In my new role as Primary Health Administrator/Community Outreach Specialist at the Phul Kumari Mahato Memorial Hospital in Karjanha, Siraha, along with my colleagues, I am working on creating a model rural charity hospital, as well as, developing a model village. This isn’t easy as I’m told over and over that people don’t want to devote time to a village but would rather live in a city. On a recent excursion to Kathmandu I met with two organisations, i.e. Portalbikes and Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO) both working on innovative methods for creating rural livelihood opportunities.
Caleb Spear a young American, came to Nepal with his family and started Portalbikes, with a mission to, “help people turn bicycles into businesses that create pathways out of poverty”. Portal bikes is doing this by creating bicycles which can also be used as water pumps, grain grinders, corn shellers, washing machines and other innovative functions. This business has the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of the rural poor through creating a myriad of entrepreneurs and helping those using Portalbikes to be much more efficient in their daily activities.
Although I only discussed bio sand water filters with ENPHO staff the organization is also involved with rainwater harvesting, waste water treatment and ecological sanitation. I became acquainted with bio sand filters through some American Rotarians, Mike Lipman and Cathy Forsberg, former Peace Corps volunteers who I had met in Delhi a few years ago. They established the South Asia Pure Water Initiative, Inc. with a factory about 60 miles east of Bangalore, India, to make the Filters. Their goals are to provide clean point-of-use drinking water; educate children about better hygiene and sustain community-based employment for project staff.
The next step in these budding partnerships is to demonstrate the potential of both technologies to villagers in order to garner interest. ENPHO has agreed to conduct a workshop in Karjanha and I’ve requested a Portalbicycle from Caleb. This all might take a good deal of time but the ball is rolling.
I realize that acceptance and interest will take time, bistari, bistari. For both projects I hope to receive support from local VDCs, Illaka Health Posts and villagers who would like to try their hand at being an entrepreneur. A micro loan program may need to be established, in which case, we will need private sector participation. Most importantly villagers needto be educated and encouraged to look beyond the usual in developing potential livelihoods enabling their children to have greater life opportunities.
In order to demonstrate these potential livelihood possibilities we will do so at the local haat bazaars as these are the best means for “spreading the word”. This will be followed by focused discussions as to people’s real interest and financial means to undertake starting, e.g. a bio sand water filter casting business. There will also be a great deal of handholding in developing and implementing a business plan and ultimately production and sales. Although things will move slowly the potential for these types of businesses and their off shoots is an exciting possibility.
All too often I find that people get stuck in their ways and there is little vision for what can be achieved. This isn’t meant as a criticism but is more of an observation in how, based on life circumstances, we become blinded to seeing beyond our immediate lives. However Portalbikes, ENPHO and similar organisations offer a vision, but what they need are facilitators to help them achieve their mission.
In many ways my new role is exactly this, facilitating new ideas through greater partnerships. This type of development is not about foisting things on people but is more about bringing various players to the table to creatively make use of limited resources. The challenges offered in developing partnerships are great, but in the long run the opportunity to change lives far outweigh any downside.
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