Children in a Nepalese orphanage have received a helping hand from a member of staff at Sure Isle of Man.
Account Director Paul Marriott has just returned from his fourth visit to the Helpless Children’s Mother Centre (HCMC) in Kathmandu, which he gave money and T-shirts donated by Sure.
Since his first trip in 2005, Paul has raised hundreds of pounds for the orphanage. On his most recent trip, he said, the positive impact of previous donations could be seen.
"The 22 children who live there used to have a makeshift classroom with only a galvanised roof for protection, so they used the ?200 that I gave on my last visit to weatherproof the room and build some proper walls," he said.
"They now use it as a reading room where the younger children sit and have stories read to them in the evenings while the older children read to themselves."
On this trip he gave ?300, two thirds of which was donated by Sure, as well as T-shirts, and Paul said that financial support was increasingly important simply for the centre’s survival.
"Running costs have risen dramatically due to inflation. The price of basics like rice have increased by 20%, and when that is the core for feeding 22 children, you can see how the running costs have spiralled. "
The HCMC gives the children protection, care, education and a place to grow up so that they can become self-reliant and responsible citizens.
Paul’s visit was part of a bigger holiday to Nepal with his friend John Ballard, who was visiting Nepal for the first time. They spent a couple of days in Kathmandu, the country’s capital, before taking an internal flight to Pokhara for few days’ trekking in the Himalayas.
"A big part of why I keep going back to Nepal is the locals – they are such lovely people," said Paul. "Visiting the orphanage is an extremely humbling experience as the centre is quite basic, yet the children are so happy.
"hey have very little, but without the HCMC they would have no shelter or education and would likely be living on the streets.
"Having visited the HCMC on three previous occasions, I know the donation will be put to very good use. I believe that there are a number of Manx residents who have been quietly supporting the HCMC for some time, but there is always a need for the orphanage’s services, and they want to improve and expand their resources, so every bit of support helps."
Nepal borders China and India, and its Himalayan region provides some of the world’s best trekking. The HCMC is in Gongabun, part of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.
Mike Stanton, Sure Country Manager in the Isle of Man, said, "We felt that it was right to give Paul a donation for him to pass on to the centre not only because of the work that the HCMC does, but also because we wanted to support Paul and his interests beyond Sure, which is something that we try to do with all our staff."
Pictured: Paul Marriott (top row, far right), John Ballard (next to Paul Marriott) & Dorje, HCMC Manager (top row, far left) with some of the HCMC children who are dressed in Sure T-shirts.
