Blog: Asia

Dhoker Jhara Village, India

This past quarter, villagers in Dhoker Jhara have been working hard on income generation.  Among them, Mohit, started a men’s hair salon. He had been afraid to run his own salon because people used to say that tribal villagers are not allowed to cut hair. Only some castes could cut hair. After education, villagers now understand that anyone may open a salon. By seeing Mohit’s example, other villagers were encouraged to increase their income generation.

Binodpur Village, India

Kharibari Village, India

Last quarter, we pursued practical work in Kharibari Village. We had already installed one street light in the middle of the village and were getting ready for another one, but one panchayat member suggested we approach the local MLA for solar lights instead. So, one fine evening, the villagers got together to write an application for solar lights, along with a culvert for the village.
 

“I am Rifah**. I am 15 years old and studying in grade 9. My father is a rickshaw van driver and my mother is working as a tailor at home. I love to attend GHNI’s Lotus Group for Transformational Community Development (TCD). I like to give time to care for and play with small children. I learned many subjects from the TCD Lotus group. There are many subjects to learn as a teen, such as how to keep clean and take care of oneself. We didn’t have a hygienic toilet in my home. Our toilet was very dirty and not even clean.

Recently, I visited our poplar tree project in Yakawlang. The trees are still growing taller, but they currently lack leaves.

Our exhibitions are excellent and going well in the Garden of Peace and Hope. In recent months, I had good exhibitions that included paintings, theater, handicrafts, and a fashion show with models. One event had to be postponed a week, but it was a wonderful exhibition with so many visitors that it was extended two more days so that all the villagers could visit. The next exhibition was in mid-December. On this day, all the paintings on public display were works by a very young girl who has waited for a long time to be showcased in the Garden of Peace and Hope.

Our Women’s Empowerment Centers (WEC) are run very well by our GHNI staff. The girl and boy students continue to regularly come to learn English. Now that the girls and boys are in the class together, they are enthusiastically attending in two class times. Those who are good in English come in first, and then others who are weaker come to the second class. 

Dear friends and partners,

Charlie Lamento here, writing to you from Indonesia, where we were invited to conduct an anti-trafficking assessment of the Indonesian legal system with government officials, lawyers,

For the time being, the government has closed off the area in Myanmar where the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) we serve are located. The local leaders do not want aid mistakingly ending up in the wrong hands during this period of instability and violence.

However, we remain in contact with our local TCD committee and are monitoring the situation. When access is restored, we will be there to help those in need.

Jatapara Village, India