Sustainable Development in Nepal

Bishnu H. Bhatta is working for the Partnership for Sustainable Development (PSD), a non profit social development organization dedicated to the alleviation of poverty of children and youth in rural parts of Nepal. Below are updates about PSD’s activities:

PSD’s Completed Projects

We are happy to announce the completion of a four-room building at Mahendra Lila Higher Secondary School, Harmi, Gorkha. The students and teachers are very much enjoying having classes in the newly constructed building. The photos show the building and its use by the school.

We also completed a four-room building at Bigyan Primary School, Harmi, Gorkha. We are so pleased to see the cherished face of the students, teachers, parents, and community as they enjoy the benefits of their new building.

The school building was built to create a sound environment where students can learn and express their creativity. To meet this purpose, one room is decorated with animals and birds and globe is specially focused for the primary students. Our focus is on all students; we tried to help them by applying a holistic approach as most of them still have nightmares related to the earthquake. Our volunteers take music classes to increase the methods they can use to help children overcome their fears.

Volunteers and teachers work together to teach the students about sharing their feelings and knowledge, an exchange of culture that benefits both teachers and students. The community praised our work. After the school buildings were completed, the people in the community said, “We are alive with our hope.” The parents said, “Now our children have a dream.”

NAFA Nourishes Program

We have been running a NAFA Nourishes Program for orphanages since October 2016. Three members from NAFA (Nepal Adoptive Families Association) in the United States visited us and we hired two new program field nurses, who joined the team in November 2016. So far, more than 450 children in 16 homes are benefiting from our nutrition program.

During the assessment, we identified issues regarding dental hygiene and therefore distributed age-appropriate toothbrushes to all the children and will continue doing so every 6 months. The nurses worked on hygiene with the children, and demonstrated how to make a toothbrush holder using an old rice sack.

Our team also identified a lice problem in most of the homes. Therefore, we provided hygiene instruction and supplied them with a special comb. We organized the children into pairs, younger and older, so they could help each other with the combing. Personal hygiene and hair washing training was provided to the children and the house staff.

We also distributed a nutritional supplement. However, the older children did not like the taste of the supplement and so we started to provide peanut butter as well. We also gave each child a spoon to maintain sanitary conditions. Some of the children will start taking multivitamins, as they have completed their regime of the nutritional supplement.

We found most of the children were in need of counseling regarding school performance and interpersonal relationships; therefore, we provided such counseling. We also provided necessary health information and medicine.

Volunteer Programs

• Thirty-eight volunteers from OXadventure, Kuwait, helped out at Gram Sudhar School, Kathmandu, this December and January. PSD Nepal is always seeking to help the community according to their needs. After the earthquake, most of the communities are in a vulnerable condition; as a result, we organize charity project work, where people can provide support through a holistic approach in the community.

• Two students from Simon Fraser University, Canada, carried out some practicum work in Nepal in January.

• Fifteen students and two professors from Webster University, USA, will be visiting us in March 2017.

• Fourteen students and two teachers will be working at Tri‐Ratna Cooperative School on a photography and medical project as well as performing service work at the school this February.

• An integrated model village project in Pipaltar, Kavre, with funding from Habitat for Humanity Nepal, is expected to be completed by mid-March 2017.