26 Mar How are you doing?
I am writing from Wimbledon in South London, where I have set up my new Child Rescue Nepal home office. It has certainly been a very strange week, but myself and Jo have been pushing on to support our staff and children in Nepal as much as we can.
On Tuesday (one day after the UK), the Nepali government took the difficult decision to put the country into lock-down for a week to prevent the spread of the virus. We are very reassured to see the government taking these big decisions to ensure safety. However this brings its own challenges as even food shops have temporarily closed.
Children in our care homes are in good health and continue to be cared for by their dedicated house parents, who are keeping them occupied with studies and recreational activities. Unfortunately we are not able to undertake any new rescues until the lock-down situation changes.
With schools closed, we have had to put our education projects on hold. However, we are thankful that so many have already benefited from interventions this year, such as our hygiene workshops. Effective hand-washing is more important than ever, and thanks to our staff, thousands of children in rural schools were taught to do so properly before the outbreak. We hope that this will keep them safe in the weeks to come.
Earlier today we received this video message from our Country Director in Nepal, Jamuna Shrestha.
For those who can maintain or even increase their support, we are DEEPLY GRATEFUL. We don’t know what the future holds and it is possible that, similar to what happened after the earthquake in 2015, Nepal will see an increase in child trafficking when the country is at its most vulnerable. Our commitment to help the most vulnerable children in Nepal remains undeterred.
Keeping occupied
Meanwhile, here’s what I’ve been doing during my spare time, and some links that you might enjoy:-
Creativity is a great way to relax and express your feelings in a different way. Personally, I like the simplicity of colouring, but these art courses also look like a good way to learn some new skills.
I’ve also been looking at some Learning so I can have some routine on the weekends. Getting stuck into some new topics has been a welcome distraction, especially as Amnesty International has opened its Learning Academy containing hundreds of free human rights courses.
I don’t know about you, but I’m finding it quite hard to focus on Reading at the moment. Luckily, Audible have opened up a variety of books (including literary classics) to listen to for free. I also enjoyed this photo essay on the Guardian website that shows beautiful empty scenes from around the UK.
And last but not least, have a look at this lovely webcam of birds feeding on fruit in Panama. Even if there aren’t any birds visiting whilst you’re watching, Jo and I have found the background noise of the forest very comforting!
And finally…..don’t forget we are here for you
Let me end by reminding you once again that Jo and I are here for you. If you wish to talk or to connect with someone at this time, please leave a message at 0207 183 0353 or email info@childrescuenepal.org.
Keep safe and keep positive.
Alicia Jauffret
Fundraising Officer