I’m not even certain how to begin this post. I feel so naive. I never stop learning here. I came with the intent of conducting a small women’s health project in light of the recent attention given to the practice of Chapaudi, exiling females to huts during menstruation. I was thinking awareness education and providing some female hygiene products. Well. The conversations have been long and personal with our older girls and the reality is hard to comprehend. I am now aware of the plight of females here regarding menstruation. Many have no access to any products, let alone disposable pads or tampons for convenience, they are considered unclean, may be exiled, suffer infections from dirty cloth used or inability to wash and dry underclothes where they may be seen. We are starting with our girls in the most remote regions. We spent the day in Asan finding and purchasing materials to have pads made from cotton cloth. We will be providing dettol, soap, & panties along with hygiene education.

How are girls suppose to be in school when they have nothing to use for their periods? No one talks with them about what is happening and they are left to fend for themselves with whatever they can find. Many are ostracized, can’t touch males, food, can’t worship,…and it is not a topic to be discussed. Thank you to Babi, Robina, & Pema for sharing, for planning, and for taking action. Seeing our older scholarship girls contributing back to make a difference means so much. Robina & Pema are both working now as nurses and are helping to lead this project.

It is so hard to be a girl here.

My attempt to make cookies in a convection oven to say thank you to the very sweet young men that keep an eye out for me when I am alone here in Kathmandu. They all are about Bryce’s age and work at the restaurant. I always know if I was in trouble They would try to help.

Made it out on a flight at 5:30 am. Then a 5 hour ride back to Kathmandu. Then a Rickshaw to get to my place. There is some serious washing in my near future! My bag smells horrible and I’m not much better. Good news, everyone smells the same coming off Everest !

No big surprise that the crazy weather in Lukla caused the tiny plane in front of ours to have to turn around and the airport was shut down. Try again in the morning!

I got to see Kalden’s beautiful wife, Lakpa, and finally got to hold their handsome boy, Dawa Tashi! He turned one year old yesterday and is so precious.

After 14 days, we are coming out of the mountains. I always leave a piece of my heart here.

Today I saw Mingma again. Last visit she was just starting school ( first photo) and now she is in grade 4. She is attending one of our scholarship schools In Ghat along with her friend and our other scholarship recipient, Sarina. They showed us video of them dancing at recent school event. They have a new principal. A young, smart, female role model!!! Progress!!!

These 5 girls, Mingma, Ramila, Pasang, Pasang, and Mingma, are waiting for their level 10 scores and dreaming of college in Kathmandu. They have so little information or help. They just know they want to go to school and study. We spent the afternoon doing some career counseling and planning with them. Sharing resources for them and their parents. They are so precious, brave, and smart. We found out they had no idea what a checklist was so Babi and I are developing their very first checklist called “steps for coming to college in Kathmandu” for guidance for them and their families. The coming month is very important for their futures.

There is so much work behind the scenes to gain government approval for our work in Nepal. Many documents must be gathered from schools on each girl and then paperwork must be submitted for approvals. We have been gathering and reviewing documents from our schools as we come down the mountain.