Review of our Nepal trip

We are back safe and sound from Nepal and would like to share some impressions and pictures of our trip with you. This time, too, it was a great adventure! Despite the difficult journey, which was made more difficult by the extreme rainfall of the last few weeks, we were able to successfully set up our med camp in Chachalung.

The focus of our work: This year, our focus was on local medical support, distributing donated clothing and providing technical equipment for the local school. We were deeply impressed by the warm welcome and the palpable friendliness of the local people.

Local medical support: Our team was led by Dr Sigi Schwarzenbacher and registered nurse Sonja Nocker, who were actively supported by interpreters and other helpers. Daily house calls were necessary to reach patients who were unable to come to us themselves.

Distribution of clothing donations: The clothing donations were very well received, especially by the children, who were very happy to receive warm jackets, trousers and caps.

Technical equipment for the school: We prepared a projector, two laptops and a conference camera for the school while we were still in Austria. This new equipment now enables modern teaching and the possibility of connecting guest lecturers from afar. For example, teachers from Kathmandu or other parts of the world can be virtually brought into the classroom.

Special support for two girls in need: A special focus is on two girls aged 6 and 9 who are growing up in particularly precarious circumstances. Since their parents are not around, their deaf-mute grandmother and a neighbour are taking care of them. The younger sister also has a speech impediment caused by a malformation of the tongue. In this case, we were able to establish a collaboration with a nearby boarding school, which is supervised by another NGO. We have reached an agreement that allows the girls to attend school in a safe environment – the foundation covers the costs of €1,500 per girl per year. In addition, an appointment for the younger sister to undergo surgery at Dhulikel Hospital (where Dr Schwarzenbacher worked) has been arranged.

Outlook: school and English lessons as the next step: A lot has happened and we are grateful for the progress that has been made. As a next step, we plan to further expand English lessons and schooling.