FORUM (Spotlight Weekly)

‘The Little You Can Do Is A Lot’

By DR. WINFRIED KILL

Two years ago, my wife and I visited Kathmandu for the first time. We were on a tour of Tibet and came directly from Lhasa. Only a short stay was planned, but it became a long ó and from today's point of view ó extraordinary story.

Dr. Winfried (right) Rosmarie

My wife and I had only vague ideas of Maiti Nepal. Directly the same day we had the opportunity to meet Mrs. [Anuradha] Koirala and the "Maiti Family". We had a look around the accommodation of the children and girls as well as the school.

For the first time, we heard about the enormous dimension of the trafficking and the prostitution of children and also about the misery of the orphans. Mrs. Koirala told us about the financial difficulties in providing the girls and children a human habitation. But with longing eyes, she talked about her dream to have sometime a home of her own.

We realized at once that Maiti Nepal would not be able to reach its goals without an extensive support. The personal dedication of Mrs. Koirala and her colleagues impressed us deeply. My wife and I agreed at once to offer our help to Mrs. Koirala. The only point of discussion between us was the question whether I would be able to undertake the project additionally to my other duties.

Let me tell you in a few words the reasons for our engagement. It is the concept of Maiti Nepal that convinced us. To tell it at the outset: To build a home for the children and the girls is one thing. We regard the new center in addition as a platform for the further extension of Maiti Nepal.

As Mrs. Koirala realized correctly, the education and information throughout the country and the protection at the borders have the same priority. These two aspects are taken into account by the building of "Prevention Homes" and "Transit Homes". Regarding this point, promising first signs have been initiated, but the way to the striving goal is still far ó very far.

I am aware of the fact that the further extension is an ambitious task. But one has to set oneself high goals ó even if they seem unattainable at the first sight. But some day they will get reality.

A second aspect of our engagement is a very personal one. Eight years ago, our only daughter Sonja died tragically in a cycling accident. Then my wife and I established the Sonja Kill Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to help young and old people who got into bitter difficulties through no fault of their own. Setting up this foundation and the corresponding relief actions we want to remind of our daughter. On a day like this she continues to live for us. And I am sure she would have agreed to the support of Maiti Nepal without hesitating for one second.

I still would like to mention a third aspect of our help. Building the new child protection and rehabilitation homes, we want to set a widely visible sign: that means take steps against the increasing trafficking, the sexual abuse of children and the world-wide suppression of the elementary rights of women. We know, that with this work we can only make a tiny contribution to the rights of the poorest of the poor. But Albert Schweitzer, the famous jungle physician of Lambarene formulated correctly: "The little you can do is a lot."

Presently we experience — and especially in the western world — a development to a materialism that positively suppresses many values. Terms like consideration, compassion, responsibility seem to dissolve in our society. Egoism, avarice, inconsiderateness have become the "benchmarks" of our "non-stop" society. The financial status is the measure of all things. Some months ago I read some intelligent sentences of a handicapped person, who was bound to his wheelchair, which I do not want to withhold from you:

- Many people are able to walk, but they do not know where to go.

- Many people are able to hear, and nevertheless they understand nothing.

- Many people are able to see, but they recognize nothing.

- Many people have a voice, but nothing to say.

- Many people have a heart, but they do not know what it beats for.

With the new child protection and rehabilitation home, we want to give something back we have received during many years. We want to do justice to our responsibility towards those who are on the shady side of life. This appeal applies to all of us.

Finally, I would like to say some sentences concerning the actual building events: The buildings, you can see here, are the common work of many people. It has been carried out during two years, from the beginning of the planning up to this day. It was a great personal challenge for me to carry out such an extensive building project in surroundings completely unknown to me. It was very important for me to fix a clear and consistent room programme for all buildings that fulfils all future requirements. I believe, this turned out in an ideal way.

It would be taking things too far to go into the many discussions and experiences that occurred on the occasion of my numerous visits. I would like to ask those to be forbearing whom I demanded too much from. But do believe me, Maiti Nepal and Kathmandu have become my second home during these two years.

Dear Mrs. Koirala, today we are standing in front of a work which ñ with all the will - we had no idea of two years ago. That is what I meant, when I said at the beginning, it was an extraordinary story. At this moment I experience again the many pictures of mutual events with all their details, the many decisions we had to make. Those were moments I will never forget.

And just as little I will forget your words when we discussed whether we should call the separate buildings house or home. Then you pleaded for the term "home" with the explanation that a house is built with stones and cement but a home you built with your heart and with your dreams.

I hope, your dream came true. Today our daughter would be 30 years old. Take these buildings ("children dormitory", "women dormitory", "school-building", "clinic", "office building", "display hall") as a donation from Sonja connected with the hope, that all your girls and children can look forward to a bright and happy future. We lost one daughter, but we were compensated with hundreds of daughters here in Nepal!

(This article is based on the statement Dr. Kill, president of the Sonja Kill Foundation, delivered at the inauguration of Maiti Nepal's complex)