Our new home has been designed to merge traditional Nepali architecture with modern environmentally sustainable technology. Solar panels and cookers will save precious electricity (to learn more about our finished solar systems, watch the video below) and innovative waste management systems will recycle materials into fertilizers and cooking fuel.
The Grand Opening for our beautiful new Ama Ghar home was held on November 12, 2011. As you can see by the accompanying photos, a wonderful time was had by the nearly 400 guests who joined us to dedicate the day to our beloved Ama Tika Basnett. Our Founder, Shrawan Nepali, gave the opening speech, Shekhar Silwal (Ama Ghar Board Treasurer) thanked all the local people who helped to make our new home possible, and Bonnie Ellison (Country Director) thanked the architect, the Ama Ghar staff, and her brother, Orlo Ellison, for their remarkable contributions to the project. The Ama Ghar children provided entertainment with traditional Nepali dances and singing as well as “pop” dances and some rousing modern music. There was a childrens’ tent, with a Lego table, face painting, a Play Doh table and special games to entertain the many children who attended – school friends of the Ama Ghar kids, children of guests, and children from other homes around the Kathmandu Valley. We shared a wonderful meal, and the singing and drumming went on into the night.
