Archive for April, 2010

This year held for the very first time at Seafront Oval under a grand marquee….

Forget Me Not brings Bollywood to the Bay!!

Namaste from the Ambrey family – Sharyn, Graham, Tessa and James.
 
A belated journal due to our family members each succumbing to illness during the trip which has unfortunately followed us on to our Singapore leg of our holiday
Where do you start?  Put simply, a journey and experience which will never be forgotten (not because of the illness, I might add).  We arrived at Kathmandu Guest House on the Sunday to find Lars himself had been unwell so it was decided to wait until the arrival of Annette and Illea Cameron the following day for our first visit to the home to meet the girls and staff we had heard so much about, and especially our little Gyanu.  Our memories of this very first visit – laughing smiling girls, calling from the balcony upstairs “Hello Aunty Hello Uncle”, leis placed around our necks in greeting, being made so very welcome, and girls taking our hands and asking our names and whether we were a family.  Gyanu was nowhere to be seen at first, quietly hiding behind some of the older girls but then the moment we had so eagerly waited for as she was scooped up into our arms.  The journey and organisation was all made worthwhile.
 
Each afternoon with the girls was different as we came to know their different personalities – some very confident and outgoing, others more shy and reserved but each girl a beautiful soul.  What we came to realize is that these are very happy and contented girls who know they are much loved by their sponsor families, house mothers and all those associated with the home.  Our memories of these afternoons – games, craft, singing and dancing, cuddles and kisses, arms just simply draped around our necks, questions asked about our family, cheeks pinched, Tessa and I having our hair done, and quietly talking with the older girls – Sneha, Goma, Dyksha and Devaki – about their hopes and dreams for the future.
 
As we only had six days, sightseeing was crammed into our mornings – a flight to see the majestic Himalayas and Mount Everest; several temple visits – the monkey temple, Boudhanath, Durbar Square;  the beautiful walled Garden of Dreams;  a trip to the World Cultural Heritage listed city of Bhaktapur;  and of course, shopping.  Thursday morning saw us travel to Ranepawar to see the land – simply beautiful outlook. 
 
Friday we celebrated Lars’ birthday.  What excitement and activities! – birthday banner at the entrance to the home, a truly beautiful letter written to Lars by the girls on the computer, singing Happy Birthday and clapping out Lars’ years, delicious cake and a wonderful lunch prepared by the house mothers.  Gyanu squeezed herself between Graham and myself to eat her meal.  We laughed to see Alisha hide her plate under the table when Navatame offered her salad (children are the same everywhere). And of course, this was followed by the girls’ beautiful dancing (we finally got to see Lars dance) and balloon popping.
 
Before we knew it our last afternoon with the girls had arrived.  Little Junu attached herself to James and demanded his attention for the afternoon.  It was wonderful to see James Brother’s  interaction with the girls during the week, although he did not have any choice as they pulled him to join in their games, the craft and photos.  I might add that James initially had not been too keen on making the trip being a sixteen year old boy.  The ‘goodbyes’ seemed to take forever but garlanded once again, presented with gifts, photos taken, we made our way downstairs for the final hugs and kisses from the girls and house mothers and an extra special hug for our Gyanu. My last memory – little Anita wiping the tears from my eyes with “Don’t cry Aunty, don’t be sad – you will come again.”  And we will.
 
 
Sharyn, Graham, Tessa and James Ambrey

24th March 2010 – Shova Singh, President Malai Nabirseu Bal Griha

We are all gathered here today on the auspicious occasion of Ram Nawami to celebrate the birthday of our girls. Ram Nawami is one of the holiest Hindu occasions that commemorates the birth of Lord Ram.

The legend is cited to prove how Lord Ram always lived a life of righteousness against all odds. He was born to destroy the evil and protect the weak as he embodied the highest ideals of mankind. And we should uphold this truth.

Now having said that I would like to welcome our Chief guest Mr. Dharma Raj Shrestha, Executive Director, Child Welfare Board; officials of Social Welfare council, Rotarians from Australia and Dhulikhel Chapter; distinguished guests and friends to enjoy this moment with our young girls who have grown one year older today.

Let me take the opportunity to enlighten you on some facts and figures about Bal Griha. Having started with just six we have now grown to 21 beautiful girls aspiring to be productive human beings who I certainly feel will contribute towards nation building once they grow up. We at Bal Griha will leave no stone unturned to see to it that these children are provided the best as far as we can for them to stand on their own feet and succeed in life.

One good example that I can share with you today is that one of our girls completed her School leaving Certificate Examination in 1^st Division and is pursuing Nursing Course with the financial support from Australian donors. We hope that all our girls will follow in her foot steps as well. We will guide and support them in every which way possible to reach their goals.

We are proud to have finally managed to buy our own property in Thansing, Rani Pauwa in Kakani VDC with the generousity from our Australian supports and fundraising efforts. Our hearts go out to them for their assistance…….thankyou so much. Once the building projects have finished we have plans to accommodate 60 children.

With their motto ‘Service above Self’. And Secondary motto ‘They profit most who serve best’, the Rotarians from Australia have just completed fencing our property in Rani Pauwa which was befitting of their motto. They camped at the site in order to fast track the fencing project notwithstanding the luxury of modern accommodation that they could afford. I really do not have the words to express my deepest gratitude for the work that they have done which is commendable. Thank you guys for coming half way around the world to support the cause of the Girl Child.

Last but not least, this would not have happened if it had not been for Lars Olsen who believes and champions the cause of humanity. Thank you Lars for making our cause a reality.

Finally, I would like to thank all who have gathered here today for taking the time out despite their busy schedule for a great cause. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLS!!! TODAY IS YOUR DAY GO HAVE FUN.

From our eldest girl, Sneha

Honourable Chief guest, officials of Central Child welfare board, Committee members, Rotary Club members of Australia, Forget Me Not Children’s Home CEO and my sisters of Malai Nabriseu Bal Griha.

First of all I’d like to thank you all for giving up your precious time to be with us today. Your presence here is a great inspiration for us. It reflects your love and care towards us.

We, the 21 girls of Bal Griha are extremely grateful to you for providing us a home and giving us a good education.

I, Sneha after passing my SLC in first division I’m now studying to be a nurse in Om Health Campus. Without your help I would never have been able to study nursing. I’m very grateful to all of you especially my sponsor in Australia whom without their financial support my dream to become a nurse and serve humanity would never have been realized.

We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Finally I’d like to wish all my sisters a very Happy Birthday. May you all succeed in life and have a bright future.

Thank you all once more.

Sneha.

It’s taken me a long time to write this journal article because i had no idea where to start.
1st impressions of Nepal- busy, dusty, noisy and chaotic, small cars and bikes everywhere and narrow streets. Horns of every description tooting and the noise of the building and people going about their normal lives.

I was so concerned that i would be so touched by the situation that the girls were in that i would be too emotional and not be able to look at the things that i could do to help as being of any consequence.
How wrong could i be?! The girls are so happy and loving. The house rings with laughter, music and happy voices.

Yesterday we went to meet them after school and they were so happy to see u and show their friends their numerous Aunties and Uncles.

The house mothers do a fantastic job and the girls are well mannered and extremely well cared for.

Today i will complete my checks of the girls teeth and if everything is as good as the first 12 i have checked, then i dont think there are too many concerns. So far there is very little decay and most of the girls are brushing well. Like girls worldwide they are more concerned if their teeth are straight and white. They love their own little dental mirrors even if they’re too small to see how their hair looks! One of the girls has some staining on her teeth but this is superficial and she has no decay, so i will be checking all the products available to help get get rid of this.

There is such a family, caring atmosphere in the how that i now believe there would be no way you could divide the girls up or feel that they would be better off somewhere else. Saying goodbye to them will be hard but it is made easier knowing how much they appreciated everything and how openly they greet all visitors.

When it is possible to return one day, i will. Namaste forget me not girls, you will have a place in my heart forever.

Also a very big thankyou to everyone involved with this trip for making me feel so welcome.

Namaste, Robin.

Namaste everyone.

My overall feeling on arrival at the orphanage was one of unreserved love from all the children, from the youngest to the oldest. They are a delight to be with and so appreciate the smallest things you do for them. We are so lucky to have such loving staff at the home, all of whom treat the children as their own.
Serene Valley School (soon to be Apex life college) which the children attend is an excellent school with strict but loving staff who have no second thoughts of sitting little ones on their knees to give them love and comfort. So refreshing and a crying shame it couldnt still happen in Australia.
Nepal and especially the metropolis of Kathmandu is a vast area of extreme contrasts with a lot of shanty/hovel housing against a backdrop of a stinking river/canal full of raw sewerage and garbage thrown there by people and government workers, in which children walk and play. Contrasted again by a rich upper class living in million dollar mansions with servants. All this is overseen by a completely inept and incompetent government. Ok, enough of the negatives now.
Nepal itself overall is a very beautiful country full of friendly people. Of course the most of all are our 21 girls whom im sure will become model citizens and maybe make a difference in their own country, all to the thanks of one boy and his dream of giving love and hope to parentless Nepali children. Lars has tirelessly worked these last 18 days towards the next phase of his dream, namely FMNCH eco village for boys and girls.
As a father he makes me so very proud and humbled by his tenacity to help, which im sure inspires the wonderful Forget me not team of executives, members and volunteers to continue their great work in supporting these goals and ideals of FMNCH.
In summary, i will be very sad to leave the children as they really do think of the sponsors and their families as their own families and treasure any contact like photo albums, letters, phone calls and any little loving thing that is sent over. But i am also comforted by the fact, god willing that Annie and i will again give them all a hug in 12 months time.

Namaste to all.
George.