Our school college building in Gyaltham village Sinhulpalchock is almost complete – some electrical wiring and handles for doors and windows and then it will be is use as the next term starts after the upcoming elections. We are feeling thankful that this initiative which has been training local village workers how to build using compressed earth bricks and bamboo in earthquake resilient method under the guidance of ABARI eco building team is now showing benefits. We have this lovely school building as well the village workers are truly understanding that this technology is a safe and cheaper way to build their own homes. We have another school building project that will begin in 2018 in another village that we hope will continue to inspire and teach local communities in this earthquake affected District to rebuild safely. Meanwhile we continue to various support schools in the Sindhulpalchok District with education materials and school sweaters and shoes.

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Our Annapurna Children home has continued to evolve and grow these past years. Our children are also growing! So we are currently underway with building a new room specifically to be 'home' to our boys, so that they have a comfortable and safe living place. We were renting some rooms in the house next door but the building was not as safe as we would like and was also not within the boundaries of our designated location so under the encouragement of the child welfare officers and our own wish to have a safe sleeping place for all our children we have undertaken to build this new building. We still require some helping donations to complete the building so any help is very welcomed!

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From Kira Kay: almost 12 years ago I began a journey with a few women to explore if micro-credit (small loans) along with skills training can make a difference ... I was doubtful to begin with thinking that women who could barely feed their families would not be able to engage in such activities. Fast track to today and these same women now stand up in their community, proudly, with strong voices and their own businesses - many employing others in their community, including husbands and sons With the help of ongoing skills training they now self manage one of the most awarded savings and credit cooperatives in the District And our outreach to empower and enable other women in nearby communities continues - with these same women now helping others as we expand. A big thanks to Shila Pandey & Ram Kc who have been mentoring this project over the years and a big thank you to all the friends who have helped fund the trainings and initial loan funds! And of course a big thank you to all the women who took this opportunity to empower themselves!

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We consider education to be a very important element of our children's development support. Having a good quality education gives them more options as they enter adult life. Especially as our children already have multiple disadvantages because of their early background a quality education can be a bridge to a better future. Each child is unique and has a potential. We explore with the child their interests and support them into further studies or skill development as they complete their basic school education. We wish our children to become healthy contributing adults in their community. To this end our oldest girl is completing her 3 year of staff nursing degree (living in at the hospital to do this) our next eldest is undertaking a bachelor of business study and another is partaking a beautician training. Each of them also help and contribute about our home and organic farm in support of their younger bothers and sisters and house mothers – we truly are a ‘family’.

https://youtu.be/pYJHBB_BU0M

Nepal is very rich with culture even if economically poor. We encourage all our children to develop their cultural dance and singing experiences as this will benefit them in many ways into adult life and give them appropriate skills to integrate into their communities. Recent school holidays meant that our children choreographed and performed their own concert while Hands with Hands founder Kira Kay was staying. It was a fun and delightful experience for everyone – including the rehearsals, make up/dress up, after show dancing and laughing!

https://youtu.be/8nTndFNA79M

With 35 children we do have many birthday celebrations in one year! We also encourage outings on school holidays to give our children a variety of experiences and views of their world. Our eldest girl is in her third year of nursing degree while our youngest start their first school year this year - in between we have both scholars and dancers and even one marathon runner in our extended family. It requires considerable help to maintain such a large family and we continue to require sponsorship help.

Read more here how you can help

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We encourage children in our care to maintain their culture and connection to their spiritual origins so it is delightful to see our children from Bhaktapur Children Home in Sipadol village attend local ceremonies and have some fun and enjoyment too! A welcomed break from their school studies where several of our children are participating in their SLC year which is quite intensive study time.

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Our Gyalthm college two room building is well on the way to completion - even with the heavy monsoon season rains the work has continued. It is rewarding to see the eco–friendly initiative and earthquake resilient design really come to life. We are thankful for the local engagement of TEAM Nepal and Abari to help bring this initiative into reality and it confirms Hands with Hands vision of supporting local based ideas to evolve and resolve difficulties and complex issues. Our second planned construction is now delayed until after the rains have ended.

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Our joint project to provide temporary safe classrooms for Terse Higher secondary school in Talamarang village continues to provide safe space for classes to continue. The school was devastated during the 2015 earthquake with all classrooms being deemed destroyed. HwH has been involved with Terse school since 2001 has provided support for Terse school and students in various ways post earthquake. The teachers and school management have really helped to keep children in school during this difficult time and maintain curriculum. It may still be another year or more before new permanent classrooms will be completed. In the meantime our children continue to enjoy education!

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Nell's initiatives to expand our agriculture in our Talamarang Children Home are truly evolving. We now have a greenhouse and our staff (and interested children!) are trained in seedling development to create more options for our farm. Neel is always engaging our children to learn practical skills that will benefit their future lives. The monsoon has been heavy this year – and some benefits are spontaneous waterfalls to enjoy in the nearby nature.

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