Asia Association of Education and Exchange

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Mero Sathi Project 2016 in Nepal Daily Report 4th day (16th Feb)

Mero Sathi Project 2016 in Nepal
Daily Report 4th day (16th Feb)
<Second day at Nuwacot>

AAEE, Asia Association of Education & Exchange(一般社団法人アジア教育交流研究機構)さんの写真
We; the entire team of February "Mero Sathi" project were at Nuwakot. It was our first day at Nuwakot as we reached there in the evening of 15th February. On the very day, our major activity was the goat shelter visit and the interview session with the goat shelter owner as well as with the people who were affected by earthquake. At first we were able to see goat shelter build by AAEE but is being taken care of by the local person there. The goat shelter we could see was in good condition and was constructed with the entire necessary requirement. Such as there were different compartments categorized according to the type of goats. Similarly, the compartments where goats were kept are built at a higher distance from the ground level; it was done in order to collect goat excreta. The compartments were made from bamboo and certain gap was maintained between bamboos so that, goat excreta would fall to the ground. From there the responsible person would collect the excreta and use it for purpose like fertilizer etc. Usually, this kind of setting is not seen in most of the goat shelter in Nepal. By interacting with the local (goat shelter owner), we were able to know how the goat shelter has been able to uplift his and the villagers hope to bring some positive change in their lives after the major earthquake. The main significance of this goat shelter by AAEE is that; the half of its profit goes to the community school of Nuwakot. According to the goat shelter owner it is a very big relief to the parents of the student of that community school as their economic burden will be lessen. The goat shelter owner we interviewed seemed to be happy and proud as will be able to contribute to community as a part of the goat shelter. Meanwhile, other half of the profit goes to the people who are working and looking after the goat shelter. Therefore, goat shelter is able to contribute to develop some personal lives as well as the future of the community school at Nuwakot. Also, most of the teams of "Mero sathi" project were engaged interacting various earthquake affected people. This was the major activity of the day.
In the evening, All the Japanese members and Nepalese member walked for a while to collect firewood. We all contributed searching and collecting fire wood to cook food for night. Meanwhile, few Japanese students were working on producing charcoal. After a long wait, they were able to produce charcoal (It was used next day to cook Japanese food). Then students contributed to produce fire. Then, Nepalese members cooked the traditional food "khir" (Rice Pudding). Also, vegetable curry and beaten rice was plated for dinner that evening. Beaten rice was something unusual to the Japanese members. After, our dinner, entire team sat together to share and discuss on the goat shelter; that we interviewed during the day. The sharing about the information of goat shelter led to further question-answer session. Also, after that we had a discussion on corruption in Nepal. So the day ended by sharing and receiving knowledge about different things but more importantly about goat shelter and how it has affected people's and community's life.
(By Shreeya Devkota)
Behind completion of goat shelter
Today, we visited people in Nuwakot and interviewed them as an activity of goat shelter program. I can get an opportunity to interview the owner of shelter directly.
To listen to him, I found actually there are a lot of problems when we head for true completion this goat shelter program.
One of them is labor shortage. An environment that people can get income steadily is needed to keep people going abroad for a job. The owner said that he wants efficient systems that he can do work of an owner of goat shelter and agriculture compatibly, and always get the money. We need to think about such a new system.
Other problem is money. We just need money to build shelters in other areas and to grow shelter.
Furthermore there is common opinion among villagers that they want new house(substitute for fragile house because of earthquake)and infrastructure such as water systems and road pavement.
These opinions make us think that we may have something we have to do in preference to operating of goat shelter.
It was very precious opportunity that we can talk with villagers and get realistic opinion.
(By Makiko Yonehara)

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