Josh’s Blog: 2- Volunteering with WTMY
Week 3
Found myself having trouble getting to grip with the excel work, but it was great to get help from Jubeen, the Social Work intern from Kathmandu who helped with it a lot probably wouldn’t have been able to have done it with out his support. I was set the task of cost pricing recycled paper bags for the webpage (not an easy task for me), but I did it!
Week 4
Well it’s has been the last week of volunteering and Kathmandu has definitely shown me its colors but also taken its toil.
My computer broke with all my lesson plans, blogs, pictures, spread sheets and workings were all on it. So start where you left off, pretty simple really, someone had donated English books with very helpful practices in. Previously they have helped a lot considering you never know how many Street Children will turn up.
The Kids love to help out making tea and food plus biscuits go down a treat. There is a basic Kitchen in a large room off from the classroom, if there was some way of getting the resources together then cooking classes would be perfect here. (I’ll have to work on that).
Set backs are a common thing in Kathmandu from power cut to strikes so its not always the easy way to learn to teach but its a whole lot of fun and very rewarding.
Welccome To My Yard is an organization that needs help but has got a life long member now – Sign me up!
Josh.
Thanks to Josh for his support during his month long English Teaching Project. If you are interested to take up the challenge of volunteering, check out our volunteering page http://www.welcometomyyard.com/Volunteer/Volunteer_front.html
Josh’s Blog: 1- Volunteering with WTMY
For the next few weeks we will be following Josh who has come to join us at WTMY in Kathmandu from the UK. Josh, 23, came out to Nepal after passing his TEFL certification and chose to find his own accommodation in Kathmandu. He will be spending at least a month with us before continuing on his travels. Read his frank and funny delve into the world of volunteering and his experiences visiting Nepal.
Week 1
I was greeted at the airport by Purmina, WTMY’s Programme Manager who was smiling in a crown of a hundred, she took me to Thamel central (the tourist district) where there are hundreds of guest houses to choose from but all I really wanted was a shower and a beer.
A few days later I moved to a place called Shree lal Inn which is owned by a family who are very friendly and the rooms are the cheapest I could find, for 300 Nrs you get a bed with no bathroom.
That night Arabinda the Board Chair, Purmina and I went to eat, talk about the organization and culture of Nepal over mo-mo’s (Nepal’s local stuffed dumplings) and other good stuff.
So far what do I think of Nepal?
I’ve seen a type of caring you just don’t find in England, the people share food, beliefs and culture proudly yet with no discrimination even with their difficult political situation, it’s a country of hard working, life loving and culturally diverse people. Whatever religion you are there is an acceptance and understanding to all.
As for Welcome To My Yard they are good people trying to better the lives of the street kids and the communities with many problems in Kathmandu.
Week 2
From my experience so far there are many things I have learnt about teaching English and the culture but it’s only the start in Nepal, I already know I would like to stay around and do more. The children are very willing to interact with me and like to learn in fun ways, this is making it challenging but really interesting.
To know more about volunteering with Welcome To My Yard visit our website http://www.welcometomyyard.com/Volunteer/Volunteer_front.html
WTMY Latest News is out now
Walk With Me Tour
Put the kettle on, put your feet up and tuck in to the WTMY latest news.. because it’s worth a read!
Simply click on the link below to view
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=1b4d0a998493bafd1f3e861e0&id=999daba051
Welcome To My Yard Interactive Annual Report 2011/2012
Introducing our First Year Interactive Annual Report 2011/2012
We are proud to have produced our first ever WTMY annual report. Our annual report is packed full of photos and information about our project; our story so far, our successes and challenges, case studies, our future plans and of course our thanks to our supporters and donors over this first year. This report is interactive so you can click on any illuminated hover button that appears for more information about that section. We’ve published it online to make it more fun and convenient for you to read and to save on paper though you can also download or print it! We really hope you enjoy reading it.
If you would like to read the copy online with all the cool hover buttons, info and shortcuts to download and print go here http://issuu.com/wtmy/docs/wtmy_annual_report_2011-2012?mode=window&viewMode=doublePage
otherwise simply click on the picture below to read the report.
Check us out on..
Website: www.welcometomyyard.com
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Welcome-to-My-Yard/166923088122
Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/WelcometoMyYard
The Changemakers: Join our Management Team- Vacancy Announcement
Important Vacancy Announcement: An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Management team!
Welcome To My Yard Community Interest Company is establishing a Board of Non-Executive Directors who will form our new London Based Advisory Board. The Board will be providing integral monitoring, evaluation and guidance to the work we undertake. As an advisory lead in your area of expertise you will also add genuine value to our practice, our growth and improve our service delivery.
Candidates need to have experience, knowledge and skills in one or more of the following areas: Education, Social Work Practice/Family Support/ youth work, Business, marketing, funding, philanthropy, Community participation, Nepal (first hand awareness/ knowledge of cultural context and customs).
This is a fantastic opportunity to be an integral part of our development and to make a genuine difference in the lives of street children and young people in Kathmandu Nepal.
Please note that we have several positions available and that the post is unpaid.
If you would like to know more about this or are interested to apply, please download our Job Description here or email sandramarmora@hotmail.com to request an application pack.
We really look forward to hearing from you.
Candidates will be asked to undergo an enhanced CRB check
WTMY Advisory Board Job Profile
Read more about us! www.welcometomyyard.com Check us out on Facebook Follow us on Twitter
Send us an enquiry about the Advisory Board Below
WTMY October Challenge 2012: Global friends, global successes
New Zealanders take on a Yoga Challenge
This year many of you joined our 2012 October Challenge, giving up a small habit or routine for a whole month. People gave up tea and coffee, alcohol, sweets and treats, clothes shopping, cycled to work, went on diets, stopped eating out, cut out canteen food, did yoga challenges and stopped shaving. You participated from Nepal, UK, Australia, New Zealand and USA. Well, your sacrifices raised an incredible £678!
Biraj (Nepal) gave up his morning cup of tea
This is the second year we ran the challenge recruiting through Twitter, our e-newsletter and through creating a special Facebook Page. Last year seven people successfully completed the Challenge , this year twenty seven challengers made it through the month, a fantastic increase in people signing up!
Some of our challengers also took a novel twist on the concept. Three women from New Zealand decided to up their yoga classes for the month and donate every time they did a session. Two others (in Cyprus and USA) went on diets and donated for every pound they lost.
Bipindra (USA) lost an incredible 16 pounds by giving up junk food
”What was really great about the challenge was that people could give up or reduce as much or a little as they liked and they only donated whatever savings they made, meaning they didn’t spend a penny extra than they would have normally, unless they wanted too! It was so fabulous to see so many people join in from different countries, it really felt great to get such support” Sarah, Founding Director
The money raised through this years challenge will help towards keeping our centre open for the street community for a further 6 months! This is so important as our centre provides us with a crucial drop in place for the street community to gain support, a safe place to run our programmes from and provides us stability to keep building and improving our service. You see, a small sacrifice really does go a long way.
We can’t thank everyone enough for joining the Challenge and supporting us. We also want to thank the people who have supported us with monthly sponsorship or one off donations this year, your much needed support also does not go unrecognised. You are all such beautiful people. Thank you from all of us at WTMY, we’ll see you again next October!
Shopping Positive
WTMY UK team turns e-shop to real shop in Hackney.
