January Update

Dear Friends of dZi,

From the December newsletter you will remember that Basanti Tamang had recently graduated with her Nursing degree and taken a full time job at the Dhulikhel Hospital in Kathmandu. Basanti is our first girl to leave The Friendship House, and on December 9th we reached another milestone, for Basanti as well as for our program in Kathmandu. Basanti was wed to Sarin Shrestha in a beautiful hour-long ceremony with over 100 people in attendance. They had met in school and had been seeing each other for over a year. Sarin is taking Business Studies, at the second-year Bachelor's level. His family are from Dhulikhel and own a garment shop. They have a house next to Dhulikhel Hospital, which makes it very convenient for Basanti. Sarin is a Newar and Basanti is Tamang. We are very happy that Basanti has been warmly accepted into Sarin's family. As there was no one from Basanti's family at the wedding, Hem Uncle and Binu Aunty, Basanti’s surrogate parents for so many years at the girl's home, were asked to give the bride away, and they gladly accepted this parental duty. On 11 December 2004 there was a reception at The Friendship House, with over 200 guests, including Basanti's friends and professors, as well as Sarin's relatives and friends. The three-hour gathering became very emotional when Basanti finally said good-bye and left The Friendship House to start a new life with her new family.

This has been bittersweet for Kim and I, as we were not able to be in attendance. Nonetheless, for Basanti we could not be happier. She has been a glowing example of what can be accomplished when given the opportunity. We are especially grateful to Basanti’s sponsors Rob & Debbie Ford for their support for the last eight years. Additionally, we are happy to report that with Basanti’s departure from The Friendship House, the Fords have decided to sponsor another girl. The cycle begins again; and the amazing part is, we get to watch the miracle unfold. With the passing of this event, it is crystal clear to me that I have received much more than I have ever given. I believe it is fair to say that Rob and Debbie have probably had similar thoughts.

Executive Director, Jim Nowak

And you think YOU don't like the dentist!

Lobsong Dolma's story is an amazing one that came out of the dental clinic we held in Ladakh, India last September. When lead dentist Tom Grams did the initial exam on Lobsong it was quite eye-opening. She had a second set of teeth in various places in her mouth! We were taken aback, and knew she was going to have a rough time if we were going to complete all the work that she needed. In all, eight teeth had to be extracted, and she also needed four fillings. A major undertaking for anyone, especially someone who had never been to a dentist and was only nine years old. As we started the process, I was assisting volunteer dentist Aideen Ni Mhuineachain, who intoned: “Jim, hand me the Novocain”. All of the work was completed in the six days that we run these dental clinics. Lobsong was so good, that if you look up the word “brave’ in Webster’s, her photo is in the margin! It was unbelievable. Something in her trusted Aideen with every fiber of her body. If you have ever had a tooth pulled, and I'm sure many of you have, you know it is not the most pleasant experience. Yet Lobsong was waiting by the door to the clinic everyday when she came home from school. We all just shook our heads in amazement. And in the end, the person who had not only helped her the most, but also inflicted the pain, Aideen, was the one she would not let go of when we left on that crisp fall day. We will be returning this May to the same site in Leh Ladakh for another dental clinic. I am positive we will see Lobsong waiting at the door. Aideen, are you coming back? We have room...

For sale: The dZi Foundation / Marmot DriClime Jacket

The perfect post-holiday gift! Marmot Mountain Ltd. continues to support our foundation in many ways. Marmot has donated their award-winning DriClime Jackets for sale with all proceeds going to The dZi Foundation. The DriClime jacket won the Editor's Choice award from Outside Magazine last year. I have worn this same jacket for many years and it is always the first jacket I reach for. Amazingly versatile wind protection, light and warm, it also layers perfectly. These men’s and women’s jackets are available in BLACK and beautifully embroidered with "dZi Foundation", and the dZi logo, in red. This jacket is available for $150.00, and comes in Women’s XS-LG and Men’s M-XL sizing. Just mail in your check or credit card information with sizing information and we will get your jacket in the mail ASAP. Easier yet, you can click on “Donate” on this page and charge it to your credit card. IMPORTANT: If you use the latter option, you will need to note that the donation is for a dZi Jacket, and include your sizing and US postal shipping address, in the comments section of the online donation form.

The dZi DVD

If you have never received a snail-mailing from us, or if you've recently moved, please send me your current address. Everyone on our mailing list will receive our brand-new 12-minute DVD, along with our new 2005 brochure, in early March. We need your correct address in order stay connected with the work of the dZi Foundation.