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Hello Friends of Another Brick in Nepal,

It is 8 pm Sunday and I am just now catching my breath after a long day filled with preparing for my 6th trip to Nepal since Oct 2015. If you don’t live in B.C. I must share that today was an absolutely fantastic autumn day, warm with beautiful blue skies. This morning at 7:45, as I was walking along the ocean at Royal Bay Park with my son Conrad secure in the Baby Bjorn strapped to my chest and my dog Bexley swimming (swimming nut!) off shore with a stick, I found myself feeling grateful for all that I have been blessed with in my life. It is times like my morning walk today, when I know how blessed I am to have so much, that motivates me more than ever to continue our work in Nepal. Knowing that many families in Nepal are still living in temporary accommodation after the earthquakes of 2015 is a stark contrast to how lucky we are here.

Upcoming Nepal Trip  



We had a board meeting this morning, our last meeting before the ABIN team heads to Nepal. We discussed the upcoming trip, along with our fundraiser in November and the race we will be running again in March. There are 9 of us going to Nepal on this trip, 6 for the first time. The trip is entirely self-funded, like all the earlier trips, as we are committed to all the money we raise going directly to those in need. For me this affirms that the ABIN team continues to grow, that the ABIN brand, one that represents a grass roots charity tasked with helping poor children in Nepal access safe education, is a charity that people have learned to trust. Thank you from the depths of my heart. Those of us who have already travelled to and spent time in so many poor rural villages want to share the infectious joy that can result. Walking into any of these villages to be welcomed by a crowd of smiling faces, offering flower garlands and hospitality, from people who we would say have “nothing” is a remarkable experience. Perhaps it will be you joining us on our next trip? 


ABIN board members being welcomed into Aapchaur village, 2016
Canadian flags, BC smoked salmon, maple candies for children, toothbrushes and toothpaste to accompany the maple leaf stickers, pencils, etc. These are some of the treasures that will accompany us to both the Nuwakot and Sankhuwasava regions of Nepal on this trip. We are prepared to spread a message that you, our supporters have entrusted us with. A message that says we believe in the universal right for all children no matter their gender, social status, ethnicity or location in this world to have fair and safe access to education. You are reading this newsletter which makes you a part of our team. We rely on you, your good wishes, your sharing our message to friends and family, your donations. Thank you. 
Children and staff of Bandhevi Primary School in Aapchaur on the first day in their new school, January 2018

On this trip our team will be visiting the village of Aapchaur where our first school project, Bandevi Primary school, opened on Jan 19 of this year. We will also be spending three days in the Sankhuwasava region. Since we announced construction of Sharada Secondary School, near the village of Chainpur, Sankhuwasava, in July of this year, much has happened. Our 8 classroom seismically engineered school is out of the ground and nearing completion of the first floor walls. As well as visiting our Sharada Secondary School project we will also be visiting Mahendra Secondary School, a residential school for non-hearing & non-verbal children. I was asked to visit this school when in the area last November but was unable to fit it in to my schedule at the time. 

Children of Sharada Secondary School helping out on site this week.
The average income in the catchment area of Sharada Secondary School is less than $5 a day which gives you an idea of the demographic that we are supporting. Currently there are about 450 students from grades K-10 attending Sharada Secondary School and 70 Students attending Bandevi Primary. While in Kathmandu we will also be visiting Yagyamati Secondary School which ABIN furnished with desks and benches with the proceeds from our March 2018 ABIN Trail Run. Team members Dal and Noel Wass have been visiting schools here on Vancouver Island and will be initiating ABIN’s first interactive “penpal” program with school children in Nepal.

Fundraiser + Silent Auction

Our second annual fundraiser will happen on November 20 here in Victoria at Glo Restaurant + Lounge. Last year when we began planning our first fundraiser we were a little nervous and unsure about how it would unfold. It was a success and indeed surpassed our modest expectations. This year we have a little more experience, the ABIN name is growing and as a result we are excited to share with you that our silent auction tables have already exceeded $10,000.00. We can’t thank Paul Simpson and his wonderful staff enough for their support last year and for embracing us again this year with unsurpassed verve! 

If you are looking for a spa experience, we have it for you. Massage Therapy??? how about a $250.00 certificate from Lakeside Massage Therapy? If you are looking for Hilti or Makita tools we have them for you (over $4,000.00 in Hilti tools alone) A hand woven blanket from a local Victoria artist, we have it. Coffee??? How about Habit Coffee? But I live in Sooke you say, well we have The Stick to offer you. How about repainting your home or condo, Gordon Campbell Construction has donated a “3 room” painting certificate that includes all paint, and labour. Jewellery, the incredibly talented Emma Glover is donating again this year. Seahawks football tickets, Mt Washington lift tickets, Dance Victoria’s presentation of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker, we have four tickets, we also have 2 tickets for Dance Victoria’s presentation of Chicago’s Hubbard St Dance troupe. Restaurant certificates, artwork, gift baskets, the list is growing. Tickets are available here. They sold out last year and will undoubtedly sell out again.      

2nd Annual Trail Run

Our second annual trail run is happening again at Aylard Farm, East Sooke Park on March 10 2019. It looks to us like our 120 runners from earlier year could well morph into some 200 runners or more at our 2019 trail run. Last Friday and Saturday we had an information booth at The Goodlife Victoria marathon Expo where we met many enthusiastic runners from across Western Canadian and the pacific Northwestern USA. We’re not sure if it’s the coastal Vancouver Island setting, the race course, or the Nepali food provided by the Mint Restaurant but what we are sure of is that March 10, 2019 promises to be a fantastic day. You can sign up for the race here.
If you haven’t looked lately I invite you to visit our website Another Brick in Nepal in order to gain a better understanding of all that we are currently doing and what we have accomplished since we started this grassroots charity in 2016. While you’re on the website, you can sign up in the blog section for email notification of new posts, so that you can keep up to date between newsletters. 

While in Nepal we will be regularly updating the blog with pictures and information from our visits to the various school projects. 

Best regards and namaste,
Rob Tournour
Copyright © 2018 Another Brick in Nepal, All rights reserved.


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121-937 Dunford Ave, Victoria B.C. V9B 2S4

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Another Brick In Nepal · 121-937 Dunford Ave · Victoria, Bc V9B2S4 · Canada

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