Letters From Nepal          Jean Fleetwood

Tsering, 20 February 2008

Tashi Delek! This is Tsering …..My study is running very fine. It is really interesting sub. I like it. Thus, I have been devoting my time to study of computer hard Engineering. Do not worry that I am doing fine here. My mum is also fine she is conveying you greeting to you. 

Here Nepal these days there re very critical condition. Here we could not find out cooking gas, petrol, disel, water and all the things re getting re very expensive. Here indefinite Nepal banth (closed) for a couple. As well as here 8-9 hrs load setting per day. Lastly lot of love with kind regards you and all the family members and also for St church family members from your affection Tsering

Thank you Please take care of your health and eat well.

Gael Robertson 15 February 2008, Mental Health Project

On 20th March I am coming to Inverness to speak to a group at the Barn Church about Chhahari, Nepal which is a new mental health initiative. The Barn have made a commitment to fund raise for Chhahari which is great. Then, Jim [Rev Jim Robertson, her brother] is returning to Nepal with me to be better informed on the mental health situation. Seems there maybe a space for a wider involvement from around Inverness? Maybe St Stephens? Additionally I have been working with HUG [Highland Users Group for those with mental illness] who have written an advocacy article which is to be published in Nepal shortly. We are hoping someone from HUG will also come to the meeting at the Barn. Interesting linkages emerging!

None of the 'big' donors are interested in mental health. We have just been around 15 donors here and have come up with blanks everywhere!!! Also we are approaching the Scottish Government linking their commitment to mental health and their relatively new programme on international development. I hope to meet people when I am around Edinburgh.

But to get the project off the ground we need to secure substantial funding. [Budget is £200,000]

Jean will put a note in the Order of Service, of the time when Gael is speaking at the Barn Church on 20th March. She will be in Inverness for one day only. Please get in touch if you would like a copy of her Project papers, or for any other information, Tel 221355