Efforts to improve existing conditions

Ten Friends' Elevate Nepal Initiative began efforts in 2019. The project was founded by Pema and Nurbu Sherpa who traveled to the area and saw the need for improvements and opportunities to make changes that could change the lives of the area's residents. Programs have been implemented to provide child education, adult education, health improvements and water and sanitary conditions. 

Ten Friends has sponsored more than 60 children allowing them to attend school and after school programs.  We also provided books, school supplies, shoes, and uniforms to our sponsored kiddos.  Almost all of the students are boys but we made efforts to increase the number of girls attending the school.

Ten Friends has sponsored vocational training for seven young women who now work as seamstresses. Clothes and garments have been manufactured for members of the local community.  This met both a local need and the generation of income for the women producing the products.  

Drought in the area is an issue and for 6 months the lone existing well had run dry.  Pema and Nurbu responded to this emergency and life threatening situation and Ten Friends was able to pay for the construction of two new wells. The hand pump wells were located on government owned property. Each well was drilled to a depth of 250 feet and now provide a plentiful supply of filtered "drinkable" water.  Materials and the drilling of the wells were paid for by Ten Friends and local villagers provided the sweat equity labor.  

In addition, a Norway based non-profit funded and helped to construct two new sanitary stations.  The latrines provided a much needed and safe temporary solution to deal with human waste. 

Several successful medical and dental clinics have been conducted. Dental exams and instructions on dental care have been provided to many of the area's children.  Tooth brushes, tooth paste and other dental supplies were also provided to all community members.  Importantly, the children were excited to participate in the dental clinics -- a credit to Pema -- for if it were others conducting the clinic -- I doubt you would see any children in the picture.

In addition a Medical Team was brought down from Kathmandu and free exams and medical services have been provided.

Clothes, shoes, coats and other much needed items have been provided to members of the community.  Some were donated by individuals in Central Oregon and other items were purchased by Ten Friends.  In addition, Rotary of Sisters made a major donation that was used to purchase backpacks which were provided to the sponsored children. 

In addition, coloring books and pens have been provided to local children. They were immediately used overnight and works of art were displayed the very next morning.  All of the items were hand delivered to the community by Pema and Nurbu Sherpa as part of their visits to the area.  

A new "Fast Track" road is presently under construction by the Army of Nepal that will provide improved access to Kathmandu.  The new road will reduce travel times and arduous travel conditions from a grueling eight hour trip to an estimated four hour journey.  The new road will provide access to and from the presently remote area and will enable agricultural and other products to reach markets in Kathmandu.  

View information on the Fast Track Project