In a developing country without a door-to-door delivery system like the US Postal Service, it is a long and often arduous journey.
You mail your letter to ANSWER’s PO Box. It is collected, sorted, recorded and boxed with the other 650+ letters and shipped halfway around the world to Nepal. The ANSWER Nepal staff re-sort the letters by school and plot their travel schedule to schools in the central, east, west, mid-west and far west villages of Nepal – over 125 schools in all. The timing to visit each school is dependent on individual school schedules, when exam results and report cards are distributed, when national and religious holidays occur (and there are many in Nepal),
what the current political situation is and what weather-related issues are happening at the time – for example heavy rains, mudslides, and/or snowfalls. Further-more, there are few paved highways in Nepal and ANWSER staff must travel by rented jeep over rough terrain. To reach some schools, staff fly in small planes that many Americans would never dare experience. And, in some cases, after enduring an all-day, very uncomfortable journey in a bouncing jeep or turbulent airplane, they must trek on foot for two to three days before reaching remote villages in far west Nepal.
Once the Nepal staff arrive at a school, they gather the ANSWER students together and present them with their sponsor letters. The students are always wide eyed with excitement and very disappointed if they do not receive a letter. The students read their letters out loud so the staff can determine how well their English skills are progressing. As the students write their return letters, the staff meet with teachers and principals to discuss each student’s progress. The staff collect report cards, special drawings, and take new photos of the students. If a pupil is having a difficult time in school, they arrange a home visit and meet with a pupil’s parents to try and resolve any issues. Before leaving, ANSWER staff collect all return letters, say their farewells, and then proceed to the next school.
For example, ANSWER only receives, on average, 50% of needed sponsor letters by either due date, so ANSWER must spend consider-able time sending out sponsor reminder notices, often to only receive last minute requests by those missing the date, sponsors asking ANSWER staff to have emailed letters printed out instantaneously. The envelopes are then shipped back to Grand Rapids, MI where all student report cards are reviewed, invoices are created (if money is due), and updates are prepared regarding individual students. The envelopes are then weighed, stamped, and mailed to respective sponsors. From start to finish, this process takes 6 months which is why sponsors receive a letter from their student twice a year. One of the best ways you can help ANSWER is to get your sponsor letter in by the set deadline! In a typical year the deadline dates are Feb.1st and Aug. 1st for sponsor letters (so please mark your calendar accordingly).
Once back at the office in Kathmandu, all photos are printed and matched up with all return letters, drawings, and report cards to be placed in individual sponsor envelopes. Consequently, your “timely response” in this regard makes this “incredible journey” go much smoother while reducing administrative expense! Likewise, there are frequently other impediments with which ANSWER must contend like delays caused by monsoon rains, unexpected political strikes, lost parcels, medical crises, etc., all of which can afflict an indigent, mountainous and rugged country like Nepal.