I had the opportunity to stay at Setu Nepal during 5 weeks. I met beautiful people and had the chance to follow Ranju, the director, in her different meetings.
The first day, I could be witness of an important meeting between Laxmi and her mother. It was a great moment to discover Setu Nepal through this appointment, because its goal is to connect relatives. Even if it was difficult for the little girl at the beginning, the relationship between Laxmi and her mother starts step by step and they create a link thanks to people taking care of themselves at Setu Nepal or at Asha Nepal.
The second day, I could accompany children at hospital for check-up. Once again, I discovered another world, how a hospital in Nepal is managed, how people are taken care by doctor and how they live together. I was surprised by the lack of privacy and too see so many people sharing the same room. But their relatives take care of them, families are involved and children are not alone.
The fourth day, It was my first visit in the field to meet women who are infected by HIV and who followed the training fourth session. It was interested to cross the Kathmandu hills and to discover another place where people were waiting for us. I was very humble face to those women whose life is rough and very impressed by their courage, their need to be involved in their children’s education and their strength to go ahead with what they learned during the training session.
During my last week at Setu, I could follow Ranju for a training program (meditation) in jail in Birganj. The way was long to reach the Indian’s border, but it was a pleasure to share those moments with Ranju. I learned a lot about prison, the life in prison, what Setu Nepal does for women to connect them with their family and I could visit the different women parts inside the prison (rooms, toilet, washing place, shop). I received a wonderful gift from them which touched me deeply, it’s a fan made by them to be sold at the market. I was surprised to see them smiling, enjoying this meditation moment, being quiet and having fun during the exercises. When I visited the different parts, I saw the children of those women, the conditions are bad and it’s not a place for children. Despite of that, they were smiling and said “Namaste” with their heart.
After women, I could enter in the men parts, they were 1100 people. The place is big, but they have to share the same room. They were around 300 to 500 people listening to the training program. I was so impressed to see them sitting in front of us, no one was speaking, they were very calm, respectful and participating to the exercises. I felt well with them.
I’m really thankful to Ranju to have organized all those meetings and to have bring me with her in each displacement to give me the opportunity to see what she does.
She’s a very hearted person who works first for others, who thinks about their problem and always tries to find the best solution for them, she has many ideas, she’s very creative and her goal is people before business. It was a pleasure to meet her and to speak with her, I learned a lot about her experience, about life in Nepal and how women can be treated.
I spent the other days at Setu Nepal with the children, they are the sun shine, always smiling, playing, and having fun. They take care of each other, they are happy whatever they do and welcome each new activities with pleasure.
As Setu Nepal received furniture from a hotel which has to be renovated, I could help Balkumari to clean the carpet and to create 2 new rooms. It’s also very grateful to be involved in this kind of activities, because I know it’s to increase the actual place and to welcome more people inside of the organization.
I want to Thanks Balkumari and Roma (the 2 staff people) who welcomed me at Setu Nepal, who showed me their job and who were so nice, friendly, kind with me.
Of Course thanks to the children for their smiles, for running at the door to open it when I arrive, to give me so many reasons to want to stay in Nepal and to keep in touch with them.
Thanks to Ranju for having give me the opportunity to see many different things, to discover the country and a face of the world.
I will keep all this memories in my heart.
THANKS
