New Village Movement is Born

KERAGHARI, NEPAL: BRIGHT VILLAGE BUILDING MOVEMENT

Our vision of empowering the poor and shifting them from welfare to work is taking root in 5 villages in Nepal. After we led Mayalpani village in carrying out a simple 100-toilet Sanitation project in 2009, four surrounding villages have joined in and formed a 10-member committee to plan and chart a 10-year integrated goal for all 5 villages with a total population of 648.

Keraghari in Panchkhal Municipality

A hearty home-made lunch with Ujyalo Gaun Nirman committee

They’ve named themselves – Ujyalo Gaun Nirman (building a bright village). And as their name intends, to build a bright model community where everyone has access to water, sanitation, education, healthcare and livelihood. They hope this will become a movement over time where one success story can inspire more to follow suit. Research on rainwater harvesting has begun and organizing this year’s health checkup is underway.

Local initiatives powered by the people for the people are the way forward in community development and we have pledged to work together as equal co-partners. This proactive step in coming together and rallying self-help and local resources is a positive step towards authentic community transformation.