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WALDORF EDUCATION AS TRAUMA THERAPY
FOR EARTHQUAKE CHILDREN
Not more than 9 km out of Kathmandu lies the District of
Sindhupalchowk nestled in stunningly beautiful steep green valleys
through which sparkling rivers cascade down from the distant mighty
Himalayan mountains. In such a beautiful environment, many Nepali
families lead a rural existence tending the goats and buffalo,
nurturing rice in the paddies and generally leading a hard, but
healthy life surrounded by family, friends and traditional
cultures.
This beautiful environment was quickly turned into an area of
devastation and death following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on
that fateful day of April 25th, 2015. The quake was followed by
tremendous landslides which swept down into the heavily populated
valleys.
Three thousand, six hundred and fifty-six (3656) Sindhupalchowk
men, women and children lost their lives that day. Houses, small
shops, farms and rural businesses were destroyed, along with
government administrative buildings and schools.
Before After
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Understandably, such devastation warranted immediate emergency
help and relief aid. Thousands of people were left severely
traumatized, not least the children.
In Kathmandu, there was significant destruction of historical
buildings, plus structural damage to many homes, businesses and
schools. Tashi Waldorf School in the Chakrapath area of Kathmandu
was also affected, with cracks being visible in the main (rented)
school building which was assessed by a structural engineer as
being unsafe for occupation. Thus a huge tarpaulin tent was
constructed in the playground for the kindergartens and other
classes.
Despite this enormous setback close to the beginning of the new
school year that was due to commence in early May, teachers rallied
together and decided that they should do something to help the
hundreds of children in Sindhupalchowk who were traumatized by
their recent experiences. At Shanti Sewa Griha, in the area of
Tilganga (Kathmandu), a team from Friends of Rudolf Steiner
Education (Germany) were running a camp specifically aimed at
training volunteers to interact with traumatised children.
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Tashi teachers, together with others from the Shanti Sewa
(Kathmandu) and Maitreya Pathshala (Pokhara) Waldorf Inspired
schools, attended this training for 2 days, until a second quake
brought the sessions to an abrupt close. Nevertheless, inspired by
the workshops and already well familiar with the valuable artistic
elements of Steiner-Waldorf education, the Tashi and Maitreya
teachers joined forces and set out determined to help wherever
possible, running workshops for children at various venues around
Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Later, after making the necessary arrangements with parents and
authorities, 35 traumatized children from devastated Sindhupalchowk
started their new school year at the Tashi Waldorf school, 25 of
whom make upalong with 4 other childrenthe new Class One! They have
no actual classroom, but manage to operate under the shelter of the
car-port, from where they can make a quick and safe escape if a
further quake were to occur.
So thirty-five delightful children are now benefiting from what
Steiner-Waldorf education has to offer. Being a private school,
fees obviously apply. Education does not come cheap, even in Nepal!
But the Nepali rupee 5000 monthly full-fee, covers every aspect of
a childs education, including teacher salaries, school materials
and three meals! Breakfast, snack and lunch!!
But for the 35 Sindhupalchowk children, this is all free !!
And as the remainder of the nearly 100 students at Tashi come
from economically deprived families, many of their families pay
nothing or very little, such as NRs300 per month (a big discount on
the needed NRs5000 !!).
Thanks to supporters, SOCIAL ENDEAVOURS NEPAL, an initial
donation of NRs10,000 was made during a recent visit by myself and
assistant, Shanti Bosman (nee Khatri) to the school. Shanti had
been an assistant teacher there during 2014.
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Shanta handing over your gift
The needs financial and otherwise, of the Tashi Waldorf School,
are great, if not enormous!
Many people have, I am sure, procrastinated about making
donations for the relief of Nepals earthquake victims because of
concern for the misappropriation of donated funds or the
subsidising of six-figure salaries of the CEOs of some of the most
well known international charities. By making a donation to the
Tashi Waldorf School, donors can be assured that 100% goes to the
benefit of the children and the school in general.
We thank you for your timely and generous support of the Tashi
Waldorf School.
Social Endeavours Nepal (Eric Fairman)
REQUEST TO OUR WELLWISHERS:
It has been noticed in Kathmandu that all money sent by generous
people/organization around the world to help Nepal will go direct
to THE PRIME MINISTERS NATURAL CALAMITY FUND if the earthquake is
mentioned anywhere while sending the money.
If your donations go to that fund we will never know how and
when the fund will be utilized.
Therefore, we would like to request you not to mention any word
like earthquake anywhere in the form while sending your support to
us OR you can deposit your support to the following:
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RSF Social Finance: Please write in the memo portion of the
cheque: Children of Nepal 1002A OReilly Ave. San Francisco, CA
94129-1101 USA Tel: 415.561.3900, 1.888.RSF.3737 Email:
[email protected] RSF Social Finance also accepts donations
made via other means, including credit cards. For more information,
please visit their website:
www.rsfsocialfinance.org/donate-now/
Freunde der Erziehungskunst Rudolf Steiner e.V. Please write in
the memo portion of the cheque: Children of Nepal Project # 4405
Weinmeisterstr. 16 Berlin, D-10178, Germany Tel: 030 61 70 26 30,
Email: [email protected]
International Hulpfonds Please write in the memo portion of the
cheque: Children of Nepal Herengracht 276, 1016BX, Amsterdam, THE
NETHERLANDS Tel: 020- 6274856 Email:
[email protected]
Waldorf School Association of Ontario Please write in the memo
portion of the cheque: Children of Nepal 9100 Bathurst Street, No.
2 Thornhill, Ontario, L4J 8C7, Canada Tel: 905 889 2066 Email:
[email protected]
Prometheus Ethical Finance Please write Children of Nepal
Account#4144 in the memo. P.O. Box 969 Napier, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone 06.835.7138 Fax 06-8351628 Email:
[email protected]
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Social Endeavours Nepal. Donation can also be directed to our
PayPal account via [email protected] (please double
check spelling of email address!!!). Label donation as Tashi WS
THANK YOU !!
Tashi Waldorf School
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