"I Like Table Tennis as it's Fun!"

At GVN we love hearing about unique projects our partners and volunteers are implementing in communities in need around the world.  We also like to be reminded that children are children no matter where they grow up in the world, and the fact is that good honest FUN can be vital to the development of brighter futures!

When we heard that 14 kids at the Brighter Future Children's Home in Nepal were eagerly awaiting the grand opening of their new table tennis table (affectionately named Delilah) we had to find out more...

"The history behind Delilah is that the BFCH kids decided about the middle of last year that they really wanted a ping pong table, so the decision was to save their monthly activities money to help fund it. 

However, in December 2010 an ex BFCH volunteer, Jeremy Ward and his family kindly sent a donation and asked that it go towards something the kids really wanted.  This donation made it possible for the project to get the green light, all they needed then were some community maintenance volunteers with a bit of moxie to give it a go.  Enter stage right, volunteers Diego and Ken.  These volunteers, with the help of the BFCH manager and the kids built her from scratch, with little more than a few basic tools (excluding a spirit level!), some bricks, cement, sand, metal rods, a couple of reclaimed corrugated iron sheets and a whole lot of bamboo!

The end result is AMAZING and Diego and Ken have done themselves and the kids proud!"

Our Nepal partner Kate conducted an interview with Diego and Ken - table tennis table builders extraordinaire, and some of the lucky kids:

Kate:  "So what was your biggest challenge during this building project?"
 
Boys:  "Trying to get a flat surface and straight sides with no spirit level.  It's amazing what you can do with a bit of string with a weight on the end of it!"
 
Diego:  "Trying to stop Ken muttering repeatedly in front of the children, 'bloody hell' every time things weren't going quite to plan."
 
Kate:  "Diego, are you happy with your creation?"
 
Diego:  "I think she is the most beautiful and happiest table tennis table ever. I have left a little bit of my heart in her."
 
Kate:  "How about you Ken?" (please note Ken is Scottish and thus not really one for flowery language, so his reply was a real surprise!)
 
Ken:  "Delilah was built not only by mine, Diego's and Jaggu's fair hands, but from our hearts.  It's an experience I'll never forget.  Seeing the smiles on the little orphans faces nearly brought me to tears. Aaaah bless!"

After picking herself up off the floor at Ken's response and still laughing, Kate then moved onto the children.
 
Kate:  "Udaya, why do you like playing table tennis?"
 
Udaya:  "I don't!"
 
Kate:  "Mmmmn!  Udaya, what do you like best about your new table tennis table?"
 
Udaya:  "The net!"
 
Kate:  "Really, anything else?"
 
Udaya:  "Diego and Ken Dai built us a good table tennis table."
 
moving on ......
 
Kate:  "Tajendra, why do you like playing table tennis?"
 
Taj:  "I like table tennis as it's fun"
 
Kate:  "What do you think of your new TTT?"
 
Taj:  "It's the best TTT in Kathmandu!"

At this point Kate thought she would ask one of the older children for their thoughts:
 
Kate:  "Suresh, who is the best TTT player at BFCH?"

Suresh:  "Me of course!"  (in his defence he does play on the school team)
 
Kate (laughing out loud):  "Why do you like playing TTT so much?"
 
Suresh:  "Because it's a funny game"

And that just about says it all!!  Thanks Kate, Ken and Diego and the team in Nepal for putting together such a great project.

For more information on volunteering in Nepal, or to apply online please visit our website: http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/nepal/