Nepal

Community Development Changing Lives

ABOUT NEPAL
Nepal, landlocked between twin powerhouses China and India, is many things – isolated,
ancient, awe-inspiring, richly spiritual and desperately poor. With its backdrop of the Hima-
layas and unparalleled walking trails, Nepal has long attracted tourists looking for adventure.

Yet, what is not often seen by the world is the poverty that a decade of bloody civil strife
has wrought across the land. A deadly Maoist uprising against the monarchy over recent
years has wrecked Nepal’s economy. The country is now dependent on foreign aid and the
money that the booming tourism industry brings in.

After a long struggle, democracy has finally prevailed after a hereditary monarchy rule for
most of Nepal’s known history. Maoist rebels have signed a peace treaty with the current
government, but Southern Nepalese are now pushing for greater rights and autonomy.
Nepal now faces the massive challenge of bringing peace and reconciliation to all its
peoples.
QUICK FACTS
Population:
26.3 million (UN, 2005)

Capital and largest city:

Kathmandu

Area:
147,181 sq km (56,827 sq miles)

Major languages:
Nepali

Major religion:
Hinduism, Buddhism

Life expectancy:
TEAR FUND IN NEPAL 61 years (men), 62 years (women) (UN)

Monetary Unit:
TEAR Fund and partner Share and Care Nepal are facilitating a process of change in the 1 Nepalese Rupee = 100 Paisa
impoverished districts in Kathmandu. The multi-pronged Health and Development Project is
Main exports:
improving the quality of life for 4,000 desperately poor Nepalese. Carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute
goods, grain
Some of the key objectives of the project include health, education, gender awareness and
economic improvement among the people of Sindhulpalchok and Kabhreplanchok districts. GNI per Capita: US $270 (World
Bank, 2006)
Share and Care has a strong focus on the promotion of preventive and curative health
awareness and services.

Training locals in basic medicine, conducting village outpatient clinics, immunizations, Vitamin
A supplements and growth monitoring for children, and improving the basic drinking water
system are all helping poor families to become and remain healthy.

Teacher training, scholarships for poor school children, and the provision of library books
and laboratory materials to schools comprise the education and literacy component of the
project.
Combined with an effective microenterprise programme, mobilizing women in particular
and improving agricultural productions, Share and Care is making a practical and real differ-
ence in the lives of needy families.

This is a NZAID match funded project. The funding is provided on 4:1 match meaning the
NZAID provides 80% while TEAR NZ matches 20% of the total funding of the project each
year.

Call to donate: 0800 800 777 or visit www.tearfund.org.nz

Community Development Changing Lives

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

TEAR Fund community development works by empowering poor communities to find their own
solutions to issues. This significantly reduces overheads by operating through local staff. We work
directly with the poorest allowing us to identify and address the root causes of poverty not just
the symptoms.

TEAR Fund partners with indigenous Christian organisations who carry out the work
themselves. Assistance is given regardless of beliefs.

Tear Fund takes an holistic approach to all of its projects which takes the local community on a
journey of transformation through improved physical, social and economic circumstances, and
often on an individual level, spiritual change.

How community development transforms

• Physical – meets targeted need such as health
• Social – unites and empowers
• Economic – often creates opportunities for income generation
• Spiritual – opens doors for gospel

EMPOWERMENT IN NEPAL
small business. Loans are eventually repaid and reloaned. The money
In the mountains of Nepal a TEAR Fund New Zealand project generated from the business is used to help the family and the chil-
partner is making a difference in the lives of women. dren’s education.

Share and Care Nepal was started in 1993 by Ramesh Khadka,
a young Christian believer who was inspired by Jesus’ instruction
to “love your neighbour as yourself,” (Matthew 19:19, NKJV). The
project’s vision is to build a healthy, empowered, harmonious and
caring community of people that share a love and respect for one
another, and to provide active support for a better quality of life.
The project’s main initiatives include community health, basic educa-
tion, women’s empowerment, HIV/AIDS education and food secu-
rity.
Working mostly with women, the health component of Share
and Care Nepal aims to educate women about health issues and
provide immunisation for children.
Through the programme’s income-generating scheme, women can
start saving a small amount and then receive a loan to invest in a
The women also learn about their social status and political rights, and
they get to address the violence that takes place against them.
Share and Care, Nepal’s nine month literacy and numeracy
programme, is reducing instances where women lose their land
because they have been unable to read sales contracts. Participants
use what they learn at the programme to improve their agricultural
skills too, since they are now able to read instructional manuals.
TEAR Fund’s senior programmes officer Bernard Gomes was recently
in Nepal and reported that the project is doing well.
“The project is creating a tremendous model of empowerment for
women as a result of them being able to join together in groups,
called savings groups, locally. In these groups they are not only able to
save money for their future but also participate in schemes promoting
gender equality,” he said.

CONTACTS:
National Office: Freephone: 0800 800 777
PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Facsimile: (09) 629 1050
Auckland 1150 Email: enquiries@tearfund.org.nz
New Zealand Website: www.tearfund.org.nz COUNTRY PROFILES