Discovery of Saarathi association

Community Awareness Team

Last month I’ve started the link through email. Ravi was very happy that someone was interested in his project so he replied quickly and few days later we met.
He came to Boudha, we had tea. He described is association I talked about Free Radicals. He talked about their actions, I gave him a bag of 150 condoms. Like that Emeline, my GP and others know where are their donations :)

here a complete introduction of Saarathi activities Saarathi2008 signed by Ravi.

The 19^{th march, we met again, this time a made the move. I went to freak street (behind Durbar Square, with Coralie, a French girl on the road who was interested in the visit and the sort of activities Saarathi was into.
We arrived in their apartment when a social worker volunteer just started his tuition for 2 new comers in the Saarathi family. The tuition: how to get out from addiction. As Ravi, the teacher himself is an ex-drug addict.
This tuition room is the bigger one, empty but the white board and the sentences on the walls. The second and last room is the office, quite small but everything is there for a warm welcome.}

Through the photos, while Ravi’s new wife was preparing tea, we were presented the main big events organized by the association.
Their New Year was on the Royal Place itself, DJ and workshop "how to use a condom" :)
Last October they set up a day to prevent the use of drugs. That was still on Durbar Square, with a famous Nepali actor, a general of the army and of course doctors to talk the best of the day’s topic.
Of course the volunteers were also active for the condoms day. More than the core of 25 volunteers, there are more ready for special events.

Daily, they welcome people dealing with HIV contamination and/or addiction. They do it everyday, the phone’s always on.
They do a real social work. What they want to achieve is reflected in how they call themselves. Saarathi are the strong warriors of the Mahabharata. Don’t think that there are traditionalist though. Their leitmotiv is to encourage their neighbours at an everyday awareness. STD, drugs but also pollution. In Kathmandu the rivers are disgusting; in the streets open-air corners play the role of bins!

Noticeable, they’ve got money for the rent through an aid which will end in June… there they depend on generous landlords-helpers.

AIMS

SAARATHI NEPAL aims to improve the quality of life for families living with HIV and drug users in Nepal by providing opportunities for empowerment, taking control of issues controlling their life .Empowerment of families living with HIV and drug addiction concerns not only health related issues but the protection of human rights, involvement in the development of policy, non discriminatory access to the legal and health care system and the education of the wider community.

SAARATHI NEPAL aims to provide a voice for families living with HIV, drug users and their children at the local, regional and national levels in order to facilitate systemic change in critical areas such as care and support, after treatment care, community and school awareness program assist to treatment and addressing issues of discrimination in society.

At Saarathi’s every one’s got the smile. When we went, Pritesh walked with us, led us to an optician for Coralie. While we waited he asked me if I gave a gift to Ravi? … "because I didn’t know what was it and I opened the package in Ravi’s home in front of his mother and his sister… the bag was so well closed that when I insisted it burst! All the condoms scattered in the room. I was so ashamed."

I can’t even imagine what went up in Ravi’s mother head in front of such a sight a day before his wedding!