The Nepal Trust is grateful to have been chosen as one of RIBI’s 'Opportunities to Serve' projects, hence we welcome you to our webpage that has been developed especially for the purpose.
Many Rotarians, clubs and districts have supported us over the years and your contributions have greatly helped us to provide much needed help to those in need in one of Nepal’s most remote and impoverished areas.
As there is still much work to be done, for which any form of support is very much welcome, we look forward to strengthen our relationship with you. As help is always a welcoming friend, we hope that this page provides the necessary guidance on how you can help.
Thank you.
Project name:
The Nepal Trust(Registered Charity SC022552)
Project goal:
Providing health, renewable energy, sustainable tourism/income generation, heritage preservation, education and community development facilities in the Hidden Himalayas.Rotary service type:
Fund raising. Also possibility to participate in development projects during Nepal Trust organized ‘Treks to Build Health & Community’ programme and volunteer opportunities.Unique selling proposition:
"Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who did nothing, because he could only do a little."Description:
The Nepal Trust has enjoyed a long standing relationship with Rotary. Rotary International, Rotary in Britain & Ireland, the Rotary of Nepal and the Rotary Foundation have provided the bulk of our funding since former RIBI President Neill Hill selected the Nepal Trust as his preferred charity in 1998.The Nepal Trust, founded in 1993, has been working mainly in Humla district, the most remote and impoverished of Nepal’s 75 districts. There are no roads, hardly any communication facilities, few functioning schools and minimal health facilities. Humla lies 440km NW of Kathmandu and has a population of approximately 45,000 inhabitants in an area of 21,351m2. Humla has a culturally unique and fragile Himalayan environment where people live in rocky terraced enclaves, and subsist from inter-village trade, livestock and food grains. Child mortality rate is 30-40%. Much pain and suffering can be relieved and many fatalities avoided with simple basic health care and education. The introduction of renewable energy systems is a means to provide better conditions for education, save time on back breaking labour and allow for income generation activities. As important as encouraging new ideas is the preservation of people’s heritage, of what has brought them together in tough times and has given them the strength and pride for survival in the face of incredible hardship.
The Nepal Trust is asking for help with the following specific project areas:
- Primary Healthcare - supporting the running of local health posts, mobile health camps, possibly further health post renovations - training/health education.
- Renewable Energy - micro-hydro and solar power schemes.
- Education and Literacy - children and women focused.
- Culture and Heritage Preservation - rebuilding of an ancient monastery.
- Food Security & Agricultural Development.
- Tourism - Social Enterprise and Business Development – participate in ‘Treks to Build Health & Community’
- Water/ Sanitation/ Hygiene (WASH) – Construction of water supply and sanitation measures.
Another opportunity to help is to take part in our ‘Community Connections Programme’ – an initiative that provides an opportunity to support local villages or a specific community in the running cost of a variety of development activities related to healthcare, volunteers, energy, equipment, transport admin, education, and more. The activities can be tailor-made to fit the local need and can contribute significantly to the overall development of a village or community.
The Nepal Trust has built or renovated five health posts and helped to develop the district hospital in Simikot. With local villagers being trained as health workers, much of the suffering caused by ill health and lack of education is being relieved or avoided. Some renovation work at the health posts is planned, more health worker training and education is needed as well as ongoing support of the existing health posts.
The benefits of renewable energy are numerous and an integral part of bringing about better health, education and income generation. What's good from the past, preserve and give to the future. The treasure of their ancient heritage is what holds these remote communities together. Helping to preserve what is important to them strengthens self-confidence and builds enthusiasm for other development. Children and women's education will bring about much needed change for the future. Hand in hand with education comes also better health and more opportunities for development.
Our ‘Treks to Build Health & Community’ take trekkers through some of the most remote routes in the Himalayas to help with building a health post, constructing a micro-hydro scheme, renovating a monastery or to help with other project related tasks. This not only encourages a different kind of tourism, but also promotes income generation for local communities.
Rotary (RIBI) testimonial:
Dr. Himansu K. Basu, Past District Governor and Chairman RIBI International Service Committee 2007-08 said: "It was a pleasure to have met you and your team during my recent visit to Nepal. Discussing examples of local needs and humanitarian work done by the Nepal Trust, the impact it has made to local communities, and experiencing the commitment of everyone was a unique and valuable experience which I shall remember. You deserve strong support from Rotary”.
Some examples of costs:
- To build a health post costs around £20,000 - including initial set up costs of medicine and medical equipment.
- The yearly running cost of a health post is £4,000 - £6,000.
- To sponsor villages through the ‘Community Connections’ cost around £1,000 - £4,000 per year for up to 3 years.
- To set up a health camp - depending on size and equipment brought in - costs around £10,000+
- To support the work of a trained local health worker for one year costs £1,200.
- A health worker's training and subsistence costs £1,500.
- Travel and subsistence costs to send out a Western Volunteer Doctor/Nurse are £2,500.
- A 4.5 kW micro-hydro power plant - depending on the location cost around £40,000 - £50,000.
- ‘Little Doctors Programme’ – child health education for local school children cost £1,500 per course (4 months)
- Approximate cost to participate in a 30 day 'Trek to Build' is £3,200
Benefits to club:
This is a simple fund raising project for a part of the world that has enormous need and has found a sensitive and sympathetic helper.Contact for further information:
Dr. Mike Love (Chairman/ Rotarian of RC Avalon, Dist. 1200, UK/ Previous Ass. Dist. Governor Rotary Dist. 1200, UK)Tel: 07715 159500. Email: mike.love@pondassociates.com
or:
Chris Rae (Secretary), The Nepal Trust, 106B Drymen Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 3RA
Tel: 07917 571627. E-mail: admin@nepaltrust.org
or: Jeroen van den Bergh (Country Director), The Nepal Trust, GPO Box 8975, EPC 4131, Bansbari, Kathmandu, Nepal
E-mail: jeroen@nepaltrust.org
or:
Nugal Vaidya (President Nepal Trust NGO in Nepal/ Previous Ass. Dist. Governor Rotary Dist. 3292, Nepal/ PR-Publication Committee Chair Rotary Dist. 3292, Nepal) E-mail: nugal_vaidya@info.com.np
Website: www.nepaltrust.org
or:
your District International Service Chairman.