Archive for September 2011
Multipurose schoolroom Tawal
Construction of the multipurpose room and extra classroom
Location: Dhading district, ( 1 day jeep drive & 1.5 day walk from main the roadhead town of Dhading)
Date: May 2008
Partner: Hilly Region Development Club/ Shree Pasang Chowk Higher Secondary School.
Beneficiaries: 400 students
Objective: To construct a large multipurpose room and extra classroom. The MPR would be used as a school library/staff room/community meeting room and the additional classroom would take the school up to year 10.
Details: Application submitted for $5,500 to construct the room and $1500 to purchase the land where the room would be built. The funds were sent over in stages to allow the project to start and further funds to be released as the project progressed.
Science equipment being admired by the teacher and students
Outcomes: Funds were transferred in June 2008 to the HRDC but due to the monsoon the buildings were not completed until January 2009. NAFA members visited the school and the MPR was officially opened. Room to Read books were placed in the new library and science equipment bought in Kathmandu was also presented to the school and laced there for the science classes.
The children were all shown the new books and how to care for them and in time teachers from the school attended courses run by Room to Read to learn how to run a library efficiently.
Improve water supply to village – Mulkarka
Villagers at the storage tank
Location: Lower Solu Khumbu, 1 day walk from the airport village of Phaplu
Date: January to May 2010
Partner: Mulkarka Village Development Committee
Beneficiaries: 25 Households in Mulkarka village
Objective: To build a holding tank at a new water source, lay new piping and cement an old water tank for better water supply
Details: NAFA members visited the village in February 2010 and were advised that the old water supply was reducing and drying up in winter. As there is less water to drive the hydro they are getting only about 1 or 2 hours electricity a night. They asked for funds $840 to purchase additional piping to what they had already purchased with their own & VDC funds for a new water source tank. Secondly, 2 water tanks were originally built but there was only enough money to seal the inside of one tank with cement. The second tank was sealed in wood which was rotting and contaminating the water suply. The community submitted an application for $1,725 to correct this problem.
The water source
Outcomes: The request was approved in March 2010 meeting and in January 2011 the village was again visited by NAFA executive members who inspected the new water source and pipeline. They also saw the new cemented tank used for drinking water and for release of water at night to run the turbine to produce the electricity. This has improved their evening electricity, the women are able to cook more safely and the children are able to complete their homework after their farming chores.
Library furniture Lumsa
Location: Lower Solu Khumbu, 3 day walk from the airport village of Phaplu
Date: May 2010
Partner: Champa Devi New Lumsa Primary School
Beneficiaries: 75 students
Objective: To construct library shelving and tables for library and to provide Room to Read library books – 50,000 rupees
Details: School submitted application in March 2010 for assistance to construct a library
Outcomes: The application was approved by the NAFA committee and members visited the school in January 2011. The library was officially opened and the curious children quickly filled all the room. NAFA members showed the children how to use and care for the new library books. Their reading skills were tested and although this is a remote village their understanding of English was quite good. For most children in this village English would be their third language after Sherpa and Nepali.
With the help of NAFA and supporters electricity has been installed in the remote village of Lumsa
Thank you to all our generous donors who have supported this appeal by donations totalling $4600. The Lumsa community were very grateful for this added help and send their thanks and best wishes to everyone in NAFA. This has helped them reduce their business loan and made it easier for them to address their personal loans which they took out to complete this project. They also thank NAFA for their initial donation of $5000 in May 2011.
Appeal for funding for
the building of micro-hydro project in
remote village of Lumsa in Solu Khumbu
11.5 kW Micro-hydropower
It is hard work without machinery
NAFA is seeking donations from individuals or companies to provide financial assistance for a micro-hydropower project that would provide electricity for the entire village of Lumsa (109 households) as well as to the school that services the village and surrounding area.
Currently some households use kerosene, candles or dry cell batteries for lighting while others only have the light from their cooking fires. Not only will the micro hydropower allow the households to save money on their current use of expensive alternatives but it will give the adults an opportunity to do chores around the home and the children can complete their homework and study. By providing better lighting in the home it will help prevent mishaps like burns or house fires and other household accidents.
Villagers provide volunteer labour to complete the project
The electricity would facilitate the development of the village and help break the continuous cycle of poverty. Currently the potential renewable energy resource of the stream flowing near the village is being wasted instead of being used for the betterment of the village and the global environment.
The total estimated cost to construct the system is approximately $72,000. A subsidy of approximately $36,500 from Denmark/Norway (through the Nepalese Government Alternative Energy Promotion Centre) and the local DDC/VDC has been approved. The local community has raised $17,700 and has committed to contributing approximately $6,000 in volunteer labour and materials.
Building the micro-hydro generator housing
The Lumsa community committee has obtained a loan for the balance of $11,800 from a trekking agency in Kathmandu which they have to repay. Villagers will also have to pay a connection fee and a monthly tariff to ensure the sustainability of the system once it is up and running.
At this stage NAFA has approved $5,000 towards this project and we are seeking donations big or small to help the villagers to repay the loan.
Please contact Ross Hazelwood nafasec@hotmail.com if you are interested in supporting this exciting community driven development project for a remote village in Nepal or would like more information. All donations are tax deductible.