Travel to Nepal with Harry, Kay and Celebrity Ambassador Stephanie March
When they received our Health Award, Douglas Maclagan and Dr. Ashok Banskota joined us in New York City. Now, we are coming to them.
It’s a beautiful morning in Kathmandu, Nepal. Taxis idle outside of hotels to wait for tourists to roll out of bed. Rickshaws trundle up crowded streets underneath a myriad of colorful signs that advertise in English.
On Sunday, co-founders Harry Leibowitz and Kay Isaacson-Leibowitz, along with Celebrity Ambassador Stephanie March, will be among the foreigners taking in the awe-inspiring sights of Swayambhunath Stupa and Durbar Square.
However, sightseeing is not their main reason for going. The majority of the trip will be spent visiting 2011 Health Award Honoree Dr. Ashok Banskota and 2009 Health Award Honoree Douglas Maclagan. On behalf of our supporters, they will hold the little hands of children directly helped by our Award.
“We are so excited about being with the children,” Kay said, “and reinforcing to our Honorees that they are forever part of our World of Children family.”
Arrive in Kathmandu
Harry and Kay will travel to Nepal by way of Delhi, India before heading to Kathmandu. Dr. Banskota’s Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (HRDC) sits just beyond Kathmandu’s crowded streets. Compared to the nearby metropolis, the HRDC is a quiet oasis where disabled children can comfortably rest and receive the specialized treatment they so desperately need.
“When I returned to Nepal in the 70s, I didn’t come back with a grand plan,” Dr. Banskota admitted. “The overwhelming need that I saw made my decision to stay and work in Nepal very easy. It has been a long and difficult struggle, but one that has been totally worth it.”
On the itinerary:
- >Drive to Banepa to visit Dr. Banskota and the HRDC
- >Meet some of the patients treated by Dr. Banskota
- >Head to Bhaktapur city for a taste of Nepalese art and architecture
Fly to Pokhara
Heading northwest along the mountains will eventually bring you to Pokhara, a city that seems a bit too humble for such a stunning Himalayan backdrop. Here, Douglas Maclagan begins each day with a mission: to ensure every child in Nepal has hope for the future.
“I was determined to help and asked the villagers what they needed most,” said Douglas, explaining why he started the Child Welfare Scheme. “They needed a safe place for children to play while they worked in the field and access to free, basic health care.”
On the Itinerary:
- >Visit Asha Clinic to meet patients, children, and their moms
- >Visit Child Welfare Scheme’s headquarters
- >Drive to Jyoti street project to meet vocational students
Stay Tuned!
Join us next week (July 15th-20th) for an exclusive glimpse into Nepalese culture, the lives of our Honorees, and a personal introduction to a few of the children who have brighter futures ahead, thanks to you.
We’ll be sharing beautiful photos and inspiring stories all week long. Be sure to check in on our blog and follow us on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/worldofchildrenawards
Twitter: @worldofchildren #nepal
Instagram: worldofchildren
Pinterest: pinterest.com/worldofchildren
Stephanie March (@MarchStephanie), Kay (@kayforkids) and photographer Michael Crook (@MichaelCrook1) will also share updates via Twitter!
