A Weekend in Kathmandu

Saturday was Parents’ Day at the Samakosi School and all of us were invited to join in the festivities.  We arrived at 11 a.m. to find the courtyard covered with a large tent, a stage and seating for 500.  All students in the school (nursery through to Class 10) had spent weeks preparing for this event. 

Patti and Robin were surprised to be ushered to the front row to sit with the VIP’s.  What followed was a spectacular program of Nepali song and dance, skits, speeches and the presentation of Awards to every student.  Students were called up to the stage class by class, congratulated and given a tikka (a red dot of vermillion paste on the forehead).  This is the spot where the third or spiritual eye, is said to reside.  As an important guest, Robin was selected to put a tikka on some of the students’ foreheads. 

It was a wonderful afternoon for all of us, watching the excitement of the children, all dressed in their best clothing for the occasion.

We spent Sunday at the Nepal School of Social work. Bala Raju Nikku, the founding director, and other faculty and students spoke to us about social services and Social Work practice in Nepal. Social Work education in Nepal has only been available for 15 years and Social Work is not yet recognized as a profession in the country. The students we met were all working on their Bachelor Degrees in Social Work.  They were also involved in community based practicum placements and we learned that as faculty and students we shared many common experiences. We also had the opportunity to sit in on a continuing education class on volunteerism and to listen to and participate in a lively debate about how to honor and value the work of volunteers. The faculty at the College hope to engage community members in lobbying their government to actively promote a culture of volunteering. It was a wonderful day of connecting and exchanging information about our respective countries.