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Target: £3,200.00
Raised so far: £2,607.00
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My story

 
THE KAMAIYA HOUSING PROJECT IN NEPAL

I will be taking part in a community chanllenge for 10 days at the end of November to help build homes for Kamaiya families.  The challenge will involve long days of hard physical work in Nepal (as well as the expected hard hat and steel toe cap boots, I need to get five pairs of buildres gloves!) and several months of fundraising beforehand.   

The project will help improve the livelihood of the community. It is anticipated that the health of the families will improve and children will be able to go to school. Many families have been forced to work 18 hour days, seven days a week to pay off debts and by owning their own homes the freed Kamaiyas will live a life of dignity and become more confident. It is an essential part of their integration into society and their new life of freedom.

communitychallenge Fri 20 Nov 2009 - Mon 30 Nov 2009  

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.  Please sponsor me now.  Dig deep into your pockets, your help will make such a big difference!

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Thank you very much

Myriam Some background to the Kamaiya plight:

The Kamaiya system that was prevalent in the five districts of western —before being finally banned by the government on July 17, 2000—was one of the unpleasant by-products of ’s checkered history of land ownership. The Tharus are indigenous to the Terai. They were the natural owners of these vast tracts of fertile land. They lived in peace and plenty before the hill settlers—pushed by population pressure in the hills—descended in their territory. The new settlers managed to gradually nibble at the land and gain the legal rights, eventually evicting the Tharus from their own land. Without land and no other alternative forms of subsistence, the Tharus were forced to work for the newly turned landed gentry, many of them as bonded labourers.

After many long hellish years of bondage the Kamaiya freedom movement emerged in the midst of the gloom and frustration pervading the ten-year anniversary of democracy. The movement was supported by a coalition of social and human rights organizations, working together with the bonded labourers themselves, the media and international aid organizations and networks. In a sustained three months of campaigning the movement managed to force the government to cancel generation-deep debts of the Kamaiya.

Even after about two years of legal freedom from bondage, for thousands of Kamaiyas real freedom still remains distant and elusive. Efforts for their rehabilitation by providing them alternative jobs in already saturated market have proven not only insufficient but also increasingly frustrating to a majority of the freed Kamaiya. Without land of their own, thousands of Kamaiya have taken refuge in various public places. Disease, hunger and frustration are taking a heavy toll. The euphoria and expectations generated by the historic Kamaiya movement evaporates with each new day.

The struggle is still far from over. The challenge for the freed Kamaiya now is claiming the social prerogatives they were denied in slavery—reasonable plots of land, voices to speak in public and schooling for their children. “Many Kamaiyas remain to be freed in Bardiya, Kailali and Banke. The next challenge is to free them. The other challenge is effective rehabilitation. This newly acquired freedom is usually only skin deep. It takes a long time for the Kamaiyas to change their mental attitude. If support for rehabilitation is not strong they will fall into the same old vicious trap of bondage again. When the Kamaiyas get land they will also need houses and training in new agricultural techniques,” says BASE president and Kamaiya movement leader Dilli Bahadur Chaudhari.

If you want to know more about the project and what it involves visit:

http://www.communitychallenge.co.uk/cc/communitychallenge/challenge.jsf?id=1036

Thinking of you. Donation by Caya Edwards 27/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation from this year's curry party. Best wishes from Kath, Julia, Alison, Joss, Claire & Ann. Donation by Ann Watson 22/11/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Enjoy every minute and show us the pics when you get back x Donation by Doreen Grant 16/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

good for you myriam all the best on this exiting project x Donation by bitten bridge 16/11/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation by Maire Bo Howard 16/11/09  

£10.00

Good luck Donation by Peter Walker 12/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Mum! Lots of love xxx Donation by Tegan Kniveton 23/10/09  

£50.00

Wish I could join you. Best of luck! Donation by Jacquie 06/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Myriam, great cause. Donation by lee murphy 30/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Go for it Myriam. You have always had a big heart. Good luck and well done Donation by Andree Fox 11/09/09  

£20.00

Donation by Troy Kniveton 11/09/09  

£20.00

Great thing you are doing in a very special place Donation by David Wolverson 10/09/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Good luck Myriam x Donation by Sarah Lidbury 09/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hopefully every little bit helps! Should be an amazing experience. xx Donation by Suzanne Ellis 08/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

not alot but hope it helps .. have a great time Donation by Susan Whittle 07/09/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Another good cause - well done. I know you won't forgt the lippy! Donation by Penny and Steve 03/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation by Maurice Condie 02/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

All the best Myriam - hope the photos are as good as those from Glastonbury !! Donation by Mike Haynes 19/08/09  

£50.00

You'll be needing some lippy and nail guard then..... Go girl! Your energy is boundless. Donation by Lynne Poulton 13/08/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Thank you Myriam for your patience and humour in helping me talk French!! Donation by Lynne Morgan 11/08/09  

£60.00 + £16.92 Gift Aid

Sooner you than me - good luck! Donation by John Coventry 13/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck Myriam, it will be an amazing experience. Cherish it! Donation by Caroline & Michael 08/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Bonne chance Myriam Janet & Steve X X X Donation by Janet Bartlett 06/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Brilliant project and making a real difference to peoples lives, well done and good luck! Donation by Mark Henderson 24/06/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best of luck Donation by Diane 17/06/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

This looks fantastic! Have an amazing time! Donation by Jude Parkin 03/06/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Have a fab time in the mud (watch out for those pigs!) Donation by Morven 02/06/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Superwoman strikes again! Donation by John M 21/05/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

looks like a great project and I hope great fun Donation by Dom 22/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Namaste, You'll love this country and its warm, friendly people. Wishing you a wonderful experience :) Donation by Jerry Lyons 17/04/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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  Offline donations: £1,422.00
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