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Once a year ..
.. sitting down together at one table is fun and also very productive. We reflect on the past months together and prepare the next steps. Even though we see each other online every week, there is still a lot to discuss. Many thanks to our wonderful team, which has been steadily supporting the project for years. This means that all sponsors can be sure that their donations are having an impact. Many thanks to the Schöck Family Foundation and Fair Styria, whose support makes this work possible.
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Together …
… the women sell their vegetables through the cooperative to so-called ‘vegetable brokers’. This generates income for the women and for the cooperative. This sale is still supported at the beginning, especially in order to negotiate everything with the brokers and stabilise the structures. Many thanks to Fair Styria for their support.
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A huge success …
… was the food festival in Kathmandu. The women from the cooperative in Solukhumbu were very unsure whether people would even be interested in their food. But the first day was already well attended with around 80 guests, and by the end of the day all the prepared dishes had been eaten. The enthusiasm was so great and was also shared on social media that over 100 guests were served the next day. The women and the team were over the moon. They now have confidence in the quality of their work and are already planning the next events. Many thanks to Fair Styria for supporting our marketing activities.
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The preparation …
… for the first food festival in Kathmandu was great fun for everyone and the cooperation between the women from all the villages worked well. The aim was to publicise traditional dishes with local products from Solukhumbu in Kathmandu. Representatives from organisations that want to promote organic farming or have access to the relevant market segment were also invited. Many thanks to Fair Styria for supporting the cooperative’s marketing activities.
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Food …
… and cooking together are an essential part of all celebrations. It starts the day before, everyone brings something, we cut, cook, laugh and gossip together. This exchange is important in order to master difficult situations together. Many thanks to Fair Styria for supporting this project.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Successful …
… some things can already be sold on the model farm in Ghunsa, which the president keeps a detailed record of. In addition to the production of dried vegetables, the mill and the sale of processed almond, nut and apple trees are the main sources of income 🙂 Many thanks to Schoeck Family Foundation for making the operation of the farms possible and to Fair Styria, whose support makes marketing activities possible.
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Dried pumpkin …
… will be one of the cooperative’s first products to be sold. Whether finely chopped for vegetable stews or as flour for many other recipes, including pumpkin chai latte 🙂. Many women who previously fed the pumpkin mainly to the animals benefit from the joint production and sale. Now everyone is working feverishly on marketing so that customers are enthusiastic about buying the products. Many thanks to Fair Styria for supporting us in our marketing activities.
