NamasteThe Nepal Trust NewsWorking with Health, Community developmentand Hope in the “Hidden Himalayas”Autumn 2008 Issue No.10

IN THIS ISSUEWelcome letters 2

Summit for Health 3

Project Achievements 3

After the Elections 4

15 Years on 5

Healthcare Programme 6

Trek reports 8

Looking Ahead 9

Fundraising – Volunteers needed 10

Rotary Support 11

Donor Acknowledgement 11

Photo Album 12

Mt Saipal from the Sangkha Lagna, East face © Steve Razzetti

Going strong - Kermi micro hydro Shoeless children in the shadowof Mt Saipal

NT Health Worker Mingyur with patient Children risk their lives to get to school whereMaoists destroyed the local footbridge

MT SAIPAL 23067ft / 7031m‘SUMMIT FOR HEALTH’ - 20 Sept.-2 Nov. 2010

Gain Altitude So That Others Can Gain the Basic Human Right of Healthcare!World-class climber Jamie McGuinness leads the challenge to transform lives. Help The Nepal Trust toraise £100,000 to provide the people of the ‘Hidden Himalayas’ with desperately needed healthcare,

training and the skills to maintain the wellbeing of their families and communities!

Page 2 Namaste - The Nepal Trust News

Chairman’s Welcomeby Dr Mike Love

Dear Friends and supporters of the Nepal Trust,Welcome to the latest edition ofNamaste. This year we celebrateand applaud 15 years of work bythe Nepal Trust and it is veryappropriate that our founder, AlanJacobsen, is adding his words ofwelcome below. The elections arenow over and the Maoists are thelargest party in the new assembly.We hope and pray for stability, butcome what may we will adapt andwork within the new order.

In September I returned to Nepal with my wife Pavla and a smallgroup of supporters to assess the current situation and engage withthe communities. Many ideas and plans for the future crystallized aswe worked our way up the Karnali valley, many of which you’ll readabout over the next few pages.Fundamentally, we recognized that sustaining and maintaining has tobe as much at the heart of our work as new build projects. To this end,our new ‘Community Connections’ programme (page 10) offers aunique opportunity for supporters to develop a long term relationshipwith a village in Humla. Overall, we were pleased to see that despiterecent challenges the Nepal Trust is working and delivering on itscommitments; a credit to the core team, who have remained loyalthroughout the troubles.

We continue to strengthen our operational infrastructure. We havesubmitted an application to the Nepalese Government to obtain thestatus of international non-government organization (INGO) and arealso well advanced in setting up and registering a wholly owned NepalTrust trade company in Nepal. These new vehicles will give us anumber of advantages, such as gaining multiple entry visas for westernstaff working in Nepal and operating better accountability over ourfinancial and legal affairs.To support the increase in activities I’m delighted to announce twoimportant new appointments and two new locations; Ceris Jones hastaken up the role of full time fundraiser in the UK and will spearheadthe opening of a new office in Edinburgh (page 4); and in Nepal JigmeLama will work alongside Jeroen in the new office in Kathmandu onthe delivery of projects and the healthcare and sustainable tourismprogrammes (page 5).For all the hard work and support shown over the past year by so manywe are highly appreciative. Thank you in particular to those of youthat responded to the call for membership and have joined the Trust asa Friend or Member (pages 10, 11). Your ongoing support provides asecure foundation for our work. As always there remains much to do,please continue to support us in our efforts and work with us to bringhope to the communities of the ‘Hidden Himalayas’.

Mike

Namaste is compiled and edited by Alison Read. Many thanks to all contributors. Photos reproduced courtesy of staff,trekkers and supporters of the Nepal Trust. Mt Saipal photos courtesy of Steve Razzetti – www.razzetti.com

Letter from Alan Jacobsen,Nepal Trust FounderIt was in 1993 that I sallied forth on a trip to visit the home country of the Gurkha soldiers, men whohad fought so bravely alongside my own regiment during WWII and subsequent campaigns. Whilethere I visited a number of villages outside Kathmandu and was appalled at the lack of health careavailable. I also spoke to a number of Nepalese doctors in Kathmandu itself who painted a very poorpicture of medical help in the villages up in the mountains.Back in my hotel as I stood looking across the city towards the Himalayas, it came to me that I must tryto do something about this. The thought that came persistently to my mind was an old quotation usedby Robert F. Kennedy; “Some men see things as they are and ask why. I dream of things that never wereand ask why not?” It was from these vague beginnings that the Nepal Trust was born.I had envisioned health posts strategically placed in the mountains and a properly equipped hospitalwith easy access to all. It is a wonderful feeling to see a vision begin to become a reality, and now wesee the Nepal Trust enter its fifteenth year. The effects of the work of the Trust are not only being feltin the area of health, but also in the fields of energy, commerce and culture.

During the recent unrest in Nepal the Trust suffered setbacks but has remained active. This I feel is mainly because the work is supporteddirectly by the villagers themselves, who engaged with the westerners working alongside them building health posts and micro hydro projectsin a unique concept “Treks to build health and community”.There are very many people who have contributed to the success of the work of the Nepal Trust, especially from the medical profession andthe Rotary organisation, but the names of Jim and Liz Donovan stand supreme. These two people, to whom I handed over the running of theTrust in 1995, have made a significant contribution in the field of aid delivery in remote areas of Nepal. I wish the current board of directors,under the chairmanship of Mike Love, similar success over the next 15 years.

Alan

1995, Alan inspects the carveddoorway to Torpa clinic, whichwas to become the symbol ofthe Nepal Trust.

Namaste is just one way to learn about our work. Our website www.nepaltrust.org had a major facelift earlier this year. On there you’ll findthe latest news, info on all our projects and an online donation facility. Content is updated regularly, so add it to your bookmarks and checkback regularly. Additionally we launched the popular e-News, a short email newsletter bringing all the latest info right to your inbox. Freeto subscribe, and easy to unsubscribe, contact mail@nepaltrust.org if you’d like to receive it.

Keeping in touch

At 7,031m (23,067ft) Mt Saipal is one of the highest peaks in theWesternNepal Himalaya. This iconic mountain dominates the Humla skyline,and is often considered the Everest of theWest. Revered by local culturesas ‘Grandmother’, it’s considered the female counterpart to the holyMount Kailash in Tibet, just North of Humla.Saipal is so remote that it has only been successfully summitted fourtimes, the first in 1963. But in 2010 it will be scaled again, as we leadan expedition to raise funds for healthcare in the local area - the NepalTrust ‘Summit for Health’!We aim to raise over £100,000 to support our ten year health programmefor Humla, the poorest district in Nepal. With your support the ‘Summitfor Health’ has the potential to save lives, by improving healthcareprovision to over 45,000 people!We’ve led treks to the East face base camp, this time we’re going to thetop! Jamie McGuinness, one of the world’s most experienced climbers,will lead this trek into the remote and challenging landscapeof the Hidden Himalayas, and you could come with us!We’re looking for experienced expedition members to climbthe peak, fit trekkers to come with us to the base camp at4,500m, and sponsors or donors to make the ‘Summit forHealth’ a real success story!The full challenge is a major mountain expedition (20 Sept – 2Nov 2010) and requires experience of Alpine Grade PD+ to ADwith altitude experience of at least 6,000m. This could be an idealchallenge for people who have wide experience climbing in the Alpsand/or who have completed peaks such as Mera, Island Peak orLobuche East in Nepal and who are now seeking the next level ofchallenge.

The expedition cost toclimb Saipal is £5,000(including four domesticflights, hotel, permits,meals, trek and climbingstaff, camping equipmentand services, but notinternational flights orinsurance). Each climbermust also commit to raiseanother £5,000 for theHumla health project.The Nepal Trust will helpto provide contacts andfundraising ideas.If you think you’re up tothis unique challenge,please contact us to nowregister an interest, see www.nepaltrust.org for further details.The ‘Summit for Health’ is a prime example of pro-poor tourism thatcompliments the ‘Great HimalayanTrail’ initiative of SNV, UNWTO andthe ST-EP Foundation (page 9). By combining mountaineering,adventure pursuits and ‘Treks-to-Build Health & Community’ the NepalTrust has pioneered for 15 years ‘A new tourism for a new century’ – atourism that works to alleviate poverty and that promotes positive socialchange.

About Jamie McGuinnessJamie has been climbing and trekking in the Himalayas for 20 years(summits include Everest 8848m 4x, Cho Oyu 8201m 5x, Shishapangma

Central Summit ~8000m 4x) and has written guide booksincluding "Trekking in the Everest Region". He speaks

Nepali, and was the first New Zealander to climbBroad Peak in Pakistan. “I love exploring and WestNepal is unique. I am happy to lead the 'Summitfor Health' Mt. Saipal expedition as a donationtowards the overall success of the Nepal Trust'shealth project that people desperately need andyet the central government cannot provide."http://www.project-himalaya.com

Halji 6kw Micro Hydro completed – the last bit of work was finishedin mid 2007 and the people of Halji village are now enjoying thebenefits of light and power in their homes and communal buildings.Wewould like to thank in particular Steve Davis and Dan Yeoman, whospent almost 2 months living in the Limi Valley in autumn 2006,working incredibly hard in a race against time and weather conditionsto get this project underway.

Ghoti Khola 50kW MHP –After years of delay due to the conflict thisproject, which will impact 4,000 people, has finally started. Thecommunity have cut the timbers, the ground is being prepared, stoneshave been collected, equipment has been ordered and some of themechanical components are in manufacture at this time.

Sarkegad Health Post Restaffed - Built by the Trust in 1999, theoperation of this health post was the responsibility of the government,but during the insurgency the facility floundered. Sarkegad is theneighbouring village to Ghoti, above, an area that we are committed tosupporting. Thanks to funds raised by the Edinburgh to Everest cyclists,the Nepal Trust has been able to step in to support the governmentworkers, providing two staff and appropriate medicines. But furtherrenovation work is desperately needed.

Til Solar Project – the people of Til now have electric light all yearround, thanks to this successful venture with IlkleyWharfedale RotaryClub and the Wharfedale Scouts, which culminated in August 2007.Together they raised funds, then undertook the arduous journey to LimiValley and worked with the people of Til to install solar panels on theirhouses (See report on page 8)

Health Programme – Ongoing delivery of primary healthcare at thehealth posts. The Little Doctors programme was held in the spring. InMay 08 two volunteer doctors (see page 6) toured several Nepal Trusthealth posts, assessing the medical needs in Humla, conducting clinicsalong the way.

Three Treks in 07 – the first one to Limi Valley in August 2007implemented the Til Solar Project. The second one, a fact findingmission - 15 people (including Nepal Trust Directors and staff) walkedfrom Jumla to Humla, visiting a number of Nepal Trust projects andsupporting dental/medical camps along the way. The third was ajourney the Nepal Trust arranged for a group of Rotarians from Elginto visit a Rotary water project.

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Gain Altitude So That Others Can Gain theBasic Human Right of Healthcare!

Mt Saipal (29°52ʼ48ʼN 81°29ʼ24E ) seen from the Limi Valley. © Steve Razzetti

Poverty continues to blight this area,many of the inhabitants have no access tohealthcare. We have to change that.

Major Project Achievements 2007–2008

In April this year we took a big step and established a new base inEdinburgh, where Ceris Jones, our new Director of UKOperations,is working with the help of local supporters, including boardmember Chris Rae. As a Scottish charity looking to increase ourpresence in the UK, Edinburghis the ideal location, with goodlinks to key organisations andsupporter communities.Chris, a solicitor at Dundas &Wilson in Edinburgh, was afounding member of the NepalScotland Association. Whilststudying, he was awarded ascholarship which took him toNepal in 2001. Since then hehas returned five times,volunteering with schools,communities and NGOs suchas Rugmark, Anti-SlaveryInternational, and UNICEF.This strong background andexperience led him to beappointed to our board as Secretary in 2007.“Such is the draw of working with such amazing and passionatepeople, I work to support Nepal's development in the fundamentalareas of health, infrastructure, and education both in Nepal andback in the UK. Becoming an active member of the Nepal Trusthas afforded me the opportunity to maintain this commitment,

whilst allowing me to continue to develop my own career at thesame time. The Nepal Trust's work is inspiring, and deserves all thesupport it can get.”Ceris’s focus is on fundraising and supporters. In 1998 Ceris spent

12 months volunteering with theNepal Trust in Kathmandu andHumla as part of a VSO youthprogramme. She returned thefollowing year, and went on towork in community development,in both the UK and overseas.“That year in Nepal proved to bethe most important year of mylife, as the things I saw, learnt andexperienced and the people I met,have influenced my choices eversince. When I visited Nepal lastyear for the first time since 2000,I was struck by the disastrousimpact of the civil conflict.Despite this, however, I wasinspired by the Nepal Trust’s

perseverance and the general feelings of hope for the future.Returning to work for the organisation in the UK, I aim to doeverything I can to support the work of our colleagues in Nepal.”Ceris is based at The Melting Pot, 5 Rose St, Edinburgh. If you’rein the area, please pop by for a chat and to catch up on our news.For information on volunteering in the UK, see page 10.

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Nepal is a country that has suffered terribly frompoverty and its destructive tributaries. Relativelyremote, landlocked, poor and without oil, manyin the West have no idea of its deep-rooted andcomplex issues. The country has recentlyemerged from a decade of violence after abloody Maoist insurgency that claimed the livesof over 13,000 people, and left hundreds ofthousands brutalised and dispossessed.But unprecedented changes are happening. InApril ‘08 Nepal held its first democraticelections in ten years, with the Maoist Partybecoming the largest elected party in the newconstituent assembly after winning a third of theseats.Since then however, the new Federal DemocraticRepublic of Nepal appointed Nepali Congresscandidate Dr. Ram Baran Yadav as President,followed shortly after by Maoist leaderPrachanda as Prime Minister. We wish these

opposing leaders peace and goodwill in their endeavors. Thesituation is changing daily; the people of Nepal now have agovernment by consensus. But in a country where the majority ofthe population lives on the edge of grinding poverty thatgovernment faces many tough challenges.The Nepal Trust has worked hands-on at village level for 15 years,in one of the remotest and poorest pockets of human habitation.During that time we learned a few things about the big word indevelopment – sustainability. Mainly, it’s about commitment -heart and passion; combined with effective projects and businessenterprises that sustain communities by feeding and educatingfamilies. We survived and continued to work throughout the unrest.Now it's more important than ever for the people of Humla to knowthat we are there for them.We will go forward, we have the skills, we have the energy and weneed your continued support! Please stay tuned to our website andsubscribe to the e-News. Become a member, get involved in ourwork and trek with us. With your help we will be here for another15 years, thank you.

Maoist carvingson a gatewayin Humla

NT Ambassador, Rotarian Rodger Thom, Chris and Cerisoutside the Gurkha Brigade Nepalese Restaurant in Edinburgh

Nepal Trust Opens New Base in Edinburgh

Another new face this year is Shambhu Lama (left),Nepal Country Representative of the Nepal TrustScotland, Treasurer of the Nepal Trust Nepal andManaging Director of the Vajra Hotel, Kathmandu.Along with trustees Shoba Rayamajhi andPrashanna Shrestha, Shambhu has been key tokeeping our business operations running smoothlyin Kathmandu during the recent instability.

After the Electionsby Jim Donovan

Supporters SurveyA big thank you to all our of supporters who took part inour recent survey. It produced some great feedback andwe now have to work hard to putting your suggestions inplace. You can see the report on our website.

Many of our long term supporters will remember Jigme Lama. Jigme worked for the NepalTrust from 2002-2006 alongside his wife Maya, one of our first village health workers. Jigmeleft Nepal to work overseas, but has now returned home, and we are delighted that he hasaccepted a post as a Project Manager. Here he gives an insight into living in Nepal during atime of insurgency:I grew up in a remote village in Humla where the world seemed to begin and end inside themountains that surrounded the valley. Then the things changed and kept changing in manybrutal forms as the establishment crumbled. Slowly all forms of traditional income generationdeclined, such as animal husbandry, farming and even the trade with Tibet which had sustainedlives at one period.In 1996, I took a job with a local NGO. It was during that time that I first met Jim Donovan.I remember the translation I did for his address to the communities in Raling Gompa. In 2002,I worked with Nepal Trust on a partnership project with UNESCO that focused on promotingtourism potentials of Humla while preserving cultural and natural heritage.

But things got worse and soon the region was to witness the most violent and difficult time ever, with extreme corruption, and brutalconflict. Now the insurgency in Nepal is over. But it has left its mark in ruined lives, the social disarray continues, the sufferings of peopleare enormous.But, when looking at the communities, I see that the activities and the vision of the Nepal Trust stand out as role models for many. I amvery happy to be working once again for the Nepal Trust. I will manage our projects, including implementing the healthcare programme,delivering the Ghoti Kola micro hydro, and helping develop the Great HimalayanTrail, a tourism initiative with SNV and UNWTO, whichwill generate income and offer a sustainable future for my people in Humla.

It is an impossible task to summarize with just a few words events from the very firstbeginnings of the Nepal Trust to the present day. Justice can not be done to the manypeople that were involved at different times and left their mark along the way. Acolourful tapestry woven from many strands - some blending smoothly into welldefined patterns, others showing as rougher patches. Together they depict a journeywith exhilarating climbs, unexpected views and steep drops (just like the trails inHumla) – it is an ongoing story with countless victories and challenges.Looking back to the day when Jim and I first answered Alan’s call and went toKathmandu to investigate ‘project possibilities’, I had no idea of things to come. Ihad never been toAsia before and everything was incredibly new, exciting and a shockto the system. Masses of people in the streets, intense colours, smells and sounds,huge piles of garbage everywhere, policemen in ridiculously white uniforms trying tocontrol an onslaught of smoke belching traffic, cows sleeping inthe middle of the road, kids in rags - poverty looming at everycorner. It all made a deep impression on me and soon life tookquite a drastic turn as we committed ourselves to trying to makea small difference in that part of the world.

The initial eight months Jim and I spent in Nepal helped us to set a direction for the work ahead. During a chance visitto Humla the obvious lack of any health care in the area presented itself as an opportunity as well as a huge challenge.We decided to take the famous first step and see where it would lead. On our return to Scotland fundraising for thebuilding of a health post began and nine months later the first ‘trek to build health and community’ group set outto tackle the construction in a joint effort with the local people. We were fortunate to have British nurse JanetGriffin along on this first expedition - she enthusiastically threw herself into setting up the medical aspects, gettingthe right equipment and starting to train our first health worker.I have very vivid memories of these early days, fuelled with high energy and enthusiasm, where despite lack of fundseverything seemed possible. How important those first steps were! All other projects developed from there and intimes of challenge it helps to remember and reconnect with this pure essence of possibility and hope.

Kumar and Rinjin have been leading NT trekkers for many years. When atrekker slipped and injured her leg last year, they took turns to carry her downa steep mountain path in a makeshift basket on their backs, a journey of oversix hours.

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15 Years on – the Importance of First Steps

Welcome Back Jigme

Our Heroes!

by Liz Donovan

1996, outside the newly completed Torpa clinic.Jim Donovan, back centre, Janet Griffin, front.

Liz & Jim Donovan,with Alan Jacobsen, 1994

Jigme with NT Director Tony Sharpe

Following Jane and David’s recommendations, we intend to formally develop the medicalvolunteer programme. It is envisaged that extended placements at a health post would allowfor staff training and enable support to be given in implementing systems and protocols of bestpractice. If you are a medical professional and would be interested in participating, pleasecontact us.

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Uphill Struggle for Healthcare in Post-Conflict Humla

Request for Medics

In May 2008, Drs David Easton and Jane Lockyer trekked intoHumla on behalf of the Nepal Trust to assess healthcareprovision. Here they report on their findings:This is mountainous terrain, where villages cling to steep rockymountainsides, surrounded by fields and pockets of majesticwalnut trees. The rhythm of daily life flows up and down thetrails from the village, collecting water, cultivating the fields andgathering firewood. Subsistence farming is physicallydemanding, particularly in Humla where terrain and climateoffer added challenges. For all too many, the daily toil iscompounded by ill-health. The conditions they suffer from areoften preventable and treatable but prevention isn’t happeningand treatment is often lacking or inadequate.As word of the arrival of “Western Doctors” spread, so patientscame from near and far, often very far.We were fortunate to havethe able support of Mingyur Lama, a Nepal Trust HealthWorker,Senior Health Worker Pema Dolma Lama, Kumar and his trekteam and volunteer Philip Jackson.

The first patient at one of our impromptu clinics was a youngmother with severe anaemia. Walking any distance, particularlyuphill, would be beyond her. Left untreated she would struggleto provide and care for her family and may be unable to suckleher baby. Consequently there was a likelihood of ill-health andmalnutrition in her children.This cycle of poverty and ill-health is familiar throughout thedeveloping world. The underlying causes are well-recognizedand include issues of poor education, lack of sanitation and cleanwater, increasing lack of cultivable land, gender inequity andinadequate healthcare provision. In Humla there are theadditional factors of remoteness, mountainous terrain and thedamage to infrastructure and communities from 10 years ofMaoist insurgency.This was our first visit to Humla. We had both worked in Nepalmany years ago so we had some idea of the healthcarechallenges to expect. Despite this we were not prepared for whatwe found. What took us aback were the number of peopleaffected and the severity of their ailments. Many patients wereseverely ill, some would hopefully respond to medication andadvice. A few would probably be dead within days.

Facilities at some of the health posts are in a sad state; partly dueto health posts being directly targeted during the conflict. Inaddition to refurbishing and re-equipping the health posts,funding will be required to recruit and train health workers.Mingyur, Pema and their colleagues are capable and committedworkers, but they need support and additional staff to meet thehealthcare needs of their communities.Throughout our time in Humla we could not fail to be impressedby the high regard with which the Nepal Trust is held by the localpeople and local government officials, a credit to the persistenceand ongoing achievements of staff and volunteers. As aconsequence the Trust is well placed to continue its healthcareprogram, to reinstate and refurbish Health Posts and develophealthcare provision in the district. This provision is needed nowmore than ever.

Dr David Easton examines a patient, while NT health workerMingyur takes notes.

Pema Dolma Lama,Senior Healthcare Co-ordinator. Pema is fromYalbang, Humla. Shewas selected from herschool to be trained asa health worker, and isour longest servingmember of staff. Pemaand her colleagueslearn a lot from visitingWestern medics, andvice versa!

LEFT: Pema Dolma Lama, Senior Health Worker,our longest serving member of staff.

CASE WISE RANKING OF HEALTH RELATEDDISEASES AT KERMI HUMLA

• A.R.I + Common Cold• Worm Infestation• Gastritis• Diarrhoea• Dysentery• Skin Infection

• Chest Infection• Ear Infection• Eye Infection• S.T.D.S.I.U.T.E• Arthritis

NEPAL TRUST BUDDHA SEWA CLINICKERMI VILLAGE 2007

A Word from our Medical DirectorDr David Hurman is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and afounder of Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital in Nepal. David became involved with the trust in1995, when he met Jim and Liz Donovan at a lecture by patron Doug Scott. His extensiveexperience of working in healthcare in both the UK and Nepal makes him the ideal MedicalDirector for the Nepal Trust.He says “Since the beginning the Nepal Trust has benefitted from the experience andcommitment of many medically qualified individuals, notably Nurse Janet Griffin, who hastrained and inspired all our Nepali health workers and attended every health camp. I amparticularly grateful to doctors David and Jane for their recent visit to the area. Along withElgin GP, Dr Donald Brown, we now have a strong core team of medical advisors and I’mconfident that working alongside the Government of Nepal we can continue to enhance theprovision of healthcare in North West Nepal.”

Getting to the root of the problemDentistry is one field which can bring immediate and lasting relief fromcrippling pain, particularly in Humla where there is no government dentalcare and little oral hygiene. Dentist Richard Leworthy, a Rotarian fromWells, joined the Upper Karnali River trek last September (see page 8).Richard brought along a basic dental kit, including forceps, sterile needlesand anaesthetic, and set up impromptu surgeries along the way. Eachmorning, there’d be a queue of patients outside his tent, some who hadwalked for hours to be there.Over the course of three weeks, Richard extracted nearly 90 teeth fromporters and villagers, the record being 14 before breakfast one morning!There are dentists on each of the autumn ’08 treks, if you’re a dentist andwould be willing to alleviate the suffering of Nepali villagers, please get intouch.

Little Doctors

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Dr David Hurman

Richard Leworthy at work in Humla

Chief District Officer, Mr Chiranjibi Sapkota, presents a LittleDoctor pack to a studentClass of 08

Initially conceived by Nepali physician, Dr Mishra (Ministry of Health and Population), our Little Doctors programme isrecognised as one of the most effective ways to educate communities about basic health and sanitation, and it’s a lot of fun too!Spring 2008 saw another group of Humli schoolchildren embark on the journey to become a Little Doctor. Over the courseof four weekends they are taught how simple things like washing hands and cleaning wounds can prevent the spread of infection.They learn the importance of clean water and proper waste disposal, and basic first aid techniques. The children take theselessons back to their families, a simple low-cost way to spread the word among a population with some of the highest illiteracyrates in the world.

In August 2007, we, theWharfedale Scouts, embarkedupon an expedition in Nepal toinstall 50 solar panels in the remotevillage of Til, in the Himalayas.The trip took thirty days, includingdays either side of the trek toexplore the Kathmandu Valley andthe Humla district.After a couple of days sight seeingaround Kathmandu, a sixteen and a

half hour coach journey to Surkhet and an unexpected helicopter rideup to Simikot, we completed a trial walk and spent a night at the NepalTrust Guest House.The next day we set off on the trek, taking a trail over a 4988m pass inorder to reach our destination.

It took us two and a half days to install the solar panels and on the thirdnight the village had a celebration to thank us for the work, includingtraditional food, drinks, songs, drama and dance. In return, we stood upproudly and performed ‘Kum bah yah’ and ‘On Ilkley Moor BaTat’ andthen spent the evening listening to more of their traditional music andjoining in the dancing.We were given a beautiful speech from one of the village leaders abouthow the solar panels would improve the village’s education and generalwelfare before returning to Simikot via the Tibetan border. Our tripended in the Kathmandu valley with a chance to go white water rafting.The trip was a life-changing, phenomenal, cultural experience for usall and so thank you ever so much to the Nepal Trust for giving us thisopportunity!The Nepal Trust would like to thank Gary and Liz Williams and theRotary Club of IlkleyWharfedale. Would your youth organisation enjoya challenge like this? If so, please contact us to discuss possibilities.

It was October 2000 when I first set eyes on Humla, flying just belowthe snowy peaks in a twin otter aircraft heading into one of the remotestplaces on earth – a land that time seemed to have forgotten. I was partof the ‘Trek to Build’ team that constructed Kermi Health Post.Exactly seven years later I returned to Simikot, but this time on foot,having trekked for nearly three weeks from Jumla, visiting Nepal Trustprojects en-route.A blissful day of rest at the Nepal Trust Guest House and we continuedon to Torpa. I remember Torpa well from 2000 – the wonderfulBuddhist archway at the entrance to the village, the smiling faces of thechildren, crops drying in the sun on the flat roofs.On the far side of the village is the Nepal Trust Health Post which in2000 was proudly shown as a model health post, everything neat andorderly with a busy health worker administering to patients.Sadly this was not the case in 2007. The Maoists had left their mark -the building had been ransacked; solar panels removed, floorboardsburnt, inside just discarded rubbish. The walls and roof remained, andpoignantly, the original carved doorway still stands, the emblem of theNepal Trust, somehow symbolizing the hope that still exists in thisimpoverished village.

Fellow Rotarians Mike Gillingham, a builder, and Gordon Garland, anengineer, surveyed the building, estimating the work and cost thatwould be required to get it up and running again.A group of the village elders assembled to welcome us, appreciativethat we were there. They said that despite the difficulties of recentyears, they knew in their hearts that we would be back. At a formalmeeting the village committee agreed to raise a token percentage ofthe rebuilding costs, and to provide the labour. The local Maoist leaderalso attended, guaranteeing the security of the Health Post, a conditionof any investment.When it was time to leave, the whole village gathered on the roof topsoffering apples, chang (the local homebrew) and yak butter, smearedonto our hair for good luck. The ladies dressed in their traditionalcostumes and jewellery. It was a very emotional moment and a lastingmemory of how kind and happy these people can be, even when facingsuch adversity.The Rotary clubs of Wells and Avalon in Somerset have agreed tofinance the bulk of rebuilding costs, an estimated £10,000 which wewill raise through fundraising events such as the annual boulestournament and a charity auction and dinner in October. Next year wehope to begin work and a trek to build in the autumn will take us backto Torpa to assist with the finishing touches.This article is an extract from the original, which is reproduced in fullon www.nepaltrust.org

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Somerset Rotarians Trek for Health

Richard Leworthy, Mike Love, Gordon Garland, Mike Gillingham;front: Adrian Lawrence

by Rotarian Adrian Lawrence, RCWells, d.1200

NT Health Worker, Pema Dolma Lama,gazes at the derelict Torpa clinic

Scouts Light Up the Livesof Villagers

by Cathy Shutt, Network Scout

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Trek with the TrustSince 1995 our innovative ‘Treks-to-Build Health and Community’ program has enabled many people of diverse ages and backgrounds toparticipate in local community projects such as the construction of health posts and repairs to monasteries.

This environmentally responsible form of tourism responds to the needs of thecommunities, providing direct benefits through local business, employmentopportunities and the delivery of projects. In return, travellers are offered theunique opportunity to work alongside local villagers, while experiencing the richcultures, warm hospitality and stunning landscapes of one of the remotest placesin the world.But we don’t just offer treks to build. We have a dedicated team of localspecialists with a wealth of experience and expertise who can design bespoketrips throughout the Himalaya of North-West Nepal and neighbouring Tibet andBhutan.

Whatever your skill or fitness level, there is a way for you to enrich both yourown life, and the lives of others, come with us and see for yourself.

A full programme of treks for 2009 is available onwww.nepaltrust.org

“While we continue to support and maintain ourexisting projects, we’re always looking for newopportunities and innovations in development. Hereare a few upcoming projects for which we areactively seeking funding. Further information oneach of these initiatives is available on the website.”

Environmental Education ProjectBiologist Roy Cameron has been working with the Centre forEnvironment Education Nepal (CEEN) regarding sustainable use ofwater resources, following the success of his community education andresearch programme, WATER, in Bhutan. Last year Roy visited Tilvillage with the Nepal Trust with a view to implementing a similarprogramme in Humla. This programme has the potential to bringlasting change to education and health in Humla, by empoweringcommunities to make informed decisions about water, sanitation andland use and take appropriate action to improve the situation.

Renewable Energy Service CentreClean renewable energy has always been an important part of ourintegrated development solutions; however maintenance can be a costlyand time-consuming problem with engineers usually having to beflown in from Kathmandu.We are seeking funding to establish a renewable energy service centrein Simikot. The centre will function as a workshop and training centrewhere local staff can be trained in keeping power plants and othertechnology maintained and operating throughout the year.

Additionally, it will bring communities together and invite investment,becoming a centre of excellence for renewable energy engineering,fostering a sense of positive change in these remote villages anddirectly benefitting locals and visitors alike.

Great Himalayan TrailThe paths that Rosie Swale-Pope and the Nepal Trust team followedin 2003, below, had never before been linked into a single route. Wehave been approached as a project partner for Great Himalayan TrailDevelopment Project supported by UNWTO/SNV, Nepal TourismBoard, Winrock and Humla’s District Development Committee. Theproject aims to contribute to reducing poverty levels in West Nepalby developing and promoting ‘The Great Himalayan Trail’ alongRosie’s route, as a pro-poor tourism project generating a sustainableincome for local communities.

Rosie and Team

Congratulations Rosie!In 2003, the Nepal Trust helped global adventurer Rosie Swale Pope set theworld record for speed trekking across Nepal. Rosie and the NT team covered1700km in just 68 days and raised thousands of pounds for the Trust in theprocess.Rosie has just completed her latest adventure - 5 years walking round the world(see www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk). The Nepal Trust would like tocongratulate Rosie on her incredible feat, and thank her for her support over theyears, Rosie you are a true hero!

Looking Ahead

Renovate HaljiGompa!In 2003, the Nepal Trust, inconjunction with UNESCO,began renovation work onthis 1000 year old BuddhistMonastery. But the ancienttimbers in the North wingare rotten, and furtherfunding is desperatelyneeded to prevent thebuilding from collapse.

by Jeroen van den Bergh, Asst Director of Operations, Nepal

In May this year, supporters raised nearly £5,000 in the 2008 Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon andChevrolet Hairy Haggis Team Relay.The trust was represented by two relay teams, one led by Chairman Mike Love, another by Laura Flutter,a doctor from Birmingham, andAnnie Smith, a medical Student from Leeds, was our sole full marathonrunner.Both teams did extremely well, Laura’s team of cavemen coming first in the fancy dress event! Annieflew home in 3h46mins. Thank you, well done and congratulations to all the Nepal Trust runners! Placeshave been reserved for next year’s event which promises to be even bigger, so contact us now!

This initiative is aimed at groups such as Rotary clubs, towns, businesses or even families,who would like to make a unique connection with a village in Humla. In return forfundraising to cover the ongoing costs of our projects in a village, you can receive regularupdates from that village, in the knowledge that you are helping guarantee a more securefuture for the villagers and their children.You can also arrange to visit your village on oneof our treks.

Membership: Committing to a regular donation is the most valuable way to support our work. Knowing that you’ll continue to be there helpsus plan ahead and secure further funding, and with Member or Friend status, you’ll automatically receive the annual edition of Namaste.

Gift Donations: If you’re stuck for what to buy for the person who has already has everything, why not give them a present that will makea difference, in the form of a donation? We can produce greetings cards with beautiful pictures from Humla.

Gift List: With the help of the Justgiving website, it is now simple and secure to set up your own site for people to donate to the Nepal Trust,ideal for special occasions such as weddings and anniversaries.

Shop Online: Easyfundraising is a website listing 600 online stores. Whenever you shop with any one of the stores, you'll generate a freedonation for us of up to 15% of your spend at no extra cost to you! www.easyfundraising.org.uk/thenepaltrust

Page 10 Namaste - The Nepal Trust News

Fundraising

Community Connections

Volunteering Opportunities in the UK

Run, Haggis, Run!

Chairman Mike Love connects with villagers from theGhoti community

We have been developing some exciting new initiatives for fundraising,giving our donors a choice in how they support our work in Humla.Below are just a few ideas that may interest you or people you know.

For further details, see the website, or contact Ceris onceris@nepaltrust.org Tel. 0131 243 2638

Kris Whybro took part in the UKIronman, raising over £1,000 insponsorship via his Justgiving website.

In order to channel funds to where they are needed most, we keep running costs to an absolute minimum,so we’ve always got jobs for volunteers. Here are just some of the ways that you can help out in the UK.

Fundraise: Challenge yourself to organize or participate in an event, raise sponsorship with a funexperience that will make a difference!

Speak out: Represent the Nepal Trust in your area at speaking engagements, conferences, village fetes etc.

Contribute to the website: Put your creative skills to use by writing articles, researching andediting videos and photos.

General help: If you’re based near Edinburgh or Lossiemouth, we often need help with tasks such asmail-outs (biscuits will be supplied!).

Nepal Trust runners in theEdinburgh Marathon

Supporters’ packs availableWe now have Supporters’ Packs available to help make things easy for those of you who are keen to get involved in raising awareness and

funds. Full of ideas and resources, these can be sent out by post or you can download items from our website.

From Dr. Himansu K. Basu, Past District Governor and ChairmanRIBI International Service Committee 07-08“It was a pleasure to have met you and your team during my recent visit to Nepal. Discussing examples oflocal needs and humanitarian work done by the Nepal Trust, the impact it has made to local communities,and experiencing the commitment of everyone was a unique and valuable experience which I shallremember. You deserve strong support from Rotary.”

Once again The Nepal Trust would like to express their gratitude for the continued support of individualRotarians, Rotary Clubs, Districts and the Rotary Foundation.

Dr Himansu Basu meetsrepresentatives of the Trust in

Kathmandu

Namaste - The Nepal Trust News Page 11

Become aMemberDonate at least £10 per month/£120 per year to become a member. In return, you will receive Namaste, our yearly magazine, and exclusiveinvites to member only events. (Please return this form to us, and also complete the standing order form below.)

Become a FriendAs little as £2 per month or £25 per year will make an ongoing difference. You will receive Namaste and other regular communicationsupdating you on our work. (Please return this form to us, and also complete the standing order form below.)

I enclose a one-off donation of £___________ (Cheques should be made payable to 'The Nepal Trust')

GiftAid: I am a UK taxpayer and would like the Nepal Trust to reclaim the tax on my donation.

Name: _____________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________ Postcode: _______________ Tel: _____________________________________

I have set up a standing order for £_____ per *month/quarter/year (*please indicate) with effect from __ /___ / ___

If setting up a standing order, please send this portion to your bank or building society:

Bank Standing Order Mandate

Your Bank Name:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bank Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your Account No: __________________________________________________________ Sort Code: ___________________

Please pay to: Bank of Scotland, 102 High Street, Forres, Moray IV36 1PA, Scotland

For the Account of: The Nepal Trust - Account No: 00107833 Sort Code: 80-06-81

The sum of £_______________ and the same sum on the same day in each *month/quarter/year (*indicate)

Date of first payment:_________________ Signed: _________________________________________ Date: __ /___ / ___

Please return this form to:The Nepal Trust, FREEPOST RRLE-LBYA-HAKG4 Marina Quay, Lossiemouth, Moray IV31 6TJ

You do not have to use a stamp, however if you do it would save the Trust the cost.Alternatively, you can donate online at www.nepaltrust.org Gift aid and standing order forms are also available online.

Support Form

A Big Thanks to Rotary

APPRECIATION AND THANKS TO ALL OUR KIND SUPPORTERS

ROTARY PROJECTS 07/08:

Ghoti Khola Micro-Hydro - Districts 1160, 1010, RC CheltenhamCleeve Vale (D.1100), Sturminster Newton (D.1110)– now in progress

Health Post refurbishment – RC Antrim(D.1160) in memory of thelate Rtn. David J .McConnell - completed

Halji Micro-Hydro – RC Misbourne Matins (D. 1090) - completed

Til Solar Project – RC Ilkley Wharfedale (D. 1040) - completed

We are also grateful for the help from the International ServiceCommittee of RIBI, the Rotary Foundation and in Nepal the RotaryClubs of Lalitpur and Mount Everest.

Contributions of £100 or more towards the ongoing projects inhealth, education and renewable energy have been made by theRotary Clubs of: Farnborough, Maidenhead Thames, Bangor, Wells,Avalon, Uxbridge, Berwick upon Tweed, High Wycombe, Aberfeldy,Edgbaston, Campeltown, Shirley, Chorley, Sidcup, Misbourne Matins,Hove, Strathendrick, Bushey & Oxhey, Warwick, N Wirral,Ramsbottom, Fleet, Keyworth & Ruddington, Pitlochry, LeamingtonSpa.

A number of other Clubs have also bought raffle tickets, but we cannotlist all the names due to space restrictions. Many thanks to you all foryour support!

From July 07 to July 08 we have had donations of/amounting to£300 or more from the following:

Individuals: Edwin Dunlop;Mrs I. Owen;Mike& Pavla Love;ThomasRiebl; Peter Knowles; Alan Jacobsen, Gisel Bode; EH Glendinning;Annelies Litschauer, Chris Rae

Trusts, Companies: UNESCO, The Paget Trust, The Street TheatreWorkshop Trust, The Paul Charitable Trust, The Souter CharitableTrust, The Stonewall Park Charitable Trust, The Rhododendron Trust,Wells Golf Club, Brent Bravo Welfare Committee.

For their enthusiastic fundraising efforts we would like to thank:Janet Griffin, Alison Read, Ailsa Stott, Simone Gribble, Olivia Berryand Shamus Whyte, Annie Smith, Mike Love, Nikolay Love, AnnaDawbin, Ceris Jones, Laura Flutter, Bob Small, Dave Atkins, DrewHall, Jill Davies, Amy Ford, Kris Whybro and all the people whosponsored them in their activities.

Thanks to our volunteers, helpers and othersfor their support and contributions:

Steve Davis, Dan Yeoman, Roy Cameron, Rodger Thom, GaryWilliams, Adrian Lawrence, Donald Brown, David Easton, JaneLockyer, Phil Jackson, Stuart Tizick, Isabel Smith, Angela Ewing,Rashmi Sharma, Aditya Eggert and all the staff, directors and trusteesof the Nepal Trust teams in the UK and Nepal.

Our raffle in May brought in almost £4000 - thank you all for helpingwith the tickets!

As always we’re sorry that we can’t mention all the names of peoplewho are donating regularly or are helping in some other way. Just knowthat your contributions, financially or otherwise are always fullyappreciated.

THANKYOU SO MUCHAND PLEASE CONTINUETO HELP!

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Sky,

Findhorn

Tel:01309

691640/1

The NepalTrust4 Marina Quay, Lossiemouth,

IV31 6TJ ScotlandTel: 01343 810358 Fax: 01343 810359

E-mail: admin@nepaltrust.org

Sasukhwat MarghBijeshwari, Swayambhu

Kathmandu,Nepal. GPO 8975, EPC 4131Tel: 00 977 (1) 4289413 Fax: 00 977 (1) 4673074

E-mail: ntrust@wlink.com.npwww.nepaltrust.org

Page 12 Namaste - The Nepal Trust News

LEFT:Trekkersentertaintheporters

Installing solar power at Til

Alison Read and husband Al welcomed by Torpa VillagersKermi villager threshing barley

Village girl in front of the site of the Ghoti Kola MHP

RIGHT:Young boy

stands withhis father

in Lali

Transport on the roof of the world

Trekkerʼs boots drying around thecampfire

PHOTO ALBUM