May 17, 2017
Various projects in Nepal were visited by Mr Daan van Vliet, chairman of Unica Foundation, this April. He was accompanied on the trip by his wife Georgine and former colleague Mr. Peter Thissen and his wife Yolanda. Here are some of the highlights.
Meeting with Red Cross
The Kaski branch of the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) is one of the oldest partners of Unica Foundation. This partnership dates back more than a decade and continues to grow. The meeting was organized by the NRCS in their office in Srijana Chowk, Kaski. Mr Shukra Raj Subedi, the project manager for Unica-funded projects, gave a progress report on completed and ongoing projects.
Thulodhunga WASH project signed
During the visit, Unica signed another Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project with the NRCS Kaski. This project aims to provide clean drinking water to 215 people from a total of 38 households in the village Thulodhunga of Saimarang VDC, Kaski. The community will also be given training on aspects of hygiene and training for kitchen gardening, where waste water can be used for growing fresh vegetables which will help serve the daily need of households. The villagers might also earn extra income by selling produce to the nearby market. Daan and his team managed to visit the community of Thulodhunga where they held informal discussions with villagers there. This project will be completed in April 2018.
Rabaidanda Water Project monitoring
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project in Rabaidanda, Kaski was completed in December 2015 when it was handed over to the community. Unica and the NRCS went to monitor the project. It was interesting to talk to the people there and to understand how the water system, as well as training and awareness-raising activities, was having a positive impact on their daily lives.
Preparing for Narater WASH
Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH) is a leading NGO which has been active in the WASH sector for the last 25 years. Daan, along with Ramesh, a representative of Unica Foundation in Nepal, went to meet them in their offices in Kathmandu, to discuss the launch of a WASH project in the Naretar village of Udaypur district. As this village has no water source above the settlement, one option is to raise the water from sources below the village. The plan is to have a Grundfos-made pump installed which is powered by solar energy to lift the water. The project will directly serve 54 households comprising 290 beneficiaries in the community itself, plus a health clinic with childbirth facilities, a VDC office, and 153 students at the school. The project will provide access to improved drinking water facilities as well as sanitation facilities. Hygiene awareness sessions are also part of this project that will be started as soon as NEWAH gets approval from the Nepalese authorities.
Inauguration of Dihitar Irrigation
Daan also visited Dihitar village, in Lothar VDC of Chitwan, where he inaugurated an irrigation project that Unica Foundation has effectuated together with another Nepalese NGO, Shanti Griha Nepal (SGN). This project aims to support the livelihood of villagers by increasing their annual harvest two- or threefold via a steady supply of irrigation water. Nine hectares of land belonging to 27 households will be irrigated via canals.
Two students from the Wageningen University are currently conducting research in Dihitar. Their research on the irrigation project has been facilitated by Unica Foundation and the SGN.
Solar Tuki project monitored in Glauthok
Daan also went to see the solar Tuki (lamp) project in Glauthok village of Korak in Chitwan, implemented in 2013. This village, which is pretty isolated from the rest of the world, has a central charging system located in the school where children go every day to charge their lamps. They then take their lamps back home, providing them with light to do their homework as well as help with household chores for their parents.
