The Children of Nepal

He is 24 years old. His wife is 20. His first child is just past the age of 2.  He lives in a 3 story house. The first floor is where the cow lives, the second floor is a bedroom where the big brother lives, the third floor landing is the kitchen, and the third floor bedroom sleeps 3. The bedroom is stuffed with a bed, piled up bins which I am guessing hold household treasures, a couch, a small television and probably 200 flies.

This is the family whose latrine I was helping to build. Not that I can say I helped a whole lot, every time I tried to do something someone would jump up and do it.  So between trying to be helpful, taking pictures, asking questions and documenting the process I got to know the family and a few special members of the community.  Families here are large and close.  I got to meet many of them during that day. Mom, who had a particular liking to my nose and then tried to pressure me into indulging in some afternoon local spirits… Grandpa, an ancient and quiet man just checking in to make sure everything was being done right.  The 26 year old brother, who is part of the army, has a wife and two kids (this was particularly interesting as I reflected on the differences between us at the exact same age).  Best of all though I got to meet all the local children. 

Sometimes with the work that I do I get wrapped up in the technical parts, the institutions I am working with and the educated people that I am collaborating with. On this day however, I got to step down, step back and play with the people we are really doing this work for – the next generation. When talking to people in workshops, presentations, airplanes or restaurants about what I do, I talk about children and the effects of poor water and sanitation on their health.

Here are a few of the facts:

• Unsafe water affects children’s ability to absorb nutrients which does not allow them to develop into healthy adults.
• Every single day 4500 children die because they don’t have access to safe water.

I sometimes say these things without conscious connection to those children and you probably hear them without conscious connection.  So lets connect.

Meet some of the beautiful children of Nepal. They want to practice their English and hear stories about where you live, they want to see pictures of themselves, they want to do exactly what dad does, they want to squish mud through their toes and then put it into buckets for no apparent reason, they want to dig holes and move dirt into piles, they want to pick flowers, they want to ride bikes and they want to chase cats.  They were exactly as you were as a child, they are exactly as your children are and like every child in the world they should have a bright and healthy future.

PS. Sorry if there are too many pictures, I just couldn't choose!

Namaste

Taryn