All posts by cmadmin

Portraits Of Hope: Stories From Ukraine And Beyond

by Kristin Wright

As I compiled this series, I couldn’t help but think of the quote from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: “Hope is not victory, but it is the promise of dawn. It lives in the darkest of nights, a steady candle against the uncertainty, until the coming of the day.”

This series is about real people making a difference in their communities, as Tolkien put it, in the darkest and most uncertain of nights. It’s about their unyielding commitment to help others in need. In Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, I witnessed over and over again the power of individuals to offer hope and provide care in their communities in ways that nobody else is.

The stories you’re about to read come from people from all walks of life— a Ukrainian doctor serving in a Polish hospital, a Polish woman with a disability finding her place in a blended community, a Ukrainian refugee starting anew in Romania. Despite their diverse backgrounds and experiences, there’s one thing that binds them: their deep care for others in the midst of war.

Olga
Fundatia Inima de Copil, Romania

“All my childhood I grew up seeing Romania over the border. When we had to leave Ukraine, we came here. We stayed at a small hotel from the end of February to the middle of May. All the people who came with us were moving to Germany to other places. But me and my sister and mom were not moving on.

I said to the hotel owner, ‘Tell me directly if we need to leave.’ She said, ‘You can stay as long as you want, just help me in the kitchen.’ It was so cold! The water was cold and I was washing dishes for 150 people. After that, I thought, ‘I’m not afraid of anything.’

That day washing dishes, it was the first day since the war started that my mind was clear. I was not just ok — I was good because I could distract myself.

I escaped. My family didn’t see me, I was so busy. I didn’t have any time to watch the news. The news wasn’t good, and I couldn’t change the situation. Being in that mental state wasn’t helpful.

I was sleeping again and I took showers and started to speak English and a little Spanish, too. I spoke with a woman who spoke Spanish, and she was so nice and accepting and kind. I am so blessed because I only meet great people. I made such good friends. We were laughing all the time—I misunderstood so many things and had so many stories.

Sophia
Pay It Forward Foundation, Poland

At 9 years old, Sophia came to the Pay It Forward Foundation with her mother from Ukraine. Sophia lives with a disability, and needed additional support that became impossible to find when Russia’s war in Ukraine began.

“We arrived at 3 a.m. and people welcomed us at 3 a.m.,” Sophie recalls of her first night at the foundation. “And then Emilia arrived, and I just love her so much.”

Marzena
Pay It Forward Foundation, Poland

“I am the mother of two boys, aged 12 and 5. I came here to get strong for me and for my family. It’s tough for me because I’m losing the important moments with my boys—but I am clenching my teeth and I am working as hard as I can. I got a new wheelchair—the old one was too big—and now I’m able to learn all these new things in order to live independently.

I’m learning from scratch how to live in a wheelchair, how to maneuver, and how to do things that will help me in the future.

I’m always thinking about new challenges. I learned how to swim. Now I’m thinking about diving. These are my new aims.

It all connects with the dream of standing up again.

There is still a slight chance it could happen, that I could walk again. So I’m working very hard to make it come true. But even if the illness will not allow this, I know I have to live my life and enjoy it as much as I can.”

Anna
Zywiec Development Foundation, Poland

“I enjoy doing what I do; it’s creative. Fantastic.” Anna leads and facilitates a group of Ukrainian women on a project titled “Wool for Ukraine,” a creative endeavor to sell handmade items to support Ukrainian families.

“I like it when the ladies can think about something else outside of war,” she says, “to do something different. We make beautiful things, and it helps us.”

QR Code accessible from anywhere is provided by the bank (or write to us at office@consolemission.org for bank details).

मिति/Date: २०८० जेष्ठ २८ / June 2023, 11

बालबालिकालाइँ विद्यालय समय भन्दा बाहेक अरू समयमा कसरी पठन पाठनमा ध्यान लगाउँने र उनिहरूलाइँ शिक्षालाइँ पहिलाे प्राथमिक्तामा राख्न सहयाेग गर्ने भन्ने विषयमा १ दिनकाे अभिमुखिकरण कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न भयाे । यस १ दिने कार्यक्रममा १४ वटाबाट सहभागीहरू पठाइएका थिए । याे कार्यक्रम देश का विभिन्न जिल्ला अन्तर्गतका गाउँपालिकाका वडाहरूलाइँ दिने साेँच रहेकाे छ । A 1-day orientation program was held on how to help children focus on their study outside of school hours and to keep education as their first priority. Participants were sent from 14 countries for this 1-day program. This program is planned for the wards of the rural municipalities under different districts of the country.

• सहभागी जाे वडाले छनाेट गरि उपस्थीत भएका थिए उनिहरूलाइँ सहजीकरण गर्न एउटा मार्गदर्शन वा सहयाेगकाे लागि पुस्तिका पनि व्यवस्था गरिएकाे थियाे । The participants were selected by the ward to attend. To help them facilitate a guidebook was given.

अगाडिकाे याेजना/ Looking forward:

• सम्बन्धित सहभागी वडाका अध्यक्ष तथा अध्यक्ष समितिसँग भेटघाट र सहयाेग गर्नकाे लागि सहयाेग सम्बन्धित विषयबारे प्रस्तुति /Meeting with the chairman and chairman committee of the respective participating ward and presentation on the subject related to assistance.
• उपलब्ध श्राेतबारे जानकारी लिने असार २०८० महिनामा /finding out the available resources at ward under their planning and budget – month of June 2023.
• सहभागीहरूले याेजनाअनुसार सर्वेक्षण गर्ने र अभिभावक भेला गराउँने असार २०८० महिनामा /14 participants will do survey and parent’s meeting- month of June 2023 to mid July 2023.

Progress:

In two villages within two rural municipalities, Console Mission (CoMi) has initiated a community learning center called Our Study Place by renting rooms, serving a total of 48 students. The journey between the villages takes locals more than an hour. Children from both villages walk to the same school, which offers education up to grade 8 and is operated by the government. The efforts of CoMi have been recognized by the school’s principal, the local chairperson, and their team. Recently, in October 2024, a three-month report was submitted to the ward and the municipal office.

Why not hide-and-seek? It helps develop communication, to be clever, patient, teamwork and strategy but we lack to focus in this area.

याे लुकामारी खेल किन नहाेस् ? यसले संचार, चतुर, धैर्यवान, टोली कार्य र रणनीति विकास गर्न मद्दत गर्दछ तर हाम्राे यस क्षेत्रमा कम ध्यान केन्द्रित गर्दछाैं ।

On memory of the founder chairman, Ms. Martha Marhatta

Since 2010 Training on nutrition, counselling and management was provided to the volunteers, staffs and the managers/owners of both private, public and private public elderly homes located at the heart of the country. This training was held in a training hall of an NGO nearby.

The founder members in front, management team and the trainees from shelter homes. First shelter homes were visited and after understanding their various needs, they are verbally informed about the training. 15 was the minimum and 30 was maximum number of trainees set. After the number is reached, visiting several shelter homes, training content with handbook, training date and venue is fixed. Then a written letter about the training is sent to the possible shelter homes.

Training held at the office that was provided at her own house in Lalitpur Metropolitain City, ward number 15.

Team member visited one shelter home in Lalitpur. After the training, assisting the trainees and continue visiting were followed.

an opportunity for final year of undergraduate student

After the King kindly moved a little backward in 2008 and handed government rule the country structuring presidential, prime-minster and ministers by the political parties, instabilities continued until even now in 2023.

In this situation those government linked organisations like educational, health, public administrative and other relevant services were affected. As the instabilities of the political party, the change of officers and government employee’s movement happened. That is psychologically something but since it has been a practice, we can imagine that is not affecting them and their family are used to it. In the surrounding of Console Mission, one person went with all his belongings to the minister quarter, the facilities for minister. Because he was made one minister. But just within a month he returned with all his stuff and family. Luckily that flat was unoccupied. Not only this, if you visit district administration office today and go after a month there is many possibilities in change. It happens all the sectors related to the government.

All this happens even if there is stability in government. Maybe after 3 years or 5 years. But what if the system is in the right place? Because the government or its entities must operate following certain specific approved guidelines. Even there is procedure for accepting application for citizenship identity card from the citizen or giving admission for new student at school or for health checkup at government’s hospital. Then where it is failing. It is happening because someone is not doing that must be done. That will be a blame and that will not end up with expected solution. We need something in concrete. Therefore, Console Mission has been studying to understand and finding facts that will help. A recent survey helped to understand that many people in important positions lack knowledge to operate and handle their job in the right way that is necessary. They have power but they are also lacking to make it useful.

In this situation, non-governmental entities must help to strengthen the capacities of those people in position and power. Therefore, Console Mission is focusing on finding elements that will help teachers and the health sectors essentials to motivate them. Because if they do that, they can dig and find their necessities. They do not have to rely on secondary sources for maintaining their financial status.

It is not only teachers, parents and everyone of us be alert to address the needs of today’s children. Technology has advanced learning but children are vulnerable to various types of abuses, exploitation and interests that are unnecessary. They must be distracted because there are many elements that are like a polluted air, which can affect their thought and self-motivation.

It took long time, many years, that need itself become so powerful that the government of Nepal allocated the responsibilities and authorization capacity to the local level. For long time Nepali people suffered. Even after democracy, unchanged system affected the people living in the local area. The Public services and Public Service bearer had to travel to the central for approving for the materials that is quickly needed. For example, need stationery items for school.

The Village Development Committees was changed into Ward and Several Wards were Structured into Municipality that is quick in responding the need of the locals in the rural areas.

In 2019 when 3 girl’s students decided for technical course, they were encouraged both financially and psychologically. Then they were preparing for entrance living with Dilasha Aviyan financially supported for coaching class by another education focused organization. Their result of grade 10 taken by the government was not out yet. However, it happened all 3 of them and there were other students too planning for grade 11 become successful. But among the 3 students, the required grades in 1 subject did not meet. She joined coaching class and reappeared for the examination, and she did get the required number. Until then she was already admitted in course along with other 2 students. It was something for the people of their area. They were from same ward by from different villages called Bulakhi Chawor and Jhakri Danda. After admission, these students were suggested to apply for fund at their related government office. They collected a letter of admission from their respective educational institutes and applied. And it was accepted that they received good amount because the scholarship that they were receiving was not enough to manage all their need.

The needs were:

1. Textbooks
2. Notebooks
3. Stationeries
4. Dress
5. Tour and travels
6. Practical examinations
7. Extra curriculum activities fee
8. Examination fees to the affiliated or examination management legal body
9. Daily travel cost
10. Daily tiffin
11. Food expenses
12. Living expenses

Features and characterstics of technical/vocation courses:

1. Short compared to other course from less than a year to 3 years
2. Costly
3. More practical focused
4. Possibilities to get job quickly after the completion of the course
5. Interaction with business, companies and factories

Our Study Place, an initiative trying to manage studying and learning environment for children who has less opportunities and more than education or going to school there are other urgent needs that they have to take care of otherwise they will not have food to eat.

Our ancestor managed place to live really analysing geographical distractions for the human being. Human beings changed their style. From jungle human beings become superior to other living beings- all animals and plants. But there were challenges that I have already mentioned are hills, dense forest and the natural structures like river flowing inside jungles. Even now, there are challenges that humans become aware of when a natural disaster like flood or earthquake occurs. There are many other kinds of disasters that comes under it that is not human made. However, focusing on Nepal where Dilasha Aviyan has been working on, those settlements are geographically in the hills. Some are in one and others are on another hill. Because at the top of the hill it is little flat. Or if even it is pointed in a triangle shape, then it is easy to make it flat. That is the starting point for the tribes. Continuing living there we can find few changes, like there are more than one type of people and there are walking paths to reach from one village to the another. However, this is one cause that either managing a human resource or starting and centralizing in one place for the entire ward is a risk because:

1. The activity of this initiative starts in the afternoon till evening or even could go late evening.
2. Not only is monsoon season but the walking path is narrow and there are always possibilities of falling rock from up the hill.

Moreover, the management of human resources that is most important and relevant. The availability of tutors, just like in urban areas, in a coaching class. But that is just another thing in those areas that is why we are calling it “geographically disadvantage”. If we manage one tutor for one learning center. We will need at least 4 in one ward because there are several villages, like in Bhatte Danda ward there are about 14 villages. Managing a qualified tutor is relevant but we have to pay monthly. And related expenses will occur too. Besides the cost, we must think about the effect of someone outside the area. Hence, beside financial there are other causes linked with the management of human resources like tutor to run daily 2-hour class in the evening.

Before writing this blog, the writer researched on the meaning of blog, its importance and tips for writing.

Welcome to our page.

“a wise idea to focus on prevention” – (2024, Co. Mi.)

After the disaster, new houses and buildings applied protective engineering methods to prevent falling in Nepal.