| Name: | Shiva Chalise | Name: | Himali Chalise |
| Age: | 8 years old | Age: | 9 years old |
| Town: | Chitwan, Nepal | Town: | Chitwan, Nepal |
The above sponsored children are two siblings, Shiva and Himali. They were introduced to the School Rise organisation by Thakur Dhakal. The children suffer from Dwafism worsened by Rickets, a condition causing bone malformation due to malnutrition. They have both endured multiple operations to straighten their legs. Shiva and Himali were not going to school due to poverty and were doing the household chores at home. To make matters worse, their father has an alcohol problem and their mother mental problems.
After consultation with their parents Thakur and Sharada host these children in their home in Bhaktapur to provide them with a safe home environment and to support their education.
Our foundation is currently sponsoring Shiva & Himali with tuition fees and offers them a family environment. Because of their disability the children commute to Sunshine School daily by car. They are very intelligent and their creative minds are amazing. They fitted right in with their peers at school despite missing some years of education. During our last visit we were entertained every night by Shiva doing a fantastic dance from a Bollywood number. It is heartwarming to see them flourish and play, like normal children should. A once troubled past has made room for a brighter future for these underprivileged children.
The School Rise Foundation pays 250 AUD each month per child for private education, healthcare, board and lodging cost.
| Name: | Aiesha Bhandari |
| Age: | 11 years old |
| Town: | Pokhara, Nepal |
Aiesha is living in a little village near to Pokhara. I, Wendy Boers, got to know Aisha when I worked for three months as a volunteer for the SIRC as a physiotherapist in 2010. The SIRC is a rehabilitation centre for people with spinal injuries. Aiesha’s father suffered from this after a major traffic accident. Her grandfather died in the same crash. Her father, Dheepak, is only capable of moving his head, shoulders and elbows.
In a Nepalese rehab centre it is common that the family takes a great share in the care taking. During her dad’s rehabilitation, Aiesha and her mother Kalpana were in the centre as well. Aiesha just became 5 years of age and started school where she learned to speak a little bit of English. A few times a day she visited her dad while he was under recuperation and showed me what she had learned for that day. With the help of a dictionary and my small knowledge of Nepalese we had beautiful conversations.
When I was trekking in the Annapurna mountain range it dawned on me to assist this child. Through another volunteer I received the message that the parents were already seriously thinking of adoption. Nepalese adoption standards are not similar to our policy, no one knows if new parents are screened, or if there is any follow up on the children’s future, and unfortunately some children disappear.
When I turned back to the SIRC the parents of Aisha were already in a late stage of the adoption process. I directly made the decision to sponsor Aiesha, at least until she is sixteen, so she can stay with her parents and attain an education.
Now Aisha is eleven years old, she does very well at school and her English is amazing. Through Facebook we contact each other. Recently I went back to Nepal with my sister to meet Aiesha. She would love to visit us one day in the Netherlands. At this moment I look into opportunities to support her for High School. We see each other as sisters now. Living far away from each other but so connected. For us it is obvious to go to school and to study, for her it is essential to get a brighter and independent future.
This is my story about Aiesha Bhandari. My support goes through the School Rise Foundation. They have the local infrastructure and people to make sure Aiesha is in a good environment. I am very grateful for this. Her family and I including many others do acknowledge the fact that there are people in need, and we are able to offer them a stepping stone into their future.
Wendy Boers.
