Nepal - Chatara Rehabilitation Centre

PROJECT PROPOSAL:

"CHATARA HEALTH CENTRE"

To be built and managed by VAD NEPAL of Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal

AIM: To construct a modern health centre in Chatara with holding the objectives to provide quality medical and rehabilitation services of that remote community.

· BACKGROUND: Chatara is in the bank the Sapta Koshi River, the largest River of Nepal, and is a foothill town in Sunsari District about 600 KM distance from capital city Kathmandu where it opens up wider touching the plains of the Terai, this location is also a border line of three districts Dhankuta, Udayapur and self Sunsari of Eastern Nepal. Barahakshetra, the famous religious temple is located 5 km towards north from Chatara, which is the site of an annual religious festival and is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

Stating the present condition of Chatara, there is a two storied building known as Health Centre which provides only some general physician facilities. One of the part of the same building is damaged by the trap 10 year's conflict within the country and offers little comfort for waiting patients and the three rooms used by staff are small and crowded. There are no maternity beds for overnight care, or emergency equipment and only a small pharmacy with varying, limited quantities of drugs that are donated from the NGO or supplied by the government. A few community nurses, whose small part of salary are sponsored by community and it offers advice and referrals to larger hospitals in Dharan which is 17 KM distance and rough road structure which takes 2-3 hours to be reached. Sometimes, in summer, the road is blocked because of a small river blocking the way to Dharan. All patients who cannot walk to the health post must be carried by porter. The population consists of Bramhins, Chettri and Rai and minorities in castes and the health post serves about 25000 people including the neighboring districts.

· The BUILDING: To avoid complications and conflict by using government land and old buildings, suitable land about 17 meters by 15 meters will be donated by the local VDC ( Village Development Committee) to construct a new accessible, 9 room, single floor ,12 meter x 12 meter brick and wood building using local construction methods. Most woods and workforce will be donated through the community as much as they can and all contributors will be appreciated with the certificates from VAD NEPAL.

· MANAGEMENT: The construction phase will be managed by VAD Nepal (a KTM registered NGO with several members originally born in Sunsari District) and run by committed local members interested from all castes and both genders equally. This project will successfully run by the youth of the district, their future participation and “ownership” of the Health Centre will be ensured as they eventually become community members.

COSTS: The estimation of cost is $ 20,000 US for the basic single story RCC building … and using donated community labor. A further $10,000 US later will purchase most essential equipment or pay for the transport of donated equipment...

EQUIPMENT when fully established:

Emergency: 2 wheelchairs, 2 walkers, 6 beds, oxygen cylinder, ( x-ray machine), generator

Maternity: Ultra-sound unit, 6 beds,

Pharmacy : Stock of medicines for retail and also free distribution

Surgery: Operating table and tools for visiting surgeon, sterilizer Dental: Chair and tools for visiting dentist Office: Computer/ scanner/ printer, 2 filing cabinets, telephone

Physiotherapy: Rehabilitation equipment

START/FINISH DATES: It will take 6 months to build the Centre after land is cleared and leveled. Proposed start date is July 2010 and opening date December 2010.

DONORS: All donors are invited to come and visit and work on this project and to be placed on “thank you” board in new Centre.

STAFF: We will initially employ a trained physiotherapist fulltime, a PT aide, a dentist 1-2 days a week a nurse, cleaner and handyman.

Project team members

Roma Neupane (Chairperson & artist with Womanhood Navadevi Award 2008)

Chiranjeevy Pokhrel (Manager)

Suresh Mani Nepal (Field work and resource person)

Pravas Neupane. (Accountant of VAD Nepal)

Project Monitor

Rob Buchanan is Director of MEND NZ

With other projects in Nepal supporting disabled persons see www.mendnz.com

VAD Link

http://www.give2nepal.com/index.php

MEND -Mobility Equipment for the Needs of the Disabled

http://www.mendnz.com/

"MEND has been helping the disabled for 20 years now. In Nepal, India, Africa, Fiji, and New Zealand. Based in Kerikeri, New Zealand. Mend is a small but dynamic organization. Our motto is Self Help, Not Sympathy "

We have been in contact with Rob Buchanan from MEND who directed us to Chiran, who heads an organisation , VAD Nepal, developing a Rehabilitation centre in Chatara Nepal with the support of MEND.

Plan B : Nepal , Chatara! ( aN unknown)

Kashmir falls through

Since arriving in France we have maintained regular contact with the Hope Centre in Kashmir regarding our proposed stay for 6 weeks . We have also been monitoring the situation closely online reading a Shrinigar newspaper. There has been a significant increase in rioting , some deaths , general unrest , curfews and strikes .

Unfortunately, and fortunately , a few days ago Diane emailed us informing us about the unrest which had become more localised and close to the centre .

Email from Diane Emerson regarding the situation in Kashmir:

Dear Mark and Pauline:
Yesterday there were two new developments.

1. the Chair of the Hurriyat Conference had posters and flyers put all around Srinagar complaining about the Sikhs not joining in the protests. This may result in communal violence beginning again, as it did against the Hindu Pandits 20 years ago. Not good.

2. Sami met yesterday with the internal security agency for Kashmir, and he suggests no foreigners come here for the next two months.

With these two developments, Sami no longer feels able to make sure you are safe here. Because if the Hurriyat conference turns their attention to Christians, even I would need to leave immediately.

So, with much regret, because it would have been so wonderful to have you here, Sami has decided to ask that you not come at this time.

Sincerely,
Diane

http://www.mendnz.com/hopecenterkashmir.htm

A link to the centre in Kashmir.

Dancing French style -video

Savigny Fete Ancienne -Traditional French life

Laundry services in France: who needs a CBW !

Stone wall construction.

Pressing the apples to make cider.

Baking the bread

A classroom

"Dear Zoo" by Rod Campbell ( Adapted by Pauline Andrews

Zoo de Champrepus

I went to the Zoo to buy me a Pet .


The Zoo Keeper said....."how about a Macaw? "

I said "this is way too noisy! "



The Zoo Keeper said "how about a kangaroo?"

I said 'This one is too is too jumpy ! " ( usually)

The Zoo Keeper said how about a Ring Tailed Lemur?

I said " the tail is too big ".
The Zoo Keeper said" how about a Reindeer? "

I said" it's not Christmas and there is no Santa! "

The Zoo Keeper said "how about a Pink Flamingo?"

I said there are too many and they are too boring!

The Zoo Keeper said " how about a goat with a big tummy?

I said you must be kidding!


The Zoo Keeper said " how about a spotty cat or two?

I said " I only want one pet not two! "


The Zoo Keeper said" how about one cat that you can take in you car ?

Oh this one is just right...perfect! I'll take this one! .

Architecture-new and old

The contrast . A new french home and an older chateau with a gardeners / servants quarters in the front .

The village- Roche Guyon

This chateau is slowly being restored. In war times the Germans lived under the chateau where there are numerous underground tunnels and rooms.

Sunday morning walk to a local village-Roche Guyon

Look at that body! hmmmm..........That's not french!

We walked up and over the hills over looking the river Seine. This is still used a an major transport route.
There were cave houses along the way , little figurines embedded in the rocks , garages and "nativity " or installation art in the carved into rock faces .

Visit to Cousin David, Sylvie and family -21st August

Mark and I hired a car for 2 days and drove to Gommercourt a small village , between Rouen and Paris to visit a cousin - David Addison who I haven't seen for 15 years. The things we do when away from home ! I guess its about re connecting with people who you have shared moments in time with .
They have three boys Elliot, Tristan and Victor. Aged 12 to 8.

















We shared a meal , french sausages on the barbecue, chicken kebabs, scalloped potatoes and a wonderful selection of french cheeses from the Norman die followed by a home made apple tart !

Camembert,Comte from Jura, chevre, Pont Leveque, Bleu de Bresse, Neufachel



A swim in the pool ( first and last whilst in France), we watched some highlights of the All Blacks play South Africa( the boys are rugby enthusiasts ) and we laughed and joked about similarities in mothers ( respectfully of course ) .
English spoken to include us , as well as French conversations occurring . Sylvie was a wealth of knowledge on the area and France in general. Great to catch up !

OMG ! Hair colours and cuts!

What I thought I was getting: Saint Karl Coiffures

A male French non English speaking hairdresser , young - mid to late 20's, trendy metrosexual or possibly Gay, tight jeans, olive skin, tattoo's on his arms, jewelry and a piercing. His hair styled in the messy just got out of bed look. I thought he should be the man or 'boy' for the job! Specifications below all translated into French by Google translate, the price sorted and supplied on a docket.

• All the roots touched up
• Foils, sliced through the top section - 2 colours - natural brown alternated with natural ask
• Toner- to take away the yellow tinge on the ash foils.
• layered hair cut , length to remain the same and long sides
• blow dry- straight ( they don't use hair straightners here in Coutances
  
• cost quoted for - $64 Euros , minus 20% discount on colour on a Thursday

What I got!
A male hairdresser, French, no English , ( that's where it ends) ...... middle aged to elderly; late 50-early 60's, Albert Tatlock ( Coro Street) dress no style ie , half a head of hair almost a comb over , trying to colour my hair , and another ladies as well as cut and blow dry the hair of an older woman with a blue rinse. Too late once it all started to unfold ........

• roots - some grey remaining ! 2-3 colours now !
  
• huge chunks of hair picked up, coloured and crushed by tin foil which he fumbled, dropped and placed half way down the hair shafts. This is called meches papier ( 50 euro's thank you !)
• two colours- brown with a copper tinge and yellow ash brown!
• no toner, although in saying this he did put 'something' in the foils at the half way point, whenever that was in the colour processing time ( no timer and he was darting between me and 2 other clients) and again at the washing stage- no head massage!
• mousse- a large squirt on the hand, kneaded into the hair - a mere 7 euro's ..what a bargain. No other product used .
• a quick layering of the back and frayed scissoring of the fringe.
• blow torch hair drying , my bottom lifting off the seat as he pulled on the curling brush- curls!!!!
• Voila! fini!
  
• 121 Euro's minus 15.40 euro's discount- Merci beaucoup! Au revoir!
  

I'm needing to breathe into the brown paper bag by this stage , or cover my head with it ! The defib machine is on stand by - 1,2,3 stand clear - paddles on chest ! Do we have a heart beat! No...she's gone..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This might have been a kinder way to go.


I am not going to look at what they have done to my hair colour.

Look at the back ! So much for fine streaks / foils!


Mark and the dog went out in sympathy with me!

The water garden and the lilies

Monets Garden - The famous water garden

Giverny- Monets Manoir and Jardins

Claude Monet and his family lived in this village . He and some of his family are buried Giverny's little churchyard. The gardens were initially established and tended by Monet and his children until the number of visitors grew so they hired gardeners . You can see where the inspiration for impressionists painting came from when you walk around the gardens and the village . Little streams, bridges and gardens with cottage garden plants, wisteria, trailing climbers ( clematis) rhododendrons, roses and carpets of small flowering plants , and of the course, the famous water garden with lilies which was made by diverting the Ru river a tributary Epte . ( this garden inspired over 48 Lily paintings )

A meander around the gardens , bench seats to sit on and ponder. People sketching and taking numerous photographs. What a fantastic place as you will see by the photographs ( next few blogs).

Wandering through the house with its pink facade and ivy green shutters ( no photos allowed) you experience one of the largest collection of Japanese art on all the walls both upstairs and down. Apparently exactly as Monet had hung them.

Bright yellow kitchen where he also loved to cook ( food being another of his passions , aqua and lilac bedroom bedroom . Spectacular views overlooking the garden from the top floor windows.

Walking down Rue De Monet you see quaint pretty little houses where artist's sit and paint ( neo impressionists ).

Sewing

I have spent a few hours in front of the sewing machine creating : gingham table runners, and numerous napkins to match . Traditional french style for the first wedding .
Jon then went to the depot vente and purchased two old curtains with braiding. I cut them down to make more table runners and place mats for the wedding in September.

The sewing machine was set up in the study, TV on and I was supplied with regular cups of tea. I have consequently watched many episodes of Super Nanny, Come Dine with Me, A house in the Country and DIY rescue . I have watched more TV in France than in a year in NZ .


PS : Guess what you are all getting for Christmas this year ? ( Mark and I are planning to have a Christmas where you give a gift that is hand made , re-cycled or even re gifted !

Chateau Reicheux- Cancale

The restaurant that Jon took us to for lunch following the wedding. Another beautiful chateau looking out in the distance is Mont St Michel.
The cheese trolley was wheeled over to you and you could choose from a vast selection of local and traditional french cheese's. Normandy is famous for Camembert , Neufachel, Livrot,Tom and Pont Leveque to name a few . You eat cheese after your main meal in France but before dessert.
Then a dessert trolley with so many sweets. There was a rather large man sitting next to us and he had a piece of every dessert on the trolley. His plate was larger than a large dinner plate!
A wonderful relaxing meal over 2-3 hours. French wine, a walk around the garden and along the beach front and home again...very full and content. Thanks Jon

http://www.maisons-de-bricourt.com/les-Maisons-de-Bricourt/chateau-richeux.php

On your marks, get set.....GO! Cycle race Montpinchon

Over the weekend of the 8th of August to the Tuesday a 3 day cycle event - St Laurent, was held in Montpinchon. There were 3 main cycling events depending on age and ability. Apparently the last event on the Tuesday is where talent for the Tour De France is spotted. Camera's everywhere and loud speakers and excitement on the faces of locals who earn most of their income for the year from this event possibly ! A whole lot of good looking people in comparison to the local villagers( Jons words not mine but I could see how he arrived at this observatio ) and young athletic men in lycra ( Jon again...tisk tisk! ) . Parents and Nana's coming up to the young men on the start line giving them the customary two kisses, one on each check and pats on the back from the men. Embarrassed young men! A 3 day carnival, saussie and frites stands everywhere, second hand goods line the streets ( the french have a term for this which in English means 'empty your attic' and they literally do! On the Sunday night a fantastic fireworks display, an amazing spectacle for a small village. Most enjoyable weekend.