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18 May 2015

SHILA PANDEY -  BUILDING CAPACITY

Facilitator / Social Mobilizer
Hands with Hands Microcredit Projects in Nepal
Viti and Shila
Photo taken in November 2015 Chitwan District

I    I first met Shila in February 2011 when undertaking microcredit fieldwork on behalf of Hands with Hands  (HwH) in rural villages, Chitwan District, Nepal. Shila's role with this small NGO involves 'building capacity' through a range of training initiatives for members and villagers:
·        Microcredit introductory courses
·        Literacy training
·        Candle making
·        Agriculture training
·        Marketing
·        Carpet weaving and
·        Sewing
HwH’s staff is also supported through mentoring by HwH Co-founders: Kira Kay and Di Pendra KC. This has been crucial to Shila's development as her role has expanded.

Shila and Ramchandra KC participated with my fieldwork and were essential in providing cultural awareness in this context and translated the interviews conducted with Jutpani Microfinance Co-operative members. My above report provided an outsiders perspective on the following:


1.     What Nepali individuals and families perceived as important and beneficial in their lives with respect to HwH’s provision of microcredit
2.     How they felt about the loans and highlight what changes in their life could be attributed to the loan/s. (pg.25 Simmons, 2013)


Viti handing over a copy of her book to
Shila and Ramchandra
during her visit to Nepal in 2014.

"Reconnecting with Shila and Ramchandra is what makes pro bono activities so rewarding and meaningful. Their generosity and willingness throughout my fieldwork holds a place in my heart and are a timely reminder why local endeavours are so crucial to sustainability at a grass roots level. (Pg. 53 Simmons, V. A tree needs water to bear fruit: Enterprising women creating reservoirs for poverty alleviation
Book available read more...
20% of sales goes to HwH projects

The opportunity to attend Udya Savings & Credit Co-operative Ltd. Jutpani-4, Chitwan A.G.M (2014) is now being run by Board members. This was in contrast to when I attended their 2011 A.G.M. A wonderful example of what ‘Building Capacity’ within the Microfinance Co-operative looks like. It was so rewarding seeing this progress first hand and the bearing of fruit from all involved since 2011.
Jutpani Board Members November 2014

The following are a few photos taken on the day which was followed up with a walk around the village to look at and meet members operating their enterprises.
Visit to a Co-operative member producing mustard oil next 
to her mustard seed crusher. Her other enterprise is  
developing baby pigs.
Shila and Viti walking through a mustard seed plantation

Erin Pope, Man Kumazi Lama, Viti and Ganu Lama
both members were interviewed in 2011 & 2014.
Over a number of years Co-founders of HwH have provided mentoring and training opportunities for staff/cooperative members which has provided a flow on affect to villages. More importantly, that once co-operatives are established those training needs are then determined by co-operative members.
Some of the training is also made available to men and youth in these villages.
Kira Kay Co-founder of HwH's and
Di Pendra KC (HwH Co-founder and guest) at
the opening of the New Commercial Bank in Bharatpur 
where Jutpani co-operative members (below) opened accounts.
A wonderful example of 'building capacity' over time
with the right philosophy, vision and approach. 

The recent and ongoing earthquakes in Nepal have been devastating. Direct feedback indicates local people involved in various HwH's projects - across Nepal - are safe. However, infrastructure and buildings associated with HwH's Children's Homes have been impacted.

A local partnership developed prior to the earthquake between Nripal (Architect) and Shila (Social Mobilizer) took on a new meaning when they made the decision to head to Gorkha village which was near the epicenter of the first large earthquake.

Gorkha Village after the earthquake
Their response was heartwarming to all those involved at an international level from the feedback, hear, photos and social media the collective impact they are generating at a local level – post earthquake.

I hold the view that partnerships like Nripal and Shila highlights the reminder that when we choose to become involved with an organisation  - immaterial in what capacity to contribute towards social change we need to ask the question, WHY do I wish to become involved? If your motivation is about the WE and not the I then the likelihood of it being a positive experience is far greater!

While on a meditation retreat with Shila in November 2014 I asked her what type of training she had undertaken as her role of responsibilities has grown.  The following is a snapshot of what she shared:
  • 5 days Sustainability of Microfinance / Institutions through financial services
  • 3 days attending Microfinance Summit in Nepal
  • 8 days Triple P training
  • Financial Mobilizer Training
  • Self-Management Leadership training (HwH's Micro-finance program coordinating)
  • 15 days of TOT training with Government and Private Sector 
  • 4 days Accounting training
Shila and local Nepali trainer overseeing training opportunities
with Jutpani Microfinance members requested.
During my 2011 fieldwork I came up with the following musings:
Microcredit creates purpose
Purpose creates income
Income creates opportunity
Opportunity creates choices
Choices creates health and wellbeing
Health and wellbeing creates productive communities
Productive communities become self-determining (Viti 2011)
This remains my compass!
Shila learning the art of making apple pie at the 
meditation retreat at Nagarkot Farmhouse Resort.
Finally, when I asked Shila her thoughts about her expanded role this was her response:

I am social Mobilizer / Facilitator [which] means moving to community members or you can say mediates. When I want to share an idea and thought [and] if they easily get this - I am so happy. I want to help them increase their income and complete their basic needs.

I am inspired by the work of Nepali people like Shila and Nripal and the behind the scenes facilitating and mentoring Kira and Dipendra provide to those assisting - during this time of need. Over the coming weeks and months ahead they will be stretched and in that process discover a new found individual capacity and collective responsibility - post earthquake. Take special care!

You remain in our thoughts!
Viti Simmons - Director Bear Fruit 


1 May 2015


EARTHQUAKE IN NEPAL
25th April 2015

Nripal Adhikary Architect (Bamboo Specialist) Nepal. 

During my trip to Hands with Hands projects in November 2014 with Kira Kay (International President), Nina Cejinar and Erin Pope we meet and spent time with Nripal. This post is a collection of material previously posted and new.

Kira was in Nepal when the earthquake struck and has since flown to Australia to organize appeals from a range of countries to assist with this devastating tragedy.

Previous post Nov 2015: We visited Nripal Adhikary's manufacturing facility and bamboo plantation.

Ramchandra met us at the next stop which was Nripal's place of business whom we met earlier at 'The Farm' linked to the Annapurna Childrens Home in Pokhara. Nripal is an architect and specializes in buildings linked to rammed earth and bamboo. He has spent time gaining knowledge in Germany, United States of America and Mongolia and has chosen to return to Nepal to apply these principles of architecture. The following images capture aspects of our visit.

Nripal - Explaining the values of rammed earth 

and bamboo as building materials in earthquake zones.

Treated bamboo
Local Employee.
Employee hand carving legs for chair -

part wood part treated bamboo.
The construction of Nripal's new storage showroom is under way and ongoing planting of bamboo. He continues to explore ways to utilize the materials above and continues to develop a range of furniture. 

Additional material:
Later on in our trip we had the opportunity to meet up with Nripal where he is constructing his home in the high country which also provides the opportunity for local employment and the development of skills working with these materials. It was a great opportunity to see and hear first hand his philosophy for building in an earthquake area utilising earth materials of rammed earth and bamboo. 

Other than the cement floor there is no chemicals in the construction components of his home. This is the fourth home Nripal has built since returning to Nepal to promote and innovate with such materials.
This was the plank we accessed to the top floor 
and the view was spectacular. 
Inside view of top floor roof and application
of bamboo that has been treated to strengthen.
View from Nripal's House
When speaking to Krishna an Architect from India (undertaking an internship with Nripal for 6 months) commented that originally they were going to use a window frame from the original house that has been demolished but it was not the right size for the meter box. So it had to be made from scratch by hand.
Krishna - Intern Architect from India
Craftsman constructing meter box 
What the photo's above show is only half of the house being built and it is the intent when completed to utilize it as a lodge.

One walked away with the knowing that this inspiring and visionary young architect has plans. Inspiring to see and spend time with Nripal. There are many hurdles for him to cross but I shall watch this space with a great deal of interest - as will others. 

The following Posts will provide a vignette of Hands with Hands feedback from Kira about Nepal and links where you can donate - from an Australian context.


As an Ambassador for Hands with Hands it enables me to shine a light on Hands with Hands response through this medium.