Happy Rashmi Day!

I love traditions, rituals, especially when they allow us to take time to reflect on how lucky we are.

Thank you, Rashmi! We are so grateful for everything you do!

On 18^th September, with the help of our volunteer, Niki, we started a new tradition in Mitrataa – Rashmi Day! This was our opportunity to say thank you to Rashmi for everything she does for us. It’s difficult to explain Rashmi’s role in Mitrataa – basically, we would be lost without her, she is mother to us all!



Happy Rashmi Day, Rashmi!

Rashmi joined our team when we took over Bal Mandir 2 ½ years ago. She had been working with NCO for several years so knew all the kids and the ways of the home intimately. In October 2012, she was promoted to our Leadership Team. When we left Bal Mandir in April 2013, we asked Rashmi to help us open our new hostel for the kids who had been discharged from Bal Mandir into our care. We were extremely happy that she agreed and she has become our mother hen, responsible for the daily running of the hostel, for being a mother to the kids, for keeping us all in line. And always with a smile and a giggle. Rashmi Day is a celebration of everything Rashmi is to us all – a chance for her to be spoilt for the day while the kids did everything for her.

 

 

 

Rashmi, we are incredibly lucky to have you. On behalf of the kids and all members of the Mitrataa family, thank you for everything you do for us! We look forward to celebrating Rashmi Day next year too!

 

Nikita Simpson has spent a month with us, inspiring the kids with her teaching, workshops and energy along the way. Before arriving in Nepal, Niki raised over $9,000 to support Mitrataa too. We really enjoyed having her here and are honoured she is a part of the Mitrataa family. Thanks, Niki! Come back soon, we miss you already.

 
 


Niki taught the kids to tie-dye t-shirts

Happy International Women's Day!

I had the honour of being awarded NSW Rotary’s Inspirational Woman of the Year Award today. What an incredible way to celebrate the girls and women of Nepal on this special day.

Below is the acceptance speech which my father read on my behalf since I was in Nepal and was not able to attend the ceremony in person.

Happy International Women’s Day everyone! Don’t forget to contact an amazing woman in your life to remind her how grateful you are for her inspiration. It will put a smile on your face as well as theirs.

With love and gratitude
Bec

 
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I have the best job in the world. I have the privilege of working with the amazing women and children of Nepal to give them the tools and opportunities to make their dreams come true. It doesn't get much better than that!

One of the secret weapons we share with the people we have the privilege of working with is the power of having a Cheer Squad – we can achieve anything we set our minds to if we believe in ourselves. But having a cheer squad of people who believe in us, who are always there to remind us of our dreams when the inevitable tough times and lessons come to challenge us, gives us an added advantage. Mitrataa’s role in Nepal is to be the cheer squad for the girls and women we work with – to believe in them, to inspire them, to show them how amazing they are.

We have been incredibly fortunate to count Rotary District 9700 as part of Mitrataa’s Cheer Squad. We love working with Rotary – the volunteers who have visited Nepal and shared their skills, time, passion and energy with our children and team members; the projects our Rotary friends have enabled us to do in the home, ranging from providing solar electricity for the children (in a country where there is up to 20 hours a day of no power, this is wonderful!), providing first aid training, painting rooms, providing new bed bases to rid the home of bed bugs (giving new meaning to the saying “Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!”), teaching some of our team and children to use a sewing machine, maintaining stairwells and lights, building a guard house, providing love and hugs for the kids, the list goes on. But above and beyond that, they have continued to believe in me personally and to inspire me constantly. This belief humbles me.

The women and children in Nepal teach me as much as I teach them. One gift they have given me is the power of gratitude. It’s impossible to feel any type of negative emotion while you are focused on being grateful for the wonderful things we have in our lives, rather than focusing on what we don't have or what frustrates us. Seriously, try it!

My Gratitude List includes all the people in Rotary who have supported us, especially to Graham Tyson and Irene Jones. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wish I could be there to thank you in person - thank you to my Dad for accepting this Award on my behalf. I appreciate it.

I am so honoured to receive this award – and I dedicate it to the girls and women of Nepal who inspire me every day. They are amazing – and I really do have the best job in the world.