video!

Here is a video of photos/vid clips of our first two months training made by our IT volunteer Rex, hope you enjoy!

http://rex-files.ca/2009/01/30/looking-back/

Youth Action Nepal (YOAC)

My two months of training are now over, and work has begun. I am working in an NGO called Youth Action Nepal which is a youth-led youth-focused organisation seeking to empower young people and make them aware of their rights. It was established by 9 university students in 2003 intending to address urgent social and human rights issues and now has a total of 22 staff working in 5 districts of Nepal. There are 17 staff based in Kathmandu, all of whom are between 20-30yrs old. Project Areas include:

1. Youth and Politics

2. Peace, Justice and Development

3. Human Rights and democracy

4. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

5.HIV and AIDS

6. Migration and Rights of Migrant Workers

7. Gender and Inclusion

8. Hunger

They lobby the Government, run campaigns, events and awareness programmes, training and workshops. With a recent and dramatic change in government, a new constitution is currently being drafted. YOAC are advocating on behalf of young people for the government to implement a National Youth Policy recognising the rights and value of young people in Nepal’s changing society. Visit www.youthaction.org.np for more information.

They are such an incredible group of passionate people, I am so impressed with the work they are doing . Listening to them talk, they are so fired up and full of new ideas for moving society forward, I wonder whether I will be able to live up to their expectations of me. Here’s what they would like me to work on:

Ÿ Fundraising

Ÿ Proposal writing

Ÿ Editing/proof readings reports and newsletters

Ÿ Writing press releases

Ÿ Project management

Ÿ Teaching English: As there are power cuts for nearly the whole day, YOAC are trying to usethe hours without electricity productively, and this is one way! I am starting to really appreciate the struggles people are facing, and how organizations and industry are suffering with the power shortage.

Ÿ Researching National Youth Volunteering: This is the main reason VSO placed me in Nepal. They would like me to research and write a report on the potential for national youth volunteering here. I will be interviewing current volunteers and heads of youth organizations across the country to see whether/how VSO can support them in expanding their work. VSON believe it is time for change in Nepal, and youth are the people to make it happen.

So as you can see…HIGH expectations!

Starting a new job is always a little nerve wracking, but in a new country in the midst of social change and with a different language, I am feeling slightly overwhelmed to say the least!! Wish me luck!

The above anxieties are probably compounded by the fact that I am still living out of my suitcase, as YOAC has had no luck finding me a house. The area they are searching in is near the office, good in some ways but bad in others. If close to work it will at least reduce the risk of getting run over on the walk in (!), yet may mean not getting time off and being unable to access other volunteers. I really shouldn’t begrudge staying in the guest house for a while longer though because at least here I have power, hot water and internet access, whereas in my home I will have none of these, and will be back to being at home by 8pm! In fact, I fear I will be a little lonely when I leave, though will just have to find other things to keep me occupied - writing poems, short stories, cooking by candlelight perhaps?! Oh how romantic that sounds, but will wear thin pretty quickly I imagine.

Ah dear, writing this is really making me miss home. Some days I feel strong and glad I’m here, other days I wonder what on earth I’m doing!!

A perfect example of the ‘what-on-earth-am-doing’ feeling…

Yesterday I was asked to attend Friends of Youth Action’s AGM, as I will be working closely with them in the year ahead and they were voting in their new committee. When I arrived I was told that I would be giving a speech on how I can help FOYA in the year ahead. With no prior warning and having only read about FOYA 2 days before, I hurriedly tried to come up with something, Whilst trying to do so, I was told that the Annual Report I was given to read through on Friday is due on Tuesday and I would need to have edited all 36 pages by then ,along with writing a summary of YOAC’s achievements in 2008. How on earth can I write that for them when I’ve only worked there for 6 days!

I managed to wing my way through the speech with as much Nepali as I could muster, and it seemed to do the trick. After the meeting I breathed a sigh of relief, and tried to scurry away to reclaim the last few hours of my weekend. No such luck, I was asked to attend the new committee’s first meeting where together we would draw up an action plan for the year ahead. Bonkers. I feel like I’m just winging it at the minute. Nearly cracked on the way home, just felt so exhausted having had no time to catch my breath over the weekend. I feel like I am constantly being put on the spot in work and being asked to do too much too soon. On the opposite side though, I should be grateful I am being given the opportunity to get so involved. The more challenges I overcome the easier things will get. I remind them that I am only contracted to work 5-days a week, and also that my job role is not to do their jobs for them but to act as an advisor. I will ask VSO to clarify both these things with them, if not I fear I will go doolally!

Apologies for the above rant! Just to reassure you that things on the whole are going well, I have been made to feel very welcome by everyone I have met so far and am feeling positive to have been placed with such a proactive group of people.

Hope things are a going well at home. Wrap up warm! H x

Found a house, lost a house!!

Was sooo excited yesterday, as found an amazing flat in a great location, and would be sharing the same building with friends. Went to sign the contract this morning, and someone else has taken it, as happens all the time over here! Grrrr, back searching again!

Recipes

Simple to make, great to taste!!

The vegetables in these recipes can all be changed according to taste, as can the seasoning. If feeling a little saucy, why not add some spice?! You can use as much of each ingredient as you fancy, except tomatoes – use lots of those! Good luck, Have fun!

Upma

Ingredients:
Oil
Suji (can use cous cous if prefer)
Onion
Green or red chilli peppers
Carrots
Potato
ginger
Coriander/coconut
Cumin seeds
Mustard seeds
Tumeric

Method:
1) Dry-fry the Suji in a Wok for 15 minutes. After frying, empty into a bowl and leave to one side.
2) Heat up some oil and add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds and turmeric. Stir and leave for a few minutes before adding the ginger, onion, and chilli pepper. Add 2 cups of water.
3) Once boiling, add the carrots and potatoes (or any veggies you fancy really!)
4) When the carrots and potatoes are cooked, stir in the suji. Keep stirring until all the water has been soaked up.
5) Sprinkle with coconut gratings or chopped coriander, serve….
6) Eat!!!




Achaar

Ingredients:
Oil
Ginger
Garlic
Chilli peppers
Onion
Peas
Carrot
Cumin powder
Salt
Tomatoes
Coriander

Method:
1) Take half of the garlic and ginger, blend into a paste and leave to one side.
2) Fry the remaining ginger and garlic along with the chilli pepper.
3) Add onion, peas and carrots
4) Cook through, add the cumin powder and salt, stir
5) Add the tomatoes, do not stir. Cook for 10 mins, then stir and squash the tomatoes!
6) Add the garlic and ginger paste.
7) Once all ingredients are cooked through, add the coriander and serve…
8) EAT!!!


Paneer and Mushroom Curry

Ingredients:
Oil
Paneer
Garlic
Ginger
Onions
Mushrooms
Peas
Carrots
Tomatoes
Tumeric
Salt
Cumin powder

Method:
1) Take half of the garlic and ginger, blend into a paste and leave to one side.
2) Deep fry the paneer in a wok, turning regularly until golden brown. Spoon out onto a paper napkin and leave to one side.
3) Remove some of the oil into a mug, until only a small amount is remaining in the wok
4) Fry the remaining garlic, ginger and onions. Cook until the onions have softened
5) Add the mushrooms and cook for 15 mins until they are golden brown, and until their juice has evaporated.
6) Add the peas, carrots and salt, stir
7) Add tomatoes, don’t stir. Put lid on and leave for 5 mins then stir and squish!
8) Add the paneer, cumin powder, and water. Make as thick as you like.
9) Add the garlic and ginger paste…stir….serve….
10) ….EAT!!!


Broccoli Tarkaari

Ingredients:
Oil
Potatoes
Brocolli
Tomatoes
Tumeric
Garlic
Ginger
Cumin powder

Method:
1) Fry the potatoes
2) Add turmeric and broccoli, stir
3) Add a small amount of water to steam, cover, stir occasionally until the vegetables are cooked
4) Add tomatoes, don’t stir! Put lid on for 2 minutes.
5) Stir and squish!
6) Add garlic, ginger and cumin powder. Serve…
7) EAT!!!


Dhaal

Ingredients:
Lentils
Turmeric
Salt

Methods:
1) Soak the lentils for 5-10 mins
2) Drain, put into a pressure cooker, cover with water so that the water is 2 inches above the lentils.
3) Add salt and turmeric. Put lid on and cook until the whistle goes off.
4) Release the pressure every few minutes until no more steam comes out. You can place the pressure cooker in cold water to speed this up.
5) Take lid off and stir, serve…
6) EAT!!!

Serve all the above with naan, rice, roti, or….all 3!

on a lighter note....

Today I learnt how to cook traditional Nepali dishes, tomorrow I will tell you how to cook them too!!!mmmm, mmm!

Pashupatinaath (This entry includes a description of a public cremation)

Pashupatinaath is Nepal’s most important Hindu Temple. Many Hindu people request to be brought here in their dying days, as they believe ending their life here will secure them a place in heaven. A huge residential building looks out over the Holy Bagmati River, and it is outside of here that the bodies are cremated.

First shrouded with marigolds, they are then placed on wooden plinths at the side of the river, covered in hay, and set alight. This is the responsibility of the eldest son, another reason why giving birth to a son is so important. The fire is stoked until all that remains is a pile of black ash which is then swept up and swashed away into the water below. Body on, body burnt, ashes brushed away – The cycle repeats, making me contemplate our mortality and the reality of how temporary we are. Looking up and down the river I see children playing in the polluted water, men washing their naked bodies and people even drinking it. The river is awash with man-made remains and remains of man, yet no matter how dirty the water is, for them it is still holy.

It is hard to pinpoint just how I feel. Before today, cremating someone in public had seemed so disrespectful. Yet the surroundings of Pashupathi are peaceful, and the air holds an unspoken respect and love for those who have died here. Saying that, I can’t help but feel like an intruder as the temple holds no connections or deep-rooted religious meaning to me. I am watching the funeral of someone’s else’s loved one and am troubled by tourists who act with insensitivity and disregard; taking their photos in front of the burning pyres and watching on whilst greedily munching their food, as if popcorn at the movies.