Category Archives: General

[:ca]Activitats i tallers[:en]Activities and trainings[:es]Actividades y talleres[:], [:ca]Esports[:en]Sports[:es]Deportes[:], [:ca]Idiomes i lectura[:en]Language[:es]Idiomas y lectura[:], Children of the Home, General, Nepali Culture, Nepali Language

Twenty-fifth, Christmas!

Friday December 30th, 2016 amicsnepal

Written by Joana Alsina, volunteer of Bhimphedi Children’s Home.

In Nepal the streets are not glazed, the trees are not decorated, the lights do not flicker night and day but even so, the 25th is a national holiday also in Nepal. So, we decided to make of it an special day for all of us, as we had already done the previous two years (2014 and 2015).

This year we organized an orientation race for all the town for the 8 groups of 3 kids from the Children’s Home. The preparations took us several days. But it was fun and interesting. We learned a lot, both volunteers preparing, and children playing.

This Christmas game in groups consisted of:

1. we gave a map to each team with a cross that they should locate and go. (The original map was provided by Mònica Sans. Raquel brought the printings in A3 format from Kathmandu).

2. Once there, the three members of the group wished “Merry Christmas!” to the shopkeeper or the family they had to find and they asked if they had something for them.

3. The selected villager told to them only the beginning of a Nepali saying or proverb. The work of compiling, transcribing and translating the proverbs was done by Manisha, with the help of the other community school teachers, books and technical help from Dani. The work of allying with the villagers was also made the day before the game by Manisha (our Nepalese volunteer), with the help of Joana and Raquel, walking around the village, map in hand, to mark the selected places for the clues.

4. The group, then, had to return to the Children’s Home, and write the complete sentence on the board to get up to 5 points. If they did not know the complete proverb they had to find someone to help them (and the great wild card was Maya didi, the caretaker of the Children’s Home who knows all the Nepalese sayings).

5. Once the phrase was written, the group had to invent a small representation of a situation in which that proverb could be said. 5 more points in play.

6. Once they had done these two tests a new location was made on the map and they had to go there again. Each team had to get up to 5 sayings from different places of the town.

The locations were drawn by lottery so that some groups had to go several times to Chabeli (the farthest part of the village, uphill). It was two very intense hours. Kids ended up exhausted of going up and down, and volunteers stressed of receiving so many groups with the new phrases to be checked and scored.

Finally, around twelve-thirty noon, we finished the game. The first three groups were asked to choose one of the three Christmas lots we had prepared.

There was also a gift for all of the kids: speakers to watch movies and listen music.

But the surprises did not end here. Kush brought meat for everyone for Christmas dinner. It was delicious! So at the end, this didn’t become being so different Christmas for the volunteers, although being so far from home we were with family, with excitement and surrounded by good food.

We leave you with the 21 Nepali sayings we used for the game. Now all the kids and volunteers can already use when necessary:

Example sentence that we represent Dani, Raquel, Manisha and I:

मुखमा राम् राम् बकलिमा छुरा।
Phonetic: Mukhmā rām rām bakalimā chhurā.
Literal: In the mouth Ram Ram, in the pocket a knife.
Meaning: When someone says good things, but later in the facts he betrays his own words.

The 20 sayings the kids had to find in different locations in the village:

हाड् नभएको जिब्रो चिप्लिन्छ।
Phonetic: Hāḋ nabheko jibro chiplinchha.
Literal: Because the tongue doesn’t have bone, it slips
Meaning: If we speak sometimes we will make mistakes.

वैगुणिलाई गुणले मार्नु पर्छ।
Phonetic: Vaiguṅilāī guṅle mārnu parchha.
Literal: We have to kill the bad with good.
Meaning: Even when people do something bad to you, you should do good to them.

तै रानी मै रानी कसले भर्छ कुवाको पानी।
Phonetic: Tai rānī mai rānī kasle bharchha kuwāko pānī.
Literal: If you are a queen and I’m a queen, who will take the water from the well.
Meaning: If no one wants to work, who will do the necessary things.

अचानाको पिर् खुकुरीलाई के थाहा।
Phonetic: Achānāko pir khukurīlāī ke thāhā.
Literal: The knife doesn’t know anything about the pain of the cutting board.
Meaning: Who is suffering some pain, only himself can understand.

रात् भरी करायो दक्षिणा हरायो।
Phonetic: Rāt bharī karāyo dakshiṅā harāyo.
Literal: Someone who shouts all night and doesn’t get anything
Meaning: When someone works hard and doesn’t succeed.

एकले थुकि सुकि सयले थुकि नदि।
Phonetic: Ekle thuki suki sayale thuki nadi.
Literal: One split dries, hundred splits make a river.
Meaning: Alone you cannot do big things, but all together we are powerful.

नाच्न नजान्ने आगँन् टेढो।
Phonetic: Nāchna najānne āga:n ṫeḋho.
Literal: Who doesn’t know how to dance, feels the ground irregular.
Meaning: When someone who doesn’t know how to do something, blames the environment instead of accepting his own weaknesses.

आफ्नो आङ्गको भैसी देख्दैन अर्काको आङ्गको जुम्रा पनि देख्छ।
Phonetic: Ᾱphno āηgko bhaisi dekhdaina arkāko āηgko jumrā pani dekhchha.
Literal: On your own back you cannot see a buffalo; on other’s back you can see even a louse.
Meaning: It’s easy to see other’s mistakes, but it’s difficult to realize about your own.

अल्छि तिघ्रो स्वादे जिब्रो।
Phonetic: Alchhi tighro swāde jibro.
Literal: Lazy thigh, delicious tongue.
Meaning: When people don’t want to do any effort, but they want to get the benefits.

मेरो गोरुको बाह्रै टक्का।
Phonetic: Mero goruko bāhrai ṫakkā.
Literal: My ox costs twelve.
Meaning: When someone is stubborn and feels he is always right, and he doesn’t listen to others.

के गर्छस् मङ्गले, आफ्नै ढङ्गले।
Phonetic: Ke garchhas Maηgale, āphnai ḋhaηgale.
Literal: What Mangal does, to himself the mistakes.
Meaning: When you do bad actions you will suffer the consequences.

वनको बाघले खाओस् नखाओस् मनको बाघले खान्छ।
Phonetic: Vanko bāghle khāos nakhāos manko bāghle khānchha.
Literal: The tiger of the jungle may eat you, or not; but the tiger of the heart will eat you.
Meaning: If you are scared that something bad can happen to you, then even if bad things doesn’t happen, you will not be fine.

घरको बाघ् वनको स्याल्।
Phonetic: Gharko bāgh vanko syāl.
Literal: House Tiger, Jungle Fox
Meaning: When someone is very stubborn and rude in house, but later outside when someone does something wrong to him, he doesn’t dare to confront.

खुट्टा भए जुत्ता कत्ति कत्ति।
Phonetic: Khuṫṫā bhae juttā katti katti.
Literal: If feet, a lot of shoes.
Meaning: If you don’t succeed in something, don’t worry you will find other options.

हुने हार् दैव नटार्।
Phonetic: Hune hār daiva naṫār.
Literal: What has to happen, God can not stop.
Meaning: Noone can do anything for the inevitable events.

बुढा बुढिको झगडा परालको आगो।
Phonetic: buḋhā buḋhiko jhagaḋā parālko āgo.
Literal: The fight of husband and wife is like the fire of hay.
Meaning: When a husband and a wife argue, they cannot be angry for long time; so others should not interfere.

जसले मह काट्छ, उसले हात् चाट्छ।
Phonetic: Jasle maha kāṫchha, usle hāt chāṫchha.
Literal: Who cuts the honey leaks his hand.
Meaning: Who makes labor can collect the fruits.

बादरको हातमा नरिवल्।
Phonetic: Bādarko hātmā nariwal.
Literal: The coconut is in the monkey’s hand.
Meaning: When someone does not take care of something, so it may break soon.

१२ छोरा १३ नाति बुढाको धोक्रो काधँ माथी।
Phonetic: Barhā chhorā terha nāti buḋhāko dhokro kādh: māthī.
Literal: Twelve sons and thirteen grandsons, but the heavy pack is on the old man’s shoulders.
Meaning: When someone, even being surrounded by many close people, he/she doesn’t get any help when needed.

एक हातले ताली बज्दैन।
Phonetic: Ek hātle tālī bajdaina.
Literal: One hand cannot clap.
Meaning: We should help each other.

[:ca]Idiomes i lectura[:en]Language[:es]Idiomas y lectura[:], Children of the Home, General, News

“La primera pel quinto i per tothom …” in balmandir becomes more than a game

Sunday December 18th, 2016 marinavinas

Written by Marina Viñas, volunteer of Bhimphedi Children’s Home.

“El Quinto” – also known as “la Quina” – it’s a typical Christmas game in some catalan regions. Since September in Bhimphedi we are working to get all ready for the special annual session organized by “Amics del Nepal” and the S.C.R. El Ciervo de Sabadell that will take place on January 7^th. The benefits of this special session will go directly to balmandir and our kids will make one of the games even more special.

vine — The broadcasting team: Samir, Purnima, Raju, Manuj and Sarita.

First of all, for those who don’t know anything about “el Quinto”: How does it work? Each player has a card with 90 numbers (from 1 to 90) randomly distributed in six squares of five columns into three lines each one (so 15 numbers each square). The first player who fills one line shouts QUINTO and. later, the player who fills a square shouts PLENA. The person who says (or sings) the numbers is called Lloro (parrot).

What do we mean when we say it’s going to be an special game? As it happened in the last two years, the balmandir kids are going to be the parrots of one of the games!

We put the 90 numbers – made with paper – inside a plastic bottle. I asked the kids – one by one – to do as a parrot while I recorded them helped by Rojan. But it had to be in Catalan! It was not an easy work: “it’s so hard!”, “I don’t know how to say it”… In the home there are 26 kids so each one had to say 3 or 4 numbers. But slowly they started to enjoy doing it and at the end I got all the numbers (“at the end” means that it took me three months!).

purnima — We can sing the numbers in any place,

It’s the third year that kids are asked to do this job so the questions quickly started: “Why do we do it?”. “How does this game work?” They were curious about the game and fortunately I had put some cards inside the suitcase (thanks to S.C.R. El Ciervo of Sabadell for giving them). So we started playing with the youngest kids in the “English version”, achieving to remove the mix-up between 13 and 30, 14 and 40, 15 and 50… We have a new tool for the study! Using this game we also did some maths: additions, subtractions…

portada — First quinto sessions in balmandir

The elder kids have also played quinto but in the “Spanish version”. We’ve been doing Spanish classes for some months and we thought it would be a great idea playing “el quinto” in spanish to practice the numbers. At the beginning Ashish, Kush and Lov (who are advantaged students) translated the numbers to Nepali. But after playing, playing and playing, even Kamal and Ramraj dared to act as Parrots singing the numbers themselves. Great!

espanyol — Spanish version of quinto. Ramraj was singing the numbers that time!

“El Quinto” becomes more than a game in balmandir. You can play with us on January 7th at the S.C.R. El Ciervo (C/Viladomat 26, Sabadell). See you there!

[:ca]Receptes de cuina nepalesa[:en]Recipes of Nepalese Cuisine[:es]Recetas de cocina nepali[:], Children of the Home, General, Nepali Culture

This Saturday, samosas as lunch!

Tuesday December 13th, 2016 amicsnepal

Written by Joana Alsina, volunteer of Bhimphedi Children’s Home.

The samosa is a very common meal in Nepal, and in the children’s home we often eat them as lunch, but we had never cooked it ourselves, we always bought them outside. But this Saturday, thanks to the masterclass of a woman of the village,and Arjun’s help, we were able to cook them. Now we have a new recipe in Balmandir!

To make the filling:

1 kg of potatoes
500 g onion
Coriander
Masala (mix of aromatic herbs, to the taste of the consumer)
Chilli
Chickpeas
Tender garlic or other vegetables (optional)

To make the dough:

500 g flour
A pinch of baking soda
Cold water
Salt
Aromatic herbs (dried celery flakes similar to oregano)
Clarified butter (ghee)

To make this recipe we divide into two teams. While one team was preparing the filling of the other made the dough.

To make the filling:

The night before we put the chickpeas in water and leave them to soak all night.
After having cleaned the potatoes we put them to boil in the pressure cooker. Then we peeled them and put them in a large bowl to make the whole mixture of the filling.
While the potatoes were cooking we also put the chickpeas on the fire and we cut the onion on moon shape, the cilantro and tender garlic.
We fried the onion slowly and once well cooked we added them it to the mixture, along with the chickpeas, the cilantro, the spices and the chili.
We mixed everything with the hands and smashed the potatoes so there was no piece left. We used raw tender garlic, so in the filling there were different textures.

To make the dough:

We put in a bowl the flour and we melt the butter in a frying pan. Then we mixed with the flour and we began to knead.
We added salt, baking soda, aromatic herbs and finally water. It should become a fairly consistent paste. Do not wait for it to rise.
Then we started to make balls with the dough. Each ball would be the measure to make two samosas. With a roll we smashed the balls to form ovals. Then we cut them into two with a knife.

To put the filling in the dough:

Take the dough in the shape of a crescent mood with the hand, leaving the cut part with the knife facing up.
Put some water with your finger on top to the right and then stick on the left side forming a kind of cone.
Put the filling and then moisten the remaining piece of pasta and close it making a few folds. It was the first time we did it so every samosa had a different shape. Slowly we were perfecting the technique until we made equilateral triangles!
Then we fried them in slowly oil until they looked pink. Once fried you should eat them soon, although they can be served cold, they are really delicious just after frying them.

But the culinary day did not end there. That Saturday was Kamal’s birthday and we prepared Catalan cream for the night. Everyone had all loved this recipe when Tonyo prepared it for the first time. But this time we made an improvement, a cookie base crumbled with butter. We prepared it in individual glasses with a finish of burnt sugar and a biscuit that could be used as a spoon.

This dessert was the icing on the cake of a gastronomic Saturday where we learned how to make samosas and celebrated Kamal’s anniversary in the sweetest way possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjOhoonCDZg&feature=youtu.be

[:ca]Activitats i tallers[:en]Activities and trainings[:es]Actividades y talleres[:], [:ca]Art[:en]Art[:es]Arte[:], General

Trup de Nassos

Friday December 9th, 2016 amicsnepal

This week we had a visit to make us laugh without stop. A troop of red noses came to make a tour Bhimphedi and Hetauda: the “Trup de Nassos”.

The first show was at the community school Aadhar Bhim where the kids of Balmandir study primary level. Although at first the performance was only for the children and teachers of the school, the laughter that could be heard from the main street called many curious villagers to join to the public as if they were another kid.

bhim-adhar-04 — Trup de Nassos making the show in the Bhim Aadhar Community School.

bhim-adhar-18 — Trup de Nassos making the show in the Bhim Aadhar Community School.

The clowns after finishing the show wanted to make a new one, but it was already dark and the following events were organized only for the next day in Hetauda. The performances were very special in Hetauda next day. The first performance was in the special education unit “Imagine” (if you want to know about this wonderful project founded by Aina Barca, please visit their website or Instagram). The second show was in the children’s home Disabled and Helpless Child Rehabilitation Center.

For the third and final day of the tour in Makawanpur district, the Clowns came back Bhimphedi and did a show that closed their tour in Nepal (after 17 shows). The last show was in the public school Suping where children are doing exams this week. The show made them laugh and relax before the exam. Hopefully that helped them to perform better!

suping-04 — Trup de Nassos making the show in the government school of Suping.

suping-02 — Trup de Nassos making the show in the government school of Suping.

This is not the first time that we have funny visits. We can remember the visit of the Clown Magi and the recent visit of the entertainment group Atrapasomnis. And nobody in the town can forget the visit of a funny magician who came to the town to show the most wonderful magic, Magic Andreu, who visited us in 2013 and 2014. He performed without resting in Bhimphedi and Hetauda, in children’s homes, schools, on the same street and even in the state prison of Bhimphedi.

2013-balmandir — May 2013: Workshop of magic of Màgic Andreu in Bhimphedi Children’s Home.

2013-bhimphedi — May 2013: Show of magic of Màgic Andreu on a street of Bhimphedi.

2013-bhim-aadhar — May 2013: Show of magic of Màgic Andreu in the Bhimphedi Bhim Aadhar Community School.

2013-shree-mahendra-2 — May 2013: Show of magic of Màgic Andreu in Bhimphedi government school, Shree Mahendra.

2013-shree-mahendra-3 — May 2013: Show of magic of Màgic Andreu in Bhimphedi government school, Shree Mahendra.

2013-may-shree-mahendra — May 2013: Show of magic of Màgic Andreu in Bhimphedi government school, Shree Mahendra.

2014-feb-suping — February 2014: Show of magic of Màgic Andreu in Suping government school.

2014-feb-suping-2 — February 2014: Show of magic of Màgic Andreu in Suping government school.

[:ca]Activitats i tallers[:en]Activities and trainings[:es]Actividades y talleres[:], [:ca]Esports[:en]Sports[:es]Deportes[:], General

Football Interschool Competition in Bhimphedi

Saturday December 3rd, 2016 amicsnepal

Written by Joana Alsina, volunteer of Bhimphedi Children’s Home and coach of the Bhim Aadhar Football Team.

This Friday was not a regular Friday. The community school students finished classes earlier because they had to prepare a inter-school football competition. At twelve o’clock, players and spectators went to the football ground. We did not know how many teams would be in the ground but finally all of the expected came; Suping’s team, Dorsing’s, and the team of the public school of Bhimphedi and ours (the Bhim Aadhar). Each school had selected their best players from primary level.

interschool-football-1 — The four teams of the four schools in the Bhimphedi Primary Interschool Competition 2016.

Bhim Aadhar school had chosen 7 players from Balmandir, so we were very happy. The lineup was:

1- Sushil Thapa Magar – Keeper.
2- Sumit Bhandari – Right wing
3- Bishow Rai – Central defender.
4- Ramesh Thami – Forward
5- Raju Thapa Magar- Right wing
6- Santa Jirel – Midfielder
7- Bishnu Mandal – Forward
8- Bishal Mijar – Left wing
9- Aakash Tamang – Left wing

Seven students were playing from the beginning for each team. Every team had two extra players but only two changes could be made during the match, therefore many of the kids ended up breathless. After making the warming up and speaches the crossings were decided.

The first match was against Suping. This team also wore red shirt (like ours), so it would had been difficult to distinguish them if it was not for the size of the kids. The physical superiority gave results quickly and in the first part Bhim Aadhar school had scored 7 goals. In the second part we made some changes. We gave rest to some of our best players and the match was not so unbalanced. First victory by 11-0.

interschool-football-3 — First match: Bhim Aadhar versus Suping government school.

interschool-football-4 — Extra players and supporters of Bhim Aadhar team.

The next match was between the public school of Bhimphedi and Dorsing. The game was very intense and balanced. After half an hour of game still the result was 0-0. But finally the organizers decided to disqualify Bhimphedi’s public school because they had used some elder players than allowed. Thus we already had rival for the final; the Dorsing team.

The final began with great intensity. Both teams wanted to win. The first part was very balanced. Bishnu opened the score and few minutes later Ramesh scored again. But the calm did not last long, since Dorsing shortened distances in a stop ball shot.

interschool-football-2 — Half time in the final. Joana the coach of Bhim Aadhar giving some directions to the players for the second leg of the final.

Despite this goal the guys did not lose strength. Our keeper, while refusing a long ball, scored directly to the other goal, it was astonishing and all the fans widely celebrated it. From that point the match was not balanced again, and the final result was 6-2.

interschool-football-6 — After the final, the two teams lining up to get the certificates.

interschool-football-7 — The Bhim Aadhar team, with the certificate of winners of the Bhimphedi Interschool Football Competition 2016.

Once the match was finished, players and supporters of Bhim Aadhar left singing and celebrating the victory until Balmandir, where a good reward was waiting for us; a CREMA CATALANA prepared by Tonyo!

whatsapp-image-2016-11-26-at-17-08-45 — Tonyo ready to give the Crema Catalana that he has made with the help of Kamal.

15193694_10211411513269491_4362407806339519608_n — The final touch! the burned sugar!

General

Bye bye to the Rana building that housed the public school of Bhimphedi, built in 1933

Sunday November 20th, 2016 amicsnepal

Written by Mònica Sans, co-coordinator of Bhimphedi Children’s Home and AWASUKA

The Rana dynasty ruled Nepal from 1846 to 1951, reducing the monarchy to a mere figure and making the posts of Prime Minister hereditary. The Rana government was characterized by being a tyranny with excesses, economic exploitation and religious persecution. However, the Rana developed many infrastructures in the country and Bhimphedi is a good example of this: the hospital (it was the second of the country at the time), the public school building, Hatisar the elephant house (where there are still many historic saddles), the rana minister’s palace (currently in the jail compound), the royal palace (inside Balmandir orphanage plot), the Janajati Hall building (now hotel of entities, formerly temporary residence of the English Prime Minister) and many more buildings. And besides the buildings, they also built the water network and the reservoirs still supplying this town.

p1010678 — One of the old buildings of the Health Center of Bhimphedi.

p1010681 — Another of the old buildings of the Bhimphedi Health Center.

p1010688 — Compound of the historical buildings of the health center of Bhimphedi. Next to these buildings there are the new buildings of the current Health Center.

whatsapp-image-2016-12-02-at-18-35-45 — Saddle of elephants (with the british coat to honor the visit of the British first Minister to Bhimphedi).

p1010664 — Janajati Hall building now hotel of entities (where there is the office of Awasuka), formerly temporary residence of the English Prime Minister in his visit to Bhimphedi.

p1010689 — Mansion of a rich family of that time. The building was bought by the Nepal National Bank, and currently is used by a local family as a home.

Asking Surendra, one of the characters who knows well Bhimphedi’s history, he explains to us that the school building was originally a travelers’ hostel when the village was a major crossing point on the route to Chitwan and India. It later became a public school and has been in use to last friday 18th of November 2016. This last Saturday it has being emptied by removing all furniture, to bring it down soon. The government has decided to do so, because of the minor damages it suffered during last year’s earthquake. The architects who have been in Bhimphedi for the last year, participants in the Awasuka program, are sad because of the government’s opinion, as we believe that the building is easily repairable and retrofittable. But the Nepalese government advocates for complete reconstruction rather than repairing and retrofitting the historical buildings… a real pity! We’re attaching some photos of the building, which will soon go down in history.

escola-2 — The building became school in 1947 (2004 BS = Bikram Sambat Calendar, Nepali Calendar).

20160524_114536 — Few months ago while the provisional school was being built between the jail and the football ground.

20161124_144435 — From this week the classes are already transferred to the provisional school. They say that in two years the new school will be built… But anyway, noone seems sad to be in this place with this big ground.

p1010671 — Ruins of one of the historical buildings already destroyed. In the background of the photo you can see the old building of the school. One girl runs to the school where the farewell party of the building.

p1010673 — Photo of the building and the party of farewell of the building.

p1010676 — Party of farewell to the Rana building used by the government school of Bhimphedi.

General, News, Youth

Life after the festivals

Sunday November 20th, 2016 amicsnepal

Writen by Daniel Roig, coordinator of the Children’s Home

Dashain and Tihar festivals are over. Everyone returns to normality, but here this does not mean routine.

Last month, the children who have some known family members have been with them, 9 of the 26 boys and girls. But now they have all returned to the Children’s Home ready to resume their studies.

I also return to the Children’s Home with Manisha, after almost a month away, something I had not done for the last two years. But we do not return alone, we arrive with two new volunteers, actually returned volunteers: Tonyo and Xavi, one year after their first visit, come back to the Children’s Home.

trobada-damics-2 — Amics del Nepal gathering in Barcelona in “Casa Elizalde”.

trobada-damics-del-nepal — Manisha singing a song in the event.

trobada-damics-3 — People in the event showing their care and love towards Nepal.

The children who have stayed for the festivals in the Children’s Home are very happy that all the people come back and welcome us with shouts, and a bit of expectation for seeing what we bring for them as a gift from our hometowns: Homemade sweets (sun-dried Jumla apple slices, or different types of cookies, popcorn…), Kush and Love come with a couple of ducks of the best breed from their village.

Tonyo, Xavi and I also brought some surprises! We arrived at the Children’s Home with 4 computers donated by the Taulí hospital of Sabadell (thank you Xavier Calvet!). And we also brought two high quality seats to finish the reparation of the swing thanks to the material donated by HPC Ibérica (thanks Ramón Coderch and Mònica for the coordination!).

Tonyo, Xavi and I, with the help of the children and Papu, after few days of intense work, we set the new computer room with Ubuntu well installed, the swings in full functionally and on top of that we also have the front area of the sinks improved and the water and electric facilities improved.

1. Fixing the swings:

els-gronxadors-fase-1 — First step: cutting one of the legs and turning it to give the right slope, almost two months ago. Thanks to Josep Maria, Alba Marc, Marina, Andrea, Joana and some of the kids who all together made it possible, even with the foundations of cement.

20160523_103204 — Frame of the swim before straightening.

els-gronxadors-fase-2 — Second step: putting the bearings.

20160523_103344 — You can see the only old bearing that was still left.

els-gronxadors-fase-3 — Third Step: calling the welding man and wait.

els-gronxadors-fase-4 — Forth step: welding the cut leg. Fifth step, higher the other leg so there is no slope for the horizontal bar.

els-gronxadors-fase-5 — Sixth step: quality test.

els-gronxadors-fase-6 — Seventh step: play!

2. Improvement of the water conduction:

aixeta-cuina — The kitchen tap doesn’t have any leakage!

boia-2 — New installation for the input of water in the big tank.

les-fonts-recuperades — After one year, the old fountains work again.

3. Improvement of the water channel:

reparant-els-canals-daigua — Papu fixing the old water channel.

adequacio-escales — Improving the surroundings of the channel.

adequacio-escales-2 — And ready to use! cleaner, better and more accessible!

4. Extension of the computer room:

sala-dordinadors — Sala d’ordinadors ampliada i amb el sistema operatiu Ubuntu en ple funcionament.

Also the kids, who have left the Children’s Home this past year are still trying to find their place in the world. Sanu has finally obtained the Nepalese identity card (not easy to obtain for children with irregular family situations) and has already returned to Bhimphedi to rejoin the AWASUKA project to complete the three anti-seismic prototypes (the wooden for Maya didi, the concrete block for Santamaya didi and the stone and mud for the community). Papu, who has spent the festivals in the Children’s Home, and has used this time to work also for AWASUKA and help in the Children’s Home, has decided to stay in the village with Sanu and also join the AWASUKA project to finish the prototypes. Jay who has spent the festivals with his family reunited 14 years later (we will explain his incredible story another day), he has also obtained the identity card, and has come to Bhimphedi a few days to get a letter of recommendation from the public school where he studied high school to be able to put the correct information, now that he knows it: new name (Anish Malla), new date of birth and the names of his parents. Ashok Praja has already resumed the Veterinary studies. Ashok will now work and live closer to his school, and we hope he will do very well (thank you very much to Prakriti, who now lives in Patan Children’s Home, for helping Ashok to find a job her aunt village, near the veterinarian school).

Another big change is that the public school changes location. The historic building that was affected by the earthquake will be demolished, so the children are already beginning to study in the temporary barracks located on the village football field. (You can read the post written by Monica about this topic).

There have also been two very important changes in the center. Two very special people no longer live with us in the Children’s Home. Although we will miss them very much, we will stay in touch and we are very happy for them for the changes and achievements in their lives. The first is Krishna Pudasaini, director of the Children’s Home for the last 15 months, and who has done a very good job during this time, having great successes like finding families of some children. Krishna has won a government job in the Nepal Electricity Department (where they have a lot of work if they want to reduce the electricity cuts). The second is Susmita, a 9-year-old girl who has gone now to live with her mother and younger brother (we will explain her story in the next post!).

susmita — Susmita and Sujan waiting for their mother almost 3 years later.

And life goes on in the Bhimphedi Children’s Home, with joy.

The kids go to school to finish the second term. Tonyo and Xavi now work as masons and carpenters. Marina and Joana, returned from a week of well-deserved rest, have resumed the computer, English and Spanish classes. Prabhat and Manisha help the little ones with the studies. And I, up and down, watching everything go more or less well: supervising the center, the young kids and the children that we have scattered throughout the country, looking for a new director for the center, helping bigger kids of the Children’s Home with the maths exercises…

Life goes on, with joy.

chitwan — Joana and Marina’s holidays in Chitwan.

joana-i-marina — Joana and Marina’s holidays in Chitwan.

lumbini — Joana and Marina’s holidays in Lumbini, the birthplace of Budha.

aniverasari-maya-2 — Manisha with some kids preparing the decoration for Maya’s birthday.

aniversari-maya — Maya’s birthday ready, and Maya as well, with a smile like always.

festa-maya — Maya distributing the home-made cake by the kids.

iogurs — Kush and Joana preparing yogurt.

fent-formatge-fresc-2 — Kush making fresh cheese.

fent-formatge-fresc-3 — Home-made fresh cheese, or the most similar thing you can find in Bhimphedi.

casament-geeta — Some members of Amics del Nepal and Petit Món in the wedding of the accountant of Amics den Nepal. Happy married life Geeta!

[:ca]Activitats i tallers[:en]Activities and trainings[:es]Actividades y talleres[:], General

“Els Atrapasomnis” in Balmandir

Friday November 4th, 2016 marinavinas

Writen by Jordi Masferrer and Laura Mas, “Els Atrapasomnis”

«Els Atrapasomnis» is a musical group for children with a large experience in Catalonia trying to awake smiles into children’s faces. After a short break of concerts in Catalonia we have decided that maybe it would be a good time to do some concerts in some disadvantaged schools and children’s homes in Nepal.

After crossing several mountains and about nearly four hours by jeep we finally reached Bhimpedhi. We just walked for two minutes and we arrived to Balmandir where the volunteers Marina and Joana were waiting for us. We quickly realized that it was really gorgeous place where we can breathe peace, calm and harmony. Joana and Marina showed us all the corners of the children’s home giving us all kind of explanations, and all the children gave us a warm welcome.

After visiting several schools and children’s homes in Nepal we could sense that this one was a different one. First of all because of the special natural environment, secondly because all nepali staff and catalan volunteers offer here their best in order to offer a good life to the children.

During the first day we helped in all we could, like helping children while they were reading and writing or doing the homework, removing the weeds.

At midday we did a little bit of hiking in order to reach to a peepal tree located at the top of the hill where we could see a wonderful view of Bimphedhi. We spent a great time there while the children were jumping up and down from the tree.

In the afternoon we decided to organize our concert. Taking into account that it was Susmita’s, Basu’s and Bishwo’s birthdays we organized a party in order to have fun all together. We enjoyed for at least one hour playing, singing, dancing, jumping and laughing. Each concert is different and special and this one was not an exception.

We are really happy that «Amics del Nepal» opened the doors of Balmandir’s world. Thank you so much to everybody.

Jordi Masferrer and Laura Mas

If you want to know more about Atrapasomnis this is our website: www.elsatrapasomnis.cat

[:ca]Activitats i tallers[:en]Activities and trainings[:es]Actividades y talleres[:], [:ca]Idiomes i lectura[:en]Language[:es]Idiomas y lectura[:], [:ca]Informàtica[:en]Information Technology[:es]Informática[:], General, Projects

The birth of a new project: NEPCAT connection

Sunday October 30th, 2016 marinavinas

Writen by Marina Viñas, volunteer of Children’s Home

On the plane Barcelona-Nepal, an special passenger accompanied us: NEPCAT CONNECTION, a project whose main objective is the cultural exchange between Balmandir children and Catalan children, opening the door to new ways of living and understanding life by exchanging emails.

In Catalonia we have an accomplice – Glory Iniesta, teacher of the Col·legi Mestre Pla of Castellar del Vallès – who presented the project to their colleagues. All of them agreed immediately. So good! They have two classes of 5th and two 6th grade with which we started the project. So we can make four groups. Come on, let’s go!

We created an email account and divided the children into four groups, mixing them for ages, so the eldest ones can support the younger kids. It looks like an easy job, but it’s not when we start. The first day, I immediately realised that including one of the elder boys in each group was a great idea. That day, I had to start only with the two youngest children because the eldest had to study. When I said: “Come on, how can we start an email?”, I just got silence and astonished faces as answers. But persisting, in two weeks we managed to finish and send the first mail with each group. Then it was the turn of the Catalan students. Will they answer? Will it take long?

group4 — From left to right: Bishwo, Ashish, Samir and Manoj. The first group to send email.

nepcat-2 — Purnima, Raju, Ramesh and Sushil writing one of the e-mails

Meanwhile, we connect to google maps and begin to look at the place we are sending the emails. Children enjoy seeing the buildings and streets of Castellar del Vallès. Once we have seen the school and the houses around it and we have discovered this new Internet tool, the kids request me: “Can we see the Camp Nou?”. So “travelled” around the Camp Nou, Sagrada Familia and the sea! As if we were looking through a window.

Four weeks after landing to Nepal the project had already begun to take shape: one group had already received the first response! yuhu! And now, after eigth weeks of the arrival in Nepal, we had exchanged photos, food recipes, traditions…

sise — Sixth B class from the “Col·legi Mestre Pla” (Castellar del Vallès)

We are very happy and thrilled, hoping that the trend is going to be very positive and gradually grows. It is not only an exchange of perspectives, of their day to day, of the concerns, traditions, etc. The “connection NEPCAT” wants to go further because it will also allow the group work, practice English, explore new tools to search for information, Internet tools, etc.

[:ca]Activitats i tallers[:en]Activities and trainings[:es]Actividades y talleres[:], [:ca]Esports[:en]Sports[:es]Deportes[:], General

Making some games

Friday October 14th, 2016 Joana

Written by Joana Alsina Vega, volunteer of Children’s Home.

Last week we built some games. The kid called Love is the handyman of Balmandir. He makes a spinning with wood and one nail, and they work really well. One morning we said that we would like to make some hoops, because we could use them for different kind of activities. He went to the workshop and in few minutes he brought some of them. Exactly what we wanted!

We play with hoops every day. We use them as a base to play baseball, to do sport exercises and as hula-hops. To make them, Love cut wire to create circles and he joined them to be more consistent. But when we tried on the football field we realized that we cannot see really well. So we went to look for colour tape to cover them. We started to stick tape around until we had red and green hoops.

sense-titol — Ashish, Som and Bishow doing hoops.

We also painted some plastic bottles for make bowls. We don’t use only with a ball, we also train with hoops. But this is not as easy as it seems! We painted spinning tops as well. Now, when you turn spinning tops colours and shapes mingle, creating special effects.

Amics del Nepal in Bhimphedi