Category: Nepal

Content and Photos provided by Suresh Shrestha, Tamakoshi Sewa Samiti        Compiled by Bruce Petch, World Neighbours Canada director

A gravity-fed water system was constructed in the village of Lahachhewar in the district of Ramechhap in Nepal, from March to June 2016. The work was done by the residents of the village (on their own time), with technical support and guidance from Tamakoshi Sewa Samiti (TSS, a Nepali NGO based in Ramechhap). Funding was provided by World Neighbours Canada, which was supported by Global Affairs Canada, Kamloops West Rotary, Aldergrove Rotary and Oliver Rotary.World Neighbours Canada also continues to receive donations in Rachel Denbigh’s name for work in Nepal.This was the first water system installed under a new four-year project supported by Global Affairs Canada.

The Lahachhewar Water System will service 30 households with a population of 206 people – 120 female, 86 male, 81 children under 12. The water system consists of an intake at the source (a spring on the hillside, a concrete and stone storage tank below the source, a buried PVC water line running down the slope to the village, and 6 public tap stands.

The construction of gravity fed water systems requires that reservoirs be built at some point between the water source being accessed, and the water stand pipes in the villages being serviced.

The reservoirs are typically 5 cubic metres in size, and will hold 5000 litres of water. The reservoirs are always built in a location such that a break would not cause a flooding of any nearby residences. In the 27 years, including 2015 when there was a major earthquake in Ramechhap and nearly 90% of the homes in the district were damaged, a TSS built water reservoir has never failed. Only minor damage was sustained to a few water systems in the 2015 earthquake.

Community Participation, Technical Guidance and Summary of Environmental Impacts

The Water User Committee, with help from the TSS technical people, plan all aspects of the water system. They decide the location of the intake, the route of the pipe, the size and location of the water reservoir, and the location of the tap stands in the village.

The water users – the villagers – do all of the physical work. They transport materials, they dig and backfill the ditch for the pipe, they help build the water reservoir, they help construct the tap stands. This is all done with guidance of the TSS technicians. 

The cement work is done by people trained by TSS over the years. These people may still live in their original village, but will travel to nearby locations to do the cement work and to train others to do similar work. The Government Engineer is notified when the work is done and will do a final inspection. 

At all stages of the project, environmental considerations are identified and assessed. The water source is always fenced off so that animals cannot access the source. Ditches are always filled in such that there is no evidence of ground disturbance. Reservoirs are always placed in areas such that if they were to fail, there would not be any damage to structures below them. Tap stands are always made of cement, with cement catchment areas below to prevent erosion of the immediate area.

The farthest tap stand from the water source is approximately 2 kilometres. It is estimated that the women using that tap stand will save 3-4 hours per day in carrying time. What an important change the completion of this water system must make in the lives of these women!

posted by Judy Gray with information from Suresh Shrestha

Dale Dodge recently received an email from Suresh Shrestha, coordinator of Tamakoshi Sewa Samiti, and our partner in Nepal. Suresh was writing to let us know about a new and difficult situation facing the people in that country. Suresh writes:

“The life of people has been crippled due to 45 days of an undisclosed blockade by India since the promulgation of the new constitution. Being landlocked Nepal is heavily dependent on trade routes with India. The biggest route is in Birgunj/Raxaul from where about 70% of fuel is supplied; and this route has been totally blocked for the last 45 days.” The effects of this strike and the route blockade are devastating and have created some of the following problems:  

~ Huge fuel crisis. Just to get 5 liters of fuel, it is required to line up for 4-5 days.
~ Huge shortage of cooking gas
~ Shortage of food supplies and increased prices up to 100%, which are mainly imported from India
~ Schools closed for last two months, especially in town, where children need to go by bus

Suresh continues by describing the effects of this blockade in Ramechhap:

“~ Nepal Oil Co-operation is supplying fuel to two gas satiations of Manthali, on the recommendation from Chief District Officer. But this is not regular. Our hospital ambulance will get the diesel while taking to patient to Kathmandu. We are also getting diesel for hospital generator.
~ Vehicular movement in Ramechhap is less, but not much over-loaded from Kathmandu-Manthali-Kathmandu
~  Less vehicle movement in other parts other parts of Ramechhap
~ The prices of foods and other goods are increased due to transportation and less & shortage in supply
~  People are now started to use fuel-wood for cooking.
~ Schools are running as the students don’t need to travel by any vehicle.”

We are hoping that this situation will be resolved soon as an increase in the price of goods and food is yet another challenge the people have faced during the past year. His entire email and explanation follows.  
Continue reading “India border strike causing problems in Nepal”

Suresh Shrestha, coordinator of TSS (Tamakoshi Sewa Samiti) in Nepal will be in Kamloops on Friday, September 25 and will speak to nursing students at TRU. He will be sharing his knowledge about the work TSS supports in the Ramechhap district in Nepal which is directed towards drinking water supply, sanitation and community health. He will also touch on their work in the district hospital and a UNICEF post-earthquake nutrition program TSS has been supporting. The talk is free and open to the public.

When: September 25, Friday, 9:30AM – 11

Where: at TRU ~ in the Barber Centre;  House of Learning

Bruce Petch and Dale Dodge, directors with World Neighbours Canada attended the recent BCCIC Leadership Award Ceremony for Suresh Shrestha, coordinator of Tamakoshi Sewa Samiti (TSS), and World Neighbours’ Canada partner in Nepal. Vera Radyo, chairperson of BCCIC and Mike Simpson, executive director of BCCIC presented the award. We, at WNC, are very happy to see Suresh recognized for his many years of involvement in the projects in Nepal.

Suresh will be speaking at a number of locations in Western Canada over the coming week, including Oliver and Kamloops. Suresh will be sharing information about the water projects in Ramechhap, the effects of the earthquake and the political situation in Nepal. Details of the Oliver meeting ( September 23 ) have already been published and information about Suresh’ Kamloops engagement will be on the website later today.

Nepal’s World Neighbours Canada’s partner Suresh Shrestha, coordinator of TSS (Tamakoshi Sewa Samiti), will be coming to Oliver to speak on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.

The talk will be an update of the latest project, a preview of the new DFATD project, a review of the earthquake and the TSS response, and an update of the political situation in Nepal.

Where: Upstairs foyer of the Catholic Church
6044 Spartan Street
Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m.

No charge, cookies and fair trade coffee by donation.

World Neighbours Canada is pleased to announce that one of our parters, Tamakoshi Service Society (TSS), has been named by the BC Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) as the 2015 recipient of the International Award of Leadership.

Read more about the award here: http://bccic.ca/bccic-international-award-leadership-goes-world-neighbours-canada-partner

Suresh Shreshta sent the following update yesterday about the distribution of relief material, along with several photos to illustrate the way the relief materials are being distributed.

“This is just quick information that yesterday on June 03, 2015, TSS has distributed the following relief materials per family to 164 Dalit families, so-called untouchable lower caste people of Ramechhap, under the relief fund of WN Canada. This is now on-ongoing mainly focusing to Dalits. I have attached some photographs herewith. We would like to thank WN Canada and all the supporters for making this possible for the earthquake victims. TSS has transported all the relief materials to the nearest road-head of the community. Thank you.”            

These materials include: a 30 kg. rice packet, 2 kg. of lentil. 1 liter of cooking oil and 1 packet of salt.

 Suresh has also explained that hopefully some of the donation monies will be used to repair damage to the water systems that occurred as a result of the earthquake:

“…. we are also getting information from some communities, regarding the damages of water structures, particularly intake which was built close to water source. Once our technicians are free, they will make field visit and collect the data of damages.”

 

 

 

 

posted by Judy Gray; with information from Suresh Shrestha

The following information has been provided by Suresh, coordinator of TSS (Tamakoshi Sewa Samiti) to explain how the Nepal Earthquake Relief money sent by WNC will be used. In his proposal, Suresh provides details about the distribution process as well as describing the emotional effects of the earthquake. A few excerpts have been highlighted, along with a couple of pictures; the entire proposal is also available at the end of this article.

Suresh writes: “It will be not possible to provide relief support to all victim families of Ramechhap, as it needed huge money even for a small support for all. … TSS wants to support those families who are economically poor & socially drowntodden. Under this criteria, it is also assessed that who have less access of relief support, full destruction of houses and severe damages of houses.”

“The basic relief support required for the victims are mainly the tarpaulin sheet for shelter and rice for eating. … TSS will provide its relief support in two ways – (1) the tarpaulin to those families who still greatly need it and (2) a set of food stuff (rice 30 kg pack) per family. Such kind of support will not be enough for the victims. However, we can share our helping hands. TSS will directly distribute the relief support to the selected victim families.”

 ” People are now suffering with post-traumatic terror. Due to the possibility of another great earthquake, people are again staying in open space under the temporary tents. Due to such terror, we are also treating general patients and the victims in open compound of our hospital building.”

“It is also expected of another natural disaster (flood & landslide) in coming monsoon, as many public houses have been badly hit by two big earthquakes. There is also great possibility of (disease) outbreak due to damages of houses, open cleaning, washing & defecation. Many domestic toilets have been also damaged due to two powerful earthquakes.” Continue reading “Needs of Ramechhap villagers: your $$$ at work”

posted by Judy Gray; with information from Nav Gill

During the month between April 25 and May 25, the Sikh Community of Oliver organized a Ladies Fundraising Tea, shared information at the temple about the devastation of homes and the need for tarpaulins and basic food supplies ( bags of rice) and organized several volunteers to participate in door-to-door canvassing in Oliver, Keremeos, Cawston and Osoyoos.

As a result of their efforts, $17 000 was raised and handed over to World Neighbours Canada to send to TSS to help with immediate survival needs.

The directors at WNC extend a huge thank you to all those who participated in any way with the fundraising work. The willingness to devote time to activities that will support the people of Ramechhap is greatly appreciated!

by Bruce Petch, president of WNC     posted by Judy Gray

It has been one month since the first earthquake hit Nepal, and the date for donations that will be matched by the Canadian government has now passed. We at World Neighbours Canada are thrilled with the response from donors and very happy to be able to send $45 500 to TSS, our partner organization in Ramechhap. The $45 000 will be matched by the Canadian government and through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFATD) that same amount will be sent to Nepal to be used for needed Earthquake Relief efforts.

When Suresh Shreshta (coordinator of TSS) asked for help, at WNC’s request he submitted a proposal for $25 000 to help with the purchase of tarpaulins and rice. Here is part of his proposal:  “The basic relief support required for the victims are mainly the tarpaulin sheet for shelter and rice for eating. On the basis of above criteria, TSS will provide its relief support in two ways – (1) the tarpaulin to those families who still greatly need it and (2) a set of food stuff (rice 30 kg pack) per family. Such kind of support will not be enough for the victims. However, we can share our helping hands. TSS will directly distribute the relief support to the selected victim families.”                           “With $25,000, 100 tarps can be purchased and 1500 X 30 kg. bags of rice.”

Continue reading “WNC donations matched by the Canadian Government”