We’ve been there
“We’ve been there”, is practically a clichè for
But this time, being there was not a clichè for us.
Last year we joined one of the distance support projects of ASIA and became “sponsor” to a little girl who attends the Manasorovar Educational Foundation in Boudhanath on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Last August we spent a few days of our holiday in Kathmandu which gave us a good opportunity to visit the school.
After the initial enthusiasm of the idea, a thousand doubts set in about whether or not there would be an opportunity for a visit. However, after we had exchanged some useful e-mails with Karma, the Director of the school who swept away our uncertainties, on Sunday August 6th at 9 o’clock in the morning we were in a taxi heading towards Boudhanath. Actually it was not easy to find the school, but with the help of Karma, our mobile phone and the patient taxi-driver, we reached our destination.
Karma greeted us with a smile and we met the little girl with Karma helping us to overcome the embarrasment of a very special meeting. After a cup of tea and with the help of a world map – we hadn’t looked at one since we were at primary school –
we showed the child where Italy was and the atmosphere started
to warm up.
While we were visiting the school Karma showed us the teaching programmes that the various classes were following. We were very struck by the fact that the children were learning three languages: Nepalese in order to live in their host country, English to live in the world to come and Tibetan not to forget their roots.
The bell rang! It was the break and all the children were in the school hall with their teachers. All together from the smallest to the biggest, all in their school uniforms and all of them watching us with curiosity and certainly less embarassment than us.
The bell rang again and everyone went back to class and we continued on our tour of the kitchens. We went up to the first floor where the students of the higher classes were as well as the library and the computer room. Before we left Karma told us about some of the everyday problems of the school but also about the satisfaction that her students give her. Then she spoke to us about the future of the school: it will shortly move to a new building that is bigger and more functional with plenty of space for the children and their teaching activities. Another cup of tea and then we said goodbye.
“We’ve been there”, we’ve been there because we wanted to. We’ve also been there for all those who, when you mention charity, NGOs, emergency, projects for the needy, turn away or, worse still, clear their conscience with but who knows where the money ends up?Our help ends up in Boudhanath, ends up in Dongche, ends up in Shala, wherever it is needed.
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” Agnes Gonxha Bejaxhiu (Mother Teresa of Calcutta)
Maria Rosaria Graglia e Francesco Baderna
