It was so great to be back in Nepal in 2022. After a 2 year gap – there were many people to catch up with and projects to celebrate. The first task was to finally meet in person, Elina, our new field officer. She was recently married to Solomon, whom I had known for around 6 years. Wise Woman Project (WWP) had contracted them to work as field officers in Nepal , to source new work, implement and deliver projects and monitor progress.
I was able to visit with all the recipients of the projects since 2020. I got to hold baby goats, take photos of new houses and smile with families who received support, hold a hand after surgery, which we sponsored, and meet countless others who indirectly WWP had touched. You can see our current projects under their headings on the other page. But here, I want to share a story about a special family that I met on the Everest Base Camp trail.
I had trekked this part of Nepal around 12 times by 2022 and was familiar with so much of it. But I had never met Suman (not his real name). Elina and I were on our way to check on one of our other projects in the village of Tok Tok. We flew from Kathmandu to Lukla. The flight and the arrival into Lukla was so reminiscent of the very first time we visited Nepal 10 years earlier. The weather was freezing, the backpack got heavier with the altitude and the 2nd most dangerous landing in the world at Lukla Airport (Sir Edmund Hillary Airport) was still exciting!
Suman was going to be our porter. He was a member of the church in Tok Tok and came to Lukla to meet us. Suman arrived on time in the same mountain fashion that we had grown to expect from guides and porters. He had walked about 3 hours downhill, and now he would walk back up with my backpack for another 4.5hours. What a guy! Smiling and gentle, but I’m sure with plenty of spark he accompanied us for several days.
After completing our work in the Everest Regions or as it is more correctly known, The Solukhumbu, Suman assisted me down the trail and back towards Lukla. On the way he asked if we would like to meet his wife. Of course we cried! We followed him off the track, across the cabbage and saag (spinach) fields. Behind a stone wall and down a small path was a shelter loosely constructed with bamboo poles, plastic sheets and a tarp. Next to the shelter was a roughly cleared area of ground where a pile of rocks lay.
This pile of rocks was how Suman’s wife made her only income – smashing them with a hammer and chisel and turning them to gravel to sell. Suman worked as a local porter.
This family, mum, dad and 14 year old son, lived here. Squatting on a piece of land without a lease, without a contract or title. Without proper walls or roof. And so we made a plan.
As we do with all new projects we did an assessment. We talked and listened. We heard of the struggles but we also identified the strengths. We started with a monthly savings support program and then moved to a child sponsorship program which is ongoing.
After only 6 months of the project commencing, the family had moved into their own rented room. Complete with a kitchen, beds, neat shelves and most importantly walls and a roof. Windows and a door to keep out the cold and dust. I got to see this house when I returned with Danny in November. Our faces were moist with the joy and tears of seeing such a huge transformation in their lives. Together we celebrated with a photo. They gave us 2 bottles of fanta. A thankyou. But there was no need. Our joy was complete.
WISE WOMAN PROJECT 