28 mei 2006 - Shyam Bahadur Katwal, chairman of the SHC, stayed in the Netherlands last January. He his written the following report about his stay:
"Being the Chairman of Society for Helpless Children, Dharan, Nepal and Mr. Sudhir Tamrakar, being the founder member, Chairman, Mr Henk Hooghuis on behalf of its partner organization Stichting Children's Homes Dharan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands had invited us to take part in the annual general function. So as per invitation, we reached Amsterdam on January 15, 06 through PIA. Stichting Children's Homes Dharan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands is the organization that has been financing and supporting three major projects in eastern Nepal like Shree Saraswati Orphanage, Dharan, Himalaya Mahayan Dichhen Chyonling Gumba, Dharan and Helpless Children Welfare Mission, Duhabi basically in the development of physical infrastructure and also in the health, education, personal hygiene, clothing, safety sectors of the children for past 5 years.
According to the pre-schedule we had to present ourself in different programs like meeting with the mayor from Wieringermeer, Frans Spekreijse on Jan 20, 2006; on Jan 28 there was Annual General Meeting of Stichting Children’s Homes Dharan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; on Feb 4 there was a program set in the town Best in school “de Zevensprong” to discuss, have questions & answers with teachers, students and parents over there and on Feb 12 we had to present ourself with materials from Nepal along with stalls of different other INGOs from the Netherlands working for the welfare of Nepali society. According to that we took part in all the programs with a short introduction of Nepal, presenting the effectiveness of Dutch charity in overall development of children and addition of physical infrastructure of the children homes within our working area, special request was made to continue the existing supports. All the Dutch volunteers were busy and seen very active in making the programs effective. It was realized that the attendants Dutch donor were very hearty and specially very sensitive about the future of helpless children in Nepal. The most pleasant thing that we experienced during our Holland visit is that in a program at the school in Best : little children actively collected euro 137 for the development of helpless children and the support box was hand-overed in a very sensitive way. And it was felt that such behavior of those children had won the heart of every people over there.
We experienced a lot many things in our 35 days stay in Amsterdam. We also found that in every program a lot many things representing Nepali art & culture were kept for selling. Though the materials were not so useful, we came to know that people purchased them with the intention that the collected amount would go to the Stichting’s children support fund. Basically we found that Mr Henk was very much worried about how he could secure the available funding sources meant for the future of orphan and helpless children as per the situation of Nepal for the long term. On the initiative of Dutch volunteer Miss Martine Colijn, a fund of Euro 4500 was granted by fund the Brug in Slootdorp for the school building construction to the children from homeless society, Dharan ward no 17 in our presence over there and we were very glad on knowing that. Similarly we found the other Dutch volunteers were also active in collecting funds in their own ways. Apart from the individual donations, supports from the government level started from the previous year have highly encouraged the Dutch volunteers.
During the situation of inability to do anything for the helpless children of our own country, if the people from 7 seas far away, because of humanity, are always seen devoting for such important work than, we have realized that, we should also promise to encourage them by working very honestly and sincerely.
The Netherlands being highly developed country, there’s no doubt for anyone on not getting affected by the management done the country. Enough opportunities of development are seen for each individual according to ones ability and qualification. Work is work for them and work is never small or too big.
One thing that every Nepali feels pride of is ‘giving honours to guests’. And it is found to be understood by every visitor. However Dutch people are also not less in this matter and we could hearty realized it from our Amsterdam visit this year. Our 35 days stay in Amsterdam was arranged in the residence place of Chairman, Mr Henk with his family so there’s no question of being influenced by the respect and behaviour of him and his wife Mrs Bimala Shrestha. Additionally we also received enough hearty honours as a guest from many Dutch donors and volunteers and this influenced us much. Naturally we were feeling good on returning back after a long stay out of the country, but were also not feeling good on separating with many of our Dutch friends, with whom we stayed very close to our heart, though for only few number of days. With all these sort of experiences we returned back to our country from Schiphol airport through Karachi, Pakistan on February, 2006."
Shyam Bahadur Katwal
(Chairman)
Society for Helpless Children, Dharan
