The Asha Project

Reported by: Rtn Gopal Prasad Panthi, Charter President Rotary Club of Arghakhanchi, RID 3292 Nepal Bhutan. Club id 87446

Introduction:

Arghakhanchi is one of the districts of Province No. 5 in Nepal. The district headquarter is Sandhikharka. The district covers an area of 1,193 km² (461 sq mi) and has a population (2011) of 197,632. Its neighboring districts are, Palpa in the east, Gulmi in the North, Kapilbastu in the south and Pyuthan in the west. The time zone of this district is UTC+05.45 (NPT). It lies between 27’45″N and 28’6″N latitude, and 80’45″E to 83’23″E longitude.

The altitude of the district varies from 305 to 2515 meter above the sea level. 68% of the district is in the mountainous Mahabharat Range and the rest is in the Siwalik Hills. Elevations range from 305–2575 m above sea level and about 40% of the total area is forested.

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Program activities:

The program was organized support of International Partners Rotary Club of New York Queens, USA, Rotary Club of South Hampton and Rotary Club of Branchburg, New Jersey, USA , RID 7475, Host Partner Rotary Club of Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, RID 3292 and Local Supported Partner Rotary Club of Arghakhanchi, Club ID 87446, RID 3292 Nepal Bhutan and Sandhikharka Municipality ward no 6, Arghakhanchi.

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It was free medical camp in Shree Bhrikuti Basic school in that camp 975 patients were direct beneficiaries, We had manage the following rooms for following department which was as following.S.No Room No Departments 1 1 Department of General Medicine. 2 Department of Orthopedics. 3 Department of Neurological, 4 Department of Ophthalmological, 5 Department of Dental, 6 Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 7 Department of ENT, 8 Department of Pediatrics, 9 Department of ECG, 10 Department of Radiology, 11 Department of Dispensary, 12 Department of Registration, 13 Department of Reception.

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We also had plantation program of one hundreds ( Non Timber Forest Product ) Tree in B.P. Park and we also organized distribution of color of kids and stationery to one hundred eighty students of Shree Bhrikuti Basic School which was held on October 30, 2019 in Sandhikharka Municipality Ward no 6, Narpani, Arghakhanchi, Province No. 5 in Nepal.

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The program was held in about 1720 meters (5500 ft) from sea level in hilly area in Narpani of Arghakhanchi. Rotary Club of North Scranton PA, USA, RID 7410, Rotary Club of Merritt Island Breakfast, Florida, USA, RID 6930, and Rotary Club of Greenport, N.Y, USA, RID 7255 and Rotary District 7475 representative were also in our program. Rotary Club of Arghakhanchi had flag exchange program with Rotary Club of Branchburg, New Jersey, USA RID 7475 , Rotary Club of North Scranton PA, USA, RID 7410, Rotary Club of Merritt Island Breakfast, Florida, USA, RID 6939 and Rotary Club of Greenport, N.Y, USA, RID 7255.

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Reported by: Rtn Gopal Prasad Panthi, Charter President Rotary Club of Arghakhanchi, RID 3292 Nepal Bhutan. Club id 87446

Cell: +977-9857028103 Skype: gopalprasadpanthi23 Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/gopalprasad.panthi

Email :scdcgopal@gmail.com

जय रोटरी

डा. जय ब टन्डन
अध्यक्ष , RC Maharajgunj

Rotary Club of Maharajung, RID 3292 in cooperation with the Rotary club of Arghakhachi, RID 3292 along with eighteen Humanitarian mission team members from Florida, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, Rotary International Districts 7475, 7255, 6930 and 7410 helped to organize a mega health camp at the Arghakhachi district as part of the Asha Project’s 2019 Rotary Humanitarian Mission to Nepal. About 1200 people were examined for various health issues by a panel of doctors and also distributed medicine and reading glasses provided by the RestoringVision USA.

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Humanitarian mission team received a royal welcome by the local Rotarians and community people in the Arghakhachi district. At this event, our Color of Kids Founder Bethany distributed coloring supplies and mission participants also distributed school supplies to all local students who participated in this special event.  Interested in learning about the Asha Project Nepal visit www.theashaproject.org

We would like to thank participants and supporters for making this health camp a grant success.

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By Indu Paudel, Rotaract Club Of Tinau Butwal, Nepal

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Given the choice between crayons and pencils, I’m sure most kids would go for the crayons almost every time. We hope in color, we dream in color and we are happy when the world around us is colorful. But what happens when children don’t have access to crayons? When they don’t even know what a colored pencil is? I can only imagine their world is a little darker, theirs dream are a little smaller and their hopes aren’t quite as hopeful as their coloring peers. But all children deserve bright, colorful future, right? which is why 14-year-old girl from Pennsylvania has made it her mission to bring color to the lives of children everywhere to promote individual expression and creativity through arts. Her dream is for every kids to have their own box of crayons.
I was really blown away by this young girls altruism and compassion that we had special conversation regarding her dream, ideas and story. Talking with her she’s even more amazing than I thought. And here’s our conversation during her visit to Lumbini as part of the 2019 Humanitarian Mission to Nepal.

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Indu: when did you start COLOR FOR KIDS, and why?
Bethany: I realize that not all kids have their own crayons, and that made me very sad and I wanted to do something to change that so, I was able to start COLOR FOR KIDS -a charity that’s helping kids all around the world experience a life full of color in November 2015 when I was 9 years old.

Indu: what inspired you to start it?
Bethany: I believe that all kids should be able to create art. The best part of art is that anyone can just do it and do it right, because there is no such a thing as wrong art. You don’t even have to show it to anyone. Coloring can be therapeutic, it can bring joy or it can just be fun. It helps to express their feelings when they are mad, sad, or excited. They can color -its easier to write things down or color something instead of talking to someone. Some feelings just feel like color more than they feel like word. I was inspired to start the program when a pen pal informed me that students in Alabama did not have access to basic art supplies. with help of classmate, we collected two big boxes and sent them to a class in Alabama -they were so happy and excited.

Indu: what’s your favorite color?
Bethany: I love all types of color but choosing one green is my favorite, it’s beautiful, relaxing, and fresh like plant.

Indu: what do you like to do for fun in your free time?
Bethany: I love art and coloring but reading might be my favorite thing of all to do. I read every chance I get. I love to read all the times, I also like to play golf, field hockey and tennis. I love to travel and visit all cities kids with carrying crayons . I keep changing my mind about what I want to be when I grow up. Sometimes, I think a bookstore owner other times a park ranger. I even think being a cultural anthropologist would be cool.

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Indu: can you share your favorite moment that made feel really good about what you are doing?
Bethany: Every moment sharing a colored pencil to a kids, seeing their excitement and jolly face, coloring together with them makes me feel happy. I also get beautiful thank you pictures and letters that kids make and send to me, they were so amazing that I cried but it was happy crying. I have met a lot of kids who have never owned their own box of crayons or had their own coloring book. I couldn’t imagine that before I started sharing colors.

Now I see, how special it is, and how much it means to have a way to express yourself through art. The huge smiles and hugs make me want to do it again and again, more and more.

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Indu: what do you feel about Nepal ? What did you do with color for kids here ?
Bethany: Nepal is amazing and a gorgeous and a colorful country combines with beautiful Himalayan views, golden temples, charming hill villages and Jungle wildlife watching to offer my attention and love. I didn’t want to leave such a gorgeous country filled with beautiful innocent and kind people. I carry 6000lbs of color supplies with me when I came here almost half is shared with kids and remaining we will share all over Nepal and there will be more kids having Color to art supplies and have a colorful living.

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Indu: What are your future goals for color for kids?
Bethany: I don’t want to stop sharing color until every kid has his or her own box of crayons but more kids who need color are born everyday -it would be difficult to catch up with every single one.
For now, I just plan to keep sharing color for as long as I can. I love helping make other kids happy and I really hope to never stop.

Indu: Do you have any advice for other kids who want to help make the world better place, just like you?
Bethany: My advice would be to always speak up. If you have an idea dare to share it. More than anything just be kind by being kind you can change the world and make it better place to live.

Thanks to totally awesome kid, Bethany. She is an inspiring young lady who has vision to see underprivileged kids create with color . I would like to thank her for her precious time sharing her thoughts and visiting Nepalese kids with crayons and love. Also, I am thankful to Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan, PDG RID 7475 sir for providing me such a tremendous opportunity to share the school supplies and love to kids. And also thankful for the 2019 The Asha project Humanitarian Mission team.

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We would like to thank everyone who were involved in this 2019 Nepal Adventure and Humanitarian Mission planners and participants for making a grand success program.

Being a first large mission we had many challenges, however the Nepal team made it look easy and enjoyable.

Happy to be back home but I feel

like a left a little part of my heart in Nepal. Even though I’ve spent time in other developing countries this was a deep immersions into the culture and landscape of the Nepali people. Emotions and ideas are stirring within from this experience. I’m excited to see what manifests and how I’ll translate that into action. Thank you again to Tulsi Maharjan, Jyoti Poudel, Kishor Tripathi, and all the Rotarians and Rotaract members for being such gracious hosts and making the trip an amazing experience💗

Pamela Roger Guldi.

Our gratitude and Thanks goes to Dr Jay B Tandan- Rotary club of Maharajgunj President, Mayor Bansha L Tamang ( Indrawati VDC Sindhupalchock), Dr Mukti R Shrestha -Nepal Medical Association President , Mr Krishna Gurung – EGBOSA Nepal, Rotary Club of Arghakhachi, the ROTARY Club of Maharajgunj, Rotary club of Pokhara-New Road, Rotaract clubs of Rudramati-Babarmahal, Monohara, Rudramati and many more.

The travel arranger Mr. Kishore Tripathi, Teenkanya Travel & Trek and all other supporters. Rotary club of Queens New York for their support.

Rotary is a global community of 1.2 million members who share similar values and want to make the world a better place. Our 2018 Humanitarian Mission to Nepal with 18 Rotarians from 4 districts (7475, 7255, 7410 and 6490) in the USA was a grand success.  We had a chance to network with Rotary members from Nepal and share our passions and interests. We had opportunity to make a global impact by connecting with Rotary members outside our club and district and distributing 1000 pounds of school supplies as well as conducting 2 mega health camps in Nepal. Our special participant Bethany from the “COLORS FOR KIDS” provided most of the school supplies for this trip.

We had opportunity to:

• Explore our passions and hobbies with fellow Rotarians in Nepal. This fellowships enhanced our international network, interests, and developed greater global perspective. We hope to develop at least three international projects in different fields.

• We had a chance to explore new cultures and make new friends in Nepal. Through this visit participants deepen their international understanding, foster goodwill, and explore professions in a different context while building lasting friendships and a foundation for peace and service. We hope to send VTT team to Nepal to explore different new agriculture projects.

• Our trip connected clubs that are seeking international service projects and hope to sign sister club agreements with various clubs with those clubs that are interested in collaborating with global partners.  

• We had great opportunity to foster inter-cultural understanding through our visit. Although our members got tired eating Dal-Bhat ( Nepali meal), they had opportunity to work together to promote peace, friendship, and strengthen relations.  Long bus rides and without adequate services our members learned about how we take for granted many things in America.  However, welcome by 1000 of Nepalese community members with 100 of garland made us forget the long bus rides and adequate food.

We hope to continue our friendship and work with many new projects in Nepal. To all our new friends in Nepal, see you soon. NAMASTE.

Winding along the bumpy and dusty roads from Lumbini  to Arghakhachi, Nepal with our 2018 Humanitarian Mission members with the ASHA PROJECT volunteers and supporters, we learned lot about our friends in Nepal.  But as we walked to the top of the School building, we got a first glimpse of the village’s welcoming committee, from old ladies to young school children were lined up with thousands of garland ad national flower to welcome us.

It was a very impressive for our team to see such a welcome. As the bus load of mission members reached to the top all the villagers were waiting for our arrival for a whole hour.  By the time we reached the entrance of the School, the entire villagers had assembled to welcome us.

For the last five years we have been visiting many schools, communities to learn about their needs and how the Asha Project could possibly help.  Our delegates got a firsthand experience of what the conditions and needs are.

It has been our privilege and honor to be part of this great Mega health camp, tree planting event. I would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Arghakhachi Management Committee, Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Arghakhachi and Maharjagunj for arranging this great mega camp, Tree planting and school supplies distribution, in particular, I would like to thank the coordinator Rotarian Dr. Jay Tadon,  President of the Maharajgunj and President of the Arghakhachi club for their great friendship and fellowship.

One unique highlight of the trip was when we arrived at the Mha Puja Celebration organized by the Rotaract clubs of Babar Mahal, Rudramati and Rudramati-Babar Mahal at the A-1 cafe in Sankhamole.

Mha Puja. Mha Pujā (Devanagari: म्हपुजा) is an annual ritual performed by the Newar people of Nepal to purify and empower the soul as part of New Year celebration. It is performed on New Year’s Day of Nepal Sambat, the national lunar calendar of Nepal, which occurs during the Swanti/Diwali festival.

Seeing a smile and brightened wide open eye is my sense of happiness. We see the profound power and promise brought through something as small as giving a pencil, a pen or a notebook. That is our ASHA project- A Promise of Hope and providing opportunities for less fortunate people. ”

Dr. Maharjan

● OUR impression 

Each part of the trip had its own flavor yet there was one thing we could always count on: an overwhelming kindness and helpfulness orchestrated by OUR GUIDE host club members.

● So far the most memorable portion of our trip was our time with Rataract members and Mha Puja. They were extremely welcoming and very organized in putting together the program.

18 New York, New Jersey, Florida and Pennsylvanian Rotarian are on their first Humanitarian Mission to Nepal.

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There goal is to meet with as many Rotary clubs and formulate future joint projects in Nepal. They will be conducting two health camps and visit various schools and meet with students as well as plant trees in various communities.

Visitors had opportunity to celebrate Diwali as well as enjoyed their first Rotary fellowship with Rotary club of Maharajgunj members and their families.

This is a first mission coordinated by the Asha Project consisting 4 different districts from the State.

“We fundamentally believe that a day will come in our lifetimes when every single child will have access to a quality education, meaningful employment through micro credit loans and a well managed community. We will continue to work tirelessly in breaking down the restraints of today to enable the possibilities of tomorrow for the children and families in Nepal”.

Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan, PDG district 7475.

Thank you for your hospitality Rotary club of Maharajgunj. Also our thanks to Kishore Tripathi and his team for coordinating the trip.

It began 50 years ago, waiting for that day, when the Nepal Junior Red Cross gives out a “Small box of gift” from the USA. Every year in April, I used to wait for that day, to receive a small box of gift containing two pencils, erasers and few candies. That was, what I most wanted in the world.
“A Special Gift Box from America”

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Now a day, when I visit Nepal, I reach into my backpack, and hand students with a pen, a pencil or a notebook, and see a wave of possibility washed over the student.

Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan, Founding chair

Seeing a smile and brightened wide open eye is my sense of happiness. We see the profound power and promise brought through something as small as giving a pencil, a pen or a notebook. That is our ASHA project- A Promise of Hope and providing opportunities for less fortunate people.

ASHA means HOPE in Nepali language. It is amazing how a short, four letter word can represent so much. Asha means hope, and that is our purpose. To provide hope in all aspects of life by supporting initiatives that is run by the people of Nepal for the people of Nepal.

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Guided by our Three pillars,

RAYS OF HOPE, LEGACY OF HOPE and HOMES OF HOPE,

We have been supporting projects that inspire a promise of hope for the people of Nepal.

During our recent visit to the श्री भिमशेन आदर्श माध्यामिक  Shree Bhimshen Adarsa Madhamic School in Barumchuli: We met many smart, focused, and friendly students. Being poor in Nepal, their families are not not able to provide them with many luxuries, they are determined to get better education and become someone. With support from the ASHA PROJECT and partnership between the #ROTARY Foundation and ONE STEP FOR CHANGE,

THEIR next goal is simple: become the greatest teacher, social workers,police etc in Nepal.

Rotaract students from RAC Manohara, Babarmahal and Rudramati visited the school and conducted essay contest ” WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP”.

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Over the last 28 years, we have visited many village schools in Nepal, handing out thousands of pens and pencils across many districts in Nepal. These pencils, these small pieces of potential, led to powerful conversations with local parents and children across countless languages. These are the guidelines on which ASHA Project was founded in April 2015 after the earthquake in Nepal.

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In the process, we have learned a lot. We’ve learned that education is a living, breathing entity that with the right nurturing evolves into something spectacular. We’ve learned that every piece of its growth is a challenge and that each pencil, each dollar, each supporter is essential. The ASHA Project is now a national movement of passionate individuals, many of which are the most dynamic and impactful leaders we have ever seen. They are committed to supporting a world with greater educational opportunity for all. Thousands have joined us, making contributions through acts both large and small.

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We fundamentally believe that a day will come in our lifetimes when every single child will have access to a quality education, meaningful employment through micro credit loans and a well managed community. We will continue to work tirelessly in breaking down the restraints of today to enable the possibilities of tomorrow for the children and families in Nepal.

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The “Making A Difference Community Service Award” was presented to the ASHA PROJECT to honor the organization for making a significant contributions to the people of Nepal through their time, actions, talents and dedication

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The ASHA PROJECT was selected for being a role model for compassion, and service and be striving to make the world a better place. The Asha Project has been mobilizing passionate young volunteers from various Rotaract clubs in Nepal to help their own communities with funding, advice and partnership with others organizations.

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 According to the Immediate Past President of the RC Rudramati  Jyoti Poudel “ The Asha Project was selected for this award for consistently demonstrating qualities of compassion, and service to our local communities mobilizing variety of volunteer activities since the earthquake in Nepal”.

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The Asha Project has invested more than $150,000 in the micro credit project, $50,000 in educational scholarships and school supplies distribution and $50,000 in community development project so far since the earthquake.  According to the Asha Project coordinator Mr. Kishore Tripathi and Executive Director of the ONE STEP FOR CHAGE, “The first Educational scholarship was established in 1992 in collaboration with the Rotary club of Patan, which provides more than 300 scholarships each year. The most recent educational scholarship agreement was signed with the Rotary Club of Patan West to establish $100,000 scholarships to provide educational opportunities for remote village students.  The Asha Project also helped to set up a science lab at the Bal Kumari school in Sunakothi with the help of the Rotary club of Branchburg and the America Nepal Friendship Society of New York.  

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