A look back on the year in difficult times - Construction work and assistance to the poor
As the year ends, Nepalhilfe Beilngries looks back on what was achieved in the country. All of this against a backdrop of the most massive restrictions because of the Corona pandemic, which is rampant in Nepal as well. Despite this, it was possible to initiate some construction work. In parallel, summer saw some initiatives to secure the basic needs of the population groups most affected by the pandemic.
Medical station for Kubinde
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One of them was a new medical station in Kubinde, about 80 kms east of Kathmandu. This is the region where most of Nepalhilfe Beilngries’ projects are located. The existing facility had been totally destroyed by the 2015 earthquake. Since then, a corrugated metal shack has served as “permanent makeshift” for the region and its 1,800 inhabitants. This will soon change as the structural work on the new two-story building has been completed 85,000 euros have been budgeted for this. Planners expect completion of the entire building by May. The area, soon to be fenced in, will later house a sanitary building and a small apartment for care workers. In addition, the budget allows for building an access road for emergency vehicles. The municipality and the regional administration will also contribute to financing the building’s interior.
New school building in Siranchour
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Since September of 2020, construction has been going on on an elementary school in Siranchour/Sindhupalchok. Project start had been set for July, but heavy monsoon rains and roads washed away had caused delays. Major earthworks to create a solid foundation came on top of this. Under current plans, the two-story building with six rooms is to cost about 110,000 euros including a toilet building and fencing. At the time of this writing, the outside walls are going up in brick.
Day care center close to the finish line
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Work on the new day care center for mentally and physically handicapped in Lubhu has progressed further. Interior work is currently ongoing. Doors and windows are being fitted, as is water and electricity supply and the adaptation of the access road for the disabled. Yet to be completed is a rain water reservoir and fencing of the land before the building can be commissioned in June 2021. Famous Austrian alpinist Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner and the Rotary Club in Pfullendorf in southwestern Germany have made significant contributions to financing the building.
Aid shipments for affected families
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Shipments to help the needy have continued in connection with the Corona pandemic. These measures retain their priority status. Looking at the ever growing number of jobless and destitute individuals, this is merely a drop in the bucket. Nevertheless, this direct assistance will be continued.
Thus, 210 families in the districts of Sindhupalchok, Ratanpur and Kathmandu have received shipments of food, hygiene articles and fuel these past weeks. This initiative cost 9,000 euros. In the course of distributing these goods, Nepalhilfe’s local staff discovered two siblings from Chautara aged four and fifteen who had lost both their parents within a year. Nepalhilfe is now trying to secure permission from the authorities to admit at least four-year old Laxmi to Nepalhilfe’s Shaligram Hospital.
In these uncertain times, Nepalhilfe Beilngries’ members continue their efforts to complete the projects mentioned here. Other notable ones include construction of the district hospital in Kawasoti/Terai or a passive solar home in Dolpo, which began in summer of 2020. Corona-related restrictions, which have been firmly instituted in Nepal, too, are keeping things interesting. All of this will only be possible with a solid financial foundation.