Hello from the Himalayas!
I would like to write so much of what is happening here these days, to transfer all these life enhancing experiences to you all, but at the same time, my devotion to help those people, my temptation to have an insight of their lives does not allow me to spend too many hours on my computer typing.
Things have seriously changed in Dhawa since the last time I was here. And when I say change, I mean change for better. The school has now state-of-the-art facilities for remote Nepali standards and the whole community makes the best out of these facilities too. The new school at Balimtar is soon finishing construction and it looks amazing not only for Nepali standards but comparing to any ECD school in the world. It will be powered by a small hydro-power plant; at the moment we are still taking water flow measurements to evaluate the energy yield from the water stream. With the tireless input of Matthew Bowman (engineers without borders) we are building Dhawa.net, a wi-max network that will enable 14 schools in the region, plus everyone between them, to have, cheap, stable and uninteruptible internet and telecoms access. We have even equiped the local health post with a solar panel (and everything that comes with it), a computer, internet and a telemedicine software licensed by Harvard University, to assist the doctor in diagnosis and in his/her approach to cure.
I would like to write so much of what is happening here these days, to transfer all these life enhancing experiences to you all, but at the same time, my devotion to help those people, my temptation to have an insight of their lives does not allow me to spend too many hours on my computer typing.
Things have seriously changed in Dhawa since the last time I was here. And when I say change, I mean change for better. The school has now state-of-the-art facilities for remote Nepali standards and the whole community makes the best out of these facilities too. The new school at Balimtar is soon finishing construction and it looks amazing not only for Nepali standards but comparing to any ECD school in the world. It will be powered by a small hydro-power plant; at the moment we are still taking water flow measurements to evaluate the energy yield from the water stream. With the tireless input of Matthew Bowman (engineers without borders) we are building Dhawa.net, a wi-max network that will enable 14 schools in the region, plus everyone between them, to have, cheap, stable and uninteruptible internet and telecoms access. We have even equiped the local health post with a solar panel (and everything that comes with it), a computer, internet and a telemedicine software licensed by Harvard University, to assist the doctor in diagnosis and in his/her approach to cure.
The most encouraging of all is the people who are benefited from our work. Especially the young, they are so much worth our efforts and hard work. They so much deserve to have free access to the right, stimulating environments in order to learn new things, to discover, to express themselves and their talents.
Last but not least, I am extremely thrilled to be back in the mighty Himalayas, the greatest mountain range on earth! The scenery here is simply breath-taking, day and night. We have a 8000m peak (Manaslu) on clear view for our daily background. You can get a glimpse of all the above at the following captions..
Enjoy viewing!
Tashi Delek!
Nektarios
Nektarios
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| On the bus to Dhawa, dazed and dizzy |
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| Entrance to Balimtar village |
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| Over the clouds |
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| Shree Prabhat upper secondary school |
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| Please enter shoes-less |
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| New computer room |
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| Skyping session with son abroad |
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| Namaste class 3! |
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| Outdoor class by Manaslu peak |
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| Outdoor class by Ganesh Himal peak |
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| Learning Planet's new ECD school at Balimtar |
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| Designed by Architecture for Humanity |
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| Varnished bamboo |
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| Down to the river |
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| Pico-hydro power flow measurements |
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| Tree of life |
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| Telecoms and internet node |
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| Testing Village Telco |
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| Installing node at health post with Matt |
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| Learning Planet workers skyping with Justin |
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| Over the clouds again |
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| Sunseting at the mighty Himalayas |
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| Local villa |
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| Dal bhaat power 24 hour |
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| Indigenous woman |
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| Didi |
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| Sujita and her naturally made ear rings |
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| Out in the fields |
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| Always smiley Mandira |
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| Crazy Santosh |
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| Sleek |
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| Dhawa boys |
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| Babu and the clan |
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| Breakfast time |
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| Hand made haze rugs |
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| Ramati school |
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| Engaging the community in what is coming |
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| With Giri Raj |
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| Tree of another life |
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| Contemplating... |
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| High and above |
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| Plato at Ramati school walls |