Chairman's Message

The Nepal Trust continues to achieve huge success, punching well above its weight, delivering health, development and hope to the communities of the Hidden Himalayas.

In my message at the beginning of 2010, I reflected on the many changes that had taken place during 2009 in both people and in the way in which we were organised. I observed that the changes all needed time to settle down, but would hopefully lead to a new sense of purpose and energy within the team. We had exciting plans for developing our health programme and working with the communities of the Hidden Himalayas for many years to come.

One year on and once again reflecting with the benefit of hind sight on where we stand and on the shape of things to come, it is pleasing to note just how much real progress has been made and how well the team is pulling together – both in the UK and in Nepal.

Rod Lowcock has joined the UK Board, taking over as Financial Director from Tony Robinson. Tony remains on the Board as a deputy Chairman.

We continue to operate as a ‘lean and mean’ organisation. In the UK we have been working for close on two years on the “all volunteer model” with the work of the Trust being conducted by a team of part timer supporters, all of whom have real day jobs to contend with as well. Modern communications is enabling us to work and communicate effectively, with each Board Member taking responsibility for overseeing on behalf of the Trust and donors our work within a specific sphere of activity.

All of this means that nearly every penny raised is spent in Nepal, where of course each Pound spent goes a lot further. In Nepal Jeroen continues to run the office and manage the in-field work of the Nepal Trust with great support from both Jigme, Rajesh and our other colleagues at the Nepal Trust NGO. The successful completion of a number of projects in 2010 is substantially due to their hard work and dedication. We have located to a new office in Kathmandu and have seen real operational benefits from having reorganised and registered the Nepal Trust as an INGO with all respective Nepalese authorities and government institutions. Key to this change is that the UK Board now exercises direct control and authority over its affairs, whereas previously it had to depend on local NGOs with their own local Boards of Directors.

The reopening of the Torpa clinic was perhaps the highlight of 2010 though other events, including supporting the Sean Burch world record expedition across Nepal, the expansion of our 'Little Doctor' Child Health Education Programmes and progressing to near completion the Ghoti Khola 50 kW micro hydro scheme were high on the list of many achievements.

Looking forward into 2011 and beyond we are planning to revamp our healthcare activities, launch new clinics in partnership with local communities, and build the infrastructure through which the local people can sustain the projects delivered into their communities by the Nepal trust and other charities. The Service Centre Project is core to this vision.

The Trust continues to depend totally on the support of its members. The Board can establish broad strategy and plans; but without the continued support of each and every friend and member of the Nepal Trust we will not succeed. We need to grow our membership and promote more widely the good work that we do. Please think about what you could do to help this drive and vision.