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It is hot in this area (34°). We experience first-hand how difficult and arduous life is in the hills of Ghyalchowk, Gorkha District.  The impassable paths to the individual houses on the steep slopes are arduous and cause many drops of sweat.

After the goats, the chickens

14 Chepang families have been busy over the last few weeks. The houses for the chickens had to be built. The materials were supplied by us, and these families were mobilised to build the coops. They built them themselves with expert advice.

It will primarily be the women’s task to look after the animals. They will be instructed by a representative of the veterinary office on how to feed and medicate the animals and on the necessary vaccinations. The women are committed and interested and look forward to their work as chicken breeders. Regular inspection visits from the expert and group meetings will continue to support them in their work in the future.

The women are also the ones who carry the 50kg sacks of feed, financed by us for the first few months, from down by the river up to their homes. But even with 50kg on their backs, they wring a smile. So much woman power, wow!!!

Then finally the big day arrived when the 2-day-old chicks were delivered. The women are very happy, an exciting time begins for them and gives them something to do in their everyday lives. It is their chance to earn a regular income in the future.

Feedback rounds with ‘goat groups’

Of course, we also wanted to know how our goat breeders are doing. The animals have been with them since February and are being well looked after – four little kids have already been born. We have received positive and valuable feedback at the group meetings. For example, it is currently not easy to find enough food for the animals in the immediate vicinity. Grass and fodder trees need to be planted in order to have enough food at all times in the future. We have initiated appropriate measures.

These issues will keep us busy in the coming period:

The last few weeks in the Chepang Communtiy have been characterised by impatient anticipation, great excitement, joy and a lot of work. After a long preparation phase, the “goat breeding” project has finally been realised. The families of the first three groups, i.e. 58 families, received their goats. Beforehand, the accommodation for the animals have been renovated or newly built and grass has also be sown to ensure that there is enough food.

The material for the extension or construction of new stables for the goats was brought close to the village. With a lot of womanpower, fences and corrugated iron roofs were carried over arduous paths to the village and then to the future goat breeders. Under expert guidance, the shelters were built, extended or remodelled in collaboration with the respective owners.

Two weeks later, the time had come: the goats arrived in the village. They were eagerly awaited. The goats are insured, are tagged and then handed over to their families.

The work of preparing the grass for sowing and the subsequent sowing is a joint effort – everyone who can helps.

I travelled to Nepal in October 2023. After volunteering in a hospital, I decided without further ado to volunteer in a children’s home for the last month. I came across Tara Namaste by chance. Lilo Veraguth, my contact person, was very straightforward and organised everything spontaneously. So I travelled to Birtamod in mid-November 2023. I will probably never forget the friendly welcome from Narayan Pokhrel at the airport and what followed….

I was warmly welcomed by the Pokhrel family and the children’s home. I felt at home from the beginning to the end. For the first few days, everyone behaved towards me as if I were a guest and I wasn’t allowed to help in the kitchen or with the cleaning. But more and more I was no longer a guest, I became a member of the family and belonged. And that’s how it still feels today to have found a family in Nepal.

I will never forget cooking together, everyday life with the children, playing, talking and laughing. From now on, I will always associate the game UNO with Tara Namaste.

The Tara Namaste children’s home is a wonderful place, it is run in an exemplary manner and offers children a home with lots of love and respect. Each child is allowed to attend a private school and develop individually. Everything is very clean and Durga’s food is fantastic. The children sleep in rooms of 2 or 3, girls and boys are separated. This means that each child has their own space and can withdraw.

I have learnt a lot about life and about myself, plus I can now cook Nepalese food, although I certainly won’t miss dal bhat. 😉

Every cent donated makes a big difference and is a good contribution in such a poor part of eastern Nepal.

I have great respect for Nayaran, his daughter Yasoda and Durga, what they do every day is simply amazing!

Many thanks to Tara Namaste Foundation for giving me this opportunity. I will always keep this in my heart. One day I will return to Nepal, to Birtamod, to Tara Namaste.

Nadine Zihlmann in February 2024

58 members of the first four “goat breeding groups” took part in the training course on commercial goat breeding in December. The participants (10 men, 48 women) were trained by a local livestock development expert on the requirements for goat farming. Topics included animal behaviour, husbandry, feeding, diseases, etc.

A committee of five people was formed from this group. This committee is available to the members of the group for questions relating to goat husbandry, insurance issues and help with the construction of the goat shed.

Before the goats are distributed to the families, the stables must first be repaired or newly built. Quotations were requested for the necessary materials. Once the necessary letter of request has been received from the district office, work can begin.

A project management and monitoring committee was also set up under the leadership of the district chairman. One member from each breeder group, representatives of the Tara Namaste Foundation and the veterinarian also form this committee. This committee will decide on the implementation of the project and will meet every four to six months. At the end of the project period defined by Tara Namaste (3 years in total), this committee will ensure the continuation of the project.

The impact of the project will be evaluated at the end of the project. Seven households from each of the four groups with goats and seven households with chickens were randomly selected for the study in the community. The current status of 28 households has already been surveyed and is now being analysed.

Good networking and liaising with the local authorities is essential. The project has therefore been presented to various representatives of the authorities. We can count on the support of all local authorities.

Various goat farms are currently being visited to find healthy animals. Once the housing for the animals has been completed (February/March), the first goats will be allowed to move in with the families.

Since our visit in October 2023, a number of things have been implemented or initiated in the community.

In order to operate cost-effectively, a competition was organised among local food suppliers with the aim of purchasing high-quality food at the lowest possible price. The right supplier was found and, thanks to the cost savings, the budget is now sufficient to provide the children with an additional egg three Fridays a month and meat once a month.

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.

After a number of lengthy administrative procedures and the preparation of a detailed project plan and all the necessary paperwork, our joint project is well on the way to being realised.

The submission to the Social Welfare Council has been made – now we have to wait for approval. This should arrive at the end of October/beginning of November. 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.

Images: First orientation of the population in April 2023

Specifically, 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 receiving goats are instructed to give one offspring (a kid) of their goats from each participating household to the next group the following year, and from this second year’s goat, the kid must be passed on to 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 receives a female goat (a healthy breed with high fertility) for 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 training sessions are planned. After two years and nine months, an evaluation will take place and the results and benefits for the population will be analysed.

We are looking forward to seeing it look like this in Chepang too!

Another sub-project has been launched.

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.

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 are correspondingly low. They often stay away from lessons.

Since January, the children have been receiving a full meal of rice, lentils and vegetables every day before the start of lessons. The caretaker does the cooking, assisted by a mum 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.

During our last visit in October, we were also concerned about the children’s clothing, especially in view of the approaching winter. Every child was provided with warm clothes and shoes. In a large-scale operation, children’s clothes and an additional two blankets per family were humped into the village in a half-hour march with the help of the local population. There was plenty of excitement and cheerful activity during the distribution. The people are extremely grateful for the support.

Our support continues with the aim of giving the whole village a better perspective. The food programme is to become a community project. Together with the villagers, we look for opportunities and offer start-up support for implementation. Based on their preferences and opportunities, people should be empowered to get involved and take responsibility.

Planting vegetables, rearing goats and possibly handicrafts for women are ways of contributing to the livelihood of 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.

The next visit is scheduled for April 2023, when details and specific measures will be discussed and finalised.