WALDORF EDUCATION AS TRAUMA THERAPY

FOR EARTHQUAKE CHILDREN

- A Real Social Deed -

Not more than 60 km out of Kathmandu lies the District of Sindhupalchowk nestled in stunningly beautiful steep green valleys through which sparkling rivers cascade down from the distant mighty Himalayan mountains. In such a beautiful environment, many Nepali families lead a rural existence tending the goats and buffalo, nurturing rice in the paddies and generally leading a hard, but healthy life surrounded by family, friends and traditional cultures.

This beautiful environment was quickly turned into an area of devastation and death following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on that fateful day of April 25th, 2015. The quake was followed by tremendous landslides which swept down into the heavily populated valleys.

Three thousand, six hundred and fifty-six (3656) Sindhupalchowk men, women and children lost their lives that day. Houses, small shops, farms and rural businesses were destroyed, along with government administrative buildings and schools.

Before

After

2.

Understandably, such devastation warranted immediate emergency help and relief aid. Thousands of people were left severely traumatized, not least the children.

In Kathmandu, there was significant destruction of historical buildings, plus structural damage to many homes, businesses and schools. Tashi Waldorf School in the Chakrapath area of Kathmandu was also affected, with cracks being visible in the main (rented) school building which was assessed by a structural engineer as being unsafe for occupation. Thus a huge tarpaulin tent was constructed in the playground for the kindergartens and other classes.

Despite this enormous setback close to the beginning of the new school year that was due to commence in early May, teachers rallied together and decided that they should do something to help the hundreds of children in Sindhupalchowk who were traumatized by their recent experiences. At Shanti Sewa Griha, in the area of Tilganga (Kathmandu), a team from Friends of Rudolf Steiner Education (Germany) were running a camp specifically aimed at training volunteers to interact with traumatised children.

Tashi teachers, together with others from the Shanti Sewa (Kathmandu) and Maitreya Pathshala (Pokhara) Waldorf Inspired schools, attended this training for 2 days, until a second quake brought the sessions to an abrupt close. Nevertheless, inspired by the workshops and already well familiar with the valuable artistic elements of Steiner-Waldorf education, the Tashi and Maitreya teachers joined forces and set out determined to help wherever possible, running workshops for children at various venues around Kathmandu and Pokhara.

3.

Later, after making the necessary arrangements with parents and authorities, 35 traumatized children from devastated Sindhupalchowk who, with their families had been evacuated to the emergency relief camp at Thali, about 9 kms from Katmandu, started their new school year at the Tashi Waldorf school, 25 of whom make upalong with 4 other childrenthe new Class One! They have no actual classroom, but manage to operate under the shelter of the car-port, from where they can make a quick and safe escape if a further quake were to occur.

So thirty-five delightful children are now benefiting from what Steiner-Waldorf education has to offer. Being a private school, fees obviously apply. Education does not come cheap, even in Nepal! But the Nepali rupee 5000 monthly full-fee, covers every aspect of a childs education, including teacher salaries, school materials and three meals! Breakfast, snack and lunch!!

But for the 35 children from the Thali camp, this is all free !!

And as the remainder of the nearly 100 students at Tashi come from economically deprived families, many of their families pay nothing or very little, such as NRs300 per month (a big discount on the needed NRs5000 !!).

Thanks to supporters, SOCIAL ENDEAVOURS NEPAL, was able to make a donation of NRs20,000 during a recent visit by myself and assistant, Shanti Bosman (nee Khatri) to the school. Shanti had been an assistant teacher there during 2014.

Shanta handing over your gift

4.

The needs financial and otherwise, of the Tashi Waldorf School, are great, if not enormous!

Many people have, I am sure, procrastinated about making donations for the relief of Nepals earthquake victims because of concern for the misappropriation of donated funds or the subsidising of six-figure salaries of the CEOs of some of the most well known international charities. By making a donation to the Tashi Waldorf School, donors can be assured that 100% goes to the benefit of the children and the school in general.

We thank you for your timely and generous support of the Tashi Waldorf School.

Social Endeavours Nepal (Eric Fairman) 14 July, 2015

RSF Social Finance Please write in the memo portion of the cheque: Children of Nepal. 1002A O'Reilly Ave. San Francisco, CA 94129-1101 USA Tel: 415.561.3900, 1.888.RSF.3737 Email: mail@rsfsocialfinance.org RSF Social Finance also accepts donations made via other means, including credit cards. For more information, please visit their website: www.rsfsocialfinance.org/donate-now/

Freunde der Erziehungskunst Rudolf Steiner e.V. Please write in the memo portion of the cheque: Children of Nepal Project # 4405 Weinmeisterstr. 16 Berlin, D-10178, Germany Tel: 030 61 70 26 30, Email: berlin@freunde-waldorf.de

Social Endeavours Nepal. Donations can also be directed to our PayPal account via socialendeavoursnp@gmail.com (please double check spelling of email address!!!). Label donation as Children of Nepal

THANK YOU !!

Tashi Waldorf School