The women’s empowerment program has formed seven new women’s savings and credit groups. Of these groups, VIN selected three to join the Income Generation Program (IGP). VIN facilitated five days of training workshops for the presidents and secretaries of new groups.

The trainings covered accounting, how to facilitate meetings, how to write the minutes of the meetings, and how to manage group dynamics. VIN enjoyed full participation from the new group members, who found the trainings to be very helpful. The participants will then be better prepared to run their group meetings.

The Women’s Empowerment Program also organized several workshops for the new IGP groups on raising goats and growing vegetables. The existing IGP groups have found raising goats and vegetable farming to be the most profitable activities for bringing extra income into their groups. Again, all of the women from the groups attended the trainings.

 

For existing groups, VIN facilitated refresher trainings on raising goats. The participating groups found the information to be very helpful, since their last training was over two years ago, when the groups were formed.  

In addition, Lauren Serrano, a VIN volunteer from the US, and VIN local volunteers conducted an economic status survey of new women’s groups. The volunteers recorded the income and expenditures of the groups, in order to teach them how to decrease their unnecessary expenses and save the money.   

VIN has been working since the beginning of the year to make Jitpur a stool-free community by 2012. VIN estimates that about 70 -80% of the estimated 600 households in Jitpur do not have toilets. VIN has organized a pilot group of 16 families who will receive funding, training and support for using local materials to construct toilets in their households. The pilot program has been running since the beginning of the year and this quarter, all sixteen families have gathered the necessary materials for toilet construction and have created plans to finish them in a month.  After the pilot program is completed, VIN will be able to expand the program to the greater community.  

 

Also in the health program, Marwa Saleh, a volunteer from Lebannon, observed the communities of Chogaun, Gairigaun and Dadagaun for three days and gave recommendations and training on personal and community sanitation, as well as toothbrushing. She did a similar training in the Marti Nepal Orphanage, in which 25 children participated. She distributed toothbrushes to all of the participants of her trainings.  

 In July, Susan Greenwald, an International Volunteer from the US, conducted several trainings on basic internet skills, one for the United Children’s Club (UCC), Teachers, Youth and staff. She taught participants how to use email and how to open accounts, how to use Skype, how to use useful sites in the internet such as youtube, Google, Gmail, yahoo, blogger, glogster and facebook.

 

From the UCC, a total of 13 students participated in the training and learned a lot. The problem is that there are not a lot of resources for them to practice with because schools have computers but not the internet. Susan, facilitated a similar training for the VIN staff, which was more helpful, because the VIN office has the internet for staff members to use their skills in their daily work.   

   This quarter, VIN donated musical instruments to the Children’s Club. The Children’s Club acts as a positive environment for kids to be creative and explore their skills. Having access to the most basic musical instruments and equipment gives children an additional outlet for expressing themselves. VIN donated a set of music system.

 In response to feedback from international volunteers working in the EDC center, VIN program manager, ECD facilitators and other international volunteers met several times throughout the quarter to improve the English language curriculum at the ECD center. This is a project that upcoming volunteers will follow-up on, in order to also improve and draft curriculums for other subjects.

 

In addition, VIN has been working with three orphanages, the Lotus Children’s Home, in Balaju, Disabled Helpless Service Association, Balaju and Matri Nepal orphanage, in Jitpur VDC-8. VIN has supported the development of education, funding, food and additional materials, such as games and learning aides. Recently, VIN supported a flooring improvement project in the Matri Nepal orphanage, electrification and helped install carpet in one of the study rooms. VIN has been also mobilizing international volunteers for children's English language development and to support educational and creative activities. 

  VIN believes strongly in empowering the youth in Jitpur to get involved in their community and learn important life skills through a positive social network. VIN helped form a youth club, with young people from all nine wards of the Jitpur VDC. In August, the Youth Club organized a blood drive, with support from VIN and the Nepal Red Cross Society.. A total of 37 community members donated blood for the drive. The Youth Club plans to organize a blood drive, as well as other projects for bettering the community, every year.

 

For summer quarter VIN also donated sports equipment to the youth club. Staying active and healthy is an important aspect of development for young people, especially after high school, when many youth are trying to find a life direction.

  Here are some of our upcoming and ongoing projects:

 

Women’s Empowerment- We hope to further discuss and organize a sharing cooperative among women in Jitpur and further develop their participation in micro-credit programs, farming and literacy training.  We are continuing to work with women’s groups to conduct workshops in hygiene and work toward constructing toilets throughout the Jitpur community.

 

Education- We are working with local and international volunteers to conduct educational programs in the English language, health and hygiene. VIN is also are working on attaining sponsorship for about 200 students to help them attain a quality education.

 

Children’s Clubs – VIN wants to launch a second magazine publication showcasing children’s literary work with increased participation from children’s clubs and the community.  We want the clubs to encourage a competitive and independent character among students.

 

Teacher Development – VIN will be hosting training sessions for primary school teachers in early childhood development and a range of teaching methods.

 

Youth Development- VIN will work with the youth club to organize future community development projects in Jitpur.  We plan to mobilize more young people through our local volunteer program  to help them develop career-related and life skills.

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to read about our latest activities.

 

VIN aims to sponsor over 200 children's education by the end of this year. Please forward this email to the possible sponsors. VIN really appreciates your support.

 

We look forward to hearing from you soon.  

 

Kind regards,

Bhupendra Ghimire (Mr)

Executive Director

Volunteers Initiative Nepal

Kumari Marga, Balaju, Kathmandu, Nepal

Phone N +977 (1) 4362560 / Mobile: +977 -98510-70477

www.volunteeringnepal.org

 

Watch Our Videos  http://www.volunteeringnepal.org/vinvideo.php

 

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