Women's Shelter  - News from 2003 - 2004

In 2004 three students (two girls and a boy) passed their School Leaving Certificate (equivalent to Year 10) exams.These exams are important as they determine whether a student can continue to Year 11 and Year 12 and subsequently University. Samjhana Srijhana and Suman are now studying Year 11 at College and have ambitions to qualify for University.  They are fantastic role models for the younger students and their achievements are made even greater by the fact that all three of them had missed between 1 and 2 years of schooling in their early teens due to difficult living conditions. 

Traditional Nepali dancing is by far the most popular pastime of the girls at the shelter.  As such, a group of them entered a dancing competition in Kathmandu in 2004 and performed outstandingly well.  Rama, aged 12, won her individual age category and a group of girls, aged between 8-14 years, achieved third place in the group category.  The shelter residents were out in full force to support to them and the competition provided the girls with a tremendous boost to their self-esteem.   

At the beginning of 2004 a computer company in Australia donated two computers to WF.  One of these computers was installed at the shelter, the other at the office.  WF hired a computer tutor to provide training to two of the older girls at the shelter.  After having completed their training, the girls have started a structured computer training program with the younger children at the shelter.  The aim of the program is to work with children in small groups teaching them basic computer skills in order to contribute to their school education and give them the best possible chance of employment following school. The girls are proud to be able to pass on their knowledge to the other children. 

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