the story please!!!!

Second input to Sikre was far more official and less creative than I would have liked. I felt a little swamped by men and particularly uncomfortable at times........................ Actually - I will rephrase that;

I felt completely overwhelmed by dominating men who churned my stomach. This gave me the opportunity to see and feel to a small degree what some wives experience, but just a few days of it, and I am exhausted. I now know a little more about the strength women need in these villages to hold independence of any sort. By no means do I have any dislike to men in general, but I am here to work with women and therefore education and community development. This is the time I step up and act according to my priorities.

I have been pondering on how I could share these stories of lonliness, oppression and strength with you. Instead, please consider how naive you or I could possibly be at times. Try and imagine the stories behind every single thing that crosses your life, and please don't take that off your priority list as your thoughts and considerations may cross the paths of these stories in some way, some day...

...

Sikre can make paper. There are plenty of resources here, with very good farming practices and some very strong leading women. Meeting them for a second time was a delight. I felt mannerisms change within this time, from a simple feminine touch, to a far easier, less foreign greeting.

We shared ideas, and are seeking clarity on the potential costs involved in restarting their paper machine. Their enthusiasm was flattering to me, as I do not expect anybody to even attend a meeting with someone as foreign and hard to understand as me and my Nepali language at times.

We had some more official-like meetings which were not really noteable.

There is a plan to harvest, and make paper, colour and kites if they want to. But I do not feel it will work until the balance is present and the direction given by men is not necessary or expected.

The challenges in this short trip, have absolutely made headstrong of my motivation. There is a strange weight taken off my shoulders as I learn the heartbreaking stories that actually make it easier for me to work here.

New people. New forest. New dialect... and a road less travelled.

Sikre village.

I have met with Khadga Kharel Ji some time ago through a dear Australian forriage expert- Alan Robertson. This connection is valuable, and my instinctual trust can be confirmed.

Our plans have been simmering for six months now as we developed some basic kites in his home to sell in Australia. Basic, biodegradable, and beautiful. This trial in his family led me now to believe we could place in it a womens group and invest in some aspect of education like that of Nangi. This initial test takes place in Sikre - Sindhupalchowk. Nepal.

My meeting here was exciting as I felt them appreciate my language, and Bim Kumari Ji led me to a place within the jungle where we gained trust of each other and ate good ripe berries. This meeting will follow with an agreement made following fair trade principles to test whether they really are interested in making kites. We have found some good colour from the jungle that can be made into a paste for the block printing, and there are enough flowers about to press print too.

Photos will come soon.

Some time in April or May for a short week.

.....An incredibly satisfying time here where these relationships are solid. Absolutely solid, where the cultural habits or barriers that I often struggled with have become transparent or far less important. There is now a better understanding of why I do this and why they do that. And best of all, it doesn't matter.

There is now an understanding of the structure of my business - White Circles, and their opinion is positive as it will bring a long term future to the project and therefor they are excited to come to work every day. We have four new women working with us who laughed just as much as the others by Kaaja (snack time) day 1.

It is an honour to share this trip with Myee Gregory who is making a documentary on the project for University of New England Honours degree. (see http://blog.une.edu.au/news/2011/04/29/myee-travels-to-nepal-on-film-making-assignment/)

This will not only give the opportunity to educate about fair trade and concientious consumer bahaviours, but explore possibilitlies to transfer a similar framework elsewhere in Nepal. myeegregory.wordpress.com

The commitment, particularly on my last day was astounding, as we worked in fast forward 3 hours over time, making books, songs, and a future. This was simply a pleasure.

We have been putting together many books that will be easy to sell in Australia and online. (http://www.bluecaravan.net/home/1/)

They hold a good energy and I know that it is absolutely benefiting this community. They say so themselves. and they have every right to demand what more they want to change. We can get more books made at a more efficient rate with a few simple machines, and we can hope for less women overworking themselves in the jungle for their children's health or education.

This environment is exactly where I want to be... Be it Nepal, or some other village in some other part of the world.