Bridges Nepal UK Trust Newsletter 4 Dec 20

Covid 19 and Human Trafficking Prevention in Nepal

Bridges Nepal UK Trust (BNUK) have met twice this year, in January and again in October. In January we approved grants to Yagya and Sally Singh (working with Interserve and Bridges Nepal NGO) for four projects linked to the mountain villages above Kathmandu.

  • the construction of a community centre for the village of Tippling,
  • the continuation of the programme of sponsoring children and young people from the villages to be able to attend school,
  • the construction of a fresh water supply for the village of Bhadragaun,
  • the establishment of a tailoring business in Kathmandu to provide work for women from the villages who have been trafficked or are at risk of being trafficked,

Little did we know then that COVID19 would have the impact it has had in 2020. In Nepal there are at least 250,000 cases and 1500 recorded deaths (this is probably a significant underestimate). The impact of this and the lockdowns that have been imposed to bring the pandemic under control, combined with floods and landslides following the monsoon rains, has been significant and has increased the poverty and suffering of those who live in mountain villages. It has also made it challenging for our partners to reach the villages and has increased opportunities for those who want to traffic children and young people.

BNUKT was formed to help counter the trafficking of up to 16000 women and girls in  Nepal each year.  This had increased following the earthquake of 2015 and is predicted to rise further following the COVID 19 Pandemic and the consequential “financial desperation” of the poor. 

However, despite all this our partners Yagya and Sally have been able to make progress as the following updates demonstrate.

Community Centre

In 2019 we were able to make a grant for the construction of a community centre.  Bridges Nepal NGO Sally and Yagha Singh sent this report on progress:

Good progress has been made with Tippling and the BNUKT funding will be used for this centre.  The women of Tippling are driving the project and want to create the community centre as a base for them to use to meet.  They will use the centre as a place for village discussions and decision making, a base for operating micro loan/finance projects, and a location for educational events.

Following considerable discussions land has now been identified for the community centre. Agreements have been reached that the village will take responsibility for ongoing care and maintenance of the community centre. Materials for the building have been sourced and delivery is being arranged.  Logistics are difficult getting to the village at present as roads are still blocked by landslides following the monsoon rains and travel is restricted by COVID lockdowns. Building the centre will progress quickly once resources and NGO staff are able to travel to village in early 2021.
 
 
 

School Sponsorship Programme

COVID 19 severely restricted education and the launch of this project.  However Yagha Singh visited the area and started the programme in October 2020, his report is:
  • 15 Girls and 10 boys identified for sponsorship mostly 12 years old.
  • Half the children are from Dhading Camp (Bhadragaun) and will attend school there.
  • The other half are from the villages further up the mountains and will attend 5 local village schools.
  • Our partner has met all the families of the children to ensure they will support the child attending school and has met teachers from the schools to agree they will work with the families to ensure the children attend school.
  • Sponsorship includes; school fees, uniform and shoes, and school bag – the uniforms, shoes, and bags have been distributed.
  • School term normally starts in October but is delayed this year because of COVID.  Start date not yet confirmed.

 

Water stories

Phase One Bulk Storage Tank

BNUKT agreed the funding of this project in early 2020.  Progress has been slow due to the COVID restrictions.  However the following progress has been made.

  • A location for the tank was agreed in 2019 but there have been ongoing discussions during 2020 to secure agreements for access to spring water to supply the tank.  It has become clear over the last year that a number of one-off fees will need to be paid to landowners and others to secure supply rights to water.  Clarity has now been achieved about who owns the rights and how much it will cost to secure supply.
  • A design has been agreed for the tank and sources for all the supplies needed have been identified.
  • The Nepali Government has expressed interest in the project and offered to put some funding into the project.  However, they want a significantly larger (and therefore more expensive) tank than the NGO believes is necessary for the households we are seeking to supply.  Our partners are in discussions with the government to agree a reasonable proposal.  Once this is resolved the materials needed for the tank can be ordered. 
  • Work will progress when our Partners can access the site in early 2021.

Phase Two Water distribution and household filters

It has been agreed in principle that BNUKT supports this project . The project is the distribution from the water tank to the 225 families displaced following the earthquake and subsequent seasonal landslides in Bhadragaun and the provision of water filters to ensure the safety of this water supply.

A grant from St Paul's Howell Hill is designated for this project which takes us someway towards the financial target.  We do however need further donations to complete and make this project feasible.

 

Tailoring Project
 

We agreed to support a Tailoring Training, Skills and Income Generation Project in early 2020.  Our partners progress report is: 
  • A location for the shop was identified late 2019 and the NGO was close to signing the lease when COVID took hold in Nepal.  The lease signing was put on hold as the shop would not have been able to open during the pandemic.   As a result of the pandemic a considerable number of small local businesses in Kathmandu have closed and it is likely that there will be a significantly increased choice of locations for the shop once the pandemic passes.
  • A Nepali girl (Menuka) has been identified to run the shop once it opens, she has some tailoring skills and will undertake further study in Kathmandu once the shop opens.  For the present she remains with her family in one of the villages.  She is practicing her skills whilst at home and studying off the internet where possible.
  • A second girl had been identified to work with Menuka to establish the shop.  Unfortunately, despite being initially keen to take up this opportunity, she has now disappeared (possibly "run away").  We have identified a short list of other girls to take her place but until the pandemic recedes recruitment is on hold.
  • The shop can be established once the pandemic recedes.  This is likely to be early 2021
  • BNUKT have received two substantial designated gifts for this project, however this only covers 30-40% of the expected financial outlay.