It was indeed a wonderful experience to visit the American library with the Children of Bal Mandir. Me, Samridhi Poudel, a volunteer to the Nepal Children's Organization and Mrs. Pramila Shrestha, the Information and Public Relation Section Chief, found the trip very fruitful. So, I would like to share with you.
When I first decided to work in the Bal Mandir, the Nepal Children's Organization, as a volunteer, I didn?t know what to expect from my new experience. But, I knew one thing for sure that this will indeed be the perfect platform for me to start changing lives. Since, my main motive was to make a difference in the lives of children out there, I decided to work as an educator and a counselor. Having worked as an educator and counselor has given me ample of opportunities to understand the perceptions of the children staying there. In the course my experience I found the children over there, absolutely interesting and inquisitive. It was during one of these classes, when I asked some of my students, whether they had ever been to a library, out side the Bal Mandir or not. The answer was, never.
Having known the fact, I decided to take the inquisitive student to the American library. So, the very day I talked with the concerned authority for an approval. Fortunately, they liked my idea and told me that they were ready to support me. Pooja Pyakurel, Neeta Regmi, Anita Kandel, Sarita Gurung, Asmini Shiwakoti, Kabita Gurung, Sanju Chaulagain, Ratna Budha Magar, Bishnu Maya Thapa and Renu Rokaiya were the ten students who were assigned for the exposure visit to the library. Interestingly, amidst these children, Kabita Gurung and Renu Rokaiya couldn?t speak and were also unable to hear.
So October 6th 2005, me Samridhi Poudel, a volunteer, and Mrs. Pramila Shrestha, the Section Chief of Information and Public Relation of Bal Mandir, took these students to the American library.
Before we entered the Library we all had to go through some security check. In fact the children found the whole procedure very interesting.
After we were done with the security check, we then entered the library hall. The director of the American library and staff members, Mrs Shanta Khadka and Mr Navin Rayamajhi, briefed the children about the library. Moreover, the Deputy Director of the American center, Miss Laura Lucas, was also there to greet the children. The children truly felt very special at that moment. So, I would like to personally thank Miss Lucas, for her presence at that time.
The children learned so much during the briefing. The children found out that the books over there were divided into two collections, circulation and reference. They came to know that the circulation books were allowed to borrow to those individuals who were the member of the library and the reference book were not allowed to take home even if one was the member of the library. They also learned the ways to use information and technology in carrying out various research oriented activities. Moreover, Mrs Shanta Khadka and the concerned members were so kind enough to mention that they will be pleased to grant a free membership card to the children. They even told us that they would like to share their support to the library of Bal Mandir, which was indeed a very good news for us. We thanked every one for their kind words.
At one o?clock we left the library and the only thing that the children went on talking for the whole day was obviously about the library. The children found the environment of the library amazing. One even said that she was stunned to see how quite people were inside a library. The children found the members of the library very helpful and kind. They also agreed to visit the library very soon. Everyone believed that the trip was absolutely worth it.
Lastly, I hope that this trip will bring some positive impacts in the lives of those children and I wish them all the best for their future endeavors.
