Part of the day with kids in their home - SAATH | TOGETHER
16618
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-16618,single-format-standard,bridge-core-3.0.2,qode-page-transition-enabled,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,side_area_uncovered_from_content,qode-theme-ver-29.0,qode-theme-bridge,qode_header_in_grid,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-6.9.0,vc_responsive,elementor-default,elementor-kit-17873

Part of the day with kids in their home

Part of the day with kids in their home

As my time here in Nepal comes to a close, I was given one more assignment with Hakuna Matata that made a lasting impression.  Last Wednesday, Chandni and I set out to visit a few of the Hakuna Matata kids at their homes in and around Kathmandu. Home visits allow members of the SAATH staff to check in with the kids and their families on everything from social problems to physical health as well as provide care/nutrition packages.

We started our visits with a family of 3 in Kathmandu. Sumita lama (name changed) and her parents live in a rented room and share a floor with a few other families. With warm smiles and embraces, Chandni and I were welcomed into Sumita’s home. Her mom told us a bit about her career as a painter, a collection of large paint bins on the far wall backing up her statements. What was interesting, and a little awkward, was when we first arrived and noticed that a neighbor and her child were hanging out in the room with Sumita lama and her family. As much as we wanted to get started and chat with her parents about their current state of health, it went unspoken because of the neighbor’s presence. After a while the neighbor went back to her room and we could begin talking, only after being advised to use hushed voices. I really felt for these people- holding onto a secret on a daily basis that, if exposed, could lead their social lives and financial successes to crumble. With the stigma of HIV/AIDS in Nepal it’s hard to imagine what it must be like to live in fear of being found out every day.

After a bit more chatting and checking in, and lots of gratitude from the beneficiaries for the care package, Chandni and I said goodbye and went on our way.

For the next home visit, we headed a bit outside of Kathmandu. After bumping along on a dirt road for a while, we found the next beneficiaries’ house perched up in the hills that formed the valley. The house struck me as much different than our previous home visit. With a shiny tin roof and walls made of mud and wood, this little dwelling stood in solitude compared to the complexes and stacked houses of Kathmandu. I think many would see this house as “unfit” for a whole family, but that feeling quickly came and went once we were welcomed inside.

Before anything else, the family offered us cool drinks and a place to sit. The kids were so excited to have visitors!  Divya ( named changed) brought out her school bag to show me some of the english writing she had worked on in school. The girls were very proud of their schoolwork- something that warmed my heart. To come from a place where many people take school for granted, it’s so nice to see kids who value their education and enjoy it!

We all sipped orange soda in the heat of the day under the family’s tin roof as the parents updated us on their current state of health. It was a bit of a wakeup call to see that this family lived in such a small home with clay floors and fragile walls. Despite their health condition and the fact that they lived in a home that most people I know would consider the furthest from luxurious, or even comfortable, this family still found happiness. They found it in connection with one another. They had pride for what they do have: each other, their education, and a home. Sure, this may not be an ideal living situation, but they make it work and keep living their lives with gratitude. Spending part of the day with the kids, goofing around and giggling all along, brought me so much joy. Seeing their side of life opened my eyes to what true happiness is: being grateful for what you have and putting aside the hardships of life to connect with others (and, of course, drinking cold orange soda on a hot day!)

I am very thankful for the time I’ve had with SAATH here in Nepal. From the workshop, to the day to day fundraising and working with volunteers, to home visits this week- SAATH has taught me so much about the people of Kathmandu and has given me new perspectives that I will take home with me and apply to my everyday life.

By Delaney Collins (International Volunteer – SAATH)