Michelle's Update from Nepal | iwencanada.com

My Dearest Friends and Supporters

This note is just to follow-up on several requests I have made over the past year. The purpose is to let you know that whatever funds you have donated to IWEN, the words of encouragement you have sent me or passing on the message to your friends HAS HAD a POSITIVE EFFECT.

From Sam Cycles for IWEN in 2011 across Canada and Kevin Edgecombe's Brick Campaign and the IWEN sponsorship drive.... all these efforts have resulted in the following:

*1. 2 classrooms completed with 9 Canadian Volunteers who worked side by side with local Tharu men and women. 151 of IWEN's mother's volunteered their labor for days on end to help with the build. Such a volunteering feat has never been seen stated the School Principle. 21 women and 14 men attended a school planning workshop to make a 5-yr. plan to develop the school. Both the Principle and the School Management Committee President plus a few teachers were at the work site daily helping the volunteers.

2. 7 IWEN students wrote their Grade 10 Secondary Leaving Certificate Exams

3. 5 IWEN mother's groups served traditional Nepali lunches daily to the Canadian volunteers. These delicious meals were served on hand made leaf plates.

4. 7 possible new sponsors resulted from my Sponsorship Drive letters

5. During the build many courageous stories evolved from the IWEN Mother's Groups, students and even the Canadian volunteers themselves. Two are noteworthy.

a. one of our IWEN students who was suffering from a throat problem was given money for an operation. This was an unbelievable event for the parents

b. a grade 10 graduate who is passionate about being a nurse will be able to attend nursing school this year, a dream beyond her wildest hopes. Three generous volunteers will assume the scholarship funds for this worthy young Tharu woman. Such an opportunity is unheard of in this Tharu community and she will return to this community to practice nursing.

So all in all whatever you may have done to help in the past year I wanted to let you know the effect your generosity financially, emotionally and/or spiritually has made. It is always good to know that one's funds and support are not wasted and put to effective use. Thank you is a small word but today as I sit in a steamy hot Kathmandu office after a week in ever a more hotter Dang I wish you all to know YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE across the world in a small Tharu village in Dang, Nepal.

love and deep appreciation to each of you.... michelle