2-12-14: MountainChild, End Polio, Exchange Visitors, Parker Library Photo Services
Josh Duncan, development director for MountainChild (www.mountainchild.org) spoke to us about this organization's work in Nepal. Did you know...? (Click on More... below to see what we learned.)
End Polio: See www.rotary.org/en/end-polio and contribute however you can! Our club is working to exceed our funding commitment. See Chris Plummer to contribute funds via check to Rotary Foundation.
Exchange Students Dora (from Croatia) & David (from Switzerland) with the 2009-10 Rotary Exchange in Parker and Cherry Creek came back for a visit to CO. Great to see them!
Parker Library has a program to help you get your photos into digital format and VHS tapes changed to DVD. Check it out!
Upcoming Events: Feb 20 State of the Town (5-6) & Mayor's Charity Ball (until 10 pm at PACE); Feb 27 Rotary Fellowship (5-7 pm at Elevation 5900)
Josh Duncan, development director for MountainChild (www.mountainchild.org) spoke to us about this organization's work in Nepal. Did you know...?
* There are 102 different ethnic groups, speaking 92 different languages in Nepal.
* There are 3 eco zones in Nepal: “terai”, hills (up to 15K ft!), & mountains (15 K ft - 29K+ ft).
* The Himalayas reach into several countries, covering a vast amount of territory, roughly equivalent to
the size of the USA.
* For the past 5 years, Nepal has been trying to come up with a constitution and there is no effective government
currently in place.
* The border between Nepal and India is an open border, across which there is a huge flow of human trafficking.
* Last year alone, 16,000 children were trafficked in Nepal and Nepal is 5th in the world with the highest percentage
of trafficked individuals.
* One of every 2 children in the Himalayas dies before an 8th birthday, primarily due to lack of hand washing,
clean water, and harsh living conditions.
* There are many helpful organizations within the heart of Nepal, including 20 Rotary Clubs in Kathmandu alone,
which reach out to the Nepalese communities in the terai and hills.
* The poorest mountain-dwellers are extremely difficult to reach, but MountainChild is determined this is their calling.
MountainChild exists for the purpose of raising awareness, resources and financial aid for humanitarian work carried out among impoverished children living in the Himalayas. MountainChild works to reach communities in the most remote parts of the Himalayas, starting in the upper reaches of Nepal (which it takes 6-7 days to reach by hiking). Most of MountainChild's staff are local Nepalese with support from approximately 15 international staff members located in Kathmandu, and the organization has 5 staff members in the USA. MountainChild works to address 5 core issues: the health, trafficking, education, child labor, and environment for these extremely remote communities.
To see amazing photos of the region and its people, to learn more about Mountain Child's work there, and to find out how we can help: please see the MountainChild website! www.mountainchild.org