Update from Nepal by Joe Waite:
'In the last few weeks Holly Barwick, Ellie Pygall and Jess Horgan have all arrived in Kathmandu and through a chance encounter we recruited Melody to our volunteer team! We helped Khagendra throw a party to celebrate Dashain festival, the biggest festival in the Nepali year. We had balloons, musical instruments, games and delicious food prepared by the Khagendra kitchen staff. The day was a great success as can be seen from the pictures below.
We have new ideas to promote recreational activities and occupational training at Khagendra and like many things here, it all seems to have naturally fallen into place!
After seeing how the residents enjoyed music and rhythm at the party, we hope to arrange for a local Music therapist to carry out a few trial sessions at the home.
In close proximity to Khagendra, the BIA foundation offers handicraft training and work for people with a variety of disabilities. The recently established organisation produces amongst other items high quality stools, buddhist relics, pashmina scarfs and incense that is made by a largely blind workforce. Chirri, a charming thanka painting master and wheelchair welcomed us to the facility and is more than happy for us to make return visits with appropriate Khagendra residents.
Next week Rishi (Occupational training organiser at Spinal Centre) has kindly agreed to host a candle making workshop at Khagendra. This will be a great opportunity for residents to learn a new skill and also produce candles for the fast approaching Tihar (festival of light). The candles will be spread throughout the center for the festival and any excess will be sold, profits directly to benefit the residents.'
'In the last few weeks Holly Barwick, Ellie Pygall and Jess Horgan have all arrived in Kathmandu and through a chance encounter we recruited Melody to our volunteer team! We helped Khagendra throw a party to celebrate Dashain festival, the biggest festival in the Nepali year. We had balloons, musical instruments, games and delicious food prepared by the Khagendra kitchen staff. The day was a great success as can be seen from the pictures below.
We have new ideas to promote recreational activities and occupational training at Khagendra and like many things here, it all seems to have naturally fallen into place!
After seeing how the residents enjoyed music and rhythm at the party, we hope to arrange for a local Music therapist to carry out a few trial sessions at the home.
In close proximity to Khagendra, the BIA foundation offers handicraft training and work for people with a variety of disabilities. The recently established organisation produces amongst other items high quality stools, buddhist relics, pashmina scarfs and incense that is made by a largely blind workforce. Chirri, a charming thanka painting master and wheelchair welcomed us to the facility and is more than happy for us to make return visits with appropriate Khagendra residents.
Next week Rishi (Occupational training organiser at Spinal Centre) has kindly agreed to host a candle making workshop at Khagendra. This will be a great opportunity for residents to learn a new skill and also produce candles for the fast approaching Tihar (festival of light). The candles will be spread throughout the center for the festival and any excess will be sold, profits directly to benefit the residents.'