Bring Christmas Cheer to the Andean Highlands: Mysmallhelp Peru’s Chocolatada

by Camden Luxford

Attentive readers will remember that back in February I was in the Sacred Valley for a day helping out at some of the communities badly affected by the heavy rainfall and flooding of earlier this year.

Image: Camden Luxford

Recently, I returned to one of them, just outside of Ollantaytambo. It was wonderful to see the newly constructed houses going up in solid brick instead of adobe, and to see the children again, swinging from the shoulders of tall English volunteer Matt and racing into position for photos.

Construction is slow, though, and several families are still living in tents as they piece their lives back together. And the rains have begun again. Christmas here will be cold and wet.

I was in Ollantaytambo visiting a friend, Leander Hollings, who is one of the organisers of a Christmas Chocolatada for this community, among others. I’ll be joining them on the 20th and the 21st, to distribute hot chocolate, panatones and small gifts to the children. We’ll be travelling with clowns and musicians, and having watched Leander dashing back and forth between Cusco and Ollantaytambo under the weight of endless pairs of shoes and finger-puppets, slowly going mad trying to get quotes for hot chocolate for thousands, I can’t wait to see it all come together for her, for her volunteers, and for the communities we’ll be visiting.

There is, however, still a lot to be done, and a lot of money to be raised. Please, I would love it if you could find a few dollars or pounds or yen or reales or soles to buy a cup of hot chocolate for an Andean child this Christmas. You can donate over at JustGiving.com, and I can vouch that all the donations are going straight to a worthy cause.

Image: Camden Luxford

Alternatively, if you’re going to be in Cusco or the Sacred Valley during the next few weeks and would like to help out on the day, get in touch with me via the contact page and I’ll be happy to let you know the details.

Leander takes a break. Image: Camden Luxford

And don’t forget to pop back here to see the photos of how it all came out on the day!

Children offer gift of hope and optimism

There was an abundance of festive cheer at Marybert School and Orphanage on Christmas day as more than a hundred people from the local community joined celebrations and entertainment at the church based in the school grounds.

The Marybert youngsters played a pivotal role demonstrating their singing and dancing talent, and generally spreading joy with their smiling faces. The church service, whilst a total mystery to me (because it was in Nepali which is not native language of Scotland!) was captivating. As I sat warmed by a huddle of girls from the orphanage (males and females tend to be segregated at times of worship) it occurred to me just how different this celebration was from my own days of regular church going. As a child I would sit in a church almost too cold to bear where complicated words and passages from the Bible would be shared with the congregation, but most of which I didn't understand. Here in Gwarko the stage is awash with animation and gesticulation. There are many smiles and knowing laughter. The congregation (and audience as we switch between concert to preaching) is energetically relaxed. There is clapping, and singing and much arm swaying. It's a beautiful atmosphere to be a part of and it reminds me just how special it is to have faith in your heart.

It's this faith that keeps us going when times are tough. It's the old saying that 'it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness' and that candle is what My Small Help lights day after day,and hopes to keep burning. We exist to help underprivileged children to carve a brighter future for themselves through education and satisfying their welfare needs. We adopt the festive 'It's better to give than to receive' adage. That said Christmas day is my birthday (Jo Young, MSH volunteer) and so the children take immeasurable delight in showering me with handmade birthday cards and drawings before singing Happy Birthday to me three times in English, and at least twice in Nepali. We share a beautiful heart shaped birthday cake together and I watch them smile and intently compare presents with each other (a generous gift from previous volunteer Kate Baker, UK). Thousands of pounds haven't been spent on these children, nor have hundreds; the gifts they received on Christmas day probably don't even amount to £10. The difference is that they have real value, and the feeling I had when spending time with them was priceless. Any happiness they have comes from within, and that is where MSH knocks gently at the door. We have faith and love for these children and so we invest your emotional support (that of course comes in the form of finance) in the children, and in return we watch them regulate their school attendance, improve their school grades, and have trust in what we can offer them.

As the sun begins to set in Gwarko everyone basks in what's left of the winter sunshine to enjoy their festive Daal Bhaat. The children and I watch them from the rooftop (we were front of the queue!). I glance around and see a desolate and inhospitable space. There are no toys, no playground equipment; just a few dusty and dirty pipes, concrete blocks, pieces of torn fabric and empty metal drums. It's hardly a playground and I want more for them. I ask one of the girls who brought me up here why it's her favourite space. Her answer is a lesson in perception, and one that I'm happy to retain: "Because the air is fresh and it's beautiful to look at the mountains [points to snow capped peaks]. You can see for miles from here and you can watch what's going on downstairs." I smile quietly to myself. She's got it in one; regardless of what surrounds you in life it's what you choose to see that really matters. My Small Help chooses to see the bigger picture, just like this young girl, and just like all of the sponsors and people who make donations. It's a vital reminder that I'll hold close, and one that I'm more than happy to share.

Festive Gifts for school children

New stationery, festive gifts, and checking on the progress of sponsored children have been the most recent focal points for the team at the My Small Help office in Nepal. Two youngsters living near the tourist hotspot Thamel were bought new winter clothes, sponsored pupils at Sanjiwani Boarding (English medium school) School were given toys and stationery by their UK sponsor, and around 150 pupils at Shree Balprakash Secondary School were issued with new school jotters, pencils, erasers and pencil sharpeners.

Watching the faces of the children at Shree Balprakash Secondary School (Kalanti Buumidanda VDC - 1, Kavre), aged between 5 and 12, when they received their new stationery was a privilege. Who would have guessed that six school jotters and some pencils could create such joy? As Pramila (My Small Help Accountant) and I (Jo Young, MSH volunteer) toured from class to class any onlooker would be forgiven for believing that we were celebrities. We were pursued by youngsters eager to maximise the time that they could see or hear us. As we visited each classroom a small entourage peeped through the bars (to allow ventilation, not imprisonment) on the windows, popped their heads round doors and a couple of the more mischievous ones managed to assume a position in the class before being spotted by the teacher.

The classrooms at this remote village school (45 kilometres outside Kathmandu valley) are a far cry from what we would like to imagine as an educational hub; spartan is too generous a description, whilst bare, empty, basic, and soul-less only go a tiny way towards painting a vivid picture. For many of the rooms the concrete walls are the blackboards, the stone floor becomes a table and a chair. The only thing giving these rooms any warmth or feeling at all is the teacher, the smiling faces of the children, and the donations that enable My Small Help to make a difference. The playground is ground, not a toy or goalpost in sight.

In the colder months, such as now, many classes are taught outside because the winter sun is the main source of heat. Stationery, it would seem, is also a source of heat because it planted a little seed of warmth and delight in the hearts of these children, and that heat radiates far more than any state of the art heating system. Thank you to all of the My Small Help sponsors who have made this contribution possible. Anyone who wishes to donate can click onto www.justgiving.com/childreninnepal or access the sponsorship page on the My Small Help website by clicking here; your compassion and kindness cross more than rugged terrain. Is there something you’d like to know more about in the lives of the children that My Small Help supports? If so please write a comment below and we’ll do our best to grant your festive wish…

Children in Nepal gain superhuman powers!

If a place existed where new jackets and trousers made children believe that they had superhuman powers then that place would be Marybert School and Orphanage, Nepal. With winter temperatures setting in the hours of darkness are currently around four degrees Celsius. If we’re nesting at home with central heating, double glazing and a wealth of cashmere then this temperature is not harsh, it’s a lot colder when you’re without basics such as heating and hot water. My Small Help has been shopping for wind and waterproof outerwear to ensure that the children at Marybert are warm and comfortable. The 18 children obediently queued up to receive their new clothing; each one beamed as they found the perfect fit, whilst some of the younger ones tested out the flexibility of the clothing with wildly entertaining arm and leg movements. For a moment I had a flashback of the many clothing stores I’ve visited around the world where we see youngsters pulling faces, wriggling in the outfit they’re trying on, and protesting to a harassed parent that it doesn’t fit, before asking for (occasionally demanding) a designer label. At Marybert these children beamed because the clothing, regardless of colour or style, fitted them and made them warm. Afterwards some of the younger ones (notably Prince and Kamal) spent a great deal of time folding their jackets and trousers neatly back into the original packaging and patting it down, as if to say ‘thank you for being mine and I’ll wear you tomorrow.’

Some of the young people supported by My Small Help are at secondary school and live at home (or with another support family) so we visited them to ensure that they were progressing well, and to check that MSH funds are being used in the best way possible. These visits also allow us to send updates to their sponsors, and enable more personal communication. Two of the young girls we met, Anjali and Alisha, had just returned from school to a dark stone built home (the

power outages strike again). Their mum was sitting astride a large wooden bench weaving a rug by hand. She told Raju (MSH President) that the rug will take her approximately eight weeks to complete at which point she will be paid around 6,000 Rupees (approximately £53 or $83). If she is late in finishing the rug she will be paid around 5,000 Rupees. I’m struggling to imagine anyone in the world (as I know it) carrying out such detailed, intricate and creative work for eight weeks for the sum of £53 or $83. Think back to the last time you spent £50-60 on an item (a sweater, pair of jeans, DVD box set, aftershave gift set) and then consider if you would still have bought it if you’d had to work eight weeks to fund it. For Anjali and Alisha’s mum this payment is their food and rent money. There are a lot of stark contrasts to consider here. For me it’s not about feeling guilty or curbing my spending habits, it’s about understanding and helping to make small but significant steps to a better future for the underprivileged families in Nepal (and work is on-going in Peru).

My Small Help sponsors are making this difference through their dedicated pledges; whilst I’m on the ground in Nepal I am their eyes and ears. The money is making a difference, and I can see that it is very much appreciated. The work that MSH carries out helps to empower these families by alleviating the financial pressure so that the children can be educated and create a better future for themselves. It’s about academic learning, and learning from the harsh experiences of their parents and elder siblings.
If you would like to help by donating a few pounds please click here http://www.justgiving.com/childreninnepal

New Volunteer Jo Young meets children of My Small Help...

It’s with a high degree of trepidation that I begin the bumpy and hazardous 40 minute tuk tuk journey to the My Small Help Office in Gwarko in Lalitpur, Nepal; the practical aspects of what I will do when I am here don’t concern me, but I can’t help but wonder how much of a difference I can actually make, and how I will feel when I burst the bubble of the Western world.

It’s one thing giving money to charity or tithing 10% of your income as those working towards ‘greater good’ so readily suggest, but time and vis a vis efforts might prove to be a bigger challenge for me. I expect smiles and tears, but it’s the unexpected smiles and tears that really meet your heart.

The smiles came quickly as I met the dedicated My Small Help team to discuss how best we could maintain and build on their current success. The small but functional office is just a few minutes walk from the Marybert School and Orphanage, where almost half of the pupils are financially supported by the charity.

As we approach the school I can already hear peals of laughter and giggling which, although I didn’t have any real expectations of how it would be, aren’t what I expected to hear at an orphanage (if that makes any sense!). The youngsters are cavorting around on the chute and climbing frame, lined up like chattering sparrows on a telephone wire, or gently tugging each other’s pigtails in good humour. It’s a beautiful sight. At least three of them rush towards me to say ‘namaste’ whilst earnestly pressing their palms together. ‘What is your name’ and for some reason the name ‘Joanna’ is suddenly the funniest name they’ve ever heard and they clutch their tummies whilst giggling. From this point onwards I decide to use my spiritually given name of ‘Jyoti’, which has more meaning to them, and this part of the world.

There are no tears here, only happiness from the children and I’m already forced to reconsider my self-built images fuelled by Oliver Twist. The children are thrilled to see Raju (My Small Help President) and gather around our feet like ants to a jam pot. As we ask the children questions so that I can write up colourful profiles for the website I’m struck by the beauty of each of these children. They have little or nothing of material consequence but they each have spirit, hope and love and rapidly pull out letters and photographs of people who have helped sponsor them. They gleefully report ambition to be doctors and vets and teachers; listing a desire to help as the reason for their choice.

Help is the keyword for the next few months that I will spend in Nepal. I am fortunate to be able to dedicate time and attention by physically being here, which I know isn’t possible for many. So, if you would like to help by writing to the children, donating a few pounds or taking up a more regular sponsorship of a child please click here: Christmas is coming and your donation would enable the My Small Help volunteers to create a memorable day for the children by buying them necessities and treats.

Stunt Show makes wheely good donation to charity

The 1^st International Bike Stunt Show to be held in Nepal stepped up a gear by raising more than £200 for My Small Help.

Approximately 10 stunt bikers performed to an enthusiastic crowd of around 300 the last weekend in November (2010). The event, held at the International Summing Club, Satdobato, was organised by Pako Youth Club and Planet Nepal. The bikers showed bravery and skill as they wowed the audience with their daredevil antics. The crowd also enjoyed a variety of live music.

Pramila, My Small Help’s accountant, was thrilled to receive the cheque. The charity, on behalf of the young children and orphans who will benefit from the cash boost, thank the organisers of the stunt show for their generosity, and for daring to care.

Pramila receving cheque

The donation will be put towards a number of different projects run by My Small Help to ensure that the children they sponsor are given the opportunity to benefit from school education, and that their overall wellbeing is considered a priority.

Iron Beds provided for Marybert Orphanage

6 out of 11 new iron beds were provided to Marybert Orphanage. Marybert Orphanage used to have 11 wooden beds for the boys and girls room altogether. The beds were really old and had bed bugs, due to which the children could not sleep soundly and would wake up in the middle of the night. The beds were treated with medicine but still it was of no use. The only option left was to burn down the beds.

Marybert School and Orphanage is situated in Kathmandu and is MSH’s pioneer project. At present there are approximately 100 children studying at the school and 23 of these children are living at the orphanage. MSH sponsors 17 children living at the Marybert orphanage. The sponsorship pays for their education, food, accommodation and sanitary living conditions.

In addition, MSH has built a library for the school and has donated many books. The library has a peaceful atmosphere and the books are clearly displayed. MSH has funded a bio-gas system that is complete and running very well. MSH has also funded for iron beds for the orphanage.
Marybert Orphanage Management and MySmallHelp decided to dosomething, so Marybert Orphanage Management and MySmallHelp sat down together to discuss on the matter. With much discussion, MySmallHelp decided to fund for 6 new iron beds with the Funds Provided by KnightBridge School, UK and for the other 5 beds, were to be funded by Marybert Orphanage Management. The beds were not ready-made and were to be made from the start and painted. Meanwhile, as the bed was being made in process, the children were sleeping on the floor with their matress and as winter was approaching, the children were starting to feel cold, so the building of the beds had to be faster. Finally on 20th Sep 2010, the beds were ready and brought to MaryBert Orphanage, with new bed carts. The children were very happy to see their new bed and arrage it in their respective rooms.

Nowadays, the children have not complaint about being bitten by any bed bugs and they said they can sleep soundly at night. They are very thankful to Knightbridge School for funding this project and for all their support.

Include other projects in brief and write something like this "we will be doing this projects soon and will write the update and progress.