Updates from Kathmandu trip (30 Jan - 6 Feb 2010)

A group of us from Singapore had gone to Kathmandu from 30 Jan to 6 Feb 2010 to follow up on the progress of the project and discuss what needs to be done. There had been some promising progress which we would like to share with you.

(1) Some funds had been raised in Singapore since May last year. These funds will be used for 'SAMA - School' project to complete the building of 2 uncompleted classrooms, roof and windows for the new Sama Boarding School. The completion of Sama Boarding School will ensure that the approximately 100 village children will have a new and more conducive place for study.

(2) We had also met with an experienced lawyer Mr Surish, who will assist us in the registration for a formal foundation/ organisation status. After submission of the necessary application documents, it will take approximately 15 working days for the approval process. Once approved, this will surely boost further our development work in the Sama village and we really look forward to that.

(3) With the new Sama Boarding School almost in completion, we are looking to focus on 'SAMA - healthcare' project -- on the immediate healthcare needs of the people. First, we are looking to set up an internet infrastructure in the village to facilitate medical consultation via the web by volunteer doctors in Kathmandu. A generous Singaporean donor had already kindly sponsored a huge bulk of this internet set-up cost.

(4) The construction of a simple clinic is also underway -- we had discussed with an experienced architect, who had done a similar clinic project for a remote village in Lukla, in a Khumbu region of eastern Nepal, where most trekkers ascending Mt. Everest will start. He will be helping us in the functional and structural design of the clinic.

(5) Previously, there had been no formal development projects for the village. Foreign assistance is limited to trekkers donating their medications which they brought along for their journeys. It was only until last year that some foreign doctors offered some medical assistance. Very soon, on 22 Feb 2010, a group of 11 Japanese students will be going to the Sama Village to bring solar panels to be installed onto the Sama school.

Please visit our blogsite for more updates.

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