$ 4M US aid for children’s education programme

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 10: US is to provide Nepal with US$ 4 million grant to implement education programme for children removed from or at risk of entering the worst forms of child labour in Nepal.

US Secretary of Labour Elaine L. Chao, announcing the grant on Monday in Washington said the grant will supplement funding that the Labour Department has already contributed to the International Labour Organisation’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour for projects in Nepal.

World Education, the grantee, will work on the education component of what is known as a Timebound Programme.

The timebound approach has been spearheaded by the ILO and specific countries, including Nepal, as a means to eliminate the worst form of child labour within a defined period through a set of integrated and comprehensive activities. As part of the timebound programme, the government of Nepal and ILO/IPEC, identified forms of exploitative labour from which children will be removed.

According to ILO survey, it is estimated that there are 2.6 million working children between the ages of 4 and 14 in Nepal. The number accounts for more than 40 per cent of the country’s 6.2 million children. An estimated 40 per cent of children who work do not attend school, and the remaining 60 per cent combine work with school.

German artist’s works on show

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, April 10: An art exhibition by German artist Dagmar Mathes opened at the Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal on Monday.

German ambassador to Nepal, Rudiger Lemp inaugurated the art show entitled ‘Stupas, Stones and Space.’ The display contains 37 paintings depicting places of worship and natural scenes.

She gained inspiration during expeditions with her husband in high-lying regions of Dolpo, Mustang and Nubri and came across Tibetan stupas everywhere, marveled at them, and photographed them.

"As a motif, the stupa became interesting for me in terms of a man-made structure that I perceived as being embedded in its natural surroundings," she recalls.

"Nature represents for me an inexhaustible source of inspiration - natural phenomena, which provide the observer with endless possibilities and interpretations," says Mathes.

‘Sacred Crystal Mountain in Dolpo,’ ‘Stupa in Do Tarap,’ Dreaming Rock,’ ‘Small Stupa in a Rock Niche,’ and ‘Vision of Bauddhanath Stupa’ are the titles of some of her three dozen works of art.

"In Nepal’s mountain I easily find stimulation wherever my gaze turns, whether in a simple stone or the grand landscape of the Himalayas."

It seems she has been deeply impressed by Buddhism.

Created from handmade lokta papers, herbs and the seeds of the plants, the works display the expanse of landscape as well as its infinite diversity.

The artist says that she seeks to follow what arises naturally by the use of such materials. "I allow the forms, movements and tones- some of which occur spontaneously, owing to the consistency and structure of material- to flow into my composition and even to be creative themselves. Thus the ideas underlying my pictures often go through many transformations," she remarks.

The paintings trace the long and arduous treks the artist undertook into the mountainous hinterlands of Nepal. As the title of the exhibition suggests,
they combine nature and spiritualism.

Sangita Thapa, director of the Gallery, said her paintings revealed the majesty and mystery of a barren rocky landscape where faith still found a place or space in the form of a stupa.

Your Day Today

11 April, 2002

Aries (21 Mar-20 April): Good time to start a new project or work. Family help can be expected. Financial position will be good. Today's lucky number is 12.

Taurus (21 Apr-20 May): There are many opportunities today. Appereciable help from others. Financial position will be good. Your favourite colour is white.

Gemini (21 May-20 June): Family life will give mental tension. Social and political approaches will become better. Today is a lucky day.

Cancer (21 Jun-20 July): Appreciable help from someone. Social and Political status will become better. Progress in income. Confidence and precautions are essential.

Leo (21 July-22 Aug): There is a strong possibility of tapping new opportunities in life. Family environment will help you. Personal confliets are resolved.

Virgo (23 Aug-22 Sept): Social help can be expected. Beware of enemies. Family expenses will give mental tension. Risks not advised

Libra (23 Sept-22 Oct): Health and outlook will be good. Family life will give tension. Good day for career and business. Interest in spiritual work.

Scorpion (23 Oct-21 Nov): Family environment will not be good. Appreciable help from someone. Good income from business. Today's lucky number is 25.

Sagittarious (22 Nov-20 Dec): Social status and popularity will go up. Be careful about your career. Family environment will give tension. Do not take any risks.

Capricorn (21 Dec-20 Jan):Family environment will give tension. Confidence and precautions are necessary. Be careful in financial matters.

Aquarious (21 Jan-19 Feb): Family life will give mental tension. Social and political approaches will become better. Today is a lucky day.

Pisces (20 Feb-20 Mar):Social status and popularity will go up. Be careful about your career. Family environment will give tension. Do not take any risks today

By Acharya Shree Dhruv