Operating since 2002, Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children now has a large group of kids who have graduated 12th grade and are making future plans for their careers or have already started attending universities and vocational programs. Our partner NGO provides personal counseling, career counseling and special workshops to help each child determine his/her focus for a career and assist when interpersonal or family problems arise.  It is sometimes a challenge for the children to stay focused due to family pressures and the usual issues of growing up and launching into independent life.

Newer sponsor Jacque Richmond, who sponsors several younger children, Ruplal, Milan and Januki, attended the graduation ceremony and shared her thoughts:  Graduation ceremonies are always an important rite of passage, filled with emotion by students and their parents.  Even more so for Sunday's Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children’s graduation ceremony in Sukedhara Kathmandu, where we celebrated five graduates --Anita, Rukesh, Pawan, Sangeeta, and Pratima -- each of whom has overcome enormous hardships to successfully complete a degree in nursing, hotel management or science. All of them are now out and working and supporting themselves.

Our sponsor trips always include some sightseeing to local World Heritage Sites and temples as part of understanding the cultural heritage of our kids. So here are some impressions from Ralph Caraffa. “2600 year old Pashupatinath Hindu Temple with its accompanying 518 temples and monuments for prayer and preparation and cremation of the dead is a study in contrasts. Many hundreds year old buildings with stone and wood structures ravaged through use, war and earthquake fill 650 acres in the center of Kathmandu surrounded by bustling people packed streets. The Bagmati river—a sacred river to Hindus—runs through the middle.

Every year at our Trivia Night we raise money to provide for special outings for our kids.  So this year we took the 29 kids in the Contact Center to the zoo and had a picnic of guess what? Momos and pizza! Everyone’s favorite. 

There was a mass of children from schools all over Kathmandu on field trips that day. The lines were long getting into the zoo and the place was packed. We ate at the pavilion and played Simon Says with the kids and and shared photos and fun. I cannot believe how many momos such small children can devour! 

This was a day of pampering, healing and rejuvenation from our busy schedule.  Two of our girls, Ishowri  and Laxmi, have completed beauty school and the women in our group received a spa day from them. It began with a facial, proceeded to a manicure and hand massage.  

Dinner with the sponsors and the kids who are currently in 11th and 12th grade was at Zen Bistro in Maharajganj. It was lively and full of conversation and laughter. It is so great to see them growing up! They are all in school taking classes towards their careers, working part-time and or in apprenticeships in hotel management and even barrista training. 

Our NGO partner staff work hard to make sure the kids are learning responsibility and getting out into the world to learn needed life skills. In Nepal children need to focus on their future career path in 10th grade which is early compared to American children s. The Nepal school system requires children to choose an area of study before entering 11th grade. 

Today was Contact Center day which means the youngest children - about four to seven - who have applied and been accepted as needing support for education or who have been found by staff and invited to apply. The children spend one to two years preparing to join a second or third grade class. They learn English, Nepali, math skills and hygiene - all they need for school readiness in a Montessori-style program six days a week. 

Twenty-nine happy, playing kids sounded like sixty - our ears are still ringing!  Three pairs of children performed traditional Nepali dances for us.  At least one of these will be posted on the website when we return, and it is well worth waiting for.  It’s hard to believe such young ones danced so beautifully.  Then all of the kids danced and sang (yelled, really) another fun tune.

Friday was the last full day spent in the resort town of Pokhara. After breakfast we visited the local Buddhist monastery. We observed the monks in prayer at the beginning of creating a Mandala. It was enchanting to watch them work with bells, candles, and hand gestures while chanting in deep voice. It was a special place that touched all of us. We lit butter candles in honor of our lost loved ones.

We then ventured to the nearby Tibetan camp where beautiful handcrafted Tibetan rugs are made. These rugs are unbelievable works created by true artisans and fair trade items too.

After leaving the resort town of Pokhara, we hiked up 1,200 ft elevation of rocky steps with gorgeous views. Our short trek left a real impression on our travelers. Here Is what they have to say!

Nancy Williger shared her experience.  ”Leaving from Pokhara we exited the van at the small village of Kande. Then one step at a time, we started up the hill.  The path was rocky and much of it consisted of rock steps built into the hill.  Huffing and puffing, we finally arrived at Australian Camp where we spent the night. It was a collection of small motel-looking hotels and a couple fields of tents.  This is the take-off camp for those trekking to Annapurna Base Camp.  No matter how remote, there was still time to shop for Tibetan jewelry. We found a couple of locals selling their wares.