Two important partners of Fontys Venlo are the Shanti charity associations “Shanti Leprahilfe Dortmund e.V.” in Germany and “Shanti Sewa Griha” in Nepal.
Shanti Leprahilfe Dortmund e.V. was founded on the initiative of Marianne Grosspietsch, who decided to act after having seen the catastrophic living conditions in Nepal.
Shanti’s vision is to provide people in need in Nepal with sustainable dignity and life enjoyment. Having started with the treatment of 34 leprosy patients in 1992, Shanti today supports about 1500 people. Besides leprosy patients and their relatives, the Shanti family includes mentally and physically disabled children and adults, homeless people, orphans, old people and victims of civil war.
The association, which is recommended by the German embassy, not only provides a home to many people, but also offers those jobs, free medical treatment, warm meals, clean water, and education for children.
Shanti and Fontys Venlo started their cooperation in 2009. Since then, several projects have been initiated for which both, students and employees, flew to Nepal.
Students of the Dutch teacher training courses visited Shanti to teach English. Other students decided to cooperate with Shanti as part of their Mini company project. Besides marketing activities which help to “spread the word” and to raise money, these students also sell handmade products which were made by Shanti patients in Nepal. Students from the technical department are currently working on a solution for a lift in the Shanti clinic, which will enable patients to move freely without external help. Future projects are planned.
Furthermore the FHTenL, Technics and Logistics, started with a unique project last year. The students of the mechanics department designed a lift that can function on electricity but also on manpower. The situation in Kathmandu is very difficult regarding electricity. The lift will be installed in the spring of 2011.
Fontys International Campus Venlo is also supporting a sustainable energy project for the Shanti Foundation in Kathmandu.
For more information on Shanti, please visit http://www.shanti-leprahilfe.de/