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Hello! Happy New Year! Namaste!

I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the holidays and loved ones. I am reaching out to you to share an update and weave you in to this wonderful project in Nepal. Although I do hope I get to talk to you in person about all of this and to hear about your life as well. I wish you a wonderful new year!! 

      

2017 has been quite a year of exploration and transformation for this dear one here! I started off the year with the intention of gaining international field work experience in order to expand my life and career doing international community service work. I then fell in love with Nepal. I met people who I am now working with on a project – a dream project for all involved. We are helping rebuild Digam village, which is a remote village in the foothills of the Himalayas; the nearest town is a 3 hour trek in the Nuwakot Region approximately 65 km North East from Kathmandu. The children of Digam village walk 1.5 hours each way to get to the nearest school. Many small indigenous communities are overlooked by the government in Nepal, and Digam village is one of them. Because of this, Digam doesn’t receive resources or support from the government. Due to their remote location no other organizations know about them and thus have not been available to help them, until now.

I am working with The Relief Trust, a trauma relief organization based in Nepal that serves to improve and strengthen the marginalized and vulnerable citizens in Nepal. They provide psychosocial support, direct services, advocacy, education, livelihood programs and developmental activities. We are working together to listen to the desires of this community, develop programs to meet their needs and are delighted to raise funds to support these wonderful, warm, innocent people.
 



This fall we completed a needs assessment by visiting with the villagers at which time we planned the next few years of programs and activities. These are essential to help this community rebuild after the devastating 2015 earth quake in Nepal. The focus this year is on agricultural training, education and health.


We will also help build a community center using natural and local resources – and the community will help build it. Within the village are many skilled in masonry and carpentry who are excited to build their very own community space! When we visited Digam Village, they had no place for their community to come together for activities, meetings, prayer or initiatives! This space will be valuable.
 
I have raised nearly $10,000 to help this village – we need just $650 more to make our goal. Once we reach our goal of $10k a donor will match the funds raised 2.5 times bringing the total to $35,000! These donations will go so far in helping this community through education, health and agriculture and I am so grateful for your support!

 

 Giving a donation on-line is the most efficient way to contribute, it is tax-deductible:
go to www.casdusa.org/donations
and type “Digam” in the comment/ text box




Nepal Digam Village Program Overview:
 
Facilitate a community and educational space that incorporates:
  • Health Services including basic hygiene and first aid instruction, and regular medical visits for primary treatment of Digam residents, working in partnership with other hospitals and health professionals.
  • Community Center to be used for Council meetings, gathering space for youth, distribution of food, clothing and other materials on an as available basis. The village will incorporate sustainable development using natural building, local resources and materials to build the center.
  • Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihood training will be provided to diversify the agriculture, extend growing season, improve livestock raising techniques, and create value added products.
  • Small Enterprises and Cooperative will be initiated, with assistance from other successful programs and suggestions for income generation using local resources, such as honey production.  
  • Education - School Area/ Classroom for adult literacy and primary education classes, training local villagers to be the teachers, creating job development and education.
  • Leadership Development with Community Council – This council will be the central hub for decision making, thus we will support them with leadership and organizational training for an effective council.
 

Want to help or get involved?
  • Communications and Social Media support needed!
  • Fundraising, grant writing support appreciated
  • Leadership development research
  • Donate! Your contribution will go 10x’s as far in Nepal!
 
Giving a donation on-line is the most efficient way to contribute:
go to www.casdusa.org/donations
and type “Digam” or Katrina in the comment/ text box
 
On a personal note, this has been a wonderful, transformative year where I have seen many more cultures and ways of living, values and things to integrate into my own way of living to be more caring, compassionate and thoughtful. There has been a seed planted inside me that is taking root and growing.

 

On a professional note, I have decided to create my own nonprofit to do this work!! Yes, I am so excited to finally be taking this step. It makes a lot of sense and I am happy to have a place where I can accept donations and grants to support communities in need. I am turning my organizing platform, Aranya Solutions, into the nonprofit. I already have my paperwork in. If you want to be involved please let me know. I have been wanting to do more workshops on emotional intelligence and leadership skills and this nonprofit will provide a platform for just that. I am grateful for CASD-USA for being the fiscal sponsor for this first project – Digam Village in Nepal, while we get my nonprofit off the ground.
 
Nonprofit Mission: Aranya Solutions purpose is to enrich the quality of life within targeted economically challenged and developing areas such as Nepal. Aranya Solutions develops systematic changes with a focus on localization serving as a bridge to resources and providing necessary infrastructure. Our method is to assist communities to implement environmentally friendly building and agricultural methods, life skills workshops, local business development, leadership training, education initiative, and capacity building.
 
First Year Projects
The first two projects this nonprofit will embark on will be based in Nepal.
  1. Digam Village in Nepal – We will build a community center and provide agricultural training and livelihood programs for this community who only grows food for 6-9 months of the year!
  2. Leadership Development - The focus is on emotional intelligence and communication skills. The constituents will be new leaders and people interested in increasing their leadership skills. This can take place anywhere, it will start in Nepal and India with some great partners – more on this later as it develops… very excited about it!

 
It feels good to be moving forward in life like this, making intentional changes inside and out. I love this global family!!


Wishing you all love and abundance for the coming 2018 year!!
 
Please keep in touch, let me know how life has been, what is brewing for you, and what your intentions are for the new year.
 
I wish you all the best and much happiness in life.


In gratitude,
Katrina

 

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