NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2015
.we know we have reached maturity, when we put
the needs of others before those of ourselves.
Siegfried Rudel
(my teacher, mentor and friend)

SAPNA DEVI
Sapna, a beautiful, gentle and kind hearted soul aged 24, sadly passed into the Spiritual
World the morning 2 March 2015, from causes undiagnosed by the hospital, although
accidental poisoning is suspected.
Sapna was a dear friend of mine and close bonded sister of Rina Sharan-Devi, both of
whom grew up as part of a large family of 11 children in the migrant beggar village
(Boudha Shack Village) in Kathmandu. The family are originally from Rajasthan.
Three years ago I captured Sapna's gentleness and love for her infant child in a semiposed Christmas card, the proceeds from the sale of which went directly to Sapna.

Sapna has left behind two boys (3.5 and 5 year olds) who will now be cared for by a
sister in Delhi. Sapna had been a widow these last 3 years, but recently Sapna had been
in a steady and happy relationship.
Sapna will be sadly and sorely missed by her sons, sisters and close family friends. I
too am devastated at the loss of a dear friend. Rest in peace beautiful, gentle Sapna.

2.
BERU JODIYA
It is with great sadness that I received firm confirmation that 'Beru', my friend and friend
of many, passed away as a direct result of severe pneumonia which in turn had infected
his blood leading to septicemia and resulting 'septic shock'. the latter was just too much
for Beru's weakened state and despite the best of care being given, he departed his
Earthly Life on Tuesday, 24 March 2015.
His family and friends, all resident in the Boudha Shack Village, gathered for his Hindu
cremation at the Pashupatinath Temple yesterday where final farewells were rendered.
The next 12 days will be for prayer (puja) and remembrance of this kind, gentle beggar
man who was always ready to share what little he had with those whose need was
greater than his own
Rest in Peace Beru my friend. You have lived an honourable life.

Sincere thanks to Linda Ha and her circle of friends in Germany whose generous
donations to the Boudha Shack Village in remembrance of Sapna (who died a month
ago) was approved for use for the partial payment of Beru's medical expenses whilst in
hospital. Thanks also to Michelle Rauenbusch (Tas/Australia) for her kind contribution
to this fund. Your generosity was much appreciated by Beru's poor family.
SHANTA KHATRI
A sincere thank you to all those who, through their kindness and generosity, made it
possible for Shanta to attend Emerson College for the first six months of the Visual Arts
Course. This has been a wonderful experience for her and one that will hopefully lead to
Shanta returning to Nepal in due course, to share what she has gained with others in the
Steiner-Waldorf educational sector.
Unbeknownst to me, Shanta became married a mere five days before I was due to escort
her back to Nepal. I was notified post-event by email from her husband. Apparently,
application has been made for Shanta to remain in the UK for the foreseeable future,
Her hasty decision came as a profound shock, coupled with the fact that it can be viewed
as a betrayal of the trust her sponsors and supporters had placed in her professed desire
to return to Nepal to share her new knowledge and skills with her friends and Waldorf
colleagues in her country. I do apologise to you all for my huge error of judgement in
recommending you sponsor Shanta as being a trustworthy recipient of your support.
We live and learn the hard way!

3,
Once again: Sincere thanks to all those who helped raise GBP2000 of the target of
GBP5000 for Shanta's course attendance as a partial repayment of the generous
scholarship granted by Emerson College for Shanta's tuition, accommodation and food.

DIPU TIMALSINA
Dipu was a street child a mere 2 years ago. Since being taken off the streets and
rehabilitated in Papa's Home for a brief 6 month period, Dipu ventured out into the
world to find employment and to support himself.
Those who cared for him, kept a watchful eye on his endeavours as he stumbled with
determination around the oft seemingly insurmountable challenges in a Third World city
such as Kathmandu.
First as a garbage collector, then back on the street for a brief stint; then a position as a
trainee chef in a new restaurant in his old stomping grounds, to his current employment
as a janitor in a smart shopping centre. His employers are so impressed that he is being
considered for promotion to 'supervisor' at the tender age of 17 or is it 18...or maybe 19?
Births are not registered in Nepal! But I guess he is 19 tomorrow! Dipu has achieved all
this through his own efforts. In recognition of his birthday, his tenacity and
determination, I had the joy of taking Dipu clothes shopping. Thanks ever so much to
Hildy Jaeger (Widnau/CH) Dipu's friend and unofficial periodic sponsor, who
generously financed this special treat for Dipu!
First shoes..."Not too expensive Papa!!" Then to Dipu's delight, a pair of pants to match
the shoes! New shoes and pants surely warrant a new shirt? And it goes without saying
that no cool guy can walk around without a fashionable jacket...and of course a pair of
new socks to go with the new footwear! Dipu could not believe his good fortune! Never
had he, let alone anyone else...spent NRs10,000 on a completely new set of cool
clothing! The result is this suave young dude!

4.
WELCOME TO A GUEST.
It is embodied in Nepali and Indian culture, that when a guest crosses your
threshold, you are morally bound to offer sustenance. And so it was when, on arrival in
Kathmandu in late February, 2015, I was warmly invited for an evening meal of
chapatti, curry veggie and riceand a cup of sweet milk tea in the Boudha Shack
Village, home to over 150 poor people from India! It is normal for guests to eat first
before the family, so I was not perturbed when told they would eat later! It was a
lovely reception, especially as I travelled unexpectedly to Nepal alone from the UK, as
Shanta who I was supposed to accompany back to Kathmandu after her six months
studying in the UK, had decided to remain in the UK for personal reasons. Thus it was a
lonely arrival!
I was gradually finding my feet again and made a return visit to the beggar village, Rina
and family who had so warmly welcomed me two days prior. It was late afternoon and I
noticed that Rina was making no effort to prepare a meal for her two little boys (she is
alone, her husband having abandoned her). I then consciously looked around and
realised that there wasnt any food in the shack! After some firm questioning, Rina
broke into tears! They had no food and her children hadnt eaten anything solid for 5
days. The only sustenance they had was milk, reconstituted from milk powder! No
wonder the youngest boy, Lachsman age eighteen months, had tried to wolf down an
entire bar of chocolate I had handed them earlier in the day!
It transpired that the meal I had eaten three days ago had been donated by a neighbour.
To great protestations I virtually dragged Rina to the local stores to buy food for that
evening and the next few days.
I asked her why she hadnt told me? Her simple reply was that she had received so
much help in the past that she did not expect or wish to take anymore from me! So OK! I
told her I would help her boys instead!!

In short, this is the plight of many of the poor people in Nepal, be they migrant Indian
beggars or Nepali home grown ones. Poverty is everywhere and it breaks ones heart to
see their quiet suffering.
Rinas personal suffering is the more greater these days with the loss of her beloved
sister and closest friend, Sapna.

5.
MAITREYA PATHSHALA WALDORF INSPIRED SCHOOL
The academic year 2014/15 of Maitreya Pathshala Waldorf Inspired School ended
happIly with five children. The school started with fifteen children in April 2014 and
with two teachers Bishnu Sherchan and Asha Dura. During this academic year, a
majority of parents wished for their children to have formal reading and writing in the
kindergarten. We made it abundantly clear that our school was for Waldorf education
and we were not prepared to compromise our principles in this important area.
So we organized parenting workshop on the importance of early childhood development
and the Waldorf Education with the parents. But ten families took their children away so
as to attend the regular schools after the winter vacation.. But we steadfastly maintain
that we are offering 100% Waldorf education in Pokhara, Nepal.
But we happy with the five children with their parents who support us for the
development of Waldorf Education in Pokhara, Nepal.
By the end of this year we had a good documented curriculum for the whole Waldorf
Kindergarten and Early Childhood Development, experienced and trained teachers,
expanded the international networks, and two individuals have stepped forward to
sponsor two of our children.
We would like to thank the Tashi Waldorf School, the Shanti Waldorf School and the
Ankuran Waldorf Inspired School, together with Sarita Sanghai, all the trainers and
mentors who came to Nepal to hold workshops: Also the Maitreya Pathshala team and
all the volunteers for their precious time given for the development of Maitreya
Pathshala Waldorf Inspired School in Pokhara, Nepal.

Parenting Workshop

Happy New Year 2072 !!

The Nepali calendar is the lunisolar Hindu calendar used in Nepal for both civil and religious purposes.
The year begins in the month Baishakh; usually around 14 April.. The official Nepali calendar
follows Bikram Samwat, abbreviated B.S., said to have been started by mythical Indian emperor
Vikramditya.. The B.S. year is 56.7 years ahead of the (western) Gregorian Calendar (Info: Wikipedia)

6.
REMARKABLE ENDEAVOURS
Of several visits that impressed me during this trip to Nepal, two especially come to
mind namely KRMEF and ECDC! Two separate projects of great importance and both
gaining inspiration from Rudolf Steiners philosophy.
1. KRMEF Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation
KRMEF (Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation) is a living memorial to Krishna
Gurungs young son Kevin who met with a sad accident aged 7 years. Since that time
on, Krishna and his wife have dedicated their life to establishing a worthy memorial to
their sons memory. Whenever I am in Kathmandu, I endeavour to make at least one
visit to this remarkable project and was impressed with the developments that had taken
place over that last 9 months or so.
Having acquired a vacant, under utilized block of land immediately adjacent to the
existing properties, Krishna supported with his enthusiastic team of co-workers and
international volunteers, have transformed it into an oasis of activities including a biodynamic vegetable garden, craft workshops, a craft shop and an organic cafe.
In addition, the new Waldorf inspired school with three flourishing kindergartens with
total enrolment of 74+, is housed in the new eco-friendly Ankuran building, A new
class 1 will be launched in the up-coming new school year in the same building.

Ankuran Kindergarten

New caf, workshops, etc

To find out more about this remarkable endeavour, visit the website at:

http://www.krmef.org/

7.
2. ECDC - Early Childhood Development Centre
The second remarkable endeavour I visited came as a totally new revelation. Having
visited Kathmandu some 14 times in the past 5 years, I was under the illusion that I had
seen or heard of every Waldorf inspired initiative either within the bounds of
Kathmandu or for that matter, anywhere in Nepal! I was in for a pleasant surprise!
Events in another field of concern, had put me in contact with Puspa Basnet, a
nationwide icon for her unselfish work on behalf of children incarcerated with their
criminally sentenced mothers, to a life behind prison bars when there was no other
known alternative for them. Thus in Nepal, well over 100 children at a time languish in
Third World prisons that would have made UK Victorian period prisons look like guest
houses!
Pushpa first met a few of these children whilst as a 21 year old, she was undertaking a
social science degree 'practical' element and visited a woman's prison. She was touched
to the core of her very being by the plight of these innocent, but incarcerated children, so
much so that she resolved to devote her life to rescuing such children from such a
squalid and inhumane existence. Some 8 years on, Pushpa continues with her task and
currently offers a safe haven to some 45 children from 3 years olds to the eldest being 18
years old.
Interestingly, also during her degree studies, Pushpa spent time in another government
centre for homeless children known as Bal Mandir. There she discovered a Waldorf
kindergarten in action and was impressed with the calm and beauty experienced within
its setting.
When Pushpa set-up her 'Butterfly Home' for the prison children, she set one room
aside for 'therapy'...Waldorf therapy...in the form of a Waldorf kindergarten based on
what she had experienced as a student intern at Bal Mandir. To further her understanding
of Waldorf educational philosophy in action in the early years, Pushpa enrolled in the
part-time kindergarten teacher training course in Sacramento, California which she
continues to attend when finances and time permit. With this background and
tremendous enthusiasm for Waldorf education per se,
Pushpa uses her kindergarten as a 'therapy' for those small children who emerge from the
dismal prisons of Nepal. It is also a room for meditation of children beyond kindergarten
stage who benefit from the beauty of the environment she has created. It is a 'special'
honour to be allowed to enter the room at all!

8.
Pushpa, or 'Mamu' (mother) as the children refer to her as, maintains that to watch the
transformation on the children's faces, in their eyes and how they relax and respond to
the Waldorf kindergarten environment, is in itself, a joy to behold.
And to think that this has really only become known to the wider Waldorf circle within
the last month through my casual meeting with Pushpa!
A remarkable kindergarten run by a remarkable, selfless women whose services to
Nepali children was recognised the world over on receipt of the prestigious award: CNN
'Hero of the Year Award 2012'.
I am delighted to count Pushpa amongst my many friends and look forward to giving her
endeavour what support I can.

THIS?

or

THIS?

For further photos of the beautiful kindergarten, follow this link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/
About Pushpa Basnet see link:
http://edition.cnn.com//wo/cnnheroes-basnet-nepal-prisons/
+++++++++

For their development,

children need the respect and
protection of adults who take them seriously,
love them, and honestly help them to
become orientated in the world.
Alice Miller
Psychiatrist

Ed: Eric Fairman (S.E.N.)