By Anthony Barich
THE Society of St Vincent de Paul will establish itself in politically unstable Nepal, its 146th country, by Christmas.
The Society’s international president general, Singaporean Michael Thio, told The Record during his 1-3 August visit to Perth that up to US$10,000 should be enough to start a conference in Kathmandu, firstly to supply the poor with food and shelter and to help families educate their children at primary and secondary school level. He said that AUS$100 will educate a poor Nepalese child for a year.
While the Society has suffered a reduction in funds during the global financial crisis, Mr Thio said it has managed to avoid the worst of it “through the grace of God” and some surprising donations from wealthy individual backers.
A team from the Society’s International governing body will train up to 15 local Nepalese volunteers in leadership, accounting and Catholic spirituality. Spiritual formation is crucial, he said, because “we’re Catholic, and the centre of our activity is Christ”.The 15 volunteers are expected to assist up to 50 families. Over time, depending on its success, more poor people will be assisted when it attracts more volunteers, and more conferences will be founded within Kathmandu and eventually throughout Nepal. The country has held three Prime Ministerial elections in less than two years, and failed to elect a new Prime Minister in its 21 July election, which cast doubts on its peace process. Rebel Maoists paralysed the country earlier this year by organising strikes and blockades to force the resignation of Madhav Kumar Nepal as prime minister in late June.
Despite the political chaos, Mr Thio said he hopes the country’s leaders – “who are trying very hard to regain political stability for the country” – will do so soon so they can assess the situation among their poor populace and mobilise assistance for them.
Over 50 per cent of the population lives in poverty, he said, which is highlighted by poor people living along the banks of the Bagmati River which runs through Kathmandu, which is so polluted that people have to wear masks near it. “The living conditions in third world countries need a lot of help, especially in hygiene and in the way they live, and homes are often makeshift,” Mr Thio said. “Nepal is no different, as the government is still trying to be politically stable and has other focuses.”
Nepal represents another stage in the Society’s rapid growth that has seen it establish conferences at an average rate of two countries a year over the past 20 years – a growth rate of 150 per cent which Mr Thio attributes to a restructuring of its global set-up.
While the Consul General previously addressed the globe as one entity, it now has territorial vice presidents in seven regions – North America and the Caribbean, South America, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, East Africa, West Africa and Asia/Oceania. Each region looks after about 20 countries, with area coordinators looking after up to three countries each.