National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

Changing Rural Lives

Israeli volunteers bring change in the rural part of Dhanusha district

By KESHAB POUDEL

Despite their painful situation back home due to the uninterrupted terrorist attacks, Israelis have gone abroad and shown their commitment to the poor population of the world who lack basic health and other facilities.

For Nepal, which is still in a quest to improve the lives of the rural people, Israeli volunteers have proved to be a valuable asset, as they offer their services in such areas as education and health where Nepal is woefully lagging behind.

With an aim to offer humanitarian support, Israeli backpackers are making efforts to contribute in the lives of rural people in Janakpur. Under the LATET-Israeli Humanitarian Aid, groups of Israeli youths are coming to Nepal to help the needy population of the area.

In the last eight months, 30 volunteers have spent time in villages near Janakpurdham, offering service in the interest of the needy and poor. From teaching English and providing basic health facilities to promoting clean-up campaigns, the work of the Israeli back-packer volunteers remains extensive.

"We are very happy to choose Nepal as the first country abroad to initiate such a program. We have chosen Nepal since Nepal and Israel maintain friendly and cordial relations," said Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Avraham Nir. "Despite our limited resources, we [hope we can] make tiny contribution to improve the life of the local population."

Like in all other districts, the schoolchildren in many parts of Dhanusha do not have knowledge about the world. Some students are very weak in English and math. These are the areas where Israeli volunteers can make a lot of change.

"Our volunteers have developed very good relations with the local population, taking part in various works of their day-to-day life," said an Israeli group leader coordinating volunteer activities. "We are happy that our volunteers also enjoy working in these areas."

Since its establishment, LATET has helped refugees in the Balkan wars and in Zaire, drought victims in Uganda, orphans in Georgia, hurricane victims in Honduras and Nicaragua, families of exiled South Lebanese Army, victims of flooding in South Tel Aviv, victims of two earthquakes in Turkey, survivors of earthquake in El Salvador and India, and victims of a volcano eruption in the Congo.

As a large number of 'untouchable' population in a village near Janakpurdham Municipality is suffering from respiratory problems, Israeli volunteers have begun building smokeless stoves. The Israeli government is planning to spend Rs.3.7 million in the first phase of the program.

At a time when most of the donor agencies are supporting programs in the hill, Israeli volunteers decided to go to the southern plains where a large segment of the population is yet to get basic facilities.

The idea behind the program is that Israeli backpackers who set off on their long, post-army journey abroad, will take a break from traveling and spend a period of two months volunteering to help needy population around the world. According to Bentrobe, chief manager of the LATET, selected youths choose to volunteer in the countries in which they are backpacking, through a desire to offer aid and enhance Israel's reputation, and based on the belief that this will make them better citizens upon their return to Israel.

As a large number of villagers in Janakpurdham have seen many changes brought by the Israeli volunteers, their demand will definitely go up in the day ahead.