Our trip to Nepal began on May 18, 2024 with our arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The new arrivals hall made a modern impression. On the way to our accommodation, we noticed that the roads and sidewalks were much better developed and cleaner than on previous visits. There were fewer bicycles and tuk-tuks, but more scooters. These changes are thanks to the new mayor, who has been in office for two years.
Our tour group consisted of Ronald Gerns, the chairman of Children's Bright Horizon e.V., his wife Gabriele Dilla-Gerns and their daughter Raksha, the deputy chairman Harald Witte and his wife, two female doctors (a psychiatrist and an ophthalmologist) and a major supporter of BHCH/CBH. After our arrival and a short check-in at the hotel, we used the rest of the day to relax and prepare for our first visit to Bright Horizon Children's Home (BHCH).
On May 19, we made our way to Mata Tirtha. At BHCH, we were welcomed by the principal Pramod, many children and staff. We were impressed by the good condition of the school. The children had a positive attitude and were well fed. There are currently 255 children at the school, including 205 boarders, 48 day students and 55 college students. The school was very tidy, the roof repairs were almost complete and the bathrooms had been renovated. Carpeting had been laid in the dormitories to provide more warmth in winter without heating.
However, there are still some improvements to be made. The sports field urgently needs to be renovated as the concrete is defective. In addition, a retaining wall needs to be built on one side of the school grounds as a hill had been removed during road works. After a tour of the school, we had lunch with the children in the canteen. The food was very tasty and contained lots of vegetables. We had brought a delicious cake for dessert, which the children really enjoyed.
The ophthalmologist in our group examined four children with significant eye problems and made recommendations for further treatment. We also spoke with the home's nurse, who told us that Dr. Suri, a pediatrician, continues to care for the children at the school and visits at least once a month, especially to examine newly admitted children.
On one of the following days, representatives of the German board of CBH e.V., Ronald Gerns, Harald Witte and Gabriele Dilla-Gerns, met with members of the Nepalese board of BHCH on site. The Nepalese board is headed by Shanta Dixit, an outstanding personality in the Nepalese school system. Shanta Dixit founded the now largest and best private school in Nepal, 'Rato Bangala School', 25 years ago, which today serves 1,100 children. Thanks to her support, there is a lively exchange of teachers between the schools.
The meeting between representatives of the German and Nepalese board members was very constructive. Pramod presented the organizational aspects of BHCH and the progress of the rehabilitation work was discussed. In addition, the communication channels between the Swiss Marlies Kornfeld Nepal Foundation, the German association CBH e.V. and Nepal were defined. Also worth mentioning is the psychological counseling for children with problems, which has been taking place once a week for the past two years. The board meeting was also attended by two members of the local authorities who supervise the school and the renovation work.
After the meeting, we had the opportunity to meet some of the children who have godparents in Germany. We presented them with small gifts, which was a touching moment for everyone involved. Overall, our stay in Nepal and the visits to BHCH were very enjoyable. The progress and positive developments at BHCH are impressive. We are already looking forward to our next visit, possibly in 2025 for the 25th anniversary of Children's Bright Horizon.
