Universal Peace Gathering

Pokhara

2010-10-17T23:47:00.000-07:00

Let's go to Pokhara for a few days, to visit a few sites.
Here is a bamboo forest, part of an organic farm preserving medecinal plants. The farm is one hour outside of Kathmandu. It is a research center for ayuverdic medecines.

Bikas and Kiran enjoying themselves on the boat, on Pokhara fewa lac.

The famous blue boats of Pokhara.

Bikas and Cem, taking notes on the plants being grown at the farm.

मवानपुर प्लन्ततिओन sunset

2010-09-29T22:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Eclat Education, Badri and Bishal, for organizing this plantation with the local students.

After a full day of work, it's time for an amazing sunset from the ghadi.
Bikas and Manue smiling after a good day.

Roasted corn and chilli was served. Everyone enjoyed the sunset and the corn.

A little group photo to finish the plantation?

Thank you for everyone who made this event a success.
See you next plantation with the Universal Peace Foundation:)

मकवानपुर प्लन्ततिओन 5

2010-09-29T22:39:00.000-07:00

Mawanpur plantation. Manue and students covering the future trees.

Bikas and students planting bamboos.

Kiran and students, happy planters!

Together, it's even more fun to work!

मकवानपुर प्लन्ततिओन 4

2010-09-29T22:32:00.000-07:00

Students and local villagers planting trees at Makwanpurghadi.

The ghadi sits on top of a hill, 20 minutes outside of Hetauda. The fort used to be an old training center for the famous Gorkha army, the best of the Nepale fighters. From the hill, the view was open on the entire valley, a very strategic place!

Bikas silver fields and the mountains.

मकवानपुर प्लन्ततिओन 3

2010-09-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

Everybody was very happy to help planting trees for the future. The local villagers came around, and planted with the students of Hetauda school.

Together, we can do better work, and have fun while doing it!

Kids and everyone put their hands into the dirt!

मक्वान्पुर्घदी प्लन्ततिओन 2

2010-09-29T22:04:00.000-07:00

For the Makwanpur plantation, first we have to go select the trees. So, direction the Forestry department of Hetauda, where we select local trees. The local authorities will donate half the trees, and our organization will pay for the rest.

Now that we have the trees, the students and the location, it's time for some planting action!
Let's go with Kiran!

A little planning goes a long way. Each tree will go to a specific spot, as to make the best design possible for the future generations.

Planting is fun! Everybody is having a great time. A day with friends enjoying the outdoors under a sunny blue sky. This is happiness guaranteed:)

हेतौदा plantation

2010-09-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

On september 21, UPF went to Hetauda for a plantation in Makwanpurghadi.
Hetauda is located 5 hours South of Kathmandu. After a jeep ride, 300 ruppee each, Kiran, Bikas and Manue arrive in Hetauda.
Follow Manue for a special plantation week end!

A double rainbow welcome us to Makawnpurghadi, an old fort on top of a hill.

In front of the Krihsna temple, Kiran speaks with the 20 students that came for the plantation.

Everyone listens with interest, as Kiran explains about why it is good to plant new trees.

Apple houses

2010-07-06T01:39:00.000-07:00

Apple house construction.

UPG family

2010-07-06T00:50:00.000-07:00

Santos and friend enjoying a view from the Pokhara hills.

Santos and Prakriti.

Mamy and Prakriti.

Village life

2010-07-06T00:30:00.000-07:00

An old couple enjoying shanti life in the mountains.

Kids ready for a swim in the river.

Woman making baskets.

More plantation

2009-10-24T06:57:00.000-07:00

A day of plantation, with the army and everyone.

Plantation

2009-10-24T06:53:00.000-07:00

A day of planting pear trees in the Queen valley, close to Kathmandu.

Welcome to Rainbow Sisters Farm

2009-06-12T02:04:00.000-07:00

http://rainbowsistersfarm.blogspot.com/

A long time dream of Shri Krishna, Jungle Hippie Farm is a model organic farm, only 1 hour away from Kathmandu. A 20 mns walk up the hill from Benapa, the farm is a perfect get away from busy and dusty Kathmandu.

The farm is fully organic, and equipped with bio mass which provides gaz for the whole family and guests.

With a little help from volunteers and plant lovers, Shri Krishna would like to make his farm a plants research center.
An old forest guard, Shri Krishna can take you on a walk through the jungle, and give you information about the local plants.

Kiran of UPF, Bikas and Manue from Grasshopper Studio went to visit the farm and found a beautiful garden with a view of the mountains, a real oasis of peace just outside of Kathmandu.

Check out Rainbow Sisters Farm blog page, and come visit us to enjoy a sunset from the balcony.

Gosaikunda, 108 sacred lakes.

2009-06-04T00:23:00.000-07:00

"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. Lao Tzu."

One day, a very long time ago, Shiva the ascetic was meditating on top of the world. As he was churning the sea, he drunk the poison of immortality, amrita, which made him very thirsty, and turned his throat blue.

Taking his trishula, he pounded the ground creating the Gosaikunda lakes. He drunk the water to quenche his thirst. The 108 lakes, a sacred number, became a holy pilgramage place for the Hindu/Buddhist community. Every year in August, they come by the thousand to take a swim in the holy water.

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. Lin Yutang."

With 6 people, 2 french men, Pierre and David, a guide, a porter, Bikas and I, we go for 8 days in the mountains of the Langtang national park. We walk up the hills, passing the valley of rododendrons, changing from pink, to white to purple.

We cross primordial forests, where only gods and yaks can live, the moss of the trees watching us pass in eternal silence.

Up and up we go. The land becomes more and more dry with each meter up. The clouds swallows us like aunts crawling up the hill. We climb to 4700 meters to finally see the Langtang hills, far away marking the chinese border. The lakes shine like jewels in melting snow. Here nothing grows, the land is dry and cold.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. Marcel Proust. "

What goes up must go down says the wise man. After going up, the only way is down. On the way, we stop by Melamchigau, a quiet village sitting in rice fields. A holy village for Buddhists, where Milarepa and Padmasambava, 2 important buddhists saints, came and meditated in caves near by.

Near by the village, there are still a handfull of retreats for lamas. After a much needed rest and a chicken meal, which is a nice change from the daily dose of dal bhat, local rice and lentils meal, we descend through the rododendrons, the mossy forest, to finally get back in the brahman emerald valley of rice fields and banana trees.

Here nothing has changed for thousands of years, except for the little radios that the local villagers listen to. As usual, the government is on the news, everyone listening to the constant debate of rotten politicians and military forces.

The newly appointed president is being replaced by another one. The new government of Nepal changes his politicians like it would change socks. From far, browsing the newspaper, I watch a country trying to implement a dreamed about democracy. Maybe one day they will get a democracy, only history will tell.

Back in dusty Kathmandu, surfing in between taxis and rickshaws, I settle once again in city life, holding in my mind the sight of sublime Mother Nature, I put one feet in front of the other. Slowly but surely, got to keep on going.

It’s another day in Kathmandu…

"I have discovered that all human evil comes from this,
man's being unable sit still in a room.
Blaise Pascal."

Happy New year 2066

2009-04-18T04:42:00.000-07:00

UPF whishes you a Happy New Year 2066.
Here are some pictures of Kathmandu celebrating the passing of one year into another year.

St Angels Heaven

2008-11-06T06:56:00.000-08:00

The new site for Amrit's orphenage is finally uploaded. On the web site, you can see pictures of the kids, and of the Angels choir in Durbar Square.
View the web site here:
http://www.stangelsheaven.com/

Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

Angel's Heavenly Choir - Video - Part 2

2008-08-05T01:54:00.000-07:00

The following is the second part — in the night — of the Angel's Heavenly Choir performance at Kathmandu Durbar Square. 10 minutes at YouTube.

People who made all this possible:

Orphanage staff and volunteers

Orphanage parents: Amrit Bikram Shahi (St. Angel) and his wife Aishvarya, who bear the loving responsibility for the children since 1999.

Administrator and Coordinator: Kim Morton, United Kingdom, living at the orphanage as a resident volunteer.

Website, artwork and marketing: Ananda Loponen, Finland, working with the Universal Peace Foundation.
Website, painting, help with children: Manue, France, also with the UPF.

Filming, art with children: Claire and Tom, Australia.
Filming and editing: Raina, Austria, working on a wonderful DVD of the event and the orphanage.

Artwork and promotion: Bashkor and Shani, Bangladesh, sketched together excellent illustrations.
Resident volunteer: Emily, France, helped with the children.
English teacher: Jimpa, Tibet, is teaching the children.
Financial support: Craig and John, South Africa, donated the event banner and food for the children.
Organizing the children: Shiva and Prakash, Nepal.

Performers

Fire dance and music: Masa and Rio.
Juggling and entertainment: Alex and friends, France.
Didgeridoo and djembe: Bikash and Binod, Nepal.
Singing and drums: Bashu and friends, Nepal.

A big thank you to everyone involved! Thanks to your untiring efforts, the orphanage has now been put on the map of Kathmandu!

Angel's Heavenly Choir - Video - Part 1

2008-08-01T23:38:00.000-07:00

The following is the first part — in the daylight — of the Angel's Heavenly Choir performance at Kathmandu Durbar Square. 10 minutes at YouTube.

And here's a link to the YouTube page, too.

Angel's Choir

2008-07-29T00:36:00.000-07:00

Angel's Heaven Choir night was a complete success.

We would like to thank all of you that helped in any big or small ways. The volunteers that painted with the kids, the musicians, jugglers and fire dancers. Thank you to all the people that came to enjoy celebrating life with Angel's Heavens choir.

"No gift is too small."

The evening started around 6 pm with the kids walking from the orphenage to Durbar Square carrying the Choir's banner. The square was already packed with curious people looking at a board decorated with the kids drawings. There was also a couple of camera people from local stations.

Once settled, the choirs sang classic nepale folk songs, accompanied by a Pokhara folk musician. It was their first performance in front of such a large crowd. The children's voices went up to Shiva and Parvati, who were sitting right on the balcony to hear their songs. After about an hour of singing, Alex, a french artist and juggler friends came on the show, followed by a didgeridoo and djembe moment with Bikash, Binod Katwa and Sabindra.

To finish the night in beauty, japanese fire dancers did their magic, illuminating Durbar Square with the smiles of childrens and adults alike.

It was a wonderful night.

See you at next Angel's Heaven's Choir:)

Angel Apple

2008-07-27T03:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's event with St. Angel's Heavenly Choir was a grand success! Featuring a program with the children and their songs, followed by fire-dancers, jugglers and musicians, the total flow of people attending the event was close to a thousand.

A blazing success with a mere four days of active work and two days of advertising, the event with good media presence was a wonderful pilot for raising awareness on the orphanage. Detailed news with photos and videos will be made available momentarily.

A huge thank you to everyone participating in spirit and on the spot — it was wonderful! We love you, folks!

Help promote the event!

2008-07-24T00:46:00.001-07:00

Please participate in promoting the July 26th event featured below! Contact your friends, send a note to your contacts! Promotional materials are available at www.stangelsheaven.com.

Currently happening:

Faxing press release to all major newspapers and TV-stations
Printing posters and fliers - distributing in central locations

We could use a swift hand or two in passing out fliers around Thamel and Freak Street — get in touch, drop by at the UPF office or the orphanage!

Charity concert - Press release

2008-07-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

St. Angel’s Heavenly Choir

A charity concert in the heart of Kathmandu

• Saturday, July 26th •
6.00 - 8.00 pm

at Kathmandu Durbar Square

Angel’s Heaven Orphanage
Angel’s Heaven is a child care home formed in 1999, working towards giving homeless and orphan children an opportunity for a safe life and a good future. The organization is committed to helping children who are socially neglected and rejected in the society.

The organization, registered in 1999 by Mr. Amrit Bikram Shahi and his wife with a board of seven members, is a non-profit, non-political, independent organization with a vision to serve disadvantaged children by providing basic necessities and globally recognized education.

Currently caring for 27 children, year 2008 has been a transition towards a bright future for the orphanage. With increasing volunteer activity and international support, plans are in progress to relocate the orphanage to the scenic mountain valleys of Dhading, to land owned by Mr. Shahi.

A Charity Concert
Music is an integral part of the lives of the children at the Angel’s Heaven orphanage. With an aim for creating awareness of the orphanage and the overall humanitarian needs of Nepal, the children of the orphanage will be performing traditional Nepali songs along with other classic songs in a free charity concert at Kathmandu Durbar Square on Saturday, the 26th July, from 6.00 to 8.00 pm.

Aside the children’s performance, the event will feature a session with Japanese fire dancers, a blend of tribal sounds and mountain magic by a Nepalese didgeridoo master, and additional short numbers by other partners and of the Angel’s Heaven orphanage.

Contact Information
For further information, please contact Mr. Amrit Bikram Shahi, the director of the orphanage. A press kit with logos, photos and background information is available on the website.

Mr. Amrit Bikram Shahi
Child at Risk Rescue & Care Foundation (CRRCF)
P.O. Box: 8975 EPC-1104, Kathmandu, Nepal

Mobile: 98510-26344
E-Mail: st_angels@hotmail.com
Website: www.stangelsheaven.com

St. Angel's Heavenly Choir

2008-07-23T10:32:00.001-07:00

Here's a cordial invitation to all friends and fellow travelers in or around Kathmandu on Saturday, July 26th!

Products

2008-07-14T03:11:00.000-07:00

Nepal offers a wide variety of handmade products. With wool, colorful felt, hemp, designer clothing, Kathmandu is a great place to get your wardrobe for the year.

Universal Peace Foundation works with local tailors to bring you some of the best of Nepal products. Soon, you can purchase our products, and support UPF cause, as well as the local industry. With a small donation, you will get a UPF Tshirt.

To come: 100% hemp products, with bags, yoga mattes and more. Here is an exemple of a yoga matte, which comes in it's own bag.

Here is Badri showing us the UPF Tshirt, with the logo.

A 100% cotton handbag. A 100% hemp bag for your drum kit.
Thanks Badri for being today's model:)

UPF intro movie

2008-07-07T02:17:00.001-07:00

Here is the begining of a introduction slide show type movie for UPF. The main focus of this slide show is trying to define what UPF stands for.
In it we can see a few projects in which UPG is involved. Projects are seperated in categories such as:
- Introduction to the country of Nepal
- Celebrating life.
- Helping each others: with Angel's Heaven Nepal orphenage.
- Planting for the future: UPF plantation projects around Nepal.
- Respect and Love for the Earth we all share.

Enjoy the viewing, and please come with any comments or suggestions for future changes to the movie.
Fuzz

UPF
Video sent by gamatron

Introduction movie to UPF 2010

And still more food...

2008-07-03T00:14:00.001-07:00

As per the plan yesterday, Kiran brought the children at Angel's Heaven orphanage 100+ kilos of raw ingredients to ensure their most essential necessity — food — at a time of financial crisis. Hopefully this is the first in a series of recurring support from the UPF. I can't see why that wouldn't be possible.

There are also plans in the UPF to generate financial support for the remaining children of the orphanage who are yet to be admitted to school. I'm very pleased to see how the hearts of the movers here are touched by the children's needs.

Universal Peace Flow

2008-07-01T02:03:00.000-07:00

I started the UPF Internal blog to keep track of all incoming concepts that need to be put on the table and dealt with. While the blog's only really relevant for people working with the UPF in one capacity or other, it's open for all to read.

Please don't be shy to contribute, we need your feedback to make UPF reach its full potential. To dissipate the friction still existing in the Universal Peace Flow... To make our workflow smooth and seamless.

http://upfinternal.blogspot.com/

Angel's Heaven - Mission Statement

2008-06-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

This is a copy of a recent proposal my friend Amrit, the director of the Angel's Heaven orphanage, handed over to me. Attached to it was a sheet with a breakdown of the annual expenses, which I'll be posting later.

Contributors can send donations through me by 1. Credit card, 2. PayPal, 3. Bank transfer (Finnish and Indian accounts), or 4. Western Union. Otherwise, visitors can give cash on visiting or contact Amrit for further details.

Angel’s Heaven Nepal

Child at Risk Rescue and Care Foundation — Since 1999

Govt. Regd.:
CR No. 5
CDO No. 1598
SWC No. 22728

Mailing address: Post Box No. 8975 EPC-1104
Tel: 470-0718
Mobile: 985-102-6344
E-mail: st_angels@hotmail.com

Mission Statement
Angel’s Heaven

Children at Risk, Rescue and Care Foundation

Nepal is an underdeveloped country with a total population of 25 million per capita income per year of USD 240. The total literacy rate is 28%.

Since 1996 Nepal is suffering from civil war. Due to this reason, orphans are increasing and a large number of population cannot afford education and health care for their children.

Angel’s Heaven is a child care home formed in 1999, working towards giving homeless and orphans an opportunity for a safe life and a good future. The organization is committed to help children who are socially neglected and rejected in the society. The orphanage is aimed towards providing an atmosphere full of love, respect and kindness towards each other.

Started with one child from eastern Nepal in 1999, by 2002 the organization was looking after 12 children. Currently with 20 children from the age group of 5-15, Angel’s Heaven emphasizes on providing proper education and better future for the children. We believe in raising the children in a manner so they grow up to be independent, great individuals.

Angel’s Heaven is a non-profit, non-political, independent organization with a vision to serve disadvantaged children by providing basic necessities and globally recognized education.

Angel’s Heaven is self-supported organization funded by its 7 members to their best ability in a country where 82 percent of the population is living in villages and mountains. This is a small attempt to obtain financial support to help us improve the current lifestyle and education support for our children. By your small help, we can save their lives.

Our mission is to provide safe, healthy and better life to under-privileged children from various parts of Nepal.

We urge you to support these needed children. Your support can help them become responsible individuals, creating a better tomorrow.

Few of the many ways you can support:

You can sponsor food, clothing, and medical requirements for an individual child or for all the children.
You can sponsor education for an individual child or a group
You can provide charity funding for the orphanage for various activities assisting our children
You can help by purchasing land or supporting in construction of accommodation/school
You can volunteer to teach English or music to our children

Long term objectives:

Angel’s Heaven aspires to use land owned by Mr. Amrit Bikram Shahi (St. Angel) to construct a larger, permanent facility where more children can be accommodated.
The next priority is a school where we can educate all our children and also assist the poor and helpless by providing free education.
We intend to open a free dispensary / health centre to support the unfortunate people who suffer due to lack of money and education.

Angel's Heaven - Photos of Children (1)

2008-06-28T03:20:00.000-07:00

Whatever my trips may have been in the past, under the convenient mask of spirituality, and however much of that may have crumbled down to rubble, some base ideals remain. One needs to do good things in his life. Good things.

There was a time when I thought it was about saving the universe. Several recent vivid experiences of real life have given me a golden understanding of the fact that there is no universe deprived of its integral constituents. And while there's little one can do for subatomic particles, there is a world of good one can do for other sentient beings.

There was a time when welfare meant creating an abstract spiritual impulse in others — a sneaky echo of the holy name, or a tidbit of profound metaphysics — all rooted in my subjective faith. There is, however, a platform for everything — and for example in the case of these children, a sound platform is created by unreservedly extending love and care wherever it is in demand.

Yes! Contributing to the need of the moment without fruitive calculations of future spiritual profundity, another petty feather in the cap. Holy names my ass. Feed those children first.

Here are a couple of recent photos taken at the rooftop of the Angel's Heaven orphanage.

This is Aishwarya, Amrit's wife, with some of the children. Sarina, the kid at the right, is the latest addition to the family — and has sure enough had hard time adjusting to her new life. For some reason, she found a backup daddy in me... There was no going to bed, no end to tears without going to uncle first...

Two girls busy working with colorful papers....

A little toddler busy playing with an extraordinary device...

My friend Santos, president of the Universal Peace Foundation, visiting the orphanage and teaching an origami trick to the kids.

Mami, Santos' Japanese wife, playing with the children. The girl at the front is sitting on Santos' djembe, a popular Japan-made percussion instrument.

57 kilos of food

2008-06-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

As of late, I've been spending a good deal of my time working with the Angel's Heaven orphanage in the neighborhood, near the Kathmandu Durbar Square. Run by Amrit and his wife Aishwarya, this orphanage of 20 beautiful children is badly in want of support.

A friend spotted me the other day at a wholesale grocery store near the Universal Peace Foundation office — I spent away the last 2500 NRS I had to get the children food for the upcoming days. 30 kilos of rice, 10 kilos of flat rice, 5 kilos of mung dal, sugar and oil respectively, and a kilo of tea and mixed beans each, and at the crux of time — Amrit has a trekking office, but the season is now at rock bottom, owing both to weather and the current political situation in Nepal.

Some friends, inspired by the example, have chosen to hop onboard and do the same. The children need an average of 12 kilos of rice and 1 kilo of dal per day, in addition with some vegetables. Much is in plans for providing steady future sustenance for this small but beautiful and very meaningful project.

We've been painting at the orphanage also. This old guest house, now rented for the orphanage, is in need of renovation to provide for an inspiring environment for the little angels. Manue and Bikash have been lending their artist's hand to fill the walls with flowers, vines, fruits and other beauties of nature. The top floor roof needs repairs to get past the ongoing monsoon season, and a new 2000 liter water tank also needs to be purchased.

Much is to be done, then! I got a draft of the website today — thanks Manue! — and it should go online momentarily with more specifics on the running expenses and development prospects for the orphanage.

Anyone touched by the prospect is cordially welcome to contribute — in however small and grand way — to the cause. To give an example, 12 kilos of rice costs 850 NRS (8.50e) — here even little goes a long way! I will be posting more details in the days to come. In the meantime, feel free to get in touch with me if the above sparks an interest.

Environment day with UPF

2008-06-16T00:38:00.000-07:00

5th of June 2008.

Environment Day with UPF (Universal Peace Foundation).

The day started early for Mission Clean Up Nepal, UM Nepal and UPF. About 50 volunteers woke up with the sun, armed with plastic bags and the desire to keep our parks green and clean. The mission for the day is to go clean up Ratna Park, in busy Kathmandu.

In the afternoon, packed in a couple of taxis full of music and camping gear, UPF drove up to Tilkot, 10 kms away from Nagarkot and Baktapur. On the way to the top of the mountain, we stopped at Godawari nursery to pick up about 100 seedlings for planting. Godawari used to be a distillery for plants oils and medecine.Cardamon, lemon grass, aloe vera, pine plant for cancer medecine, trees and a few flowers got put on top of the roof.

By night time, the happy group set up the tents under Tilkot's giant trishula. Kali baba welcoming us into his home, we sat and relaxed, enjoying music from Om Bikram Bista, the first nepale pub musician. For a late dinner, the traditional nepale thali got cooked, and we enjoyed the food under the beautiful Himalayan sky.

We woke up with the fog rolling through the mountains. The planting could start with the sound of drumming and Bikash didgridoo. Even the military group in training next to the camp came to help. All together, one by one the seedlings got put into the ground.

After the planting, we walked to a school in construction. Soon the brick building will be welcoming neighboring kids for classes.

Bricks by bricks, seed by seed, UPF is here for a greener future.

For more information on the activities of Universal Peace Gathering visit the web site here: http://www.universalshanti.org/