Dr Detlev Gueck and his patient

Location: Tawal

Date: 24 November – 1 December 2011

Partner: Dr Detlev Gueck, a German eye doctor, Sangye, Manager of the Medicine Buddha Health Clinic and another monk from the Kopan Monastery

Beneficiaries: 12 schools and 13 villages (Tawal, Tawal Besi, Duchene, Ladap, Kichet, Richet, Tajumrang, Ri, Gumba, Choke, Kutal, Salleri and Syaktali) in the Ri VDC.

Objective: To assess a person’s vision, treat infection and prescribe/fit glasses brought by Dr Gueck from Germany. Details: NAFA supported Dr Gueck by providing him and his assistants from Kopan monastery free transport, accommodation and meals for the 8 day camp (including 2.5 travel days). Apart from the invitations sent out to the 12 schools a community service announcement on the Dhading FM radio station attracted others from other VDCs, some of who walked over 6 hours to get to the camps.

Trying out spectacles

Outcomes: Nearly 1,100 people registered and seen by Dr Gueck, with 250-300 sets of glasses issued free of charge. Eye drops provided to all who attended the camp. Dr Gueck reported a higher incidence of cataracts than he had previously experienced in his camps in Asia and India. This is largely due to the smoke in the homes, from the wood fires / stoves used.

Keshab checking a child's ear

Location : Tawal

Date: 24 November – 1 December 2011

Partner: Keshab Dangol from the Nepalese Association of Hard of Hearing  (NAHOH), Lew and Sue Tuck from Whitsunday Hearing (HearingNepal Program) and two monks Kopan Monastery

Beneficiaries: 12 schools and 13 villages (Tawal, Tawal Besi, Duchene, Ladap, Kichet, Richet, Tajumrang, Ri, Gumba, Choke, Kutal, Salleri and Syaktali) in the Ri VDC. Apart from the invitations sent out to the 12 schools a community service announcement on the Dhading FM radio station attracted others from other VDCs, some of who walked over 6 hours to get to the camps.

Objective: To assess a person’s hearing, clean out wax treat infections and provide hearing aids where needed. Details: NAFA supported NAHOH by providing Keshab and an assistant from Kopan free transport, accommodation and meals for the 8 day camp (including 2.5 travel days).

Serenading in lieu of payment

Outcomes: Nearly 1,100 people registered and seen by Keshab. Many foreign bodies in ears found, including cockroaches, other insects, feathers, seeds and straw. Many ear infections and perforated ear drums.2 who attended ear camp subsequently had follow-up treatment in Kathmandu in February 2012, one requiring surgery and the other treated with medicine.  One older gentleman from over 6 hours walk away ended up serenading everyone as appreciation for receiving a hearing aid from the HearingNepal Program in lieu of the $3 – $15 that is usually asked as a contribution towards the cost of the aid.

Lumsa micro hydro worksite

Location:  Lower Solu Khumbu district, 2 days walk from Salleri village

Date: January 2012

Partner: Lumsa village and Lumsa Micro Hydro Steering Committee

Beneficiaries:  109 households/ appx 500 residents

Objective: To complete a micro hydro system to bring electricity to all houses in the village.

Wiring up the village

Details: This project was funded by the Nepalese rural development NGO REMREC, their local VDC, the Lumsa community and a loan from a Kathmandu business and NAFA.  This business loan of NPR 800,000 was almost repaid by NAFA and NAFA supporters in two payments of AUD $5,000 and AUD $4,600.  Due to the good exchange rate this the total repayment came to NPR 752,497  which left approximately $500 for the  community to repay. Once all monies were available the community engaged a technical firm (Multiservice) to construct the generator and turbine.

The water pressure drives the turbine in the powerhouse

The community began the process of laying pipe, constructing the powerhouse and water channels under supervision of 2 sub-engineers from Multiservice and visits from REMREC engineer based in Salleri. The channels from the main water source was over 500 mtrs in length and the pipe from the top of the water supply down to the power house was approximately 300 mtrs.These metal pipes had to be supported by stone pillars built by the community The community erected electricity poles and assisted 2 other sub-engineers with the transmission wires from the powerhouse to all sections of the village.

Local villagers trained by the engineers then wired up each house and installed light and power fittings. The community worked continuously for 7 months and through the monsoon, to finish the project and are to be congratulated on the completion of this huge project.

Lighting makes all the difference

Outcomes:  This electricity will allow each household up to 7 CFL lights and small appliances like mobile chargers and radio. The lights will allow the villagers to carry out tasks at night in their homes, the students will be able to complete their homework and study and each household will have an improved lifestyle. In the future the community can apply for funds from a seeding grant of NPR100,000 from REMREC to establish new businesses which will further enhance their area. The village has suggested they could consider businesses such as paper making, apple drying and packaging, wood mill and carpentry and a  central grinding mill for flour.

Community water tap

Location:  Dhading district ( 1 day jeep drive & 1.5 day walk from main roadhead town of Dhading)
Date:  July 2010
Partner: Hilly Region Development Club, Tawal Besi village
Beneficiaries: 50 households and 1 school in the village of Tawal Besi
Objective: Water infrastructure (new pipe/water flow & new tap stands) for a large area below village of Tawal
Details: The water supply for the village of Tawal Besi had virtually stopped and this was shown to NAFA members when they visited in  January 2010.
Outcomes: The project involved laying pipes and constructing 4 reserve tanks and 7 tap stands over this spread-out village. The completed project was visited in November 2011 and was found to be well constructed and greatly appreciated by villagers.

Keshari

Date: 2009 ongoing

Partner: Vinayak Shiksha Niketan (VSN) English Secondary School & Creative Learning Academy (CLA) School in Thimi, Seabird International (Higher Secondary) college in Thimi, Prisoners Assistance (PA) Nepal, Shree Pasang Chowk School, Tawal

Objectives: To improve employment opportunities for young Nepali students involved in three NAFA supported projects: Prisoners Assistance Nepal (PA Nepal); Tawal School and VSN/CLA Schools and Seabird college (Thimi); and for young people with disabilities supported by JOY Foundation Nepal.

Details: The FEAT program focuses on students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 who are approaching or recently have attained their School Leaving Certificate (at the end of Grade 10 in Nepal); students with a disability; and other young people who have reached their educational potential and are seeking vocational training opportunities to increase their chances of finding their first job. Each situation is considered on its merits. FEAT students commit to doing volunteer work in their community to give back to the wider community and share the benefits of their higher education or vocational training.

Keshari is an example of a VSN graduate student who is benefitting from the FEAT progam. Keshari comes from a subsistence farming family. She made good use of support received from NAFA’s educational sponsorship program, gaining Distinction in the Grade 10 public SLC exam (2006) and graduating with Distinction at the end of Grade 12.

In 2009 Keshari enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing course at Kathmandu University, after her parents obtained a loan from relatives to pay her admission and first term tuition fees. Now, thanks to the generosity of 5 donors and with a contribution from her parents, the costs of Keshari’s nursing studies are guaranteed for the duration of the course. Keshari has expressed in her own words the heartfelt appreciation she feels about the support her sponsors provide:

“Every student brews in her, the desire to graduate, the desire to acquire higher degrees and the desire to become something that counts, after her study. But because she is “SHE” and she is from uneducated and poor family, all her desires cannot always be fulfilled and in such condition like the streak of light in the pitch darkness; like an oasis in the desert, the support, that NAFA sends for students, works… And now I’m doing bachelor. How very difficult it had been for me and my parents to meet all the fees and expenses of the university. NAFA sponsor again saved me by supporting my study economically. I therefore extend my sincere gratitude and felicitation towards the school and NAFA for arranging this support. It always encourage me to further my education as limelight and inspire to work for the community” (Keshari 24th Feb, 2010).

Ashok training at UCEP Technical College

Outcomes: There are 16 students currently (September 2011) being supported through the FEAT program. Two young people have completed their training.

In 2010 Ashok from Tawal village successfully completed an electrical wiring course at UCEP in Kathmandu and Ashok returned to Tawal where he has set up a small electrical appliance and repair shop. Ashok will be trained to maintain the micro-hydro electricity plant being installed at Tawal. He has successfully wired 200 village houses to receive electricity. Ashok worked diligently to pass his course at UCEP as shown in the supervisor’s report: “According to them (teachers) they are very happy to have Mr. Ashok in their centre and Mr. Ashok is doing his best on the training. Mr. Ashok performance is very good among the students. They are findng him as hard worker and gentleman”.

In 2010 Gopal from Tawal completed a gem cutting course in Kathmandu. He is currently exploring setting up a gem cutting and selling business in Dhading, the nearest large town to Tawal.

Project to build two classrooms in a remote school in Nepal

New classrooms

Agreni

Brief History:

The child educational sponsorship program for Prisoners Assistance Nepal and Vinayak Shiksha Niketan English Secondary School Thimi commenced in 2003 with 11 children. The purpose was to help disadvantaged children receive a basic education to help break the poverty cycle. Since then we have reached our goal of sponsoring 100 children in these two organisations. NAFA is committed to this program and acknowledges the loyal support of NAFA members and donors. NAFA members sponsor individual children and we offer a unique service where sponsors receive their child’s annual exam results and each child sends a letter to their sponsor to maintain contact. While under no obligation to do so sponsors may send letters and photos to their student.

Prisoner Assistance Nepal (PA Nepal):

An organisation started by Indira Rani Magar to address the problem of lack of care for the children of prisoners.  She has set up homes for these children to give then a sense of family, receive a good education and to maintain their cultural traditions and festivals..

Usha is now in Grade 10

Vinayak Shiksha Niketan English Secondary School Thimi:

The current principal, Surendra Prajapati started the school in 1989 with a borrowed table in one room of his house and 6 students. Over the years with his drive and commitment he has developed the school to grade 10 with 1,000 students. His visionary ideas has improved the school and has a number of extra currucular activites such as a range of sports, scouts and an Eco Club. The school hosts a annual art competition for local schools and takes part in national competitions of traditional dancing, singing and drumming.

 Some of the children who have benefitted from our sponsorship program

Surman works hard at school to improve his life

Agreni  has been sponsored since 2004 and is now studying Bachelor of Pharmacology in our Further Education and Training program (FEAT).

Usha’s father died when she was very young. When Usha was 6 years old and was enrolled in another school in the village. A generous donor offered to pay for her education as her mother had no income and was unable to continue to pay her school fees. She is now in Grade 10 and regularly comes in the top 5 in her class. It is most likely that if Usha wasn’t in school her life would have been one of staying at home every day making wicks from cotton wool for ceremonial oil lamps.

Suman Yongan is one of 4 children who came to the city from a remote area in south western Nepal with his family. The family live alongside the school in one large room with a cold cement floor. Suman’s illiterate parents are employed by the school. They work very long hours cooking, cleaning and maintaining the grounds of the school to enable all their children to receive an education. Suman receives sponsorship support.  He is a very shy boy, a quiet achiever now in class  8 who has topped his class for the last 2 years.

Sachin

Sachin is in class 8. His father died after a long illness and his mother runs a little shop to raise her 2 sons. He tries hard in his school work but finds some of it difficult. Sachin has had to grow up quickly to help his mother and younger brother in their small home and shop.

Meena was attending school with her 2 older brothers but the family were struggling to keep them all at school. It was planned for Meena to leave after class 7 to help her father make clay pots like most of the families in their town. Sponsorship enabled Meena to complete her schooling like her brothers and she now has a job in an office.

Rajan is the youngest of 4 brothers whose father is unable to work after a back injury. Sponsorship enabled Rajan to stay in school but he was easily distracted and showed little respect for his parents who tried to get him to settle down. After a couple of incidents his teachers recommended he be expelled but the headmaster spoke with Rajan and agreed to give him one last chance. Rajan knuckled down and passed his school leaving certificate with good grades. He decided to continue to study and is completing grade 11. His sponsor was advised of his behaviour and of the good outcome and she identified with that. She herself ran away from home when she was a teenager. She thinks they were meant to be connected in the universe!

Jyoti

Jyoti is the youngest of 3 sisters . Their father was in prison and their mother remarried and was unable to care for them. NAFA sponsorship enabled them to finish their schooling. The sisters gave each other emotional support and worked really hard at their studies. All 3 sisters have now passed their school leaving certificate and are continuing to study. They will all become productive members of their community. Jyoti’s dream is to be a medical officer and there’s a possibliity that her dream just may come true.

Location: Dhading district, ( 1 day jeep drive & 1.5 day walk from the main roadhead town of Dhading)
Date: August  2009
Partner: Hilly Region Development Club/ Duscheni  village committee
Beneficiaries: Appx 100 households in Duscheni village
Objective: To supply water piping and materials for tap stands to replace old and damaged water infrastructure system already in place.
Details: The village applied for funding assistance and in November 2009 a NAFA member visited the area and checked the piping all the way to the source and found many breaks in the line.  After a report was submitted, the NAFA committee approved funds which were transferred to the local HRDC.
Outcomes:  When members visited the area in January 2010 the work that the villagers had completed was checked and found to be well done. They had laid over 1 km of new pipe from the new spring and cemented in new tap stand through the village for easy access for all residents.

Keshab from NAHOH conducting primary ear care

Location: Kathmandu, Tawal village and VSN School, Thimi.

Date: From January 2010, with initial approval period of three years.

Partner: Local NGO Nepal Association Hard of Hearing (NAHOH  www.nahoh.org.np), which provides education regarding hearing difficulties, primary ear care screening and treatment services to people in Nepal.

Objectives:
1. To deliver primary ear care and hearing services to disadvantaged people throughout Nepal by providing clinics, hearing assessment, education regarding prevention of hearing difficulties, and hearing devices.
2. To support the work of NAHOH through subsidy of office rent, training of NAHOH staff and supply of audiology equipment.

Working in the field - Tawal

Outcomes: As of September 2011, the HearingNEPAL team have made two visits to the remote village of Tawal where they conducted a primary ear care clinic for 450 school children and provided hearing assessments, hearing aids, listening devices and specialist ENT referrals, for adults. Primary ear care clinics, hearing assessments and treatment have been provided for students at VSN School, Thimi and for adults in the Thimi community. At Tawal, the senior health worker Beg has been trained in the use of hearing medical equipment left with the health clinic to provide preventative, assessment, primary treatment and follow up service.

Keshab is trained in using lastest ear care technology

Details: Sue and Lew Tuck from Whitsunday Hearing initiated HearingNEPAL in conjunction with NAFA and NAHOH. Activities undertaken in conjunction with NAFA focus on supporting NAHOH to deliver valued primary ear care services in schools and other organizations and continuing hearing testing and fitting of hearing aids when needed. Lew and Sue will travel to Nepal on a regular basis to: review progress of individuals fitted with hearing devices, work with NAHOH to provide hearing assessment and primary ear care camps, and assess and assist new clients. HearingNEPAL also provides services to other areas of Nepal e.g. Solu Khumbu and the Tsum Valley in addition to its NAFA targeted areas.

Please see HearingNEPAL website: http://hearingnepal.org/ for details of particular activities in different areas of Nepal.

Location: Okhaldunga district, 3 days walk from Salleri village in the Lower Solu Khumbu
Date:  July 2010
Partner: Shree Patale Lower Secondary School, Patale
Beneficiaries: 200 students and teaching staff
Objective: Construct 3 school toilets (girls, boys and staff)
Details: There were no toilets at this school for over 200 children and school staff.  They were forced to use the surrounding bush which was not a hygienic situation.  The school applied for A$2,420 to construct this toilet building when NAFA members visited the school in early 2010.
Outcomes:   The application was approved at the NAFA July 2010 meeting. In January 2011 NAFA members visited the school  and viewed the completed toilet block which was well constructed.

3 toilets

Cementing classroom floors

Location:  Dhading district, ( 1 day jeep drive and half day walk from Kathmandu)
Date:  July 2010
Partner: Hilly Region Development Club/Shree Buddha Primary School, Kutal
Beneficiaries: 120 Students
Objective: Sealing classroom floors with cement
Details: School visited by NAFA members in January 2010, who noted the need to cement floors to reduce the dust.  An application of A$2,000 was submitted to complete this work.
Outcomes:The application was approved at the NAFA meeting in July 2010.  Members visited the area in November 2010 and noted that all work had been satisfactorily completed.  The teachers and students were pleased with the improvement.

Inside the classroom

Skylights for the classrooms

Location: Lower Solu Khumbu, 2 day walk from the airport village of Phaplu
Date: March 2010
Partner: Shree Rampur Lower Secondary School, Kophu
Beneficiaries: 250 students
Objective: Provide skylights and whiteboards for 6 classrooms and Room to Read books for the library
Details:  NAFA members visited the school in February 2010 and members noted the poor state of lighting in each room, the dust created by the inefficient blackboard and the lack of a good school library.
Outcomes:  The school applied for A$630 to complete this work.   NAFA members visited the school again in Jan 2011 and could see the difference in the brightness of the classrooms and how the whiteboards had eliminated the chalk dust. The children were thrilled with the colourful and interesting bilinguial books from Room to Read and hopefully this will improve their reading in both Nepali and English.

Bringing water to the school

Location: Kavre district (next district east of Kathmandu valley)
Date:  July 2010
Partner: Shree Deupur Primary School, Nayagau
Beneficiaries: 200 students and teachers
Objective:  Water infrastructure project to bring water from a higher spring to a tap stand in the school which at present has no water.
Details:  The school applied for funds A$1,516 to complete this project.   A NAFA member went to the village to assess the application and gave a favourable report.
Outcomes:  The application was approved at the NAFA meeting July 2010 for the purchase and laying of these pipes and construction of a tap stand.  A group of NAFA members and executive officers visited the project in January 2011. The project was assessed as successful, pending some small issues to be corrected by the villagers. NAFA members have now revisited the school in November 2011 and were pleased to see all issues have been resolved.

Location: Lower Solu Khumbu, 3 day walk from airport village of Phaplu
Date: March 2010
Partner: Champa Devi New Lumsa Primary School
Beneficiaries: 75 students
Objective: Provide skylights, whiteboards and desks to 4 classrooms.
Details: NAFA members visited school in February 2010 and noted the poor state of lighting in each room, the dust created by the inefficient blackboard and the lack of a good school library.  The desks in these old classrooms were in need of repair.   We were advised the refit would cost $864.
Outcomes: Project visited in January 2011 by NAFA exec members.  They could see the difference in the brightness of the classrooms and how the whiteboards reduced the dust from the chalk as well as new desks for the children to work from.  This has given the children an added pride in their school.

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.

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.

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.

Location: ½ day walk from the village of Sankhu in the Kathmandu valley
Date: February 2010
Partner: Shree Bair Mahadev Primary School, Lapsephedi
Beneficiaries: 176 students
Objective: To provide drinking water for students of the school.
Details: Application submitted for $930 to fund the purchase of reserve tanks, water pipes and tap stands at the school.
Outcomes: The application was approved and within a month of funds delivered to the school the project was completed.

This was a community project where the teachers, students and villagers worked as volunteers each Saturday to complete the work. They buried the holding tank at the water source and then laid and buried the pipes to the school where they built a tap stand for the children and a sink in the teachers room.  NAFA executive members visited the school and were impressed with the completed work.  The community were very proud of their work and showed their gratitude with a lovely school programme where the children sang and danced.

 Location: Nayabazar (Kathmandu) and Sankhu (one hour from Kathmandu)

• To support the education of approximately 36 children at Nayabazar and Sankhu

PA Nepal is one of NAFA’s core projects. In addition to the outcomes listed above, NAFA has provided the major funding for building the children’s home at Sankhu and has raised funds for a separate home for older boys on the property at Sankhu. NAFA also involves older children at PA Nepal in NAFA’s FEAT program.

Location: Pokhara

Date: 2004 ongoing

Partner: Butterfly Foundation

Objective: To support the operation of two child care centres in Pokhara for children of lower caste parents who have come into Pokhara in search of day labour.

Outcomes: Since commencing its support of the centres, NAFA has provided annual rental assistance and a top-up of salaries totalling approximately $2,250 p.a.

Details: The centres cater for children 2-5 years old. The centres were established by the Butterfly Foundation so older siblings who had been at home looking after the younger ones could attend school.

Skylights in the classroom

Location: Okhaldunga district, 4 days walk from airport village of Phaplu or roadhead of Jiri
Partner: Shree Patale Lower Secondary School
Beneficiaries:  200 students
Objective: Provide skylights for 4 classrooms

Details: The school was visted by NAFA members in February 2010 and the members noted the poor state of lighting in each room. They were advised that the cost for these skylights was $210.

Outcomes :Nafa members returned to the school to view the completed project in January 2011.  They could see the difference in the brightness of the classrooms and how this helped the students with their schooling.

A water stand in the village makes it easier for the women to collect water

Location: Okhaldunga district, 4 days walk from the airport village of Phalu or the roadhead at Jiri
Partner: Patale Village Development Committee
Beneficiaries:  Patale, surrounding community and school
Objective:  Water infrastructure project that would give improved water flow into village to 39 houses, 400 residents and the local school currently.
Details: NAFA members visited the village in January 2009 and received an application to fund a new water infrastructure. They advised the intention was to construct a wall around the original water source to stop animals from contaminating the water and allowing more to flow into the top tank. Another pipeline next to original would be laid to double flow to the 10,000 litre reserve tank.  This would also ensure more water to the school to cope with the increased demand when the new classrooms are completed and student numbers increase.  Nine tap stands around the village were to be constructed for washing and bathing.
The application was for cement and materials = 336,550 Nrps = $6,731. All labour for the laying of the pipes and erecting the water tanks and taps would be unpaid work by the villagers as their contribution to the project.

Outcomes: This application was approved at the March 2009 meeting and funds sent to Nepal through the Joy Foundation.  The funds were paid out in stages as the villagers completed the work and reported back to NAFA. In February 2010 a group of NAFA members visited the village and were impressed with the work that was completed and how having easier access to water made such a difference to the lives of the residents.

Celebrating the new school roof

Location: Okhaldunga district, 4 days walk from airport village of Phaplu or roadhead of Jiri
Partner: Shree Patale Lower Secondary School
Beneficiaries:  200 students
Objective: Purchase galvanized iron roofing material for 6 classrooms (Repair of old roofs for Grades 3-5 and roofing materials for the new classrooms Grades 6-8)
Details:  The school applied for government funding to build three classrooms two years ago, but only received funding for two.  They wanted to build the three classrooms but needed funds for the roofing iron (villagers to supply the labour).
They also need to replace the roofing iron on three of the existing classrooms.
Local children will be able to attend these three grades instead of walking 4 hours to the nearest school. Request for funds = 45,000 Nrps = $900.   Villagers will provide the labour to fix the roofing iron on the classrooms.
Outcomes :  This application was approved at the March 2009 meeting and the funds were sent to Nepal through the Joy Foundation. The materials were purchased by the villagers from Okhaldunga town and carried to the school.  In February 2010 a group of NAFA members visited the village and were impressed with the work that was complete in the new section of the school and the reroofing of the old. The teachers advised this would ensure more children carried on with their schooling to year 8 rather than dropping out due to the long walk to the other school.

Location: Jumpers and beanies distributed to a range of locations in Nepal, including a carpet factory, childrens home, two child care centres, disability services and remote villages.

Date: ongoing

Objective: To provide warm jumpers and beanies to disadvantaged children and adults in Nepal, who rarely would be able to afford new garments.

Outcomes: Regular supply of jumpers and beanies to children and adults in Nepal. For example, in 2006 NAFA sent 265 kilos to Nepal = 763 jumpers and 932 beanies.

Details: NAFA knitters are a group of mainly women who knit beautiful and colourful jumpers and beanies for disadvantaged children in Nepal. NAFA members take the jumpers to Nepal when travelling there. Both Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines have assisted this project by giving NAFA members 10 kg additional baggage allowance.
Over the years the woollen garments have been delivered to: two creches in Pokhara supported by NAFA; children at PA Nepal; women and children under 5 years in the Women’s prison in Kathmandu; children at carpet factories in Thimi; children at the remote village of Tawal; children in a disability centre in Thimi and adults in a disability school at Thimi.

When in Nepal in 2006 – 2007 Brenda Hazelwood, who coordinates the NAFA Knitters project, was asked to teach the children at PA Nepal how to knit. By the time she left Nepal she had a knitting group of 35 children, mainly girls, but including four boys were very interested to learn.  The children were aged between 8 and 16 and after learning the basic skills they made a range of items from the first teddy to scarves, headbands, purses, shoulder bags, pencil bags belts and some clothes for the teddy.  Such was their enthusiasm that they knitted their way through 7 kilos of wool!

See latest pictures of children with our knitted items.

Location: Namobuddha and Tawal

Date: 2005 ongoing

Partners: VSN School Eco-Club, Namobuddha womens group and the Hilly Region Development Club

Objective: 1. To provide goats to poor families in the Namobuddha area as a poverty alleviation strategy and 2. To manage a goat project in Tawal aimed at providing sustained income to assist in meeting the ongoing maintenance costs of the NAFA-supported water infrastructure, health clinic and school projects in Tawal.

Outcomes: Approximately 10 goats are purchased with NAFA funding each year to be allocated by the Namobuddha womens group to poor families with the infrastructure and knowledge to look after goats in this rural community.

Details: The Namobuddha project is being monitored by students in an Eco-club at the VSN School in Thimi.  An agreement between the Club and the families calls for a passing of some goat kids to other poor families.

In 2007, approximately 20 goats were purchased in Tawal. The project is monitored by the Hilly Region Development Club, who have employed a goat herder to look after the goats in a profit-sharing agreement. Profits to the Club will be used to purchase materials needed to maintain  water infrastructure to the village, the health clinic and the school, all constructed with the support of NAFA.

Swings for the creche

Location:  Mayadhapur, Thimi, Kathmandu valley
Date:  July 2009
Partner: Balkumari Area Development Committee Child Care Centre – Thimi
Beneficiaries: 25 to 30 pre-school children of local farmers
Details:  Originally the centre was assisted by an INGO with start up salaries and a roomprovided rent free.  No funds were available to provide toys for the children.  This was brought to NAFA members attention with costs to supply these goods.
Outcomes:  This application for $636 was approved at the NAFA meeting in July 2010.  Toys and other equipment were purchased by the centre staff and this was viewed by NAFA members on their next visit.

Celebrating to opening of the two new classrooms

Location: Solu Khumbu district (2 days walk from Phaplu airport)
Date: October 2009
Partner: Shree Rampur Lower Secondary School,Kanku-6, Kophu, Solu Khumbu
Beneficiaries: 80 children in school of 250
Objective: To construct 2 classrooms to bring the school to grade 8 level.

Details:The school applied to NAFA in March 2009 for funds of A$7,200 and the application was approved   In September a NAFA member raised funds for this project.

Outcomes:  In February 2010, NAFA members visited the school and noted the two classrooms were partially completed.  In a subsequent visit by members in Jan 2011 the two classrooms were satisfactorily completed and officially opened.

Small solar panels give enough energy for two lights at night

Location: Okhaldunga district, 4 days walk from the airport village of Phaplu or the roadhead at Jiri
Partner:  Patale Village Development Committee
Beneficiaries:  69 adults + 48 children
Objective:  Solar lighting for 12 houses
Details:  NAFA members visited the village in January 2009 and the community submitted an application to fund the installation of solar panels to those houses who could contribute towards the panels.  The villagers advised the benefits as reduction of accidents and burns for women while cooking, reduction of people tripping over and bumping into things in the dark and providing the children the ability to complete their school homework in the evenings.  Currently they use kerosene lights or torch batteries which are very expensive for these farmer families and there is a disposabl roblem with batteries.
Solar panels = 2 lights for 8 hours.  One panel per house. Each household contributed 30% of the cost by borrowing money and paying back later by selling an animal if necessary
Cost being NPR17,000 ($340 each) x 12 = 204,000 Nrps ($4,080) less 84,000 contribution by villagers to cost of the panels = 120,000 Nrps = $2,400.
Outcomes: This application was approved at the March 2009 meeting and funds sent to Nepal through the Joy Foundation.  The villagers came to Kathmandu to purchase all the equipment and due to a Government subsidy were able to get better panels and lights than previously sought. In February 2010 a group of NAFA members visited the village and were impressed with the work that was completed and how the homes at night were much brighter and easier for the villagers to work and the children to do their school work.  One woman commented – “we have turned night into day.”