Students Qualify!!!

We are delighted to announce that all our students have passed their final exams and are now working as qualified therapists in the clinic!!! Govinda (pictured to the right of Rob) scored the highest mark overall and his partial level of sight is already proving useful since he is also able to help with booking appointments and distributing leaflets to local hotels and restaurants.

All are delighted to finally have gainful employment as masseurs and thanks to the Lonely Planet, the clinic is busier than ever (150 clients came in October alone!). Thanks especially to all the volunteers, sponsors and supporters who made this possible.

Promotions, Birthdays & Reunions...
Chiran Jeevi, our most talented and experienced masseur, turned 27 in Octoberand we had birthday cake at the clinic to celebrate.

As we are particularly proud of the maturity and responsibility he has shown over the past year, we have promoted him to the position of Senior Therapist and he will now be taking charge of the new therapists' work from now on.

During Diwali we were also delighted to get a visit from Sarita, who trained with us in 06-07 but married the following year and moved to Kathmandu where her husband works. She is now working as a school teacher and we are overjoyed to see her happy, living a fulfilled and independent life.

Kind thanks to Naqi, who donated our latest stock of massage lotion!

Clinic developments


Thanks to the hard work done by our housekeeper (Anju) the clinic garden is positively blooming, and the tiny papaya trees we planted last year have shot up and are already bearing fruit. Our 'bari' (vegetable garden) is also overflowing now with cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, beans, radishes, aubergines and coriander.

Also pictured is Kul, our project manager, fitting the clinic's new phone line, which is going to make booking appointments much easier. Sue has also been busy reprinting all our posters, business cards and leaflets with the new number, which we will be distributing over the next few weeks.

Future Plans
At present we do not have sufficient funding or space to take on another group of students and so will be delaying the next intake until early next year (hopefully February). We are also hoping to secure a grant to establish a second clinic where we can provide employment in the same way to future graduates of the SHN training program. Our work so far has proved the concept and so we're keen to expand and help more disadvantaged blind Nepalis build a life and a future for themselves. If you would like to donate or sponsor a student, please visit our website where we have paypal facilities or email info@Seeinghandsnepal.org. Many thanks.