Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Anti-Social Behaviour
Noise problems
CHATTERBOX ASIST
Anti-Social
Investigation Team
Support and Advice
No 181 January 2009 Office 8:45am – 4:45pm
Every day 9am – 10pm
www.lochwinnoch.info Tel: 01505 325 030
Tel: 0800 169 1283
The Naxal Orphanage is one of 3 run by The orphanage is located in 2 rented which is only partly shielded from the
the OCCED (Organisation for Commu- buildings, which are fairly basic struc- scorching rays of the sun.
nity, Child and Environmental Develop- tures with walls and roofing made out of
ment), which was established in 1999 to beautifully crafted split bamboo, beaten As volunteers, we were able to spend
care for and campaign for Nepal’s most earth floors and no windows or artificial some of the money we raised on treats for
vulnerable children. The OCCED works light. No laptops or iPods here! The the children, one of which was a day out
to provide shelter, education and training accommodation may be basic but it is at a local zoo. This proved to be a great
whilst trying to find the children new spotlessly clean; solar panels heat hot hit with the children who spent hours gaz-
homes. water, bath nights are on Thursdays and ing at the tigers, elephants, leopards and
the children are looked after by nurse- all manner of other exotic creatures. It
I was one of a group of 5 volunteers; 3 maids, known as didis. Girls can be- was exciting for us too! The didis came
schoolteachers, one paediatrician and my- come didis at age 17; some do the cook- along too and provided a fabulous lunch,
self - a former social worker with a special ing whilst others do housework, laundry which we all enjoyed under the canopy of
interest in child care. Every day, we were and general child-minding to name but a huge trees nearby.
bused from our hotel in Kathmandu to the few of their duties at the orphanage. There are many more happy memories
orphanage, which was just over a kilome-
that I would like to share with you but
tre from the city centre. Central Kath- With our social, educational and paedi- space is limited. However, if you would
mandu is a lively, intense city with narrow atric backgrounds, our team of 5 volun- like to find out more about the Naxal
lanes, motorbikes, rickshaws, traffic jams, teers was also able to assist and support Orphanage and about Nepal and its peo-
pollution, ageless temples, fabulous archi- local staff by spending time with the ple, I will be giving a slide show and talk
tecture and sacred cows roaming the children. For me, as a mother and at some local events. The first of these
streets. The streets are filled with the grandmother myself, this was a very presentations will take place on Thursday
sounds of bicycle bells, religious music, rewarding experience. Although I don’t 29th January at 2pm at Paisley Abbey (as
construction works, car horns and the speak Nepali (or any of the numerous, part of Women’s Friendly Hour) and the
smells of incense and spices from the ba- regional languages of the outlying ar- second event will take place on 19th Feb-
zaars and sewage and car exhaust fumes eas), it was still possible to communi- ruary at 7pm at Barr Mill (as part of the
from day-to-day living. Power cuts, cate with the children on other levels SWRI evening).
strikes, and protests are part of daily life, and to witness the great joy and excite-
as are the many rich and spectacular festi- ment they experienced in the daily read- Finally, on behalf of the children and staff
vals of the Kathmandu Valley and tradi- ing sessions we shared and, just as im- of Naxal Orphanage, I would like to say a
tional buildings and palaces in the old city portantly, the song and dance routines very big thank you to family, friends,
of Kathmandu. including jiving, salsa, doing the Hokey Lochwinnoch Community Council and St
Cokey and Ring a Ring o’ Roses! Vincent’s Hospice for your donations of
Children in the orphanage are grouped by money, school books, reading books,
age. Our team of 5 volunteers helped with The children are often confined to the early reading books, crayons and other
the 1yr – 3yr old groups in the afternoons buildings due to the intense heat and the educational materials, all of which have
and the 3-6 year old groups of children in cramped city-centre location of the or- brought such joy to the children we met.
the mornings. At 7 years of age, the chil- phanage, where outdoor space is at a If you would like to donate or help
dren go to a nearby school, where English, premium. The photograph shows some with the Naxal Orphanage project in
Maths, Science and Reading are on the of the children, from a range of ethnic any way, please get in touch with me
curriculum, though educational books are and cultural backgrounds, playing to- on Tel: 01505 843805.
rare in classrooms. gether on a small outdoor balcony area, Diana Adam
Coming soon
Secret life of Evie Hamilton by Catherine Alliott
The bodies left behind by Jeffrey Deaver
The Associate by John Grisham
Live fire by Stephen Leather
Wednesday’s at 4 by Debbie Macomber
ADVICE WORKS
Tuesdays 10am –12.30pm
Advisors are on hand to help fill in claim forms, check and ad- LIBRARY OPENING HOURS :
vise on welfare benefits/money problems.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 2pm–5pm & 6pm–8pm
Advisors can provide expert advice on a wide range of debt
Tuesday and Saturday: 10am–1pm & 2pm–5pm
related topics, such as credit card, mortgage arrears, council tax,
Closed Thursday.
etc. The service is FREE, confidential and open to all Ren-
frewshire residents. Tel: 01505 842305
ESTABLISHED 1989
19 YEARS IN BUSINESS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS GO ON AND ON …
UPVC WINDOWS AND DOORS OUR PRODUCTS ARE INSTALLED
MAINTENANCE FREE UPVC IN OVER ONE HUNDRED
ROOFLINE AND FULL LOCHWINNOCH HOUSEHOLDS.
WINDOW REPAIR SERVICE
Contact - PETER McGARVEY
HINGES, LOCKS AND MISTED Tel: 01505 614654
AND BROKEN GLASS REPLACED.