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July Update

Dear Friends of dZi,

I have returned from my six weeks of travel in Nepal and India, reviewing all of our projects. Once again, it was an amazing experience; to check in on every project with my own eyes is imperative for our sustainability and progress. What struck me more than ever on this trip was the dedication of our 33 local employees. Empowering locals with the opportunity to support themselves while giving back to their own community through health and education, instills a level of pride that is hard to measure. We are blessed by the commitment of our staff on the ground in Nepal, Ladakh and Sikkim.

I want to apologize for not sending my usual dZi newsletter last month from the field. On the third day of my trip, in Ladakh India, while downloading e-mails to my laptop, my e-mail program decided to go down in flames. In about 20 seconds it completely vaporized my e-mail history and over 2000 e-mail addresses. Poof! Not much technical support in the remote regions of Ladakh but thankfully we were backed up at the home office and I am up and running again now.

Kathmandu, Nepal

I arrived in Kathmandu just as the country awoke to King Gyanendra announcing that he would abandon his direct rule and reinstate parliament. The feeling on the street was a blend of open elation and guarded optimism. Since that time, the King has been stripped of almost all of his powers. All of his assets are now being taxed, and even the celebration of his birthday, which was regarded as a national holiday, has been rescinded.

Most recently, the primary outcome of the meeting of the seven top political parties and the Maoists in Kathmandu, was that the UN would be asked to come in and supervise “arms management issues”. It seemed that the two main sides were headed in a positive direction. Then the Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala drafted the agreement and sent it to the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, without letting the Maoist review the formal document. In response, the Maoist leader stated "We strongly disagree with the government sending the letter to the United Nations without consulting us first.” One would think that keeping both sides informed on such a cornerstone agreement would be of paramount concern. Either side operating independently of the other could be the downfall of the positive progress to date. Meanwhile, waiting and watching in the background, sits the Royal Nepal Army, presently under parliamentary control, but it's role could be very unpredictable if the bickering continues. Stay tuned.

All the best,
Jim Nowak
Executive Director

Sikkim Happiness Home update

The new Sikkim Happiness Home is presently under construction. The land has been purchased and the foundation is going in as you read this. This 4,500 sq. ft., three-story building will be an amazing addition to our girl’s program, giving us a wonderful facility in the Gangtok community. We are extremely indebted to a German organization that is funding the entire building project for the long-term health and sustainability of the Sikkim Happiness Home girls. Being relieved of the financial burden of expensive rent and having a building of our own design, specifically suited to our needs, will be a tremendous help. In the past we have rented various homes and made the existing floor plans work. We have been continually challenged with kitchens too small to feed 25 people two to three times a day. Our cook, Norboo Yolmo, and his helper, Kamal Rai, are excited to have input into the design of the new kitchen. A library room is planned with a study hall with three computer stations for the girls. This will allow Tsering Paldon, our live-in housemother and former secondary teacher, a proper space for her to tutor the children each day after school. The home is also centrally located close to the private schools the girls attend. Kelsang Phuntsok, our Sikkim project coordinator, will overseeing the construction process, watching every Rupee and making sure that we stay on track to our completion date. This facility should be completed in ten months and we eagerly anticipate being able to move into a home the girls can truly call their own.

Letter From A Donor/Volunteer

Dear Jim, Kim and Garry,

I wanted to send a note trying to express my gratitude for sharing your world with me. You knew as the mother of two young adopted daughters from Cambodia, this was a big trip and that I was definitely stepping outside of my envelope. I pride myself on being an outdoor adventurer, but truth be told, a trip to third world countries half way around the world, while my husband and daughters remained home, was daunting to say the least.

I cannot adequately put to words how extraordinary the experience was. For starters, you all were so generous with your time and relationships. I moved through Kathmandu and Leh like a local. I am in awe of your in-country friends’ kindness and the capabilities of your foundation partners on the ground in Nepal and India.

When it comes to your projects, they exceeded my wildest expectations. From the Nutritional Rehabilitation Center and Friendship House in Nepal to the volunteer dental/vision clinic in Leh, and the surprise trip to the remote village on the Chinese/Indian border, I am absolutely convinced of the power of the dZi Foundation and the meaningful changes occurring in all of those lives who are fortunate enough to cross your path. Not to mention, I now have more experience on how to properly brush my teeth than I would have thought humanly possible.

Lastly, I so enjoyed the dZi folks and the other volunteers on the trip that I can’t wait to connect with them all again. Looking back, it is hard to imagine I traveled for close to three weeks and never once felt homesick thanks to all the outstanding people on the trip, and the amazing experiences that were placed in front of us.

I had the time of my life, and the personal experience of knowing what a difference a helping hand can make in an environment so very different than ours.

For any of your donors who are even considering the remote possibility of joining you on a trip, I want to shout to the heavens, GO, GO, GO! You will never regret the decision and the dZi will deliver a trip that will forever change how you view the world.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity.

Love, Lisa Raleigh