Chepang communitiy in Ghyalchowk , Gorka
Supporting Shree Praja Jyoti Primary School and helping the community to help themselves
Two sub-projects in the Chepang community in Ghyalchowk
The following sub-projects are also underway:
The women of the Chepangs are basically equal to the men.
They would like to contribute to the family income, but there is a lack of opportunities in this region. The Tara Namaste Foundation wants to enable them to earn extra income by doing handicrafts at home. This way they do not have to leave the children alone. The women are trained and the necessary tools are provided. We started with macramé work. We have made a start. During our last visit, 18 women learnt to crochet in a week of training. They have already made some attractive potholders and nets, which they will be able to make to order over the next few months. The women are eager and happy to participate, eager to learn new things and happy to earn extra income. We want to look for further opportunities in the future and realise them with them.
Health and hygiene
The families affected by poverty lack the means to buy soap or other hygiene products. The small medical practice financed by the community is equipped with additional hygiene articles not financed by the government. This gives the doctor the opportunity to teach the population basic hygiene measures for health care and to hand out hygiene products.
Update from the Chepang community in Ghyalchowk – community project
After a number of lengthy administrative procedures and the preparation of a detailed project plan and all the necessary paperwork, our community project is well on the way to being realised.
The application to the Social Welfare Council has been submitted – now we have to wait for approval. This should arrive at the end of November/beginning of December. Our goal:
The project will support 130 households in Chepang in coordination with the local rural community in order to improve the economic situation of the community by promoting livestock farming (goats and chickens), building stables for the animals and training community members in appropriate animal husbandry.
In concrete terms, this means:
130 selected households will be divided into 9 groups (3 groups for the first year, 4 groups for the second year and 2 groups for the third year). Of the 3 groups in 2023, 2 groups will breed goats and the remaining 1 group will look after chickens. The groups that receive goats are instructed to give one offspring (a kid) of their goats from each participating household to the next group in the following year, and from this second year goat, the kid must be passed on to the last year’s groups. The group taking care of the chickens is not obliged to do so, as only one group is selected for the chickens in the first year. This will be realised together with the local authorities, the livestock owners will be trained by the veterinary service and the municipality will keep a watchful eye on the livestock owners at the beginning. They will sign a declaration of consent.
Each family will receive a female goat (a healthy breed with high fertility) for rearing.
goat rearing. One billy goat per group will be cared for in a selected family – the vet will also carry out regular checks. Before the animals are delivered, the future animal owners will provide suitable accommodation for the animals with our support.
Timetable:
Training sessions for the future animal owners and the creation or adaptation of the animal accommodation are planned for November and December. First delivery of animals in February 2024. The project will be continuously supported and monitored by our staff in Nepal. Refresher trainings are planned. After two years and 9 months, an evaluation will take place and the results and benefits for the population will be analysed.
Chepang – Food program in the school and winter clothes for the children.
Since spring 2022 we have been supporting the Shree Praja Jyoti School in the Chepang community in Ghyalchowk by funding an English teacher.
During our visit in October 2022, it quickly became clear that it is difficult for many families to feed their children. The children come to school hungry and their concentration and motivation is correspondingly low. Often they also stay away from class.
Since January, the children now receive a full meal of rice, lentils and vegetables every day before classes begin. The cooking is done by the janitor, assisted by a mother from the community. The necessary utensils have been purchased.
A meal before school motivates families to send their children to school. The children are also more motivated and can follow the lessons better when they are full.
We were also concerned about the children’s clothing during our last visit in October 22, especially in view of the approaching winter. So every child was provided with warm clothes and shoes. In a large-scale action, with the help of the population, children’s clothes and additionally two blankets per family were humped in a half-hour march to the village. There was excitement and joyful hustle and bustle during the distribution. The people are extremely grateful for the support.
Chepang community project
Our support continues with the goal of giving the whole village a better perspective. Thus, the food program is to become a community project. Together with the villagers we are looking for possibilities and offer start-up help for the implementation. Based on their preferences and possibilities, people should be empowered to get involved and take responsibility.
Planting vegetables, raising goats and possibly handicrafts for women are ways to contribute to the livelihood of the families. Food security, basic medical care and adequate education for the children are important goals that we want to achieve together with the local people.
A next visit is scheduled for April 2023 where details and concrete measures will be discussed and initiated.
Saran Chepang

Saran, a 10-year-old boy from Chepang community in Ghyalchowk, had an accident 18 months ago. He apparently had several bone bridges that were not treated properly due to lack of medical care. He is unable to walk since then, his right leg is significantly shorter because the femur has merged with the hip socket, and he cannot bend his right arm because the elbow joint has been severely damaged. Saran’s school is a 20-minute walk away and on rough terrain. As a result, he was unable to attend school. He also had an open wound on his thigh that was constantly infected and not healing.
We met Saran for the first time during our visit in October 22. It was quickly clear that he needed to be helped. Physically damaged and in addition without school education his future would look bleak.
After consultation with him and his parents, Saran was taken to a hospital in Kathmandu where his wound received proper medical attention and examinations were performed on his overall condition. The doctors diagnosed bone tuberculosis, which needs to be treated with medication. It can take up to 18 months to heal.
After a few days, Saran was released from the hospital on crutches. He now lives again with his family and is medically cared for by a nurse every two days. In the meantime, his wound is completely healed and he has become stronger thanks to additional protein-rich foods such as eggs and beans.
With the help of the crutches, he is now able to attend government school again.
Once the tuberculosis has healed, treatment for Saran’s arms and legs will once again become an issue. Unfortunately, the prognosis for the complete recovery of his musculoskeletal system is not very good – but hopefully an improvement will be possible.
