I. Village Latrine Program ($7,500)

 Sanitation Structures to Improve Health and Reduce Water Borne Diseases:

    Our laboratory recently investigated the local water and what we found we described in an essay that can be ordered at best writing service

Since the end of December, 50 toilets  have been constructed in individual homes (15 supported by GM) in Tipling and Lapa villages with priority given to Kami (oppressed / underprivileged) households. HHC, as in the past, has partnered with Community Based Organizations (CBO) Sewa Nepal of Tipling and Apanga Ekta Kendra (Disabled United Center) of Lapa to help carry out this project. HHC has been promoting such partnerships to encourage and facilitate local participation and help foster local leadership and ownership.

Villagers are asked to collect local resources and carry rocks to their toilet sites next to their homes. They are also  asked to dig a large hole for the septic tanks and build  four walls for the toilet structure not including the roof-work. After completion, HHC and CBO partners inspect these tasks. Upon approval, the individuals are provided with colored tin sheets for roof and door, large PVC pipe for septic tank connection, ceramic floor-level pan and cement for floor and wall. These building materials are provided where the road ends and the recipients are asked to porter them (3 days one way). This goes with HHC’s theme of helping people help themselves.

Additionally, new latrine standards will be implemented this year in partnership with Rotary International to include dimensions for minimum door heights, structure width, and septic holes to ensure long-term use and functionality of the latrines. Other new improvements include drainage areas for showers, steps inside, water buckets for easy cleaning, small windows, and more tin to hang above the front door.

Important Note: Initiations of these improvements were made by community members themselves and HHC has accommodated to meet these needs in areas with limited resources.

 II. Efficient Cook Stoves ($3,500)

Cookstoves to Reduce Smoke-related Illnesses:       

     100 new cookstoves were made by the completion of this project on January 2014. This project is being carried out in Tipling and Lapa villages with priority given to Dalit (oppressed underprivileged) households. HHC  partners with Community Based Organizations (CBO) Sewa Nepal of Tipling and Apanga Ekta Kendra (Disabled United Center) of Lapa to mobilize individuals in the community to carry out this project.

        HHC has trained various community personnel to build efficient cook stoves that consume only half the firewood that traditional ones do, thus minimizing smoke in the house. Trained personnel and HHC woodstove supervisors help the recipients at all stages of stove-making: from selection of appropriate clay for the bricks to making two types of bricks using standard brick moulds. They also help in the final construction of stove using bricks and metal pieces (provided for strengthening), firing of stove for strengthening, and finally the construction of the chimney.

New improvements include larger stove tops to cook for larger groups, stove tops placement to maximize heat from the fire, and constructed metal tin covers to radiate heat into the household.

III.  Income Generation ($3,000)

Goat Program for Financial Independence:

 This project is designed to empower Kami households through financial independence. As of February 2014, goats have been purchased in Kathmandu, but the project has been delayed due to the recent government elections this past July and the inconvenience arising from Bin Thapa, HHC Field Supervisor, having to deal with his wife’s severe illness. Therefore, HHC is in the process of hiring two  local supervisors, which in addition to the area’s highly political landscape, has been a major, time-consuming obstacle this year. We will keep updating the website for further details.

The current selection of households for the goat project is being carried out by Sapta Ghale, HHC field coordinator in the village of Tipling.

Community Land for Lower-caste Households:

An addition to the goat project is also the project of community land. This project is targeted for the Kami women who have no land but are able to generate additional income while their husbands are making blacksmith tools. Acquisition of land has taken over six months mostly because of higher-caste members’ unwillingness to sell their traditional land and their lack of trust in handing over their land to local political authorities. It will take more time and perseverance to help this project along. Behavioral and mind-set changes in any society take time, which is why HHC  and GlobeMed at CU Boulder in partnership are placing these finances in a bank for future use.

New improvements for 2014 include greater emphasis in agricultural business plans, animal husbandry, kitchen gardens, handicraft artisan trainings, and agricultural trainings.

IV.  Medical Referrals ($3,000)

V.  Education/Training Project ($10,500)

 Additional support for Girls and Underrepresented students: 

        In 2012 HHC collaborated with local governments to build a beautiful new school building in Lapa for grades 1- 10. New furniture and over 8 computers were provided to the school. HHC continues to work alongside government authorities to  improve the next generations of teachers and students in the Dhading district.

               In partnership, we aim to support village students with their higher studies. Excelling students like Phe Dorje, are given opportunities to further explore education paths. Phe Dorje  has been a HHC trained health provider for the village of Tipling for five years and has been selected to further his degree and trainings as a Health Assistantship Fellow in Kathmandu. This three year program, once completed in 2015, will provide him credentials and a wider knowledge base to tangibly make an impact on health care in the district of Dhading. He will return to his local community and work in Sherthung (the central point for the three northern villages), where he will be running a larger clinic with x-ray and more advanced lab support. Furthermore, Phe Dorje is a promising student who received a high honoring scholarship from his medical school and values giving back to his community.

New improvements include supporting two more higher study students after their completion of the national School Learning Certificate (SLC),  yearly selection criteria such as attendance and grade performance to receive stipends in the rural villages, more school space in Tipling and Sherthung, more secondary school library books, a student hostel in Lapa, and greater job opportunities for secondary school graduates.

VI.  Women’s Empowerment Project ($2,500)