In the blink of an eye 2022 is almost over and what a year it has been! Many are doing it tough in Australia and Globally, whilst COVID is still a happening we can add the natural and of course manmade disasters that are impacting on every one of us in some shape or form.
It is in these times we try to focus on the positives that are happening and for our little charity there has been many. These positives are the result of a multitude of people who have supported and given us the chance to bring opportunity to many vulnerable groups of children, women and their communities in Nepal.
On your behalf, the team at Umbrella Australia and our partners in Nepal have delivered health & hygiene programs to girls & women working in bonded labour, assisted in accessing education for 249 children working in brick kiln factories and completed a 5-year post earthquake school rebuild in Sindhupalchowk. We have included all the 2022 happenings in this newsletter...plus a few extras.
Next year, we are planning for bigger and better! We hope you will join us on the journey and wish you and your family much joy for Christmas and 2023.
Namaste
The Board & Members
The Umbrella Foundation Australia
Give Back the Smiles
The photographic mission of Sushil Babu Chhettri
For the many people who have been involved or have a relationship with Umbrella, you would have heard of Sushil a talented photographer, filmmaker, social worker, and educator in Nepal who grew up as a homeless child on the streets of Kathmandu. He was intrigued by the foreigners who frequently photographed him on the street, photos whose purpose and whereabouts are unknown to him.
As he entered his teenage years in an orphanage home, he began borrowing cameras from various social workers and volunteers to take photos. These photos were often playful portraits capturing the daily life of the other children in the orphanage. He was struck by the joy the other children had upon seeing their photos, and immediately fell in love with photography.
Later, as this passion turned into a profession, he often thought of those photos taken of himself and his friends back on the street, imagining what their reactions both then and now would be. This was the inspiration behind Give Back The Smilesphotobook.
Over the last twelve years, Sushil has been photographing the daily lives of Nepali people across the country, through earthquakes, floods, and landslides, political turmoil and jubilant festivals, the good times, and the bad. With this photobook, Sushil not only wants to share their stories with the world but also give back a smile to them.
The funds from this book will not only go to supporting him as struggling artist (he lost his studio and the majority of his equipment during COVID) but will go to the printing and travel expenses necessary to distribute books as a surprise gift to each and every person photographed.
Please go to the link below and help contribute to this special project. You will also have the opportunity to purchase this unique photobook from Umbrella Australia.
As Sushil says, "I had the pleasure to photograph in this beautiful and chaotic place. I hope you will join me in this ambitious undertaking"
https://www.gofundme.com/give-back-the-smiles-a-photographic-mission?pc=em_dn_contacts_r&rcid=r01-16708236318-7e36318679df11ed&member=23813103
Shree Bhimsen Secondary School
Post-Earthquake Rebuild
It was exciting times in November where some of the Board & Members of Umbrella Australia had the opportunity to finally hand over the completed school rebuild to the students, teachers and community in Sindhupalchowk.
After 5 years of fundraising and donations the school is complete!
To acknowledge the many donors, schools, community groups and businesses that contributed over this time an acknowledgment plaque was unveiled as a reminder to the students and the community that it takes a village.
We are extremely grateful for the last 5 years as the slow process of fundraising has also allowed us to build a relationship with the school & surrounding community. There are plans to continue this relationship as we hope to complete further programs with the school such as an electric solar system, water harvesting, agricultural programs, student & cultural exchange and the opportunity for scholarships.
We also acknowledge and appreciate our friends and partners in New Zealand, YETI (Youth Education & Training Initiatives Nepal) who have supplied books and educational tools for the library & younger students at the school. YETI is also actively supporting scholarships and further education for some of the students.
On the day of the handover the local press was also onboard to record the happening...enjoy the link below.
https://www.sindhujwala.com/2022/11/03/seeing-the-physical-progress-of-the-school-the-australians-were-moved-to-tears/?fbclid=IwAR1Jh_5rNs_9oCV6ftwhdwjUk7IP5lbS_DQbRTvVYG1koHFEr_jzF3-8gqs
Women of the Kilns Health & Hygiene Support
Our Legs11 Campaign has given us the opportunity to undertake 2 health & hygiene programs in 2022. In April, Linda (Chairperson) & Pramila (trainer) visited a brick kiln factory located in the Kathmandu Valley and delivered a program to 60 women who worked at the kiln. Each girl & woman received dignity packs and the opportunity to discuss many of the health & social issues that confront them on a daily basis.
In October, our Australian visitors also assisted in a program with 2 brick factories located outside Pokhara, Nepal. With the funding we now have a registered nurse (Binita) who assists in checking the maternal health of women & any newborns at the kilns.
In 2023 we plan to expand on this program through our Nepal partners Global Fairness Initiative.
Children of the Kilns Education Program
With the support of our amazing sponsors and Nepal partners, Global Fairness Initiative, 249 children were taken out of labouring in the brick kiln factories and given education in 2022.
We very much cherish the support from our sponsors who donate $20 a month to help these children.
At the moment we desperately need more sponsors onboard as with many developing countries, the ongoing impact of COVID and the current global financial crisis is pressuring informal workers to not send their children to school. This primarily is due to poverty and the need for the children to work with their parents.
Given the opportunity, an education can break down the intergenerational practice of bonded labour & poverty.
To become a sponsor, please go to our web site at:
https://umbrellaaustralia.org/children-of-the-kilns-education
Nepal Discovery Tour 2022
October saw our small group of lovely ladies join us in Nepal where we explored the Kathmandu Valley, relaxed in Pokhara under the mighty Himalaya and experienced the Chitwan jungle...even getting up close to a leopard!
Everyone on board enjoyed this amazing experience, some even planning their next visit to Nepal. Watch this space as we are currently in the process of planning the 2023 Nepal Discovery Tour.
Fundraising
This year we have had some small fundraising events which comprised of our annual garage sale, a private afternoon tea, a movie premier event and of course our November Legs11 Campaign. A huge thank you to the wonderful people who supported these events, our team of hard workers and our sponsors.
Special thanks go to Shannon & Terry Moore, who work hard behind the scenes with their green thumbs. Tamburlaine Wines for giving us the opportunity to share their amazing Hunter Valley Wines and of course Belinda Flannagan & Jennifer Nash the technical wizards who oversee our Legs11 Campaign.
The board & members of The Umbrella Foundation Australia look forward to seeing you next year at one of our events.
Please feel free to contact us if you require any information about our projects or want to be part of our team.
All board and members are volunteers and 100% of all taxable donations goes directly to our programs in Nepal.
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Check out our website: umbrellaaustralia.org
Our mailing address is: info@umbrellaaustralia.org