Nepal – World Neighbours Canada

Nepal

How TSS works with villagers

TSS (Tamakoshi Sewa Samiti) is one of the oldest and most respected non-government organizations in Nepal. It works in Ramechhap District (in the eastern part of the country) to alleviate poverty and help rural communities become more self-reliant. TSS helps village groups to organize themselves and manage finances in preparation for building a gravity-fed water system (pipes take water from hillside springs to taps in the village). The villagers participate in planning and constructing the water system and take full responsibility for operation and maintenance afterward. Sanitary toilets were built in earlier years with support from WNC and TSS, and now virtually every family in the district has a toilet. The combination of easily accessible potable water and improved sanitation has greatly reduced the incidence of gastrointestinal disease in Ramechhap.

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Partner: BBP-Pariwar

BBP-Pariwar is a non profit NGO that was founded in Nepal in 1994 that works to improve the well being and economic independence of marginalized rural populations, especially women of the Dalit class. It operates in the Ramechap district as well as Sindhupalchok, Sindhuli and Kaurepanachok districts.

The stated mission goal is to help communities regenerate their land, improve nutrition and gain control over resources through sustainable farming. The following are some of the projects undertaken:

1) Organization of women led savings and credit groups for financial security and emergency funds

2) Provide agroecological training to replace chemical fertilizers with natural biofertilizers

3)Distribute native seeds, fruit trees, and livestock such as goats, waterbuffalo ,chickens and pigs along with livestock rearing education

4) Providing education and materials for commercial vegetable production as well as the marketing of the produce.

5)Health education and cancer screening

World Neighbours Canada has been active in the Ramechap district for three decades, at first working with Tamakoshi Sewa Samiti (TSS) in developing gravity fed water systems and toilets. It was determined that with climate change effects on traditional farming practices an agroecological approach could improve the situation. Another NGO, Groundswell International has also been instrumental in supporting BBP-Pariwar as well.

Sustainable agriculture practices should mitigate the effects of climate change and build more resilient communities in the Ramechap district.