The recently completed solar powered school in Nepal now has it's women centre under way!
The computer classes are full of women who are first learning typing, then onto exploring the internet.
See more photos below
A special thanks to Hema Gurung for all her wonderful work in getting this up and running.
Meaningful Connections across the World
A small group of mothers in Salem, Massachusetts decided to make a meaningful connectionacross the world by raising money for the School for Andy II in Nepal.
A big thanks to Leah ONeill, Jessica Bookman, Tracey Balthazor, Michelle Rohnke, Sara Reemtsma, Orla Perry and Steph Gallagher! And there children of course: Brianna, Dylan, Julianna, Colin, Matt and Scarlett.
Check out photos from everyone involved!
The money will be used to purchase educational toys for the children in Nepal.
We love connections like this at Meaningful Volunteer. It keeps us happy and motivated to continue to strive to make the world a better place.
Briquette Project in Buyaya
The briquette project we announced back in December is finally away in Buyaya.
The briquette project provides a fuel source for the people in Buyaya by taking cassava and charcoal remains (or other garden waste) and mixing them together and placing them into a mold before compacting the mixture in a press.
The resulting briquette (once dried) makes a excellent fuel source.
Thanks to the wonderful Esther taking the lead on this project.
An Open Letter to all our Supporters
Thank you so much for your generous donation to Meaningful Volunteer.
Once again we are appreciative with your continuous support of our non-profit organization to empower women and children in Uganda, Nepal and Philippines.
We want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and thank you so much for donating to Meaningful Volunteer.
The school in Buyaya, Uganda, Africa will be holding their Christmas Party on January 3rd. We are waiting for one volunteer to arrive from U.S. so she can take part in the celebration. The pre-school kids and their parents will receive a small gift. There will be enough food for everyone.
With your donation, we will also be starting a fuel briquette making project for the women in the village.
The Legacy Foundation will be teaching the women. The donation will go towards the start up costs of the project. This project is sustainable and cost effective.
We are also opening a new school in Nepal - Januray 2014. Your donation will go towards purchasing school supplies, desk and computers for the students.
I will keep in touch and we will send you photos as the project progresses.
If you have any question please feel free to contact me.
Thank you so much for your support!!
Below is a video of the fuel briquette project for you to see if you are interested.
Sincerely,
Megin
All You Need is Love - New Year's Fundraiser for Nepal
Longing for a spirit-filled celebration to welcome 2014 for a good cause?
Bringing together diversity in our community with our own, neighbors, friends' family...
Meaningful Volunteer is putting on a New Year's bash to support our solar powered school in Nepal.
Featuring live music, food, dancing, games and raffle prizes.
Check out the Facebook event page here.
Special thanks to the Florentino family!
Yolanda/Haiyan hits hard in the Philippines
Our good friends at Kodao have put together this piece on the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan.
The Philippines will always hold a special place in all of here in Meaningful Volunteer. Please give in any way you can.
Update on School for Andy in Nepal
The School for Andy in Nepal is making great progress thanks to the wonderful efforts of Hema Gurang and Heather Evans.
The walls are finished and the roof will be added in the coming days.
It is only a matter of weeks before the school will be up and going.
Remembering Andy Manley Three Years on
Three years ago today Andy Manley died in a tragic house explosion and the world lost a beautiful soul.
Andy legacy has continued on with the construction of two schools around the world.
School for Andy I was built in the small rural village of Buyaya in Uganda. The school in home to a preschool, a training center for women looking to learn sewing, and a base for malaria net distribution.
School for Andy II is currently under construction in Nepal. It will provide preschool education, computer training, and a center to help stop the exploitation of young Nepalese children in the sex trade.
Andy may be gone, but he is not forgotten and continues to have a profound impact on the world.
Construction Update on School for Andy II
Construction of the second School for Andy is progressing well.
This week, the construction crew is erecting the pillars. Thanks to the advice of some visiting engineers, cement was set below the base of the pillars to ensure that moisture doesn't rust their iron rod infrastructure.
The Story of Hope the Dog
Jess, one of our Meaningful Volunteers, was on her first day in Nepal, and she was exiting a cafe together with Heather Evans, when a very injured dog was crossing a busy street and about to get hit by a number of crazy cars. Jess yelled at the cars to stop and called the dog over. The dog was in horrible condition, with gaping wounds exposing flesh across her entire body and a mangled back leg.
Both Jess and Heather were horrified.
A few hours later we finally got the dog, who Jess named Hope, into an animal hospital, thanks to our district manager Hema and an incredibly loving taxi driver. The open wounds were likely from scalding hot water someone threw on her to scare her away, and her fractured leg was likely hit by an automobile. She will be staying at the vet's house and undergoing surgery in the coming days. Then we will have to find a home for her in the village where we're staying.
Update: Hope is recovering well from her surgery. It's only been less than a week, but she's already walking around and trying to get that damn cone off her head. And her burn wounds are almost fully healed.
Next task is to find her a loving home in Rithepani.