Our strategy for Nepal

The schools and health groups are permanent projects, while emergency aid and start-ups are decided on a case-by-case basis. Almost all projects are carried out in villages in Upper Dolpo between 3,500 and 4,100 meters above sea level.
In today’s newsletter we report on the schools and health projects.

Winter schools
Preparations for the 2024/2025 winter school period in the villages of Saldang and Nyisal have been completed and classes have just started and will last until March 2025. The challenges are particularly great in winter because people are isolated for months in the mountain villages in extreme cold and snow on the passes without heating, electricity, phone/internet and without essential medical care.

Summer-/Year-Round schools
Classes in the newly built school in Lhuri were held for the first time in the new premises. This year we built toilets and reinforced the retaining wall on the slope so that it does not collapse again. This ensures the safety of the children. Unfortunately, we were unable to lay the wooden floors in the classrooms because the timber arrived too late in the village. This will be done immediately in the spring of next year. The school year ended successfully in October.
What is new is that we will be financing the operation of another school from 2025. This will take place in Yarle and three other neighboring villages Dhu, Thimnyar, and Punghak in the Chharkatangsong district. Details will follow in the next report.

Health
A nurse has been working in the villages of Karang and Lhuri since April until the end of October to ensure medical care. We are funding the nurse for the first time this year. This is a valuable contribution in addition to the treatment of the important local Amchis (natural healers). We will report in the spring on how the care went.

Support in the areas of education and health is particularly important for the Dolpa-Pa, the people of Upper Dolpo in the Himalayas, because the government has very few financial resources due to a lack of money. For children, it is the only way to shape their future, and for sick people, it is essential because the first hospital is several days’ walking distance away. And who can walk over 5,000-meter-high passes for several days when they are sick or infirm, or if necessary, stay on a mule or horse?