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2010 Service Trip to Sikkim Project Sites REPORT - Zuluk Hostel

Apr 19, 2010 - 5:38:58

2010 Sikkim Report : Padamchen, Zuluk Hostel

Currently the Zuluk Hostel in Padamchen has 52 children . It is still 2 floors with a girls dorm and a boys dorm necessitating the kids to eat , sleep and study in their beds. One of our important goals was to access the situation for the building of a third floor. Guy Kitchen, a Montana builder, evaluated the structure and roof and presented a report verifying the safety of the proposed 3rd floor addition. The addition will become the girls dorm and the first floor will become the common room where the kids can eat , study and recreate. There will be a need for furnishing this common room with tables, benches and perhaps book shelves for a library. 2010 TCEF , committed to raise $7500 towards this project. We are collaborating with the Trans Himalayan Aide Society, Canada to complete the 3rd floor.

Darrell Hayes a member of the Monbuk Rotary Club, Victoria, Australia has committed to fund raise for the thermal solar unit through his rotary club. While in Gangtok, Darrell, Lama Paljor and Valerie met with the Gangtok rotary to discuss their participation and support of this project. They were very supportive but informed us they had minimal dollars themselves to contribute.

The general condition of the hostel was neat and clean and in good repair. The children sleep on VERY THIN pads and many do not have any pads but sleep on a blanket covered board. They do not have adequate bed covers. Their family is responsible for providing this and some just do not have the funds for bedding. Lynn Hayes of Australia suggested we fund raise for Bedding Kits. We estimate the cost of a kit is $35 USD which would include a mattress, sheets, pillow and pillow cover, warm quilt and pajamas.Great idea Lynn! MAY 2010 UPDATE ; A generous kind hearted donor has just pledged to supply all the BED BAGS!

Lama Paljor explained that several of the children we currently sponsor have left(on his request) the hostel because they were failing and unable to keep up. The problem seems to be that these children started school late , some at 12 years old and are not able to catch up and they continue to fail. He wanted to make room for other kids who would succeed. At this point, sadly he felt we could not really change things for these children. Lama Paljor spoke at great length about this unfortunate situation with these students, and that is why he created the Good Star Academy to give the kids a strong early foundation and encourage the families to send their children to school early. Some of these younger children have been moved into the hostel so they can regularly attend school and NEED SPONSORS>

The Good Star Academy now has 104 students. TCEF, on the spot donated $500 for books at Good Star Academy and $500 to the Hostel for ongoing needs.

Guy Kitchen did a vocational program, teaching the older boys how to make a picnic table. This was very successful and a highlight for many of the kids. They learned to measure, plane, cut, assemble, screw, and read construction blueprints. The boys gained a real tangible accomplishment which they were so proud of. The boys also seemed to really enjoy working side by side as a team under Guys direction. Wood and tools were donated so they could build another The girls were invited to participate but did not.

Mary Kitchen of Montana and Darrell Hayes prepared a cultural education class by presenting a slide show: A TRIP to America and Australia which the kids really enjoyed. Mary made boarding passes which were then stamped as the kids entered the country via the slide show. Mary and Darrell narrated the slides of typical vignettes of our modern life including houses, schools, stores, hospitals, roads , local foods and people engaged in every day activities.

Our group brought art supplies; cakes of tempera paint, brushes and good paper and did art projects. Valerie Hellermann(TCEF project manager) and Katie Knight(Helena HS teacher) prepared an art exchange project. The Helena HS kids made personal symbols and strung them like prayer flags to send to the kids in the Hostel. The kids were presented the flags and the hostel children then painted images of their environment to send to the Helena HS kids. Photo images of both groups painting have been exchanged.
Our group also brought knitting supplies to distribute and Lynn did a knitting circle with the girls.

We hauled many large heavy bags of donations that included books, games, puzzles, clothing, jump ropes and flash cards. The educational books, science, math, geography, were very popular as most ,if not all of the kids have not had access to such learning material. The novels were also greatly appreciated . Math flash cards and puzzles were a great hit.
Darrell and Lynn Hayes had money donated by friends in Australia and this was used to buy a complete sound system for the hostel as the kids really enjoy music.
The kids presented us with a wonderful concert of dance both traditional and hip hop. Emma Wieland, Jane Wieland and Craig Harrington entertained the group with a version of a line dance. They loved this exchange . One of the senior boys gave an impressive speech in English thanking TCEF and our group for the visit, our support and friendship. He was especially thankful to Guy Kitchen for teaching them to build the picnic table.
It was a wonderful visit and full of special interactions between our group and the children.