All the projects listed below continue to receive our support and promotion.
Since the earthquake in Nepal in May 2015, our primary focus is on construction of emergency shelters and basic supply with staple foods and medicine.
Our cooperation partners spare no efforts in order to provide the bare necessities, and they are grateful for any financial support we allocate in order for them to organise and distribute food, medicine and building materials.
In the 1990s, sick or injured persons from the Gaurishankar region had to be transported in a 3-day hike and over a distance of 50km to the closest pharmacy. In a drive to produce relief and make initial treatment accessible, Pasang Sherpa from Simigaon suggested to set up a hospital ward in the mountains. Bhakta Bahadur Takuri, who is a member of the managing board of Sahar Samuha Nepal, placed a plot of land of his premises to the disposal of the association. With much blood, sweat and tears as well as the active aid of the residents, a hospital ward was built in 2008 which has successfully operated to this day. Since then, approximately 50 patients per month have received initial treatment here. The associated cost averages out at €300 a month, i.e. €6 per patient. The ward is run by a medically trained nurse.
As per May 2015
Unfortunately, the hospital ward fell victim to the earthquake. We are currently focussing on the construction of emergency shelters and provision with staple foods and basic medical supplies. In the long run, we strive towards the reconstruction of the ward which is now needed more than ever. Donations are most welcome!
Over the last decades, the mountain forests of the Himalayas have disappeared to a large extent which has led to massive landslides and the loss of living space for the residents of the region. In order to work against this effect, we have been planting trees since 2010 that have reconsolidated the soil.
Again, Bhakta offered a piece of his land, as he did for the hospital ward, and a tree nursery was established. It is operated by the inhabitants of Tashinam who are volunteering their time. In the planning phase, a Nepalese forester was called in as an expert who would chose endemic trees that blend in with the surrounding ecosystem. More than 1000 trees have been planted by now. In 2015, the pines have already grown as tall as a man.
Meanwhile, many individuals have adopted the idea and have planted trees themselves – our project has caught on. In fact, people not only plant pines for firewood, but also deciduous trees whose foliage can be used as fodder. As high as 1500m, we even spotted recently planted orange trees.
In the neighbouring village Simigaon, tree-planting initiatives have developed without our involvement and they also have their own tree nursery by now.
We continue to support all of this.
As an accompanying measure, we are currently planning to provide the inhabitants with special furnaces that run with considerably less firewood than conventional ones – this will also contribute to the protection of the slowly regrowing tree population.
There are primary schools for the first five years now in Tashinam as well as in Simigaon. After primary school, the only option for secondary education within walking distance is the school in Jagat in the valley, which implies that students have to cope with a difference in altitude of 1000m on a daily basis. This secondary school, however, does not have any books available – neither schoolbooks nor other reading material.
We would like to help furnishing the school with a library. For this purpose, an additional room needs to be built, as in the present condition the school is too small.