What is the focus region of Nepal sathi Foundation?
Moving away from its original plan (see below), SATHI is focusing on a wide geographic areas, and in particular, our closely network sponsors (consisting of largely friends and teachers) are willing to help the most vulnerable and needy children from any parts of Nepal. As we make it clear, of course, they must be highly motivated to study as it is one of our key objectives. At present, our students come not just from districts surrounding the Kathmandu Valley, but also from far away districts like Morang, Kaski, Bardiya, Dadeldhura. Likewise, our actual physical projects concerning education, environment, and heath will also be carried out in other districts. What we really expect from the local people is that they are motivated to cooperate and provide all necessary support, which they can, to successfully implement the kinds of projects they see helpful to them.
By working as a person-to-person organization, SATHI aims to first and foremost educate seriously disadvantaged and yet highly motivated children so that they are able to seek better livelihood alternatives. We aim for a ‘good’ education children, which eventually allows them to initiate/lead locally suitable projects in their respective communities. Hence, in the long-run, SATHI offers mainly financial and technical assistance to these 'young leaders.'
(Note: The project plans as well as implementation locations noted on this website are not final, which can change at any time and without a notice, as it depends on the local circumstances in Nepal, and also SATHI team's ability to spare time, and most of all to be able to raise funding for the project, which is NOT as easy as it may appear to some!).
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At the start, not knowing how far it could go, the main focus area of SATHI was identified as Saping village, Kavre district (map of Saping). This village lies between 500-1500 meters altitude, and has 9 sub-units called the ward numbers, totalling more than 3,500 inhabitants (see Saping statistics below). The people of Saping exclusively depend on subsistence farming that relies on unpredictable seasonal rainfall. Most children are unable to attend school, which often takes hours to reach, as they have to help their parents on the farms. The large-scale illiteracy has resulted in not just population boom due to early marriages and lack of family planning awareness, but also massive environmental degradation and subsequent scarcity of basic resources, especially land. These are some of the key reasons that prevents villagers to come out of the poverty cycle.
Key statistics of Saping (total area 19 Sq. km)
People |
From 681 H/H |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
15-19 |
20-24 |
25-29 |
Male |
1877 |
207 |
297 |
305 |
170 |
118 |
98 |
Female |
2079 |
215 |
295 |
293 |
236 |
179 |
152 |
Both Total |
3956 |
422 |
592 |
598 |
406 |
297 |
250 |
Total male illiterates |
610 |
Economically active males |
1393 |
It is interesting to note that Saping has one of the largest female population, especially under 30, in Kabhre district, but their literacy rate remains one of the lowest and they work the most.