Nagaland Tourism

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Autumn 2011 E-Newsletter

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

posted by ssmith



*Hope for Change International E-Newsletter Autumn, 2011* *Overview of past year* Dear H4C friends and supporters: Welcome to our annual E-newsletter. We hope this past year has been good to you and your loved ones. If you are new to our H4C network then we extend a warm welcome to you as well. James, Paul, and I treasure your loyalty and your financial support of the humanitarian projects sponsored by *Hope for* *Change International. Within the framework of today’s global community there are numerous organizations dotting the landscape of non-profits. Each presents their particular agenda and so many of them call out to you. We are grateful that you have chosen Hope for Change* as one of your charitable causes. Despite the ongoing global recession we are happy to pass along news that H4C projects are moving forward in our three primary regions of focus: 1) East Africa 2) India/ Nagaland 3) The Philippines. In the past twelve months successful “project evaluation trips” have taken place to each of the three regions. James has been to East Africa twice, Paul has been to The Philippines, and Sarah made her way to India and Nagaland. More details of the trips will be shared in their individual reports. Throughout October, 2010 – September, 2011 our H4C *home office* has continued in just that, the Smith home. By avoiding office rental expense and accompanying office and Internet phone lines we are able to continue our boast that, “All funds designated to specific projects go 100% to those projects.” Minimal copy paper, postage, and ink cartridges receipts come out of undesignated funds. Another important financial disclosure is that, “All H4C Field Representatives cover their travel expenses out of personal resources.” Thank you to those personal resources! Our social-networking presence continues to develop. Thanks to all who follow H4C on Twitter. Thanks to those who have designated H4C as a personal “cause” on Facebook. Thanks to those who have read and commented on our blog site, www.Mblele.org Some particular “thank you” words are in order at this time. James, Paul, and I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to Christine and Matt Deakin, Lynne Formica, Francis Obaika, Mariner’s Harbor & the Guido Family, Dave’s Coffee Shop, Tarrence Motley, and a handful of unnamed individuals. As we like to say, “You know who you are.” *James Smith & Paul Grimsland with Zeresh and Shahzad Peters at Mariner’s Harbor* *New Partnership* In late July, 2011 H4C was introduced to a Finland-based non-profit entitled *Help 2 Orphans. Through a friend and a chain of communications we met Doris Bracero, a New Yorker, who had plans to serve on staff of a Help2Orphans center in Thailand. The orphanage is located in Um-phang, Thailand, was established three years ago, and cares for approximately thirty Burmese children. These children lost their parents due to the unrest in Myanmar and have fled across the Burma/Thailand border as refugees. It is incomprehensible and heartbreaking to imagine what these children have endured. Doris needed a USA-based non-profit to work in conjunction with Help2Orphans. The immediate cooperation effort was for a fundraiser to be held on Sunday, August 21, 2011. We agreed to the partnership. The fundraiser was held at Mariner’s Harbor Restaurant in Kingston, NY and was a huge success. At this writing Doris is in Bangkok, Thailand awaiting road travel as soon as the typhoon flooding recedes. You can see a photo of Doris and read more about her on our blog site www.Mbele.org Tarrence Motley & Tony Levin at the Birthday Bash* *Paul’s Birthday Bash* On Friday night, June 19, 2011 courageous music-goers braved our NY version of Monsoon to attend Paul Grimsland’s “Birthday Bash” held in Saugerties, NY at Dave Meade’s Coffee Shop on upper Partition Street in the village. Our braving-the-weather resolve did not leave us disappointed! Au contraire, all music lovers were rewarded by the soul-stirring playlist of Tarrence Motley and Company. Add to that Dave Meade’s welcoming atmosphere, an audience of new and old acquaintances assembled, and the literal *dryness* of being inside and you had the recipe for a thoroughly memorable night! Thank you Paul! *Vision for the future* Here are two ideas that we hope you will find appealing. All of our H4C bases in East Africa, Nagaland, and The Philippines are set up to receive teams of educators, medical providers, and construction/building workers on a short-term basis. USA and European visitors have been instrumental in setting up schools and medical clinics and completing repairs and renovations on existing structures. Tentative dates are in place for 2012 and 2013 travel. If you are interested in taking time off from schooling or profession to join us on one of our project evaluation trips please contact us through our web site www.h4cinternational.org to begin the application process. One proposal that has surfaced during our Director’s meetings is to assemble a *medical team from the Hudson Valley* to go to East Africa, India, or The Philippines? Would you or someone you know be interested? This concludes the overview section of our E-newsletter. However, before you read on would you consider helping spread the news about the existence of *Hope for Change International? Would you forward this to selected family members, colleagues, and friends who may have an interest in charitable giving to a small, 100% transparent foundation committed to bringing HOPE to those longing to CHANGE their villages, nations, and regions. Thank you. Sarah Anne Smith James Smith with Eric Mukwenda & Niccanor Urassa at Maranatha Mission School in* *Arusha, Tanzania* *Africa* Greetings H4C friends: In 2011 I was able to make two trips to East Africa, one in January/February, and another in June/July. My time was spent primarily in Tanzania but I was able to meet with representatives from other nations in the region to discuss the projects we are working on together. Presently it is very difficult to discuss any other issue other than water and food when speaking of East Africa. Of course we work in other areas such as medical, educational, homeless children, agriculture and others but all of them pale in comparison to the dire need for water in this region. No water, no life! It’s as simple as that. Obviously the lack of water affects the ability to provide food. No water, no food, no life! Another major impact of the lack of water is that is curtails the amount of electricity which is affecting day-to-day life and the tourism industry. Tanzania’s fragile infrastructure depends upon seasonal revenue from tourism, souvenir shops, and safari goers. I am giving you the most honest assessment of what life is like for the nationals that we are working with in East Africa. As stark as this report may sound it simply is the way that *it is.* Please help us in any way that you can in providing the most basic of needs of our dear friends in Africa. I can honestly tell you that even in the midst of their struggles there is a resilience and lack of complaining in them as they push through each day. It is an honor to be there with them and to see the dignity of so many as they wait for *change* to come. This press release has been posted on our web site: WATER CONTINUES TO BE A CRITICAL ISSUE IN EAST AFRICA – Tanzania’s President, Dr. Mrishoo Jakaya Kikwete, recently called together national leaders regarding the state of the nation and people’s issues concerning the drought. Our H4C partners in East Africa were invited to this gathering. The population served by our H4C projects has been greatly affected by the shortage of water and electricity. The dire situation does not show any immediate signs of improvement. *Hope for Change International* has established a new fund, *“Food in the Famine”, to buy corn and beans and assist in providing other intermediate solutions to the crisis. Steady rain and ample agricultural harvests are the permanent solutions. Read more on our MBELE.o rg* blog report, “Hakuna Maji, Hakuna Umeme.” We urge you to become part of the cycle of giving and affect *HOPE* for *CHANGE.* *Vanessa Grimsland in Arusha, Tanzania during medical outreach* *Nagaland ~ India* *Sarah Smith with students at Nagaland Children Residential School Mokokchung, Nagaland, India* Monsoon season will be coming to an end soon in Northeast India. I spoke with our H4C partner, Moa Jamir, recently and asked him about the amount of rainfall this year. “Oh, too much rain, Sarah!” Moa emphatically responded. Heavy rainfall usually exerts a heavy toll on the health of the population of the Nagaland Children’s Residential School, our H4C supported enterprise in Mokokchung, Nagaland. However, this year the school’s health report card scores an “A”. No sickness occurred among the students living in the hostel. This was music to my ears! The educational complex boasts two fifteen foot high water reservoirs which “harvest” the rain from the sky. I love this choice of words. Water is viewed as something to be gathered and stored for the inevitable four- month dry season. Last year one of the reservoirs evidenced signs of distress – a fissure with obvious leakage. Not good. Moa gave us an estimate for repair of the crack. We passed along the need to Hope for Change supporters. The money came in, was sent to Mokokchung, and the reservoir was repaired during the school’s recess. Today the repaired reservoir and its twin are nearly full. The staff and maintenance crew wisely placed mounting of railings on the top of this year’s list of safety measures for the children and teachers. Since the school is located in the Naga Hills which are the foothills of the Himalayas there are flights of steps everywhere. Roofs are flat and are used for activities. To get up there you must use steps and once you are up there you will not find walls. One example of this is the newly completed Nursery Play Park on the open-air level of one of the classroom buildings. Pillars have been erected, bathrooms ready to go, and play equipment situated. Safety railings along roof perimeter added the final touch. Voila! A roof becomes a useful and secure space for children to play. When I first visited Nagaland Children’s Residential School in October, 2008 the main classroom building consisted of two levels. Today four levels exist and have met requirements of the Indian Building Code. Twice as many rooms are fully utilized for classroom instruction. A second boy’s dormitory has been built. Administrative offices have been renovated. The computer lab has received newer computers. Current enrollment at the school is 394 children. This is lower than in 2010. I do not know why yet but I will ask Moa and Sentila the next time I call Mokokchung, Nagaland. The students continue to score not only adequately but high on annual proficiency tests. The administration and teachers are dedicated to providing excellent education. The students work diligently. I have been privileged to meet most of them during my project evaluation trips in 2008, 2009, and 2010. While on last year’s trip to the subcontinent of India I spent fourteen days in Nagaland. For decades the Indian Government has required a “Restricted Area Permit” for tourists coming to Nagaland. Fourteen days was the maximum number of days granted with each initial application. Patty Tiernan, from Kingston, NY, accompanied me and Patty was a terrific travel partner! While there Patty and I took hundreds of photographs. Some of them have been included in my blog articles on www.Mbele.org and the best of the best have been posted within my Facebook photo albums. The snap below shows Pursen on the left and Asanla on the right. My friend, Tia, has taken them into her heart and home to provide a safe place to live, receive schooling, and inspiration for their future. There have been other children in Tia’s home before Pursen and Asanla. *Pursen and Asania* *PHILIPPINES* I’m happy to report that the number of people sponsoring students has grown this year, although there still remains a number of students in the sponsorship program that do not have sponsors. The highlight for me when I travel to the Philippines is the time I am able to spend visiting the students. This year one visit was especially meaningful for me. When I visited Regina Grace, one of our sponsored high school students, I found out that she had gotten ill during her exams and was not able to make the tests. Her teacher was very accommodating and told her she could make it up by doing a project instead. That was good news, except Regina did not have the money to buy the supplies she needed. I made arrangements with one of the staff to take her out to get everything she needed. As we headed out on our shopping trip I could see both excitement and hesitation in Regina. She told me all she really needed was a dictionar y and I didn’t need to get her any supplies. Having traveled to the Philippines for over 20 years, I know Filipinos can be “shy” about expressing their needs and I knew she needed more than just a dictionary. When we got to the mall we discovered this was her first trip to any mall (hard to believe at 15 years old, can you imagine an American 15 year old girl not ever going to a mall?). After finding her dictionary, I told her I knew she needed much more than that and I wanted her to get whatever she needed. She fought back tears when I told her that and at first she was very hesitant, but gradually she expressed her needs and we got everything she needed. During that process I watched a shy, quiet, defeated girl blossom into an excited student who kept thanking me and hugging me through the whole shopping event. I’ll tell you, there is no substitute for that kind of interaction. I was honored to be there to help th is girl as she works to trade her hopelessness into dreams. The first time I met Regina she was hesitant to tell me her plans for the future. Her response was, “it’s unattainable”. You see, Regina had been abandoned by both parents and was living with an aunt in one of the housing unit near the dump site. There are 9 people living in a space that is smaller than some master bedrooms here in the states. In recent weeks the Philippines has been hit hard by to typhoons. The typhoons caused major damage to the Daycare Center run by our partner in Manila which serves the people of the Smokey Mountain garbage dump community. The cost to repair the building is about $2000 (U.S. Dollars). We hope you would consider helping. Thanks again to all our sponsors, you are truly bringing Hope For Change! *Paul Grimsland with Regina Grace*

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Tags: Food for the Hungry, Horn of Africa, Mariner's Harbor, Mokokchung Schools, Nagaland Education, Nagaland Tourism, Tarrence Motley, Tony Levin

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Kohima ~ Capital of Nagaland

Sunday, January 2, 2011

posted by ssmith

“Kohima is Yours ~ Keep it Clean”

Welcome to

MBELE!

blog site. This site serves to keep our

Hope For Change International

followers

informed

of our travel exploits

and

inspired

by the dedication of our remarkable H4C partners around the globe. On November 17, 2010, I returned safely home in the USA from a five week journey to Northeast India, specifically to the Indian state of Nagaland which sits below Tibet in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. Since most of the world is unfamiliar with this remote region of the world I have taken it upon myself to educate our MBELE! readers as best as I can regarding this unique locale and population. One of my young hosts, Neingulie, stated Nagaland’s development this way, “From headhunters to cyber world in one hundred years!” His use of the term “headhunters” is literal and not at all the post modern usage in Western corporate job hunting circles.

My ultimate destination and purpose of this H4C adventure was to tour our children’s residential school in Mokokchung, Nagaland. An arduous travel intinerary was required as follows: vehicle ride to JFK Airport, flight to Heathrow Airport, UK, flight to Stuttgart, Germany, flight to Istanbul, Turkey, flight to Mumbai, India, flight to Kolkata, India, flight to Dimapur, Nagaland, six-hour vehicle ride to Kohima, and five-hour vehicle ride to Mokokchung. You may be saying, “Whew!” I did! In my quest to become saturated with Naga culture and geography our hosts agreed to a three night stay in Kohima. There, I would visit both historical, commercial, and trekking sites. Before I get to that, though, I cannot resist showing you some examples of “signing” that I saw on city streets and along roads. Here you will find also a mini portion of Kohima’s remarkable history.

Kohima – (Hindi: कोहिमा) is the hilly capital of India’s north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung. Kohima is so called because “Kew Hi” is the name of a plant grown on the mountainside. “Kew Hi Ma” means “the men of the land where the flower Kew Hi grows”. Earlier, Kohima was known as “Thigoma”. Incursions into the Naga territory beginning in the 1840s met with stiff resistance from the independence loving Nagas who had never been conquered by any empire before. The stiffness of the resistance can be gauged by the fact that it took nearly four decades for the British to conquer a territory that is less than 10,000 square kilometres (the eastern region was left free). Kohima was the first seat of modern administration as the Headquarters of Naga Hills District (then under Assam) with the appointment of G.H. Damant as Political Officer in 1879. When Nagaland became a full fledged state on 1 December 1963, Kohima was christened as the state capital.

In 1944 during World War II the Battle of Kohima along with the simultaneous Battle of Imphal was the turning point in the Burma Campaign. For the first time in South-East Asia the Japanese lost the initiative to the Allies which they then retained until the end of the war. This hand-to-hand battle and slaughter prevented the Japanese from gaining a high base from which they might next roll across the extensive flatlands of India like a juggernaut.

Kohima has a large cemetery for the Allied war dead maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The cemetery lies on the slopes of Garrison Hill, in what was once the Deputy Commissioner’s tennis court which was the scene of intense fighting, the Battle of the Tennis Court. The epitaph carved on the memorial of the 2nd British Division in the cemetery.

“When you go home, tell them of us and say, ‘For their tomorow, we gave our TODAY’”

This epitaph has become world-famous as the Kohima poem. The verse is attributed to John Maxwell Edmonds (1875–1958), and is thought to have been inspired by the epitaph written by Simonides to honour the Greek who fell at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC.

Basic Needs ~ Basic Rights

Information billboards abound in Kohima. The above sign reinforces the life principles of basic human needs and basic human rights. Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

Due to its elevation, Kohima features a more moderate version of a humid subtropical climate. Kohima has a pleasant and moderate climate – not too cold in winters and pleasant summers. December and January are the coldest months when frost occurs and in the higher altitudes snowfall occurs occasionally. During the height of summers, from July–August, temperature ranges an average of 80-90 Fahrenheit. Heavy rainfall occurs during summer.

Kohima is located at

25°40′N 94°07′E / 25.67°N 94.12°E / 25.67; 94.12. It has an average elevation of 1261 metres (4137 feet). The town of Kohima is located on the top of a high ridge and the town serpentines all along the top of the surrounding mountain ranges as is typical of most Naga settlements.

‘Kohima village’ called ‘Bara Basti’ or ‘large village’, which is the second largest village in Asia, forms the northeastern part of Kohima urban area today. The Bara Basti is divided into ‘khels’ or localities. There are four of them, namely – Tsütuonuomia, Lhisemia, Dapfütsumia and Pfuchatsumia. They are termed shortly as T, L, D, and P Khel respectively.

The Nagaland State Museum is comprised of exhibits of gateposts, statues, pillars, and jewelry. A ceremonial drum which looks like a dug-out war canoe is exhibited in a separate shed. The basement of the museum has birds and animals of the North-Eastern hill states.

Earthquake Warnings

Probably, you can read my thoughts as I saw and read many signs about earthquakes, natural disasters, and water usage.

Ripped Billboard Depicts the Effects of Disasters

Assam Oil is the fuel of choice.

One of Dozens of Assam Oil Refuelers

Finally, more appealing signs along the road ~ I tried to read them all to learn about the outlook of the Naga people and city-dwellers of Kohima.

Life Messages Abound in Kohima

And one more sign that I saw on my visit in 2008, and in 2009, and in 2010. The truth of this warning is true on the roads of every nation.

Friendly Government Warnings

As you may know, land line telephone usage is being by-passed by the younger generation in Nagaland as in other developing nations. Many Nagas have two or more mobile phones with different phone plans based on roaming networks and use of SIM cards. Cell phone companies are in fierce competition with each other for the young market.

AIRCEL ~ Mobile Phone Provider

I will close with a snap of some of my Kohima friends minutes before we embarked on our vehicle journey to Mokokchung. Oh, and you are now seeing our Mahindra Scorpio vehicle. In a good way, I now have an emotional attachment to this off-road vehicle. Hopefully, my forthcoming travel videos will display the skills of our drivers over jungle pathways. Our safe travel depended on the Mahindra’s dependability and our excellent drivers! More about them, Moa & Yapang & Bahadur, in a forthcoming blog.

Last snap before leaving these friends in Kohima

And, here is a view of the last Kohima intersection before we drove through our first “Exit Check Point.”

Drivers Keeping to the Left at Busy Intersection

More information and videos regarding HOPE FOR CHANGE may be found on our primary web site www.H4Cinternational.org

MBELE!

Sarah Anne Smith

Tags: Aircel in India, Ao Tribe, Arunachal Pradesh Tourism, Assam Oil, Assam Tea, Himalayas, Kohima Tourism, Mokokchung, Monsoon Season in India, Nagaland, Nagaland Tourism, Northeast India Tourism, Personal Memoirs

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“My Trip to Nagaland: Directionals”

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

posted by ssmith

Seven days from today my dear friend, Patty Tiernan, and I will begin our five week journey to Nagaland. Every hour counts now in getting ready. Notwithstanding, I am taking the time to write something to all of you ~ to James, the Smith Family, my twin sister & her husband, the McDermott Clan, “Hope for Change” constituents, and all of my “friends and followers” on the Internet.

Here goes…

What will I leave behind?

My times with my husband, James ~ talking about our shared passion and vision for “Hope for Change International“ ~ boasting to each other about our three sons, Timothy, Andrew, and Matthew.

Times spent together in our kitchen, our home office, our dinner dates ~ lively talk of travel, cultures, music and the nation-changing people we know.

Times with the Smith Family ~ listening to updates about their jobs, loved ones, and friends ~ October’s family celebrations: Tim’s birthday, Kim’s birthday, our wedding anniversary, Andrew’s coverage of the World Series, Keira’s Soccer, Lyra’s family news and Pottery Barn for Kids, Matt’s “livin’ the American Dream, Mom”, and Tuesdays caring for Wylie, our grandson.

What will I leave behind?

My times of interaction with longtime friends ~ a warm hug here and a loving word there ~ mentoring younger women in facing the challenges of life, family, the workplace, and spirituality ~ weekly gatherings of Morning Star Christian Fellowship and annual events of Good Shepherd School!

What will I leave behind?

Times spent enjoying the natural beauty of my beloved Ulster County and the Mid-Hudson Valley ~ my “river reverie” walks along the Hudson ~ Poet’s Walk and annual hike at Mohonk ~ the view of the Catskills ~ driving along Rte 32 and 209 ~ praying for the neighborhoods and residents as I drive.

“Like a cold glass of water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” Proverbs 25:25

What will I find ahead?

Taking a cup of cold water to my dear friend, Tiala Ao in Mokokchung, Nagaland ~ sitting at her table sipping tea and sharing our spiritual insights, her personal history, how our sistership began and where it is heading ~ taking more water to Tia’s daughter, Sentila and her husband, Moa ~ playing with their children, Mulong & Ozenla.

Taking more waters of refreshment to the hard-working, self-denying staff, teachers, and administrators of Nagaland Children’s Residential School ~ seeing the delight in the children’s eyes who see me as the “first person from the USA” to journey to Mokokchung ~ satisfaction from imparting my experiences to young people who desire to be nation-changers and leaders of Nagaland ~ knowing that my visit is an answer to their praying…

What will I find ahead?

A deepened understanding of the history, culture, and vision-builders of Nagaland ~ a deepened appreciation of her natural beauty nestled in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains ~ a deepened love for the people of Nagaland ~ their abilities in art, music, and crafts ~ distinctively, their spirituality.

Deeper awe of the Creator of the Universe as I soar above the heights at 35,000 feet ~ His grace to sustain me as I function with little sleep and different food, surroundings, and climate changes ~ learning ever more deeply that, “His strength is made perfect in my weakness.”

What will I find ahead?

Upon my return home…a deeper appreciation of my country and our freedoms, our blessings ~ a deeper appreciation of my nation, my culture, and my spiritual harvest here at home ~

Reunion joy upon seeing all of you who care about HOPE FOR CHANGE.

Reunion joy upon seeing Tim & Kim & Wylie, Andrew & Lyra & Keira, and Matthew.

And most of all…beyond all words to describe…reunion with James and safely back in his arms again.

Directionals…moving forward and not looking back. MBELE! Learn more at www.H4Cinternational.org and read our other WordPress articles on www.Mbele.org

Sarah Anne Smith