Making Reading Philanthropic

By Samragyee Bhandari

Reading, as we all know, is much more than mere escapism. And sometimes, without us having the faintest idea, it fills a benevolent cause as well.

When United Books was first established some eight years ago in Thamel, Kathmandu, its clientele consisted mostly of tourists and expatriates. Today, as the reading scene in the country is growing by the day, United Books is one of the most sought-after stores in Thamel. Many of you may be unaware that each book you buy at United is helping in a small way in providing food, clothing, shelter and basic education to many orphans.

Lars M. Braaten, owner of the bookstore runs Nepal Bal Ghar, an orphanage housing thirty-six children of seven to twenty years of age. Consisting mostly of children from the Kathmandu Valley, Bal Ghar not only houses orphans but children with single parents and also those who can not afford basic education. "The need for education for orphans prompted me to start Bal Ghar. In fact, I wanted to open a school, but a certain number of students had to be enrolled every year. That wasn't quite possible. That's how Bal Ghar took shape eventually," Lars said.

Lars came to Nepal from Denmark eleven years ago. "I'm a voracious reader. A bookstore of my own meant I'd get to read for free as well as make a bit of money. When asked what made him come and settle in Nepal, he gushed, "It's a beautiful country. The people are very friendly. And the weather [he chuckled], it's always so pleasant, isn't it?"

Nepal Bal Ghar at Sanepa is largely funded by Danish donors. However, about 10 percent of the proceeds from United Books go to the orphanage. His wife, Sunita Manandhar and his sister-in-law Ram Maya Manandhar also help him in running the orphanage. Lars and Sunita have three boys of their own studying in primary level. The boys too mingle well with the children at the Ghar.

The Bal Ghar is divided into separate boys' and girls' blocks. When we got there one afternoon, the children had just got back from school. The first one we caught up with was Rashmi Bidiari, a flamboyant twenty-year-old studying in grade twelve in Rupak Memorial College.

"I probably wouldn't have been able to study had I not come to Bal Ghar. It has changed my life," she said. When asked what about her future plans, she added, "I want to get involved with the media and want to become an RJ."

Then, sitting in a far corner, a shy boy of 15, Dipendra Pokharel was noticed. He came from Sindhupalchok to Bal Ghar nine years back. Today, he is a grade nine student at Tika Madhyamik Vidyalaya. "I want to become a teacher, a mathematics teacher," he revealed his dreams when being asked about his future career.

Then the future professor quickly sneaked to his tuition room with a bulky book in hand. The children are living the lives which would never have materialized had they not come to Bal Ghar. So if you're not a bookworm yet, here's one more reason for you to spend a small part of your pay on books-reading just turned altruistic.

Sunita