Supporting Nepalese Culture
Humanitarian aid must never change the culture of a country. Cautious support means to respect each individual person. We want to help but how do we do this? First of all it is important to get to know the community and show our appreciation.
There is a small temple outside the school in Okharpauwa with a statue of the goddess Saraswathi. Little Stars built this to show how valuable the existing culture is and that we respect it.
In Balchaur there is a large hollow tree between the health post and the technology building. Small statues of the Hindu gods Shiva and Parvati are placed on top of a pile of gravel in the opening of the tree. This is what the villagers wanted to have when we asked them.
It is also important to inaugurate each new project. This is always done by a local priest, Hindu or Buddhist. These inaugurations are for the benefit of everybody involved, the villagers and also the Little Stars staff and members when we have the chance to be there. And important new relations are established.
We support the local gompa (monastery) in the mountain village of Kimtang. The children of the gumba class have lessons in Sambhota, the language of the prayer scriptures.
