Travel highlights Christfried in Ramechhap/ Sukajor with photo impressions

 

1) Project for the water supply of the community of Ramechhap.

This project, which was already the subject of our previous visits (water for the village of Sukajor), is still at the top of the list because the implementation of several other important projects depends on it. So far it could only be continued in small steps because of the lack of financial means. Together with Sudip and the previous village head Samir Karki, Christfried visited the project territory. The current status is:

 

• The pump station with the small makeshift house is still standing as it has been since our last visit in 2019 and is in need of renewal or expansion, including electrical connections.
• Of the water storage tanks, two have been completed, and further up there is a large water collection tank for rainwater, but it is currently unusable (cracked by earthquake). Another 4 tanks are planned and will be needed to cover the storage and distribution capacity.
• Some of the pipes for the connection to the individual households have been purchased and are available, but they are still lying at the pumping station waiting to be connected to the individual private households.
• According to Sudip, the total project is estimated to cost around 80000 Euros. Of this, 50% is planned to be financed by the municipality itself, the remaining 50% is to be financed by subsidies. The estimated construction time from the beginning of the project to its completion is scheduled for 1 year. 700 households of the community Ramechhap shall be connected to the water supply.
• It was agreed that the next step would be to prepare a detailed cost overview and schedule in English as a basis for reviewing and applying for possible funding. For this Christfried received a good contact recommendation through the German Embassy in Kathmandu.

 

 

 

2) Agriculture project fruit growing

Another larger project was discussed during Christfried's visit, which sounds very promising and also includes the topic of promoting women in the region. Together with the local women farmers, a future-oriented agricultural program for the sustainable cultivation, processing and marketing of regional fruits is to be developed. To this end, a visit was made to one of the local farmers in the village who grows oranges, lemons and other fruits. The formation of a cooperative in collaboration with the women farmers in Sukajor is intended to improve and secure their livelihoods in the long term in order to empower women in the Ramechhap region. For the implementation of this project, the water supply must be guaranteed (point 1). And for this project, too, a concept is being developed for which we are relying on support through subsidies.

 

 

3) Projects in Gaiyashwori Primary School

During an inspection of the school buildings and surrounding grounds, the following priorities were identified for improving the children's learning environment:

 

3.1 The old and still pending project  „Renovation of the playroom for the kindergarten group“ should be implemented as soon as possible, in order to promote more new admissions of preschool children again after the Corona crisis has been overcome. To do this, we need financial support. We already have a preliminary calculation from 2020, this can be taken as a basis and needs to be reviewed again. The urgency of the project is to be coordinated with the teachers' team, depending on how the situation with new admissions of young children is assessed.

 

3.2 A playground is planned to be built. For this purpose, the terrain was inspected to find a suitable area, which is not so easy due to the limited space and the location of the school in the middle of the hilly forest area, because safety comes first. The elevated area in front of the school buildings was suggested, ideas and a cost calculation will be worked out together. The design of the playground is also to be coordinated with the teachers' team.

 

3.3 A school garden is planned to be built. The aim is to support the Day Meal Project with vegetables & fruit grown by the children themselves, which will save costs and teach the children personal responsibility and experience in dealing with food (help for self-help). The site was also inspected for this purpose and a cost concept is being developed. The water supply needs to be checked for this project.

 

3.4 Another old and still pending project "Renovation of the school toilets" should be implemented as soon as possible in order to improve the hygienic conditions for the girls and boys.  For this we need financial support. There is a preliminary calculation from the year 2020, which must be checked again, because the hand washing station is still included there, which has already been completed in the meantime. And also for this the water supply must be checked (water for kitchen & canteen are already available).

 

 

4) Healthcare

This topic is still important in the region, especially now after the Corona crisis. In the remote villages of the region there is a continuous need for support in medical care (health camps, medical missions, screening of children, procurement of medicines). On behalf of the German Embassy in Kathmandu, Christfried visited a hospital in Ramechhap that was built with the help of the Nepalese government and financed by the German KfW Bank.

 

5) Stove building training for smoke-free cooking-stoves

As it turned out during the visit, this topic could become relevant again. After consultation with Sudip, a part of the region (Mellum) is already equipped with smoke-free stoves through the "Ofenmacher", but about 350 households are not yet equipped. Sudip and Christfried are planning to organize a stove-building training directly on site in Ramechhap in the coming November. Afterwards, the households shall be equipped with the missing stoves. The financing has already been promised to us by the Georg Kraus Foundation.

 

6) Visitors' Day in der Gaiyashwori Primary School

Of course, Christfried and his wife also took time to get to know the team of teachers and the children of the school. A whole day was spent together and there were many touching moments during different activities. After a solemn warm welcome in the teachers' room, the gifts they had brought were distributed, and then there was painting, handicrafts and dancing. After some time of being together, the initial hesitation and shyness of the children disappeared very quickly, and the enthusiasm was evident on all the little and big faces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children were particularly delighted and excited by a gift the visitors had brought with them: The Lübeck family from Vogelpark Teltow (a home for over 300 animals) had donated a special recyclable wall film for the school to paint on. Painting pencils were included as well. As soon as the film was attached to the wall, it was time to have fun. The children let their imagination run free and painted their little works of art on the film, completely absorbed in the process. We would like to thank the Lübeck family for their kind support of our association with this great idea! We would also like to take this opportunity to thank them for the generous donations they have made so far, which have been used for various school projects.

 

 

 

Another highlight of the day was the joint lunch in the newly renovated kitchen and canteen. The guests were proudly welcomed into the new rooms, where they were served by the chef, Mr. Kadhga. To their amazement, there was even a freshly brewed espresso after the meal. Christfried was very impressed by how excellently our foundation-supported project was implemented. This encourages us to hope for further cooperaton and support on new projects.

 

 

 

 

7) Farewell from Ramechhap

Before leaving, there was a visit to the Ramechhap Bazaar, the local weekly market, where farmers and market people from the region sell their food, spices and goods for daily use. Then it was time to say goodbye.  A last view over the vast mountain landscape of Sukajor, last joint photos to remember newly made friends, then it was time to head back to Kathmandu.

 

Two important things shall definitely be mentioned at this point:

During the stay, a new SES assignment application was filled out by Sudip. Christfried has the firm intention to travel to Ramechhap again in November to follow up and support the progress of the projects.

 

Furthermore Christfried handed over to Sudip a donation amount in cash of altogether 4000 Euro, for the account of our partner association "Shree Dip Bahadur Karki Memorial Foundation". The amount was based on Sudip's cost estimate for planned expenses for the next months (about 2000 Euro), and was doubled by us, in order to have some advance for possible further expenses and especially to save the expensive transfer fees for bank transfers.