Sylvie Nahum (president)
Discovering Sagarmatha I was put in touch with Olivier Revaz, head of the French Department of the International School of Geneva (La Châtaigneraie Campus), to organize an evening event to support the humanitarian project. At this event, the Nepal project was presented and this is how I was introduced to it.My commitment I joined the Nepal mission in April 2010 after having financed the building of showers and toilets for the orphanage.
What the project means to me It brings me lots of joy and peacefulness on a daily basis as I discover a philosophy that was quite new to me. I met an extraordinary family there that was unlike any other, with whom I now share the joys and difficulties of everyday life.
Nadine Barreiro (International School of Geneva)
Discovering Sagarmatha I discovered the project when I accompanied the children of the Geneva International school during one of their trips to the orphanage.My commitment I have been active within the Swiss association for about one year. I take care of the links between the association and the International School. I also sponsor one the young girls at the orphanage.
What it means to me It’s been an amazing experience on the human level!
Catherine Christ Revaz (administration & communication)
Discovering Sagarmatha I got to know the orphanage through my husband who regularly takes students from the International school to visit this project in Kathmandu.My commitment I went to Nepal for the first time in April 2012. It was a turning point for me. Meeting Phinzo, the Director, and his family and the orphanage children was fantastic. I then decided to fundraise for them and enable this home for children and teenagers to continue its work.
What it means to me The richness of the relationships that we have with those on-site convinced me of the usefulness of collecting funds. Thanks to our efforts, 100% of the funds we collect go to the orphanage. It’s a useful and efficient way to help out.
Anne Kerisel (communication)
Discovering Sagarmatha I heard about Sagarmatha when I met Olivier and Catherine Revaz. I had always been interested in the lives of orphan children and so I decided to become a member of the association and to sponsor one of the young girls at the orphanage.My commitment I was part of the April 2012 trip in which many sponsors of the association decided to go and meet the children of the orphanage. We spent several days at Sagarmatha, west of Kathmandu. I especially wanted to meet Pasang Sherpa, a young Nepalese girl that I sponsor.
What this means to me My trip to Nepal was a voyage of discovery in this very poor but very welcoming country. Meeting the children really encouraged me to do more for them. I saw lots of joy and happiness at the orphanage, lots of kindness and affection and I was especially surprised to see the level or energy and the courage of these children and teenagers. They are aware of the chance they have had to be taken in by this association that provides them with a home, food, care and education, they work hard to put all the chances on their side and become participants in the development of their country. I am proud to be able to help them accomplish their goal.
Francis Laune (founder)
Discovering Sagarmatha The orphanage was created in 2002 to take care of children from the streets and countryside of the Kathmandu valley. Phinzo and Beena Sherpa and I quickly decided to create a place to welcome these children and provide a future for these disadvantaged children. Sagarmatha has an interesting particularity when compared to other centers for children in Nepal as we recreated a family environment as Phinzo and Beena are surrogate father and mother. They also have big brothers and sisters, uncles, aunts, etc.My commitment I first went on a humanitarian trip in 1993 with the French association Assistance Médicale Toit du Monde. We went to Nepal and India to the regions of Darjeeling. The warm welcome that we received from people there and their difficult living conditions encouraged me to completely commit. Sagarmatha is now an integral part of my life as I go there at least once a year, sometimes more depending on the issues.
What this means to me If I look back and wonder if I would start all over again, the answer is yes. It’s such an intense and rewarding experience that is worth living. The smiles of the children more than make up for the time that we invest.
Olivier Revaz (treasurer)
Discovering Sagarmatha I came to know about the project through my meeting with Martine Podlawski, an ex-colleague from Assistance Médicale du Toit du Monde, and Francis Laune.My commitment Since 2005, I have been involved in supporting this project. As head of the French department at the Geneva International School, I organized several on-site trips for the students of the Châtaigneraie Campus. I then decided to set up a charitable association in Switzerland to support the orphanage.
What this means to me This is an incredible journey of sharing between the students and the Sagarmatha family. The solidarity between friends and sponsors are a constant source of reflection on our world and it motivates us in our commitment to our work in Nepal.
Cathy David-Raphoz (public relations)
Discovering Sagarmatha - diving into the human experience50 children, abandoned due to the circumstances of their life, and later taken in to become a family with a mother, father and son along with the others who run the place, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles (you, us), all driven by the same energy, wanting to bring love, support and the necessary structure for the development of the children and help them achieve the independance and self-sufficiency adulthood expects of them.
My role as aunt has evolved to become one of sponsor, of family sponsorship with my children and husband, of young Dolma who arrived in April 2014. Is it not a wonderful coincidence to later discover we were both born on the same day? But you know, all the children of Sagarmatha are in a way our children - an indestructible bond has been created, a bond made of love, care and concern for them.
This experience, for the teenagers from Ecolint who have blessed with a more privileged life, enables them and the children, as well as us the organizers and those who came with us, to share and exchange. Sharing laughter, tears, songs, dances, cuts and scrapes, sadness, moments of tenderness, handshakes, with stars shining in their eyes and brilliant smiles… is to experience life to its fullest. With everything to gain and nothing to lose.
For me, getting involved in Sagarmatha, is making a committment to what is good in life, what is grand and generous, for us and for others. This experience enables us to actively participate in slowly changing the course of life and bring a wonderful human touch, with joy and happiness to all those who participate in it. It is a joyous experience!
I can only urge you to take part in this enriching experience, as much for you as for others.
Christine Krattinger-Allaman
How I discovered SagarmathaI wanted to sponsor a child and establish a connection with her that transcended money. A childhood friend told me about an organization that sounded promising. I typed the address that she sent into my browser, read the site, and made a donation before I completed the sponsor application. A short time later, I told my friend excitedly that I’d found the ideal organization, but she didn’t grasp what I meant. I had actually contacted a different organization than the one she’d suggested! I’m not sure what happened, and consider this an online mystery, but a happy one. I found exactly what I sought.
My commitment
I have since December 2013 been a part of the life of Kalpana, a beautiful 15-year-old girl who reminds me of my daughter. We communicate by e-mail, mail, or through other sponsors. Kalpana sends me drawings, mandalas, and always includes a warm personal message for my daughter, with whom she shares passions such as music and fashion.
The results of my experience
The results have been positive in several ways. I needed to find this child whom I thought about every day. I didn’t doubt that she existed, as I was sure that the organization was legitimate. I simply needed to fulfill my commitment by seeing the child and talking to her.
Our meeting was powerful…I was filled with emotion as I entered the gate in front of the house. A group of children came out to meet us! Kalpana hesitated for several minutes before she ventured forward…we were laughing and smiling…I filled my memory card with photos of the meeting! What a joy it was to arrive, after spending hours on the plane, in the country that had filled my dreams and find myself among these children.
I was so pleased to find these children living happily together, in a safe place, even though their hearts concealed terrible scars. It made me happy to witness how the children enjoyed playing with simple toy cars or blowing up balloons, without the ever-present technology that we can’t escape. I still cherish the memories of that trip, and tell my friends about it. My stories have convinced others to consider sponsoring children themselves…
