I am poor but not beggar
I am needy but not self-pity
I am smelly but not filthy
I am wrinkly but not week
I work as a potter because I am a “MAN OF HONOR”
If you walk around the North Indian Hill stations, you will see many Nepali people sitting in the corner of the market place, wrapping a rope around their shoulders rather than a scarf as they wait to be called on for a “coolie job”. They are every ready to help you carry your groceries, gas cylinders, washer machines, beds, or other heavy items up and down the mountains. This is their livelihood, although it leaves much to be desired and they are not truly living well. These Nepalese, usually men, although sometimes women too, are called coolies. They often work all day carrying heavy loads on their backs for about 1-2 miles up the steep Himalayan altitudes for only a dollar or two. These Nepalese leave their families behind and work in these hill stations for years and years with the hope of giving a better future to their families back home. However, the sad part is they are often never able to truly change their financial status or the future of their children. They live in filthy conditions, sleeping on a floor, usually without running water or heat. It’s a hand to mouth job that offers little to send back home at the end of the day.
I have realized after many conversations talking with these Nepali Coolies that their poverty (both spiritual and financial) runs deep generation to generation. Today, a grandson sits on the same spot where his grandfather used to. It breaks my heart. I often pray, “Lord, how can I help to break this cycle of brokenness and hard lives?”
The Lord has been prodding my heart to reach out to this group both for their spiritual and financial needs. With the Lord’s help, I would like to:
- 1 Open a Hostel: A hostel for men (or women) would be a welcomed new home to many Nepali coolies who most of the western world would call homeless. It would allow for them to have a safe place with running water, bathrooms, kitchens, beds, and proper health necessities at a low or no fee rent agreement. Most importantly it would open the door for Christian discipleship and social economic training. It would allow us access to be able to speak Truth, mentor and train the coolies in a way that would truly break the cycles of poverty and bring healing to their souls as well, which of course will be passed down to the next generation. Also, a hostel for the Coolie children would allow stability, schooling, and a safe living environment. Many times due to their parent’s work they have to move from one place to another. Children are often not able to go to school or complete their schooling properly, in this way the cycle of generational poverty continues. Survival becomes the priority, not schooling.
- 2 Provide Skill Sets: We can provide technical skills to immigrant youth to help train them for a better job in the future. Skills for professions such as an electrician, plumber, mechanic, welder, even a taxi driver and many more could help these young people to make a decent living that would allow them to have an easier life and for the next generation to be able to go to school.
- 3 Micro Finance: If these immigrants could have excess to small amount of money as an initial investment they could start up their own business, according to their skills and interests. Many of them are very intelligent, but don’t have the resources necessary to get started.
None of these ideas are new, but I believe they can make a difference in our city. I am looking for financial partners who also have a heart for these Nepali coolies and would be willing to invest in them and the next generation. The first goal is to open a men’s hostel in Mussoorie, India in the next year or so. I am raising money for the land and building project now. Please let me know if you are interested in planting a seed into this work: (your email)
If you are interested to know more about these Nepali immigrant workers please do go through the resources which are listed below.
1. Documentary by JohnPaul Raj “Man of Honor”
1. https://earthymatters013.wordpress.com/2014/04/20/life-blood-of-the-hills-the-coolies-of-mussoorie/
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