Mysmallhelp Documentary

Mysmallhelp documentary Part I


Mysmallhelp documentary Part II

Bio-gas plant final update

Bio-gas Plant

Stages

Volunteer Report of Mira Halbina from Poland (7th - 21st August 2009)

I spent 2 weeks at Marybert School teaching English. Also I visited the children living at the orphanage at Marybert, as well as I learnt how Mysmallhelp works and what their main projects are. These 2 weeks with Mysmallhelp taught me how Mysmallhelp works and gave me ideas how to be useful, how to help most if I manage to come back to Nepal again.

I came to Mysmallhelp with the intention of teaching kids so that they can practice their English with a foreigner who speaks with a different accent; also I wanted to share my world with them. I found working a new role for myself namely as, as person looking after the kids in the orphanage or just the one who could organize their afternoon, after-school activities.

On the whole, I just loved cooperating with Mysmallhelp whose members were always ready to offer help, advice and taught me things about Nepal and the needs of the kids there. These 2 weeks were a short time, however, and sometimes it might help if Mysmallhelp clearly defined the most important roles volunteers could play, stating precisely what their tasks should be.

Mysmallhelp Newsletter May - August 2009

Dear Friends,
Thank you for your kind support by being the group members. Recently, Mysmallhelp has released their recent newsletter from May - August 2009. Please visit http://www.mysmallhelp.org/may-aug09.php

Thank you
Mysmallhelp

My Small Help, Marybert School and Anne volunteering Experience

Sushmita Sundas of Dhulikhel

Shusmita is studying in Grade 1 this year. Comparing her last year results with this year's, she has improved a lot in her studies. Shusmita was weak in her studies and had to struggle a lot to improve but now she has shown tremendous improvement in her first term examination. She scored a pass percentage of 67.75%, securing first division and ranked 14^th in her class. Shusmita is in good health.

Child Labour Suitation in Nepal

In August I had the opportunity to visit Mysmallhelp Nepal while filming a documentary about child labor. The organization's President Raju was kind enough to show me some places around Kathmandu where children were working. We visited children turning bricks, making food, washing dishes, and fixing trucks.

As with most of my experiences interacting with working children and their families, owners, and other interested parties, the situations were complicated. The working kids who allowed me to film them were full of smiles and joy even as they undertook a life that would no doubt continue a cycle of poverty that cripples their livelihoods.

In this sense, the moral situation is complicated for an outsider to really grasp. I spent most of my time with children who worked as domestic laborers in the homes of rural landlords or urban professionals. I was consistently told by owners that they treated their working children well and that their nutrition and level of education was superior than they would otherwise receive at home in their villages. The parents who sell them make the same claim.

The child rights activists counter with a rights argument--that children deserve better than the options that are presented, that they should not have to choose between two bad options and that the situation needs to be changed. Activists tell stories of horrible living situations and abusive treatment. Some call for better monitoring to resolve the problem and others call for outright ban. Perhaps the most important voice in understanding the problem is that of former child laborers. They speak of a painful disconnect from their families, a lack of love being a fundamental loss, and a sense of injustice in that their lots were decided not by poverty but by centuries old social injustices perpetrated against certain ethnicity and castes. They feel that even any gains for children who are owned will leave them feeling psychologically inferior. Their strategy is broad and decidedly long-term; it is about upward social mobility of a people, not just the short-term livelihood levels of individuals.

Regardless of the complications of harms, the resolution to the problem of child labor remains uncomplicated. Education. High quality, free, and compulsory education. If enforced by the state, then child labor will eventually disappear. The political blockage of Nepal's national government has no clear end in sight but it is the responsibility of NGOs, INGOs, and the people of Nepal to push the government toward this goal. Because it is not just a goal that will help this group or that, it is also a crucial stepping block to a more just society and a more economically developed nation.

- by Kan Yan

Harvard Law School

Sunita Majhi update of 21st July 2009

Sunita Majhi Sunita is currently studying in the third grade. Recently, in her mid-term exams, she came 1st in her class. Now she has passed these exams, she is able to take her end of first term exams. She is in the middle of revision for these and they start on 26th July and finish on 2nd August 2009. During her free time, Sunita likes to spend time with her friends at the orphanage. She enjoys playing skipping ropes games and badminton with them and they also revise together. She is very studious and understands the importance of education. She is very happy that, with your help, she can study and have a better and brighter tomorrow. Some day in the future, she wants to be a successful woman and be able to look after her mother. She is happy staying at Marybert Orphanage where she has many friends. Whether she is having a good day or a bad day her friends are always there. She is in good health.

Completion of Bhattedanda School Project

On 10th July 2009, six Mysmallhelp Nepal members and two German friends travelled to Bhattedanda, Lalitpur, Nepal. We provided 45 school bags, 4 blackboards and sports equipments worth of 200 dollars. All the childrens were extremely happy with the bags and school teachers were also glad with Mysmallhelp for our continous support. We have capture the film which later will be complied for project documentary. We all enjoyed the trip. You can see project picture on Mysmallhelp Facebook Group

Chatturale Village, Nepal

Chatturale Village which lies in the hilly remote area is only accessed by a two hour plus walk to reach the main road where one can then catch local transport. The village people there are mostly from the Tamang family being a backward ethnic group here in Nepal.

Their main occupation is agriculture and as such each home has chickens, goats and at least two buffalo.

Chatturale Village does have a road which has recently been developed to enable vehicles such as trucks to pass by occasionally in order to supply their daily needs.

The local people there are very much united and helpful to each other and therefore aware of their village, school and any financial assistance that arrives for the village.

They have also chosen certain people to accept duty as president, treasurer so any budget for project work can be looked after. However, equal participation and acceptance was needed to conduct any type of work as without equal participation and acceptance the villages do not accept any work.

Due to this MSH was reassured that the budget which was provided by MSH would not be miss-used by the villlage people.

Now due to trust having been established between MSH and Chatturale village, during the last visit the people requested MSH for further project work to be undertaken.

This next projects involve the following:

1) Supplying 3 stretchers to aid in the transportation of any sick person from the village to the main road. This is due to the poor access as when any member from the village gets sick there is no other way to transport the sick person other than carry to the top of the hill for treatment.

2) Furniture for the local Brahamini school which is currently operating without any proper furniture.

MSH believes that both these projects are worth supporting.

MSH handed over equipments to Bhattedanda School Principal

Mysmallhelp Nepal, today handed over 4 blackboards, 45 school bags and sports equipments to Principal of Bhattedanda School. We have set up the distribution program on 10th July 2009. We will be updating with pictures on Mysmallhelp facebook group. Please keep supporting us. Only from your support, we all can make this possible.

Marking the right location for bio-gas

A bio-gas technician along with GWRCN marked the location to dig 6.5 ft to construct bio-gas. The gas produced from will be use to cook food for the 22 orphans who are currently staying at Marybert Orphanage.

Bio-gas at Marybert Orphanage

The biogas project lead by MSH member, Raju for installation at the Marybert School has been approved by Sabina Thapa the schools principal and MSH member. This will help the school minimize fuel costs making funds available for the children. The project will start when the funds are released.

Why is bio-gas so important for the school?
Marybert orphanage has 24 orphans living and studying at the moment. A significant amount of fuel (LGP gas or cooking gas) is used to prepare food everyday. Orphanage expenses are very high and therefore detrimental to educational funds. Once biogas is installed at the school, the gas produced can be stored and used as a fuel for cooking allowing more funds to be available purely for teaching all students. Nepals government encourages renewable energy projects and may also provide some of the materials which hopefully will lower investment costs as well as assisting MSH in managing the project.

Mysmallhelp Documentary

Hey hello everyone,

Mysmallhelp is very please to inform that Gopal Koirala, a documentary film maker as well as Mysmallhelp member, is making a documentary of MSH project as well as a documentary for MSH. We really appreciate Gopal help. This was successfull all because of you and your support. So please please keep supporting Mysmallhelp, only your support can help the poor children to have a better life.

We are really looking forward to showing this documentary in different places which will not only help them know about Mysmallhelp and its mission but also help them know about Nepal, children. We can create a beautiful world just joining each other hands. Let your small help keep going. We all can make it possible.

Love

Mysmallhelp

Sports equipments for Bhattedanda School

Mysmallhelp has been a constant supporter for Bhattedanda School which is situated in one of the remote area of Lalitpur district, Nepal. On this part of project, now we are donating sports equipments which is worth of 200 dollar which includes skipping, badmintons, chess, ludoo, footballs and many more.

Soon we will be updating more on this project with more photographs of distribution.

School bags for all Bhattedanda School Children

The above shown bags will be distributed to all school children of Bhattedanda School. MSH has received all the ordered bags. MSH is waiting for th right time for distribution.

Bhattedanda School update

T1. The principle was very happy with MSH for providing school uniform and sweater for all 44 students. Because of this the school found 18% increase in student admission in this year 2009.

Villagers discussing about the Budget

1. As we all know the villagers are mostly from the Tamang family. Tamang family are most of the backward ethnic group of Nepal.

2. Their main occupation is agriculture. Each home has number of chickens, goats and atleast one or two buffalo.

3. The village lies in the hilly area has one has to walk atleast 2 hours to reach the main road where one can catch the local transportation.

4. The village has the road which is being recently built. The vehicles like truck pass by occasionally to supply their daily needs

5. Villagers are very much united and are helpful to each other

6. Villagers are much aware of the village, school and the budget that arrives for the village

7. Villagers have also chosen certain people as president, treasure who look after the budget and the project. However, equal participation and acceptation was needed to conduct any type of work to be done. Without the equal participation and acceptation, villages donot accept any work.

8. This clarified MSH that the budget which MSH has provided will not be mis-used by the people or the villagers.

9. Villagers trust MSH more in this recent visit and they want further project to be applied

10. When any member from the villagers get sick with major problem than lack of transportation, one has to carry to the top for treatment. Because of this problem, villagers have appealed for atleast 3 stretchers to provide. Which MSH thinks is a good idea

11. The Brahamini School completely lack proper furniture and the school principal appeal for MSH to provide furniture.

Mysmallshop donats all profit to Mysmallhelp

A fair trade shop and bafts recognised importer Mysmallshop ( www.mysmallshop.org ) donets all its profit to UK registered Charity and registered NGO in Nepal Mysmallhelp ( www.mysmallhelp.org )

helping hands

Children of Chatturle village trying to make Mysmallhelp logo. Helping Hand 

Bhattedanda Project

Construction of the blackboard for Bhattedanda School is on the process  .

Mysmallhelp Member back from Chatturale village

Mysmallhelp members Gopal Koirala, Raju Maharjan, Sanjay Shrestha, Hari Rai and 2 other friends travelled to Chatturale village, Nuwakot district for Toilet and water project on 12th June 2009 and returned back on 14th June 2009. During the visit, Gopal Koirala, Project manager and documentary film maker, took lot of video clips to make the documentary and for project report. The visit was very helpful as MSH was able to understand the villagers, school more. We will be updating on the project in coming days. Here are some of the images which i think you will like to see. 

Study on Maajgaun Chatturale Village

The journey to Chatturale village started from the Heart of Nepal, Basantpur, at around 10:30am on 4^th February, 2008, Wednesday with three friends, Gopal, Raju and Sambhu. A half an hour walk from Basantapur to Balaju chock, we were able to catch a bus to Rani Pawa which was about 30 km and took us one and half hour. After having some food at Rani Pawa we started our walking journey at 1:10 pm. Stumbling and rushing down the stony and dusty mountain was not an easy journey for all of us. 2 hours walk down the hill reached to our destination.

 

As we were entering the village, we walk by a school which was named Shree Brahmayani Primary School. Since Gopal had already been to the village before and knew couple of friends made us easy. We stayed one of the Gopal’s friend house. The house was typical village house with domestic animals and chickens. After resting for about half an hour, we decided to visit school to know more about school’s condition. As we enter the school’s area, we say a small dusty ground. One of the teachers could see us entering and asked us for the reason. Gopal introduced himself as one of the member of Mysmallhelp and we have come to understand the school. The teacher introduced himself as the principal of the school and welcomed us into his office.

 

As he started talking, he sound frustrated with school condition and Nepal’s political condition. Few things which he pointed us were, the school is run by Nepal Government and they have grades from 1 to 5. Only 3 teachers were being allocated in the school where they need at least 5 teachers to run the classes at the same time. He pointed toilet as the main problem. The badly build current toilet is very small with no proper water system and door luck. Though they have 2 small toilets but they were compel to use only one for the children because of the lack of cleaning and water. Even with the lack of door luck, 2 children need to go once for 1 child to use. The other child blocks the door so that no other children can open accidently.

 

Another problem was proper water tank as children hardly have any water to use. Badly build school building, class floor, furniture and worn out blackboard clearly showed us how bad the school condition was. The teacher suggested if we can build new toilet at different place with proper water system for the school. Raju noted all the problems and the suggestion principal was telling us. After taking few pictures and understanding the problem we head back to Gopal friend’s house where we were staying for a night.

 

The sun was setting down the hill, Gopal and his friend suggest Raju to buy a chicken for a dinner. We all found a good idea so we headed down to buy a chicken. Finally we got one at Rs. 500 which we thought was abit expensive. We had a good dinner with Dal, Bhat, fresh vegetable and children. After some interesting talks with house family we headed for a good sleep. We all three had a very good sleep.

 

In the morning, after having a good tea we headed down the village market to meet some of Gopal’s friends. After talking with his friend for a while we walked down to see a beautiful place where we could see high hills all round with big open space. Taking picture and listening to mobile music for an hour we headed to school to meet the principal. The principal had estimated the budget which he though could be helpful for us to estimate what we exactly can do and what not. Some of the villagers as well as constructor of the village joined the talk. Along the talk they though it will be a good idea to see the water source. So we all headed up hill to understand how the water is being mobilized in village and how can the water can be used.

 

Understanding the water problem and predicting the solution we all walked down. We three headed house to have lunch. After having lunch, it was time for us to leave the house and get back home. We entered the school to say good bye to the principal and children and convinced the principal to see what we could do for the school.

 

Climbing high up to reach the bus stop was not an easy task for all three. Finally we reach the bus stop climbing 2 hours of steady hill and reach our home at around 5 pm in the evening.

 

Mysmallhelp on Twitter

Hello everyone,

Please visit www.twitter.com/mysmallhelp and you can follow us

Thank you

She gave up everything to make orphans happy

http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/features/featuresbehindnews/4409078.She_gave_up_everything_to_make_orphans_happy/

She gave up everything to make orphans happy

When Leander Hollings first volunteered to help at an orphanage in Nepal three years ago, she embarked on a mission that would see her change the lives of scores of children beset by poverty. At the time, Leander was 27 years old and living in London.

She had a nice flat, and a well-paid job with everything she could have wished for – yet there was something missing. A slight medical condition, brought on by stress, prompted Leander into taking some time out from her busy schedule.

“As I learnt more about their living conditions and their world I was able to see just how difficult life was for them and I wanted to help. So when one of the girls eventually confided in me that she was being beaten, I knew I couldn’t just walk away.”

Leander Hollings

So with no great aim in mind other than to do something useful with her life, she placed an advert on a goodwill website offering to carry out some volunteer work with children.

Within days she was asked to buy a few items from women in Nepal who were working round the clock to sell their goods for very little profit in return.

But Leander went one step further. She held a party and raised over £1,000 for the cause. Such was her dedication that when a friend suggested she fly out to the Himalayas to help children in a Nepalese orphanage, Leander took the suggestion seriously.

So seriously in fact, that she handed in her notice and booked a flight, intending to stay in Nepal only for a couple of months.

Three years down the line this inspiring young woman, who has lived in Ilkley for the past couple of years, has dedicated her life to helping orphans as well as adults who are fighting poverty and oppression in Nepal.

She said: “I was so touched by the children I met during my first visit there that I knew I had to help in any way I could.

“They had been given away by their parents and were being mistreated by the owners of the orphanage who had no interest in their wellbeing and I found it impossible to turn my back on them once I realised the truth.

“Nepal is beset with social problems and the children I met I later found out were being beaten and physically abused.

“They had very little in the way of food and possessions but despite that were always smiling and were really lovely children. On the day I arrived in Nepal they greeted me with smiles and flowers and were incredibly warm and loving.

“As I learnt more about their living conditions and their world I was able to see just how difficult life was for them and I wanted to help. So when one of the girls eventually confided in me that she was being beaten, I knew I couldn’t just walk away.”

Unsure of how she could help the orphans, Leander began visiting a cyber café in Kathmandu run by a young Nepalese man, Razoo.

She began to use his cyber café to encourage her friends and family back home to raise money to support the children of Nepal. Leander and Razoo soon became good friends with a shared interest in helping the orphans and set up an organisation which later became a registered charity, called Mysmallhelp.

Leander said: “Razoo was such a friend to me when I was out there and when I told him about the children I had been working with he immediately offered to help.

“He genuinely cares about children and wanted to meet them. He then offered to help me set up Mysmallhelp to raise money to support the orphans and help provide them with an education.”

At first Leander relied on the generosity of friends and family back home to provide support to the Nepalese children. But with Razoo’s help they set up www.mysmallhelp.org and the organisation soon became a success.

It now sponsors over 60 children in their education in Nepal. Over the years volunteers have provided school uniforms to children, text books and basic equipment.

They have also helped build toilet facilities and are currently working on a project to provide a renewable energy source to one school which will reduce fuel costs and in turn free up vital resources which can be ploughed back into the children's education.

Members also provide basic health care for children. Leander said: “MSH believes that providing education alone is not always enough.”

“Families often have more immediate needs that tend to overshadow a child’s education and force them out of school, so MSH conducts an initial interview with the parent/guardian of the child.

“After this assessment, MSH decides on a case-by-case basis if we can offer books, stationery, medicine, clothes etc. to help the family of the sponsored child.

“This alleviates immediate welfare concerns to enable the child to enter, and more importantly, remain in education. MSH monitors the attendance and progress of the children through direct relationships with teachers and schools, and also aims to go one step further by helping the sponsored children find a job upon completion of the school leaving certificate.”

In order to do this Leander has now set up a social enterprise scheme called Mysmallshop which sells fairly traded goods handmade by artisans in Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa and Indonesia. All profits are donated to the charity mysmallhelp.

“I wanted to make sure that once the children from the orphanages had completed their education there would be somewhere for them to work under decent conditions,.” she said.

“That’s what Mysmallshop is about. Any profits we make are put back into Mysmallhelp so the two in turn help each other. The woman who inspired the business had a jewellery workshop in Nepal and I was shocked at the story of her family business.

“She made very little profit at all although her staff did all the work. I began taking some of her jewellery back to the UK to sell it, with no experience in that field whatsoever but eventually I have managed to send over £6,000 back to her in Nepal. Mysmallshop aims to help people like this to earn a decent wage from their hard work.”

Mysmallshop (website mysmallshop.org) mainly trades in jewellery, blankets, scarves and children’s wear. Leander does her best to ensure that all goods sold are fairly traded. “At the moment I can’t guarantee that the silver and gems which are supplied to the women who make the jewellery in Nepal are fairly traded – that’s next on the list, to investigate how they are mined etc.

“But we try to ensure that the women who make the jewellery are given a fair wage, and I am now looking for a designer to provide new designs so that we can sell items of jewellery in more upmarket shops in order to get more money for them.

“Mysmallshop is vital to help ensure that the children we are helping to educate are not exploited in their adult lives and we are looking for all the support we can to make it a success,” said Leander.

So far she has held stalls at various events in the town, including Ilkley Carnival, The Clarke Foley Centre, Christ Church, The Happiness Centre, The Veggie Cafe, and Smooth cafe. Mysmallshop hosts fair trade parties and can provide stock for those wishing to hold a party of their own. But, as with any charity, Leander is always on the lookout for more helpers and sponsors.

She said: “Anyone who would like to get involved in any way is welcome. We are always in need of money and volunteers to keep the organisation going. We believe that the work we do is vital to ensure the basic human rights of these children are met.

“That has become my main mission in life and I want to continue helping poor children in whatever way I can. We are all part of the same world and I believe that a social enterprise scheme like Mysmallshop could provide a sustainable solution to relieve poverty in the developing world by creating jobs and demand in the West for products produced in Nepal and other poor countries.”

Due to the rapid growth and interest in the Mysmallhelp and Mysmallshop projects, Leander is in urgent need of more “my small helpers”. She is looking for talented and enthusiastic individuals to offer their time and skills to enable Mysmallhelp realise its full potential.

Leander said: “There is no cost involved in becoming a trustee/guarantor, we just ask that you let us know how much time you can realistically commit and how you feel your skills and knowledge can best be used.”

She is also looking for volunteers to help support the work of the Mysmallhelp through sales, marketing and PR, fundraising, accounts, book-keeping and budgeting, legal support and photography. Anyone interested should contact Leander by June 15. Possible new trustees will be interviewed before the middle of July.

Contact leander.hollings@mysmallshop.org or by telephone to 0771 726 3426.

Mysmallhelp Facebook group

Hello friends,

Lets join our hands together. Lets join the group on facebook and let us know that we do care the world we live.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9003430934

Marybert Orphanage, Nepal

Children of Marybert Orphanage Studying and doing homework after school

Mysmallhelp Youtube Channel

Mysmallhelp Youtube Channel

www.youtube.com/mysmallhelp

School Uniform distribution at Bhattedanda school

Eilidh Canney from UK arrived in Nepal in mid November 2008. Before her arrival in Nepal she had raised £270 in UK for MSH which was used to provide school uniforms and jumpers to 44 children in Bhattedanda School. Eilidh also helped MSH in filling up the form of ICT (International Childcare Trust) for providing us grant to renovate and build new buildings for Bhattedanda School. She also enjoyed volunteering in Marybert School and loved spending time with the children of the school and the orphanage.

MSH Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PKlEoF7SBs

Have a look

Principal of Bhattedanda School handed over the proposal to MSH

On 20th May 2009, Wednesday, Principal of Bhattedanda School visited MSH office and handed over the proposal of providing School equipments like blackboard, white boards, newsboards along with educational materials, sports equipments, stationaries for school children and musical instruement. 

MSH project manager for Bhattedanda School, Pramila KC received the proposal. Project Manager informed the principal about donating 4 blackboard, school bags for all 44 children as well as sports equipments and educational materials in another 20 days time.  Project Manager got the size of the board which will be place for order very soon. 

Erin from US

Erin from the USA visited MSH sponsored children at the school, distributing clothes and shoes. Erin is a long term supporter of MSH and it’s always fantastic to see the one to one relationship she maintains with her sponsored child, Dependra.

Bio-gas at Marybert School

The biogas project lead by MSH member, Raju for installation at the Marybert School has been approved by Sabina Thapa the schools principal and MSH member. This will help the school minimize fuel costs making funds available for the children. The project will start when the funds are released.

Why is bio-gas so important for the school?
Marybert orphanage has 24 orphans living and studying at the moment. A significant amount of fuel (LGP gas or cooking gas) is used to prepare food everyday. Orphanage expenses are very high and therefore detrimental to educational funds. Once biogas is installed at the school, the gas produced can be stored and used as a fuel for cooking allowing more funds to be available purely for teaching all students. Nepals government encourages renewable energy projects and may also provide some of the materials which hopefully will lower investment costs as well as assisting MSH in managing the project.

Mysmallhelp UK makes first donation to African Project

Mysmallhelp UK has been working with a team of volunteers at Leeds University to try and raise funds for Mysmallhelp and East African Playgrounds by selling Mysmallshop products on campus. The students sold approximately £1650 worth of products in the first term and so far Mysmallhelp has donated £330 to the East African playgroundsproject.

Please do click here to read more about the EAP project. The group of student volunteers will be using Mysmallhelp funds to help build a playground in Uganda this summer.

 

MSH Volunteer: Anne Macdonald

Anne from the UK visited the school whilst volunteering for MSH for 10 days from 26th April to 6th May 2009. Anne stayed at the School orphanage with the children allowing her to get to know the children, the good work of the school and to fully appreciate the conditions in which they live. Anne helped to film for a short MSH documentary, which will be used back in the UK to help fundraise for MSH.

Toilet Building Project at Brahamayani School, Chatturale, Nepal

MSH Nepal Members, Gopal and Raju made a visit to Chaturale village and the Brahmayami School in order to review help required. 

The following was decided: 
• Build 2 new toilet blocks (boys and for girls)
• Provide a water storage tank for drinking water
• Carry out small repairs to the building, for example painting of walls
• Provide sports equipment

This project will start in 25 days time

Shree Brahmayami School
Shree Brahmayami Primary School is run by the Government who provide only 3 teachers for teaching grades 1 to 5. The school has no allocated support staff at present and facilities are poor with two children need to go to the toilet together, one for guarding the door. 156 children are currently studying in the school.

Bhattedanda School, Nepal

On February 10th 2009 MSH Nepal member, Raju visited Bhattedanda School to donate school jumpers for all 44 children. Bhattedanda school is located in Bhattedanda in the Lalitpur District, 26km south of Kathmandu.

A summary of the school is as follows:
• 44 children age 3 ½ to 12 years, Grades 1 to 3
• There are no toilets and no library
• The small grass covered playground is very small and there is no access path from the school.
• There are no games or sports equipment.

Car Boot Sale

Tam doing a car boot sale to raise money for Mysmallhelp

Laptop kindly donated by Portland Place School, London.

The children of Portland Place School, London worked hard to raise money for Mysmallhelp. A school disco raised over £300 and the laptop was bought in the UK. The laptop was taken to Nepal by Krishna Lama (a friend of Mysmallhelp) and delivered directly to the Mysmallhelp office. You can see the Mysmallhelp president (Raju Maharajan) on the photograph with the Mysmallhelp laptop. The laptop will be used to keep the Mysmallhelp Nepal team in touch with the Mysmallhelp UK team. It is especially important at the moment in Nepal for the team to have a laptop because the country is experiencing 16 hours of power cuts each day.