On this year’s project visit, the Usthi team is accompanied not only by founder Kurt Bürki, but also by the Board of Trustees. Together they are visiting the projects in India to get a deeper insight into the activities on the ground.

“Personally, I am deeply impressed by what is being done here. The local partners are highly motivated and very committed – in the schools, in the women’s shelters and children’s homes. This is reflected to me especially in the great joy of life and self-confidence of the children, which impresses me knowing where the children come from.“

Christa Vollrath, Member of the Usthi Board of Trustees

Last week, the team and the Board of Trustees visited the Professional Skills Training Centre in Hyderabad and attended the graduation ceremony of the course participants. 219 young men and women successfully completed one of the 17 different courses on 19th of October. Some of them have already found a job.

The graduates who would like to start their own business were given business starter kits: A total of 30 kits with sewing machines or tools were distributed by the Usthi team and the Board of Trustees. The equipment is intended to support them in setting up their micro businesses.

In the past few days, they also visited the Penthakata School and the village where the school children come from. “The teachers are very committed in imparting their knowledge and very proud that the children do above average in the state-recognised examinations“. reports Christa Vollrath.

The team and the Board of Trustees will spend the following days in the jungle region around Sommagiri to visit the health projects.

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The consequences of the Covid pandemic are very evident in Nepal. Many families have lost their jobs and thus their income. Within the launched “Post-Covid Project”, Usthi supports families in securing their livelihoods.

In Usthi’s project region in Dhading, west of the Kathmandu Valley, many families lack livelihood options. In order to strengthen the local people beyond the emergency relief, individual households are offered advised and supported to secure their livelihood.

In the rural district of Thakre, a survey detected families which were particularly affected by the pandemic. The project aims to reach women in particular, as they are more likely to invest in the health and education of their children.

Staff members at Usthi-supported schools helped identify 15 families in the surrounding area for the “Post-Covid Project.” Some of the project beneficiaries lost family members. Most lost their jobs as daily wage workers during the pandemic. The beneficaries come from the villages of the schools or from the slum of Mahadevbeshi, the largest city in the area.

Since the families are experienced in agriculture, they are given pigs, goats or buffaloes which support them to improve their livelihood.

A workshop was held for the project beneficiaries by veterinarians from the district. They trained the participants in handling the animals. In addition, mulberry plants were distributed to all families. These grow quickly regardless of the geographical location and serve the families as fodder for the livestock.

Story of a project beneficiary

Laxmi Pariyar’s husband passed away 2 years ago due to covid. Since his death, Laxmi has been living alone with her two children. Her situation has increasingly deteriorated since then. To pay for her husband’s treatment costs, Laxmi took out loans from neighbours and cooperatives. She takes on heavy work in the quarry to repay the loans and feed her family. Through the support of the project, Laxmi hopes to provide education for her two children.

In the short term, the project aims to secure the livelihoods of families who have experienced financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.In the long term, Usthi wants to use this kind of support to enable parents to finance their children’s schooling independently.