Posted by on December 29, 2014

Dear all,

Winter has already started embracing the Kathmandu with cold but in comparison to the previous years the mercury has not gone down significantly as yet. It is 20 degree Celsius in the day time and 6 during the night. And now the time has come for all of us to bid good bye to 2014 and welcome the New Year.

During the second semester many interesting events have taken place in TWS comprising of trainings, festivals and others.

Van James Training

Van James conducted a two day Art and Painting Training for Waldorf teachers in the month of October this year also. The training was based on unimaginary painting and very useful for the grade teachers. But the KG teachers enriched their knowledge in painting by participating in this training. Van James very clearly showed how a child develops his/her drawing and paintings skills. The depiction of child development through painting and drawing was the main highlight of the training.

Anthroposophy Seminar

A three day Anthroposophy Seminar was conducted by Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation from the 10th October to 12th October, 2014. The seminar was focused on the topics such as "Healthy organizational and Community Development" "Difference and similarities between Eastern and Western Medicines", "Cosmic influences in human organs and human organization" and "Gift of the East to Humanity". The seminar facilitated by trainers like Thomas Meyer, Dr Olaf Koob from Germany and Annette Kurz from Switzerland was participated in by all the teachers and fundraiser of Tashi Waldorf School.

First Aid Training/ Earthquake Preparedness Training

In coordination with the parents, First Aid Training/ Earthquake Preparedness has been conducted for the teachers and staff of TWS. One of our parents, Dr. Krishna Dangol (Homeopathy Doctor) kindly consented to conduct the training. We all at Tashi Waldorf were able to gain in depth and practical knowledge from this training about the First Aid which is very essential for the teachers to know as they will be the first persons to handle if any emergency occurs. Now the teachers are capable of handling normal injury cases by themselves.

Dr. Krishna has also been kind enough to spare his valuable time and knowledge in sharing and imparting concept of Earthquake Preparedness and measures to be taken before the earthquake actual takes place. This was also worth attending session for all the staff of Tashi Waldorf School.

Field Trip to Patan Industrial Estate

Class Three students were taken to visit Patan Industrial Estate located at Lagankhel, Lalitpur as a part of educational field trip on the 7th November 2014. They observed different kinds of statue and small windows made and carved out of wood. They also watched cultural pictures and patterns carved in the wood. They were very happy to touch and watch such things. They very curiously asked many question to the craftsmen involved in the work and quenched their curiosity. They were also taken to visit Ashok Stupa situated nearby the Industrial Estate. The students not only entertained the trip but they gained knowledge about culture, different professions and history as well.

Farming Block (Kitchen Gardening)

As per the curriculum, students of Grade three very enthusiastically initiated to setting up of a kitchen garden. However, all the students dug the fallow land within the school premises, added some more soil and threw away stones in order to utilize the barren land lying without being used meaningfully. Though in small scale, they planted different kinds of spinach, peas, garlic, onions etc. This was really an effective activity to encourage children to work as team realizing the value of collaboration among friends.

Dashain

A mythological drama was presented by the students of Class Three and Four just before the Dashain break on the 28th September. The theme of the play was to display the fact that Good always overcomes evil. The destruction of evil giants was depicted in the play fantastically. The children very aptly played the roles they have been assigned. All the students, teachers and other guests enjoyed the drama thoroughly.

After all the students got tika (rice and vermilion powder mixed with curd) on their foreheads from the teachers, they had a lunch specially prepared for the celebration of the Dashain. They all enjoyed, sang danced and were busy on flying kites made by children themselves, one of significances of the Dashain.

Tihar

This being the second biggest festival of Nepal is celebrated for five days. Five different days are differently celebrated.  One of these five days, is the day for BHAI TIKA (Brother Day). The Nursery and Kindergarten teachers prepared a puppet show how Bhai Tika was originated. The show was so tactfully and pleasantly staged that the children were able to understand the reason why Bhai tika has become one of the traditions of Nepal. They were very happy to watch and learn new religious aspects even during the holiday time.

Candle Making

As Tihar is a festival of lights also, the children were taught how to make candles without using the mould frames in traditional way. This was done as a part of compulsory activity. Later on, they were presented with the candles they had made by themselves to take home and celebrate Tihar at home too.

We all at TASHI WALDORF wish you
A MERRY CHRISTMAS and
A HAPPY, SUCCEESSFUL & PEACEFUL
NEW YEAR 2015

Hem Rai,
Fundraiser
Tashi Waldorf School,
(Children of Nepal)

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You Can Help

Sponsor a Class

Being a "class godparent" means you stay in regular contact with an entire class of students and can accompany them in their development. Moreover, you may gain interesting and diverse insights about the children’s lives or the peculiarities of education in Nepal. But, most importantly, you may plant an important seed of friendship into the hearts of students and teachers who are living and working under difficult circumstances. Through the Class Sponsorship program, the journey of education for underprivileged children has become a reality.

The Sponsorship program functions as an integral part of an educational voucher system. Your donation benefits all the children in need whose parents cannot afford the full fees, fostering a sense of wholeness and inclusion. Your generous gift will go towards the costs of food, health services, clothing, materials, books and school buses for the children. We encourage you to donate any amount you choose in a way most suitable for you, either one-off or more regularly. To demonstrate our gratitude we send our sponsors an introductory package with children’s stories and artwork.

If you would like to learn more, some of the profiles the children attending TWS can be found on the Stories page.

Please contact either of the below charities to set up your chosen sponsorship program.

Freunde der Erziehungskunst Rudolf Steiner e.V.
Weinmeisterstrasse 16
Berlin, D-10178, Germany
Tel: 030 61 70 26 30
Email: berlin[at]freunde-waldorf.de / f.michel[at]freunde-waldorf.de
Website: www.freunde-waldorf.de/en/donate-help/help-a-child-go-to-school.html
For German Sponsors only: PDF

Patenschaftsverwaltung/Sponsorship Program
Christstrasse 9
Bochum, D-44789, Germany
Tel: 0234-5797-5257
Email: astrid.blei[at]gls-treuhand.de
Website: www.entwicklungshilfe3.de

Sponsor the purchase of New School Land

On April 25th 2014 an earthquake, marked 7.2 on the Richter scale, devastated Nepal. Many buildings collapsed or were damaged beyond repair. Many of the our students lost their homes and now live in tents at temporary camps. The foundations of Tashi Waldorf School were largely affected and the building has been deemed unsafe. In response, the school management have brought forward their long term plan to move the school to a tranquil and calm piece land on the greener outskirts of Kathmandu. However, without enough funds to invest in a new location, the children and teachers have no option but to continue lessons in their condemned building until the funds are raised.

If you would like to contribute to a fresh start in a safer location for Tashi Waldorf School we suggest a €20 donation, but any amount will be gratefully received. Also, referrals to foundations who would be interested in helping would be greatly appreciated. Please donate by selecting the 'Children of Nepal' option at http://rsfsocialfinance.org/donate-now/

Sponsor the supply of Waldorf Educational Materials

The quality and substance of Waldorf educational materials is key to developing the child’s visual creativity and touch perception. However, these materials are not available in Nepal and the school does not have the financial resources to order them from abroad. We need support funding the following materials:

• Waldorf Art Supplies, such as water colour paints, coloured chalk for blackboard drawings, wooden coloured pencils, Beeswax crayons and modelling wax
• Waldorf Educational Resources, such as children's stories, verse and poem books and resources on early childhood and primary education

Please donate by selecting the 'Children of Nepal' option at http://rsfsocialfinance.org/donate-now/

Support the School by volunteering to sell Nepali Handicrafts

As a means to provide self-sustaining funding for the school, a business has been started selling bulk orders of Nepali handicrafts. If you are interested in volunteering your time to sell these products in your neighbourhood or to businesses in your country we can provide you with samples, a colour chart and a price list. Please email tashiwaldorf[at]gmail.com for details.

Support the School by Holding a Fundraising Event

If your community or school is able to hold a fundraising event in support of the school, we would be very grateful. Please contact us so that we can provide you with more information and photos. Previous fundraising events include: a band festival; a mountain hike; a raffle; a concert.

Getting the Word out about us

You can help by publishing our newsletter or an article in your school, organization or community newsletters. If you would like to publish an article about the school please forward it to us for review before publishing so we can verify the accuracy of the facts and send you photos. We are also in need of someone who could volunteer to work on a short documentary of the school. Sign up to our mailing list to receive our newsletter or ‘like’ and ‘share’ our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/waldorftashischool

Please let us know if you send us a donation so we can confirm that it was received and send you a letter of gratitude. You can send any general donations to one of the associations listed below:

RSF Social Finance
1002A O'Reilly Avenue
San Francisco,
CA 94129-1101 USA
Tel: 415.561.3900, 1.888.RSF.3737
Email: mail[at]rsfsocialfinance.org
Please write in the memo portion of the cheque: "Children of Nepal" or donate online via www.rsfsocialfinance.org/donate-now/

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

Internationaal Hulpfonds
Herengracht 276
1016BX, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS
Tel: 020- 6274856
Email: info[at]internationaalhulpfonds.nl
Please write in the memo portion of the cheque: "Children of Nepal"

Patenschaftsverwaltung/Sponsorship Program
Christstrasse 9
Bochum, D-44789, Germany
Tel: 0234-5797-5257
Email: astrid.blei[at]gls-treuhand.de
Website: www.entwicklungshilfe3.de
Please email for donation details

Prometheus Ethical Finance
P.O. Box 969
Napier, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone 06.835.7138
Fax 06-8351628
Email: ethical[at]prometheus.co.nz
Please write "Children of Nepal - Account#4144" in the memo. Contributors must attach a note to their donation indicating that it is for Children of Nepal.