The banner photo above is Mt Dhaulagiri (8,167 m.), the seventh highest mountain in the world,
seen from Khopra Ridge above Paudwar village in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Myagdi District, Nepal
Many thanks to all who attended or supported the event in other ways.
We still need further contributions as our project continues to expand.
The third and final year of training training for teachers of the Shikha group of schools starts at the end of May, and training for a new group of schools around neighbouring Ghara is expected to start towards the end of the year. Meanwhile Krishna has been busy back in the village furthering the development of the dairy farm and exploring the prospects for dairy goats. We may soon find ourselves exporting Toggenburg goats from Australia,
as they appear to be the most suitable breed, though there are currently none in Nepal.
(there are more than 9 million goats in Nepal but they all get eaten - there are very few dairy goats).
My apologies for not giving more time to updating the website - Ronda and I have been preoccupied with the building of a new home
and selling our 76 acre farm - the time has come in our lives to downsize.
Ever thought what life might be like in Nepal?
Australia ranks second in the world after Norway. Nepal is the second lowest in Asia / Oceania, exceeding only Afghanistan.
Even Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, Myanmar (Burma) and Cambodia score higher.
We can afford to help these people!
- A small, land-locked country, wedged between two of the largest and most populous nations on Earth.
- Just north of the Tropic of Cancer, geography ranging from 70 m.
above sea level to 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world including
Everest
- Population 28.5 m. (1.3 times Australia) in 147,000 sq.km. (2/3 of Victoria)
- GDP per capita US$ 495, among the lowest in the world (Australia: US$ 50,150 - 13th in the world)
- comprise 5 or 6 people living in a dwelling of one or two rooms
(average Australian household: 2.6 persons)
- derive its food from subsistence farming a landholding of less
than a hectare, usually made up of several small plots
- obtain its water from a communal water tap in the village
- depend on kerosene for lighting and a wood fire or kerosene stove for cooking
- share access to communal 'pit' toilet facilities
Village people have needs for better education, health services and employment opportunities. Without the latter, young people are moving to the cities (Kathmandu, Pokhara), causing over-crowding and to loss of prime agricultural land to housing. With the right opportunities they could continue to enjoy village life.
The goal of the Nepali Village Initiatives Project is to
The Nepali Village Initiatives Project grew out
of a chance meeting at Khopra Ridge in 1993 between an Australian
trekking group dubbed the "Annapurna Allstars" and Gyan Bahadur Pun,
then Headmaster of Paudwar Secondary School. Since then the project has supported Paudwar and associated villages in
the Myagdi District of Nepal, and the Nepal Wireless Project led by
Mahabir Pun. It has contributed computers, library books and
medical supplies; funded the construction of school buildings; funded
English medium teaching at Paudwar and Gibung schools (a first among
government schools in Nepal); and funded a Development Coordinator who is leading the establishment of the "Khayar Bahrahi Milk Production Co-operative" to develop a dairy farm.
The Nepali Village Initiatives project is now endorsed by the Rotary Club of Woodend in Australia and the Rotary Club of Pokhara Annapurna in Nepal, and is registered with Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS), making donations tax deductible. This website outlines the project and offers you an opportunity to contribute.
Viewing this Website
If you have any problems viewing this website, please email admin@nepalaid.org.au. Only a limited amount of testing has been possible, and different computer configurations could experience difficulties such as text overflowing the page. We'd like to know.
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