We are here with Tearfund, a UK-based Christian relief and development organisation that works in about 40 countries around the world (www.tearfund.org).
In Nepal, Tearfund partners with local Nepali organisations and churches that are already working in some of the poorest and most marginalised parts of the country, helping communities to find sustainable ways to lift themselves out of poverty.
Steve's role, as Tearfund's Country Representative for Nepal, is to liaise with and strengthen local partners through the provision of funds, training and advice. This is the same job that he has been doing for the last four years but it is obviously a lot easier for him to meet with partner staff and travel to see projects now we are in country!
My role is to write reports, proposals and case studies for people in the UK who support Tearfund financially. This will entail some visits to projects and partner offices as well as the use of written information provided by the partners every six months. I'll also be accompanying any groups of supporters who come to Nepal and facilitating their visits to projects (the first supporter visit is scheduled for January).
To help explain what Tearfund's partners do, below is a case study from the desperately poor region of Mugu in the far north-west of Nepal. Access to the area is only possible on foot, by helicopter or by plane.
‘I received Rs.10,000 (about £80) as seed money and after a year I had repaid that money to the self-help group (this money will now be lent to someone else who wants to set up a business). With the money I opened a small retail shop in my house. I was able to save Rs.20,000 from the capital within a year. Now, I have used Rs.25,000 as capital in my shop and I have lots of items to sell.
In Nepal, Tearfund partners with local Nepali organisations and churches that are already working in some of the poorest and most marginalised parts of the country, helping communities to find sustainable ways to lift themselves out of poverty.
Steve's role, as Tearfund's Country Representative for Nepal, is to liaise with and strengthen local partners through the provision of funds, training and advice. This is the same job that he has been doing for the last four years but it is obviously a lot easier for him to meet with partner staff and travel to see projects now we are in country!
My role is to write reports, proposals and case studies for people in the UK who support Tearfund financially. This will entail some visits to projects and partner offices as well as the use of written information provided by the partners every six months. I'll also be accompanying any groups of supporters who come to Nepal and facilitating their visits to projects (the first supporter visit is scheduled for January).
To help explain what Tearfund's partners do, below is a case study from the desperately poor region of Mugu in the far north-west of Nepal. Access to the area is only possible on foot, by helicopter or by plane.
The
Human Development Index for Mugu is, at 0.16, one of the lowest in Nepal (anything below 0.5 indicates a low level of human development).
It is a serious food-deficit area and suffers one of the highest child and
maternal mortality rates in the world, with 40 to 60% of children dying before
their 5th birthday.
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| One of the communities in Mugu |
Testimony
from Chaite Sejuwal, a member of Janasewa Community Group, Bhee, Mugu
‘Business life is the best for me’
‘I am 25 years old and I live
in Thulagaun with my mother, wife and two children.
‘When I remember my past
days, they were really bitter and we were deprived of a lot of things in
life. Many times, my family and I did
not have food to eat. We always worked hard on the land but we could only grow
enough food to last for three to four months each year. The winter season was the
hardest time. We were either sick or hungry.
‘Many times I went to India
in search of work but most of the money I earned went on eating and a room to
live in. I was only able to save a little.
‘I had dreams for my family
but could do nothing. I wanted to see my family happy. When I was home, I spent
my days helping my family work in the barren field. I had a small area of land
to cultivate and very few domestic animals. I spent a lot of time collecting
firewood in the forest.
‘I had a strong desire to
earn money and have more animals and land but I felt it was just in my dreams.
But my life changed when the INF (Tearfund's partner) project started helping people in my community
to create new businesses.
‘I participated in income generation
training which helped me to understand business concepts. The community group chose
who should get seed money for a new business, and I was chosen. It made me so
happy and I felt that my dreams might come true.
‘I received Rs.10,000 (about £80) as seed money and after a year I had repaid that money to the self-help group (this money will now be lent to someone else who wants to set up a business). With the money I opened a small retail shop in my house. I was able to save Rs.20,000 from the capital within a year. Now, I have used Rs.25,000 as capital in my shop and I have lots of items to sell.
‘I’m very proud to be a
shopkeeper here in this area and business life is no more in my imagination, it
is the best and real for me.’
 |
| Proud shop owner, now able to support his family |
This is just one of many, many stories of lives transformed by the work of partners like INF who are committed to working long-term with the communities in these remote and poverty stricken areas.
More soon
Jude, Steve, Amy & Paul
