies

Encouraged by his success, Tulsi returned to Patan two years later, in 1991. This time his approach to fund raising was more strategic as he knew that his individual efforts could not scale up to help more students. That is why he challenged his Rotarian colleagues in Nepal to match his own $500 donation for the scholarship program. The community responded in earnest with a cumulative sum of another $3,000. “All of those businesspeople were excited about contributing the gift of education,” Tulsi remarks with a trace of wonder. As of today, the Patan Rotary Club has deposited $100,000 in the bank and with the annual interest, the club is providing 300 to 500 scholarships each year. Remarkably, reflects Tulsi, “in collaboration with various Rotary clubs in Nepal our humanitarian projects have completed more than 25 projects valued at $1,000,000.”

The need for hope is greatest in times of crises, and humanitarian organizations responded to that need in 2015, when a strong earthquake hit Nepal destroying thousands of homes and exacerbating the poverty that already existed, especially in rural areas. By that time, Tulsi had built a solid infrastructure to channel resources and aid. It was that foundation that made possible the emergence of a broader-reaching humanitarian organization that is the “Asha Project” in partnership with the Friends of Nepal-New Jersey, (www.fonnj.com), Rotary club of Branchburg and Rotary International District 7475.

Hope to Action with a Sustainable Model

While the Asha Project’s origin can be traced to the caring attention, intention, and action of Tulsi to help two little girls, the strategic approach it developed to uplift thousands of Nepalese in need is anchored in three principles that give the Asha Project its sustainable organizational structure: a) HOMES OF HOPE: rebuilding homes, community and schools, b) LEGACY OF HOPE: investing in people by providing microloans and training for adults, c) RAYS OF HOPE: providing scholarships for children and youth to attend school and improve their digital literacy. The Asha project was created after his family visit to Nepal in 2016 with his son Anil, daughter Tara and son-in-law Daryl. Anil and Tulsi has continued to visit annually to Nepal to visit projects and other activities since the earthquake.

Today, the Asha Project not only benefits children in Nepal, it has continued to expand to empower women, entire families and communities, and as the silver lining reveals itself, it has given young professionals and other individuals the opportunity to travel, learn, and serve in Nepalese communities helping rebuild homes and schools for earthquake victims and expanding the access to water and healthcare.

Intersection of Passion, Purpose, and Promise – Working Together

After working in the higher education for the 30 years, Tulsi had finally found his passion and the purpose of his life. His passion is to help needy people and young students to learn, and to use his knowledge and skills to “help those who need help.” He has been able to have multiplier effect of those funding from the Friends of Nepal, Rotary clubs in New Jersey and beyond as well as Rotary Foundation matching grants. In the last 30 years more than 1 million dollars worth of projects have been completed in Nepal in cooperation with many Rotary clubs and other organizations in Nepal.

Creation of the GAP PROGRAM – Travel, Learn and Serve.

Among the many strategic partners of the Asha Project are several Rotary Clubs around the world and Friends of Nepal-NJ which have funded almost a million dollars of global grant projects. The GAP “Global Action Program” was created with a purpose of development professional opportunities for young students to TRAVEL-LEARN & SERVE. The GAP Program provides students with an opportunity to learn new skills, learn about new cultures and languages and TAKE ACTION through humanitarian service during their two weeks stay in Nepal. Annual humanitarian missions where Rotarians travel every year to Nepal to help rebuild communities for earthquake victims. This annual trip has given hope and generated excitement among the people of Nepal.

The Empowerment Program for Indigenous Women

The Empowerment Program for Indigenous Women was funded by a $100,000 Rotary Foundation grant to establish a micro credit project to support their entrepreneurial efforts. Rotarians are also funding another major scholarship for Indigenous people of Nepal. This program has continued to help more than 10,000 people in Nepal. This micro credit program was started in 2010 with $15,000 now there are more than $150, 000 invested in Nepal.

Three decades of Humanitarian service with Multiplier effect

It has been three decades since Tulsi’s encounter with the little girls by the temple; this solitary effort has expanded into multiple projects and thousands of individuals who have helped to further enhance The Asha Project’s vision of uplifting individuals from poverty in Nepal.

The Asha Project fundamentally believe that a day will come in our lifetimes when every single child will have access to a quality education, and we will continue to work tirelessly in breaking down the restraints of today to enable the possibilities of tomorrow.

Biyan’s journey to become the youngest public prosecutor in Nepal

There is a saying, Dream Big and Live the Life You Desire. This is how Biyan dreams. To make a dream come true, one has to find solutions to overcome the challenges that hinder you. While studying in grade 8, Biyan dreamt of becoming a lawyer. Being a member of Rotaract club, it was not difficult for her to find the right solution to make this possible. Through her networks she got the opportunity to connect with Friends of Nepal-New Jersey and the Asha Project.

“HOPE MAKES THINGS WORK”

She received scholarships to study at the Chakrabarti HaBi Education Academy, College of Law. Upon graduating from law school in 2018, she passed the Public Service examination. Since then, Biyan is working hard for the wellbeing of her country, and presently works as an Assistant Public Prosecutor at the District Government Attorney Office, Kathmandu. She handles various cases in Nepal, including theft, fraud, narcotics, rape, homicide, polygamy, and cybercrimes.

“EVERYONE DESERVES HOPE”

Along her path she received many national and international opportunities through Rotaract and Rotary clubs. One of those was to participate in a prestigious UN conference, “Harvard National Model United Nation (HNMUN)” in 2017 in Boston, USA. She represented Nepal among 3000 world delegates, an opportunity only possible with the support of the Asha project.

Asha means hope; spreading hope among the Nepali people is its purpose. In 1992, the Asha project started its journey with a small investment for education and now it provides more than 500 scholarships in a year. “Rays of hope scholarship” is one of the three pillars of this project to provide financial educational support to deserving students.

This is how Asha provided hope to the young professional Biyan. In this moment of celebrating 30 years of this project, looking back and seeing the success of this young professional in Nepal is truly inspiring. Biyan is not only a name; she is the refection of all bright students who deserve an opportunity to make their dreams come true. The support of the Asha project can make this possible.
Focusing on education, micro credit, homes and community building, the Asha project helps poor people in Nepal to improve their quality of life with support from the Friends of Nepal-NJ (FONNJ) and the Rotary club of Branchburg.

By: Arya Jha about her volunteer work in Nepal.

A different perspective is one of the hardest things to obtain. Nature and nurture both skew how each individual thinks and behaves. Growing up in a privileged town, under an air conditioned roof, with all the latest clothes and gadgets is a recipe for a narrow outlook in life. There’s no reason for this person to know what others are facing even a couple miles away when they don’t have to deal with it themselves.

Acquiring a new perception was the hardest first step for me when I thought about volunteering in Nepal. I wasn’t completely oblivious to everything happening in my father’s home country as I visited almost every year. I would enter the home he was born in, after petting the goats on the way in, and complain about the cracks in the walls and the uneven floors that disobeyed the mason’s leveler. I would think to myself, my dad was so poor, how awful! What I didn’t know when I was younger was that the majority of people had it much worse. And while my father did indeed grow up below the poverty line, there are so many subcategories of the impoverished and I felt that I needed to educate myself.

It was not perhaps until I met Dale Tamang at the Voice of Children (VOC) drop-in center in Kathmandu last June that I really gained perspective. I had volunteered in the capital for the past two years as well, and while all my experiences were eye-opening, none compared to the rawness of my time at VOC.

Dale was the first of thirty-six boys I met during my one-week stint over the summer, and he is one of the few that I still think about on a daily basis. Upon entering the three story building where homeless boys would first come after being picked up by the police, I saw him, curled up underneath the coffee table. He stuck his head out, just to inform himself of who had just entered the room. Probably knowing that I was not one of the usual volunteers, he slid out, and walked over to me. He looked no more than eight years old. Traumatized from his days on the street after the loss of his family, he refused to eat meals, play board games with the other boys, and communicate with his teachers. I spent hours trying to earn his trust. And somehow, through this process, I became his anchor, his human bridge to the beginning of a normal life. In my presence, despite our language barrier (he spoke Tamang), he tried out new actions and received positively reinforcing responses. He rebuilt himself, just as Kathmandu slowly repaired its bridges, roads, and homes after the destructive earthquake. And, while Dale found a new home inside his own skin, I realized how Nepal has served as my own anchor.

Additionally, in this visit I was fortunate enough to do something completely different. Tulsi Uncle arranged for me to deliver some school supplies to St. Xavier’s Social Service Center through FONNJ and The Asha Project. Girls and boys—some in wheelchairs and others in crutches—sat in the pavilion where we were welcomed. They applauded with a twinkle in the eyes when they realized why we were there. They sat, listening attentively to every word I said when asked to speak about why I’m doing what I’m doing. It was a surreal experience that further contributed to my new perspective that I was working so hard to achieve.

Nepal used to mean a simple visit to my grandparents—a chance to pet the goats. Then it became an opportunity to apply my tech skills for earthquake disaster relief. Now, Nepal has become a place of transformative encounter. Nurturing the homeless boys of Kathmandu and working with those who seek guidance, I found a new home in Nepal.

by Arron Basnyet

My Passion of Helping Others

It seems like a standard response for a thirteen-year-old to state that he is passionate about helping others. While this is true, that is all I want to do now and throughout my high school and college years and beyond. This is because I am experiencing this joy right now with my nonprofit organization, http://www.all4ball.org of fundraising and changing lives one by one.

At dinnertime, my mother would share stories of the extreme poverty of the small towns of her homeland, Nepal. I often wondered how I could help, so when I visited Nepal in 2018, the first place we went to was a school. The front of the building looked like a tiny jungle, covered with tall grass and bushes, and that was the only place the children could play for recess. We continued up a dirt path to the main part of the school where I saw children inside the classrooms sitting on the floor surrounding one low table. The school could not afford chairs and desks for the forty children that they had. I had already heard about the situation, so on my eleventh birthday, I collected money instead of asking for gifts. With the $1,000 I raised, I set out to build a multipurpose sports field, and the kids use it for different activities, varying from sports to assemblies year around. My passion was born in Nepal. I knew what I wanted to do.

Being brought up in America, I never saw kids without shoes. Most of the students in this school were barefoot because they could not afford them. Knowing this, I came prepared with forty pairs of new shoes. On that same visit, my brother, his friends, and I brought soccer balls and taught the students the basic rules and skills of the sport. The smile on their faces made me feel so good about my choices to help and to bring joy, and I thought to myself that if one person could put a smile on forty kids, if others contributed, it could change the whole world. On that flight back home to America, I achieved my short-term goal, but it was not enough. I was eager for how I could continue changing lives.

I put my eyes on new ways to help those unfortunate. I wanted to raise money quickly, so on New Year’s Day, I baked cookies and brownies and sold them while also collecting used soccer cleats and jerseys from my teammates. I wanted the kids in Nepal to have a chance to use the same equipment as us. I raised another $1,000 to build another multipurpose field for another school. And the ideas kept stacking up.

I found ways to help Nepal without even being there. I teach a computer class to kids in an orphanage in Pokhara, Nepal through Zoom. I am Microsoft PowerPoint and Word certified, so I educate them about the basics of these programs. I make a lesson plan before each class and teach them how to perform a function, and because of the time difference, I must log on at nighttime. Once, I asked my students what their goals and dreams were, and they all had normal aspirations to be a sports player or a doctor, but it hit me that they had little opportunity being in Nepal as opposed to my American dreams.

As a result of my non-profit, ‘all4ball.org,’ which promotes and informs people about my work in Nepal, I have a continued passion for my future to help people through science and medicine, and what better way to continue changing the world than by helping others feel healthier, happier, and better? And while I do not know specifically what kind of doctor or scientist I am going to become; I do know that my passion for people all started in 2018 in front of a tiny school in Nepal.

FROM NEPAL REPORT

News By Rameshwor Sharma Reported By Joshan Shrestha Written By Uttam Rimal

मङ्सिर २० , तनहुँ ।। आज अन्तराष्ट्रिय स्वयंसेवक दिवसको अवसरमा तनहुँ व्यास नगरपालिक वडा न १० दुम्सीका दरै समुदायहरुको लागि रोट्रयाक्टको क्लब अफ रुद्रमती बबर्महल- काठमाडौंले ‘अपलिफ्त द लाईभस’ बन्ने प्रोजेक्ट अन्तर्गत दरै समुदायलाई चल्ला तथा सरसफाइ सामाग्री बितरण गरेका हुन् । यस दरै समुदायका मनिषहरुलाई आर्थिक वृद्धिकोलागी र यस कोरोनको समयमा आफुलाई सुरक्षा राख्नको लागि यस प्रोजेक्टले केही सम्म भए पनि मद्दत गर्ने हुनाले यस प्रोजेक्ट गरिएको हो ।

कार्यक्रममा दुम्सी समुदायको २६ घर परिवारलाई प्रति घरमा ५ वटा चल्लाहरु र दाना बितरण गरिएको थियो भने बाँकी रहेका अन्य परिवारलाई अर्को चराणमा बितरण गरिने भएको छ । सो कार्यक्रममा सो समुदायकै ५० घर परिवारलाई साबुन, रुमाल, स्यानिटाइजार, मन्जन, ब्रस आदि सरसफाइका सामाग्री सहितको झोलाहरु बितरण गरिएको थियो । कार्यक्रममा आफुले चल्लाहरु पाएपछि समुदायले खुशी व्यक्त गरेका थिए।   

कार्यक्रमका प्रमुख अतिथीको रुपमा व्यास नगरपालिक वडा १० का वडाध्यक्षमा तुल्सी राम सापकोटा, विशिष्ट अतिथीको रुपमा आदिवासी जनजाती युवा महसंघ तनहुँका पुर्व अध्यक्ष यवम कार्यक्रम सहयोगी वीर बहादुर दरै, दुम्सी नमुना ग्राम माथिल्लो टोल बिकास संस्थाका अध्यक्ष नन्दलाल पौडेल ,दुम्सी दरै गाउ समुदाय इकाइ समितीको अध्यक्ष तुल बहादुर दरै अतिथीमा दुम्सी दरै गाउ आमा समुहका अध्यक्ष लरी माया दरै, दुम्सी दरै होम स्टेका सन्चालिका आशा दरै हुनुहुन्थ्यो ,कार्यक्रमको सभापतित्यो रोट्रक्यक क्लब अफ रुद्रमती बबर्महल- काठमाडौंका अध्यक्ष रो. ॠषि कडरियले गर्नु भएको थियो भनी कार्यक्रमको सम्योजक रो. पृथ्वी श्रेष्ठ हुनुहुन्थ्यो । 

कार्यक्रम बोलदै प्रमुख अतिथी सापकोटाले आफ्नो वडा अन्तर्गत दरै समुदायमा यस्तो राम्रो कार्यक्रम ल्याउनु भएकोमा रोट्रक्यक क्लबलाई धेरै धन्यवाद दिनु भएको थियो, दरै भाषा सन्स्कृति पहिचानको साथै आफ्नो ब्यक्तिगत बिकासको लागि आफुले पनि अघी बढेर आउँनु पर्छ, स्थानिय सरकारबाट सकेको सहयोग गर्ने कुरा पनि जोडनु भ्एको थियो। यस चल्ला बितरण पछी यस्को राम्रो हेरबिचर गरेर आउने दिनहरुमा राम्रो उथ्पादन गर्नुपर्ने कुरामा जोड दिनुभएको थियो।

कार्यक्रममा कार्यक्रमका विशिष्ट अतिथी दरैले बिपन्नपरिवरहरुलाई केही मात्रामा भएपनी यस कार्यक्रमले सहयोग गर्ने र यो जाडोको समयमा चल्लाहरुलाई धेरै हेरचाहगर्नु पर्नेहुँदा राम्रोसँग हेरचाहगर्न पनि समुदयालाई आनुरोध गर्नुभएको थियो यस्सैगरी दुम्सी दरै होम स्टयका सन्चालिक आशा दरैले कार्यक्रममा स्वागत मन्तब्य राख्नु भएको थियो भनी दुम्सी दरै गाउ आमा समुहका अध्यक्ष लरी माया गौउमा पहिलो चोटि यस्तो कार्यक्रम भएको बताउनु भयो र आउने दिनहरुमा बिभिन्न महिला बिकासका तालिम ल्यनुहुन् पनि समोदन गर्नु भएको थियो र कार्यक्रममा दुम्सी दरै गाउ समुदाय इकाइ समितीको अध्यक्ष तुल बहादुर दरै पनि आफ्नो भनाइ राख्नु भएको थियो। कार्यक्रममा कार्यक्रमका सभापति कडरियाले आउने दिनहरुमा पनि यसै प्रोजेक्ट अन्तर्गत थुप्रै सिपमुलक कार्यक्रम ल्याउने जानकारी दिनुभएको थियो।    

यस प्रोजेक्टलाई सार्थक पार्नको लागि द आशा प्रोजेक्टले ठुलो मद्दत गरेको भन्दै यस प्रोजेक्टका संस्थापक रो. तुल्सी महर्जनलाई सम्झदै आउने दिनहरुमा यसै प्रोजेक्ट अन्तर्गत बिभिन्न सीमान्तकृत तथा गरीब जातिका मानिस र बालबालिकको क्षेत्रमा बिभिन्न कार्यक्रमगर्ने कुरा प्रोजेक्टका संयोजक पृथ्वी श्रेष्ठले जानकारी दिनुभयो । 

यस प्रोजेक्टलाई द आशा प्रोजेक्ट-नेपाल, फ्रेन्ड अफ नेपाल- न्यू जर्सी, आशा वन स्टेप फर चेन्ज, रोटरी क्लब अफ ब्रन्चबुर्ग र रोट्ररी क्लब अफ रुद्रमती जस्ता सहयोगी संस्थाहरु छन् भने यस प्रोजेक्टका आधिकारिक मिडिया पार्टनरको रुपमा नेपाल रिपोर्टस र पर्यटन बजार छन्।

Many thanks for making FONNJ’s 10th year of LEGACY CIRCLE program a great success. With 87,000 worth of donations from LEGACY CIRCLE members, Nepal Earthquake Relief fund, the Asha Project and various Rotary Clubs, we have been able to receive matching grants from the Rotary International pushing our funds to $550,000.

Over the last five years, we sent 35 Rotaract students to Nepal to learn about culture and build better friendship and distribute over 6000 pounds of school supplies. The US Rotaract students along with their Nepali counterparts have distributed the school supplies, warm clothes and blankets; and participated in various community projects. Collaboration with several organizations have allowed us to accomplish a great deal.

Our annual humanitarian missions to Nepal from 2016-2020 has helped us to visit many schools, community groups, projects as well as carrying gifts from our members and supplies from district Rotary club members.

In early January 2020, we began working with the Rotary club of Patan-West to create the Rays of Hope Scholarship Fund for 100 school children in remote villages. Our collaboration with the Rotary club of Patan has already been providing more than 100 scholarships each year.
During the same trip, we were able to set up a science lab at the Bal Kumari School at Sunakothi, thanks to support from the America-Nepal Friendship Society of NY. We also provided $100,000 matching grant we received from the Rotary International to two NGO’s to start the Micro Credit projects in several villages.

With the help from the Asha Project and the Rotary club of Branchburg, we distributed chickens at the Barumchuli Village in Lalitpur and Mushara village in Sauraha, Chitwan.

In late 2019, we took over 18 Rotary members on a humanitarian mission. They helped conduct two health camps, visited schools; distributed 5000 pounds of school supplies donated by the Color for Kids Foundation.

All of these projects were possible only because of the generosity of our LEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERS and our supporting partners.
The COVID-19 has made fundraising by us and our supporting organizations almost impossible. The needy of Nepal are looking to you for help. Your donation and membership with the Legacy Circle will go a long way in helping needy people in Nepal. Let’s leave a LEGACY OF HOPE.

With best wishes for you & yours,
Tulsi R. Maharjan, Ph.D.
Chair, Friend of Nepal-New Jersey
Past District Governor, Rotary District 7475
Founder, the Asha Project

PS: Do remember, you can make a donation at
any time at http://www.theashaproject.org/donate. Thanks.