Dashain Lunch 2008

Dashain lunch 2008 was celebrated with great zeal and jubilance with the underprivileged, poor and above all needy people. Altogether 183 people gathered at Jawalakhel crossroad to be a part of this event.

Rice, chicken, curd and salad was fed to people and we boast that we were able to create �we feeling� and a bond of oneness among everyone attending the luncheon.

We salute all the donors for their generosity.

We are grateful to have people like you who make ou

r dreams come true.

Thank you so much!!!

Dashain Lunch 2006

With deep gratitude we report that the 2006 Dasain Bhoj (lunch) was served to 707 persons from the displaced community reached through our network of displaced youths and the Victims of Maoists Association (ASMAN) and (according to the plates that could be counted). Although through ASMAN and our volunteers our estimate was 500 persons only. So far this year we were able to collect approximately Rs 46,901 yet, some of our donors like Maggie Shah, Father JoeThaler, and Arju Deuba came personally to give us their gifts of money on site. We bow to the care they specially demonstrated and all the other gifts of money that we received. Our total cost for this event was Rs. 106450. Our staff, volunteers, the caterer and his team did a wonderful job! The weather was on our side and those we managed to ask said the “food is very tasty”!

Based on our initial expectation, we had only planned on 100 warm shawls for distribution to the women and 250 caps (which we thought we would never use)! There was some disappointment there for many had to return without gifts – still a warm stomach and our apologies and valid reasoning compensated to a great extent!

As we sat in a debriefing circle bone weary but happy, here below is what our collective experience & learning has been:

• the displaced people are not able to return – cant pay for travel, and all required to begin anew in their villages/district
• many are more edgy, the whiff of alcohol wafted across now and then, and some were prone to being reactive and negative, and
• the lunch is still important for them to be able to come together for a meal and socialize.

For NA we need to do this differently. We will need more human resource at least 30 people who are hired to help out with organizing and management of the lunch (to get people on line, serve elders, comfort people (spend time to chat), and see to ongoing cleanliness). We will also have to be willing to pay the caterer more so that they too can ensure better service. We also decided that if we have the courage and the privilege of doing this lunch next year our gifts should be for every adult who comes and it will be at least 1 kg of good rice.

Finally we want to say we are so honoured to have your support. Thank – you

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