Overview of Nepal and Fundraising for ‘Possible Health’

Time in Default World moves at erratic speeds. This summer really got out of hand.

Looking to the immediate future, in the next weeks I will travel through the middle east to visit mother, sister, and brother-in-law. Adventures and much needed re-construction time are on the docket.

From there to Kathmandu, Nepal to join compatriots on the Tamang Heritage Trail.

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In the Introduction to the online paper:
BRINGING THE POOR INTO THE EXPORT PROCESS: NEPAL CASE
OF TOURISM EXPORT AND POVERTY REDUCTION

By:
Gourish K. Kharel
Director, Kto Inc.

Nepal

“Nepal is a land locked county, situated between China and India. About 25 million people occupy
geographically diverse land, size of Greece. Unlike other South Asian countries Nepal was never part of any foreign empire and this made Nepal socially, culturally very independent and unique.
Nepal is one of less developed countries (LDC), official statistics in 1996 estimated more than 40
percent of the population living in poverty, based on poverty line of US$ 1 a day earning per person.
Ten years later, this figure has dropped down to 31 percent. If this trend continues, Nepal can achieve
another 20 percent in poverty reduction by the year 2015 without difficulty, meeting the Millennium
Development Goals of reducing poverty by half.
Nepal geographical diversity, unique culturally heritage and friendly people have made it one of
favourite tourism destination in the world. Among the world ten tallest peaks Nepal is home of eight,
compete northern frontier is bordered by great Himalayas. This has positioned Nepal in to the BBC’s
50 places to visit before you die list.
Tourism export is strong element of Nepalese economy and a key player in foreign exchange earner.
Significance of tourism in national economy has been well established, but it has not yet received equal treatment to merchandise export. Merchandise export receives various incentives from the Government; tourism is not considered export on the government policy.
Poverty is wide spread and more dense average 50% in remote mountainside compared to 4% in
Kathmandu the capital of Nepal. In Nepal more about 90 percent population live in small villages and
this is where the poverty wide spread.
These remote mountainsides are the places where tourists go for trekking, rafting and mountaineering.
Therefore, Nepal is implementing village level strategies on tourism export. This has the potential to
reduce poverty in these parts, bring speedy economic growth and social transformation.
Nepal is trying to implementing right tourism export strategy to bring rapid economic growth in villages
where the poverty is wide spread, thus reducing overall poverty level”
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I’m sure you heard something of the recent Strikes by Everest Sherpas. This is fundamental to their economy, it matters.

We, as a group, have opted to maximize potential for proliferating good by traveling with OneSeed Expeditions, practicing home-stays along the way so as to create direct income opportunity for locals.

Beyond this, and here we get to the point of this post, we are raising awareness and funds to provide critical health care to rural families through Possible Health.

In the U.S. it is hard to imagine traveling 5 [five] days to see a doctor, but for the many individuals in far western regions of Nepal, this is reality. Possible Health is a for-purpose organization whose mission is to promote the right to health by delivering transparent, data-driven health care to Nepal’s rural poor. In addition to providing direct patient care to 1/3 of Nepal’s population, the organization is partnering with the government to build a stronger network of hospitals and clinics.

Seriously, go check out their website. It is way pretty and does a much better job of explaining all they do and all that goes in to and results from it.

Possible Health

Since we have paid our own travel and trip costs, every dollar raised will go directly to provide care to women in rural Nepal. So far the group are, no thanks to me, almost 1/4 of the way into our fundraising goal. So, if you feel inclined, help me help others and may the circle continue unbroken.

Even have my own fundraising page!