Between letters and enthusiasm: Our November 2023 before and after the library opening

After a long journey from Zurich to Nepal, we, Stefania and Jana, have finally made it and arrived in Pokhara. The work in Pokhara began right after landing. We were taken by taxi directly to a hostel, where we picked up all the materials needed for the library in Khoramukh. Fully loaded in a small taxi, we then drove another hour to Khoramukh. Upon arrival in the village, we were warmly greeted by the community. Although it was quite late, Rajendra’s entire family (Community Leader) was still awake and had dinner with us. We arrived just in time for the Hindu Tihar Festival in Nepal. The Festival of Lights is celebrated with music, dances and ceremonies. So, there was plenty of dance and music that evening.

Hindu Tihar Festival

After a good night’s sleep, we started our day with the Brother & Sister Ceremony “Bhai Tika.” On this special day, siblings are honored and gifted. After a very traditional and emotional morning, we proceeded to the library.

The opening was in about a week and until then, there was much to do. Fernanda was in the midst of the application phase for our librarians; some book labels still needed labeling and setting up the laptops was still pending, along with many other minor tasks. The first days passed quickly. The training with the librarians took a lot of time and was quite intensive, ranging from categorizing books to sorting them and giving the first laptop introductions.

The preparations for the opening

After 4 days in Khoramukh, it felt like we hadn’t made much progress. Nevertheless, it’s the small steps that lead us to success. In the evenings, we often discussed library-related topics. Many questions, discussions and decisions were often made after dinner, making our workdays very intense.

The day before the opening was also quite demanding. The entire team was occupied with tasks and we only reconvened by the campfire late in the evening. We were nervous and a bit excited about the upcoming day, even though the stage was set, the library was spotlessly clean and the food had already been ordered.

Finally, the big opening day arrived

The morning started with the coldest shower of my life and a delicious breakfast overlooking the beautiful Annapurna Mountain. At 11 am, a welcome ceremony was scheduled as the two Gabys (mothers of Fernanda and Stefania) arrived in Khoramukh. Then, we danced with the locals to special music made with trumpets and drums. Strengthened by a delicious Dal Bhat (traditional dish served twice a day), the opening finally began.

Many school classes from the surrounding area, private individuals, government officials, teachers and even journalists came to participate in this moving event. After some exciting speeches, there was a competition with awards for the school classes. Some students spoke freely about what the library meant to them and what a library represents. It was a beautiful moment to realize how much the children appreciated the project and valued access to knowledge and a place of peace.

The opening – Symbolically, a ribbon was cut by Fernanda and her mother and then the first visitors proceeded to explore the library. What an emotional moment. Questions were asked, the first books were taken into hands and one or two pages were already read. Fernanda and I couldn’t have been prouder of our entire Sapana team at that moment. After a short while, I (Stefania) started giving guided tours in the library to individual school classes. I was truly amazed at how eager, curious and interested the children were. Fernanda also gave an interview for a local radio station and there was eating, dancing and celebrating. The day passed in the blink of an eye, yet it was packed with so many emotions and feelings.

Between books and games – The continuation of our adventure in Nepal

However, the work after the opening was far from done. Further training sessions were conducted with the librarians and the children’s area was definitely “the place to be” after the opening, so we were busy playing games and explaining.

Unfortunately, my journey in Nepal ended after only two weeks. In these two weeks, I learned a lot about the culture in Nepal, ate delicious food and made new friends. We still have a challenging road ahead, but we have overcome a significant milestone. In the next phase of our project, we will explore sustainable financing options.

The library is now managed and led by three librarians on-site. We are in daily close contact with them to address challenges and questions. Sushil (our Nepali manager) is also in daily communication, providing valuable cultural and professional insights.

Sapana Library is a heartfelt project and that’s exactly how I would describe my stay in Nepal: warm, emotional and full of love. Nepal has also captured my heart. Together with you and our community on-site, we have created something incredible and are ensuring better education in a small mountain region in Nepal.

We sincerely thank all the donors who accompanied us on our journey so far and believed in us. Our journey is not over and we would be delighted if you join us for the next stage. We look forward to everything that comes next and will surely return to Nepal soon.

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