Roots For Life

Category: Kunikhop-EN

  • Innovative …

    Innovative …

    … is the idea of processing pumpkins. Until now, some of them were eaten but most were fed to the animals. They grow everywhere, even on slopes that cannot be used for other vegetables. Now they are collected from all the villages and processed in Ghunsa.

    Dried and possibly as flour, they can be used for soups, curries, but also bread and cakes. The market for these long-life products is to be developed, especially in the accommodation centres on trekking routes and in Kathmandu.

    Many thanks to Fair Styria, which supports the marketing of the products.

    .. the cut pumpkins are dried in the solar dryer
    … where possible, the women also dry them outdoors
    .. in addition to the pumpkins, the seeds are also processed
    .. The flour is bottled
    .. the products are certified organic

    .. direct sales have started at the market in Kahtmandu

  • In all 4 villages …

    In all 4 villages …

    … the girls not only received the self-made school dresses but also rucksacks and umbrellas. The umbrellas were particularly popular. They are valuable not only against the rain and sometimes the sun, but also as a “defence” against leeches that fall from the trees during the rainy season.

    Many thanks to our sponsors, whose contribution provides the girls with everything they need to go to school. The results, which are improving every year, show what the girls are capable of. We wish them all the best for the future.

    .. in Chyangsar they are distributed at the farmhouse
    .. the women in Ghunsa are particularly proud to hand over the school dresses they have sewn
    .. in Kunikhop they are distributed fresh from the sewing machine, so to speak
    .. even the youngest children are given school uniforms
    .. the rucksack and especially the umbrella are happily received

    .. ready for further school attendance

  • A few women…

    A few women…

    … per village who can produce enough and want to market it together were selected. They receive intensive support to help them get started in marketing.

    Until now, they have only sold individually in the village or perhaps once at a local market. Doing this together is a completely new form for the women and we hope that they will be able to generate more income together in the future.

    Many thanks to the Schöck Familienstiftung, which makes the operation of the model farms and the support possible, and to Fair Styria, which supports the project for marketing.

    … the women in each of the 4 villages are informed about what is necessary for joint marketing
    .. Approximately 20 women per village register for the programme
    … if they do not grow the plants themselves, they receive them from the model farm
    .. the large greenhouses on the model farm are constantly producing plants
    .. thanks to the good farm manager in Chyangsar, there is enough for everyone

    .. the vegetables on the model farm are also grown for seed generation

  • News …

    News …

    … from the model farm in Kunikhop. The fence is finished and protects the vegetable fields from the hungry bears, which in this area mainly prey on the maize fields but also pass by the vegetables.

    The women continue to receive training in the field and in theory on how best to prepare the different types of vegetables and grow them in the field.

    Many thanks to the Schöck Family Foundation for supporting this project.

    .. plants grown together on the model farm can then be taken home
    .. even in their own greenhouses a lot is already successful
    .. covering the plants after sowing is simple and effective
    .. the fence was built as a community project without financial support

    .. theory in between, not easy to keep for everyone

  • Independently …

    Independently …

    … the co-operative’s managers can now generate and print out important lists and documents on their computers. Each model farm was given a computer and a printer for this purpose. The managers meet regularly and familiarise themselves with the work together. It’s also more fun ?

    It is not easy for the women to make friends with the medium, but it helps them to take over the management of the cooperative themselves.

    Harvests can be recorded for marketing purposes, applications can be made to the authorities and the accounts can be kept.

    We are proud of the great results and thank Schöck Family Foundation for the financial support of the co-operative and its model farms.

    .. they work together
    … there is a separate keyboard for Nepali
    .. the lists are proudly presented

    .. the printouts can then be used in the meetings with everyone

  • Strengthening …

    Strengthening …

    … local skills and opportunities means training the women so that they can sew the girls’ school dresses themselves in future. After the compulsory part, there is also training for other women’s clothing, which they are of course particularly pleased about.

    For the first time, the school dresses for our approximately 140 girls will be sewn by the women of the cooperative.

    This creates another opportunity to generate income but also to sew for the family. Each model farm has a sewing workshop that is available to the women.

    We would like to congratulate and thank our sponsors for supporting the girls and their mothers.

    … eager sewing at the model farm in Chyangsar
    .. the women learn to adapt the pattern to different sizes
    .. a trainer assists them for a month
    .. the results are proudly shown
    .. the girls come round for a fitting

    .. and after all the dresses are finished, private sewing takes place

  • Living and learning …

    Living and learning …

    … the girls from the villages can now live and learn in the new hostel in Sallerie. It is important to us that they not only finish school, but also learn other important skills. Cohesion, organisation, vegetable growing, cooking with regional vegetables according to old recipes and much more. They have now planted fields to grow their own vegetables.

    We wish you a good harvest ?

    Many thanks to the Schoeck Family Foundation for making it possible to run the hostel.

    .. together we make beds for all the girls on the leased land
    .. Lovingly with paths and one for each girl
    .. our permaculture expert explains and hands over tools
    .. Compost from the village is piled up
    .. Plants from the model farms are planted
    .. the next ones are prepared with seeds
  • Care …

    Care …

    … the girls not only receive the materials they need to go to school, but also people who are there for them. Last year, Lena Kremser’s friends knitted bonnets and socks as well as small “knitted worms” as toys. These have now accompanied our girls through the winter and shown them that we care about them.

    Many thanks to Lena and her knitting club as well as to all the other sponsors who believe in the girls and give them the strength to learn for school.

    .. lots of bonnets, socks and knitted worms on their way to Nepal
    .. suitable items for the big girls
    .. different sizes and colours are distributed
    .. knitted and crocheted
    .. Lena Kremser and Carola Gosch during a distribution in the village
    .. even the little ones think it’s cool
  • For the second time …

    For the second time …

    … a strategy day was held with those responsible from all 4 villages. In addition to the presentation of last year’s work, the plans for the coming year and much discussion, there was also an opportunity for informal dialogue.

    It is great to see how self-confidence is growing and how the women are getting involved.

    The whole team of Social Work Institute, HASERA and Carola Gosch worked intensively for 2 days.

    Many thanks to all who support this co-operative: Schoeck Family Foundation, Fair Styria and private sponsors.

    .. the 2nd strategy days of the cooperative took place on the model farm in Chyangsar in autumn 2023
    .. the village leaders presented
    .. Results of the discussion were noted down
    .. discussed again and again in small groups
    .. Questions answered, suggestions made

    .. essential points recorded

  • First steps …

    First steps …

    … on the computer are an important experience for the girls in Sallerie. All the girls from the hostel are taking part in the course and are also learning the 10-finger system to be able to type quickly.

    We wish them lots of fun and thank the Schoeck Family Foundation for supporting the girls in the hostel.

    .. highly focussed glances at the screen ?
    .. Light through the open door, so better with a bonnet in winter
    .. above all, the fear of the computer should disappear

    .. the course was set up especially for the girls from the hostel