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Published: September 18th 2012
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Annapurna Circuit Trek
Our family - finally made it to the highest point on the trek. Tomorrow, Michael and I fly out to spend 5 weeks in Nepal - mainly Kathmandu. Other than our several return trips to Vietnam - this is the first time we have returned to a country that we have previously travelled to.
But this will be a trip with a difference. Early this year I was successful in winning a place in the School of Social Entrepreneurs based in Melbourne for 2012. I was very excited to be given this opportunity and have been travelling regularly to Melbourne for my block sessions. 2012 is the first time people living outside Melbourne or Sydney have had the opportunity to participate in their program....how lucky am I?
SSE's vision is -
to see a world powered by passionate people, creating real and tangible change throughout society and in their communities. We are an innovative learning community that incubates, accelerates and celebrates the people who have the potential and commitment to making that change happen. We call them social entrepreneurs: everyday people committed to doing extraordinary things, creating positive change through projects and businesses with a social or environmental mission. So, my community project will take me back to Nepal and, in
My friend Manoj
Manoj playing his sarangi particular, Kathmandu where I will be working with the Gandharba Cultural & Art Organisation.
When our family was in Nepal in 2009-2010 (to trek the Annapurna Circuit together) I met a Gandharba musician, Manoj, and we struck up a conversation and have remained friends through e-mails and Skype. The Gandharbas are the musican caste of Nepal and are seen regularly walking the streets of Kathmandu playing the sarangi. They rely on tourists for income and a lot of them have to live away from their families - only travelling home when they have enough money to do so. The Gandharba community are a marginalised and vulnerable group and there are a lot of issues around this caste, including: education, woman's rights, caste discrimination, etc.
The Gandharba Cultural and Art Organisation was set up in 1994 to represent their people. Howwever, due to lack of resources it has been difficult to move forward with their strategic plan. According to myth, the original Gandharba descended from the heavens to spread local news, music and songs from community to community. In Hindu mythology the Gandharba were once the winged musicians of the Gods. The ancestors would sing tales with themes ranging
from battles and stories of long ago to local gossip, in exchange for a small amount of money or food.
The recent advances in modern media communication have displaced their traditional roles. Regular employment as a traditional Nepali folk musician is difficult to both find and secure, however it is important for the Gandharva to play the sarangi to fight for their own survival and the survival of traditional Nepali music.
As you can see this is a very complex issue and I hope that we can work together to find some short and long term solutions to improve the economic and educational status of the Gandharbas as well as preserve their traditional music and culture.
Support and encouragement from my fellow SSE students, facilitators and mentors have given me an "excuse" to follow up on this idea of returning to Nepal and working on this project. So far, this year has been a great learning curve which I have enjoyed and I think I have put in place the tools required to hold succcessful discussions with the Gandharbas on this trip.
So, the adventure begins.......thrust back into the hustle of Thamel in Kathmandu (at the
Michael 2009-2010
Drinking local beer - I'm sure he will be trying more of it this trip beginning of the trekking season), visiting local Gandharba villages, lots of talking and learning......
I will endevaour to keep up with my blogs on this trip. I am also writing blogs that will come from the Gandharba website (www.gandharba.org) and posting photos and updates on my Facebook page and the Gandharba's Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/roslyn.amiss and http://www.facebook.com/GandharbaNepal
So, the adventure begins...stay tuned.....Regards, Ros.
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Linny
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Trip
A great blog! Very informative... Look forward to more. Safe traveling.