sIMA
Completion: August, 2018
Site: Sima, Nepal
Context: Group Volunteering Project
Organiser: Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad
Client: Partnership for Sustainable Development Nepal
Collaborators: S. Allen, L. Best, B. Bhatta, H. Campion, C. Lightowler, J. Paudel, L. Tritton, J. Wheating
For more information on this project visit BVDA.
In 2018 BVDA, namely "Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad", for the first year cooperates with the local NGO of choice for Nepal: PSD, namely "Partnership for Sustainable Development", recruiting a group of six Bristol students to volunteer in a two-month program in the small village of Sima, Nepal. Within the two months period, the program achieves the construction of four smokeless stoves, five garbage pits and eighteen (!) soak pit; the repair of the local school roof so stopping it from leaking; the reconstruction of the one local road that gets yearly damaged by the heavy monsoonic rains; the repair of the local bridge; the repainting of all interiors and exteriors of the local school; the teaching of English, Science and Hygiene at the local school.
Despite initial doubt towards the number of achievements that the cooperation between us BVDA volunteers and PSD would achieve, the project proves to be extremely successful, witnessing the completion of more soak pits than foreseen and the unplanned repair of the local school roof.
A sincere thank you goes to the numerous donors who generously contributed to the provision of the materials and of the skilled labour essential in realising this project.
Soak pits
Preparing the mix of concrete and water which ensures longevity of the soak-pits.
One of the many soak-pits built to improve hygiene conditions in the households around the village of Sima.
Smokeless stoves
Adobe bricks form a mixture of local clay and water with a central hole to allow smoke to flow upwards are ready for the construction of the smokeless stove.
The smokeless stoves' plaster needs to dry before becoming of use to allow healthier fire-log cooking, without compromising lungs and eyes health by smoke intoxication.
garbage pits
Larger stones are the base and smaller crushed stones allow smoother external surface before adding the concrete finish.
External garbage pits allow a higher sanitary condition within households and easier preservation of natural external environment, directly linked with on-site food production.
bridge & school roof
New wood logs substitute weathered and broken logs of the local bridge.
New wood logs can withhold new laminated sheets to prevent water leakages inside the school.
memory
We’ve never visited two regions of the same country that were quite so disparate as Kathmandu and Sima, Nepal. One, a bombardment of traffic (of which cows took up a considerable proportion), people (of which people took up a considerable proportion), and the general atmosphere of urban-industrial life. The other, a village that set its own pace of life, revolving around, for us at least, an ever-anticipated dish of Dal Bhaat. Our time in Sima was a unique, and quite literal, hands-on experience.
Perhaps one of the things that took longest to get accustomed to is the travel in Nepal. The travel can be put into three categories: Kathmandu, Kathmandu to Sima and around Sima. From the moment we left the airport in Kathmandu in a taxi, we were in awe of the traffic, with apparently no lights or rules but constant, steady movement. After a short break in our hotel, we went for a ghum-gham. This, however, makes the walk sound relaxed. For five very jetlagged Brits and a slightly less jetlagged Italian, this was definitely not the case. It was a culture shock with a plethora of close calls, cows, cars, bikes and flute sellers.
After a few days in the capital we headed onto Sima, via Baglung, over two days. The first day was a 10 hour journey in a microbus. The driver was obviously not as scared as the non native passengers during the overtakes on corners, hills or rough terrain, showing fast reflexes and a desire for decent time management. During stops, we stood bleary eyed outside various restaurants. The conversations at these spots consisted of very limited vocabulary and enthusiasm. At the end of the journey we were relieved to reach the hotel in Baglung and looking forward to a nice rest and only a two hour journey the next day...how naive we were to think this journey would be straightforward given our puny British resilience to Nepali roads. This was our first experience in a jeep in Nepal and we soon realised that we had had no idea. To give a brief summary, heads were hit on the inside of the jeep roof, ingested food threatened to reappear and a nameless member of the group was heard to say "My hands are tingly. I think I'm going into shock."
Day to day journeys in and around Sima involved a fair bit of ambulating. We covered miles, hopped across puddles, leapt across waterfalls and hurdled water buffalo (the last one might not be true). These were the best journeys with beautiful scenery, improvements in fitness and half decent conversations with one another. Slippery surfaces may have led to the same member of the group to whom the previous quote can be attributed taking two tumbles within the space of two minutes, but miraculously not receiving and injuries. What a legend.
Arriving in Sima, none of us knew what to expect when it came to dinner time. We were warned not to eat with our left hands (for obvious reasons) and that dhal bhaat would be served breakfast, lunch and dinner. After a week or so of spilling food down ourselves, we got the hang of eating with our hands and it became very fun and something that, since leaving Sima, we have missed. The variation once or twice a week to include meat or egg was a welcome treat to all. After a long day of construction, the holy words, “dhal bhaat is ready” couldn’t come quick enough. Aamaa even took time to show us all the recipes of our favourite dishes achar, garlic soup and cabbage so that we can cook Nepali food for or families although we doubt it will ever be as delicious as aamaa’s. Dinner time was always a pleasure chatting to aamaa and enjoying food so different from our diets at home; Nepal gave us dhal bhaat power 24 hours.
Our experience of Sima was also one of many firsts: our first leech, our first witnessing of a goat being slaughtered, our first interaction with a newborn water buffalo. It was clear that the wildlife of Nepal constituted an integral part of Sima’s community. This was most evident throughout the process of a goat being beheaded, skinned, cooked, and divided between the families it would feed. People would stop by, with whom we’d chat a little, using our ekdam basic Nepali, and as we watched, we were offered some goat offel, mixed with delicious chutney and spices; to be sure, a privilege we will remember in time to come.
It might have taken us a while to accustom to the pace and circumstances of day-to-day life in Sima, but the feeling of belonging once we adapted to it was rewarding for all. The most challanging ground: sanitary conditions. From rare showers (in a lungi, long dress to prevent unwanted expositions of the ladies body) with a bucket of cold water in a corn field to substituting toilet paper with the left hand and a jar of water leading to the inevitable establishment of the Left Hand Club. Pudic but more open minded than expected, allowing deeper cultural conversations on diversities between the local and European customs. Hearty and convivial people always welcoming you with a honest smile and keen to exchanging few words with us whose memory will stay in our hearts.
One thing we’re sure we’ll never forget about Nepal was the overwhelming hospitality and kindness showed to us from every member of the community. Whether it was from the mysterious Milobaar telling us to ‘khaanus khannus’ or Janak’s hujur baa offering us tea and biscuits and showing us his amazing dance moves. We met many people living in Sima throughout the project and each time we’d never felt more welcome. It is definitely true when people say you come to Nepal for the views but you come back for the people. For us in particular, we loved our first experience with teaching children. Not sure how we would fare as teachers, we quickly discovered how fun and rewarding it was playing with them in break time and helping them in lessons. On the last day we all played with a group of the school children one final time, us showing them games we knew and them showing us their favourite games. It was sad to say goodbye to all the wonderful people we met but their loving kindness will always stay in our hearts. Thank you Sima!
Filming while working seemed disrespectful thus the footage presents daily life experiences. Credits: J. Wheating. Nepal, 2018.