April Update

Dear Friends of dZi,

I would like to bring everyone up to speed on the many new developments with The dZi Foundation. We will be mailing out our new brochure and 13-minute DVD next week. We are excited for everyone to witness first-hand this accurate representation of the work of dZi. It is challenging, to say the least, for a hands-on organization working on the other side of the world to show you exactly what we are doing with your funding. I believe this DVD intimately connects you with our work and the dramatic influence we are having on the lives of the people we serve. This entire DVD campaign has been a stretch for dZi and we would appreciate your help in passing it along to any likeminded person. We are asking our friends and supporters for their personal participation on a grassroots level to help spread the word about our life-changing work. If you don't know if you are on our mailing list, please send us an e-mail with your current mailing address and we will send you a DVD.

Also included in this mailing, we are launching The dZi Visionary Society. In taking our work to the next level, we are attempting to have our supporters participate on a consistent basis. This identifiable commitment will help us in our planning as dZi continues to serve as many people as possible in the developing countries where we work.

We would also like to have you all take a look at our completely rebuilt web-site: dzifoundation.org. Please check out the new sections that we are especially proud of: Current Projects and Past Projects. These pages chronicle our history, showing our vision and commitment to those less fortunate.

Thank you for your time, and enjoy the DVD.

All the best, Jim

We received another letter from Katey who is volunteering at The Sikkim Happiness Home:

Hello dZi Foundation!

It's hard to believe that another month has flown by since I wrote to you last. Since then, the girls at the Happiness Home have become well adjusted to school. We finally arranged for all the new girls to be in level-appropriate classes, as their lack of exposure to English proved to be an incredible challenge. We moved DiChen Ongmu Lechungpa, who we were especially worried about, to Upper Kindergarten, where she's doing quite well. She is now solid with reading and writing the important phrases such as "Ranu is a dog," "Tani is on the cot," and "Mother has a bag."

I had the opportunity to visit some government and private schools in Northern and Western Sikkim. Although studies are valued in most families, the public education system seems pretty desperate outside of Gangtok. Seeing such schools and indifferent teachers made it clear what an opportunity the Happiness Home offers. The girls also know this, and are taking full advantage. Exams for the Joy Bells School are next week, so most of the girls have been waking up at 5am to study, determined to receive good marks (only one example of how motivated they are).

An American group of students from Sterling College visited the hostel a few weeks ago. They generously donated a day to white-washing the outside and painting the gate, so the building looks wonderful! They also left an extra surprise, donating a stereo and a couple of CDs -- among them was the ever popular Indian Idol. Since then, we've had weekly dance parties to which the girls always look forward.

Spring has brought a few weeks of sunny weather. Sunday walks and picnics in the park have stretched all of our legs out and made the children more active. You wouldn't believe how creative they can be with outdoor games. Try hopscotch with balancing a stone on a foot, a hand, your head, or a combination thereof!

Cheers and all the best from Gangtok, Katey

The photo at right is of Kinley Bhutia, House Mother, and the girls at Sikkim Happiness Home.

Three girls join Jiri Technical School in Nepal

In April 1998, Happy Home / Friendship House took 17 girls referred from different sources. Among those, a number of them were rescued from the danger of being trafficked. Jeeya, Merina and Jasmina were three of them.

When the three girls joined Happy Home/Friendship House, they were between 12 and 14 years old. They were already far behind in their education, as a result of disruption in their early age schooling. All three girls were admitted into private schools and were given extensive tutoring. Unfortunately, however, when they reached grade IX, it was obvious that they would not be able pass the School Leaving Certificate Examination (SLC); a weak education foundation being the major reason for this.

It was decided, with the girls' approval, that they would join some kind of technical course of their interest. When the entrance examination date was announced at the Jiri Technical School, they applied. All three girls qualified, and were admitted in February 2005. Jiri Technical School (JTS) is situated near Jiri Bazaar of Dolakha district in Janakpur zone. It is a vocational training school established by the Swiss that offers training and preparation in many life skills.

Merina has now started a course as an overseer in construction. Jeeya and Jasmina are taking a two-and-a-half year course to be an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife. We wish the girls well with each of their chosen vocations!

At right are Jasmina, Jeeya and Merina, with House Father Uncle Hem!