Within Nepal lies some of the world's most dramatic terrain and natural beauty. Tucked between two emerging superpowers, China and India, it is a small developing country of 23 million people.  Despite its long and rich cultural history Nepal struggles against extreme poverty and related issues.  The dramatic terrain has lent strength and diversity as well as isolation and huge challenges.

The Nepal Foundation was formed in 2003 to promote educational and cultural links between people of Nepal and the U.S.,
and to encourage support of local projects in Nepal. The Foundation focuses on developing relationships that enrich the lives of people in both countries.  Philadelphia's world-renowned education and healthcare resources offer a wealth of knowledge and talent that can be shared. As The Foundation's goals and projects expand, people from everywhere are welcome to offer ideas, expertise, and/or financial donations.

An ambitious new project is well underway.  The Basa Project focuses on three wards in the remote Solu area of the
Solu-Khumbu District, where people lack basic necessities such as clean water, access to adequate health care and educational opportunities, and any means of farming above a subsistence level.  Foundation Board members have knowledge and experience with people, schools, and past projects in Basa.  Our goal is to help the local people assess their needs and establish or strengthen cooperative community processes and work toward long-term sustainable solutions. 

Stages I and II of the Basa Project have been made possible by a generous contribution from Aqua America, Inc.
A personal challenge grant was matched by individual and group donations and enabled great progress. Much of the coordination and travel is on a volunteer basis, and in-kind donations have been important as well.

The Nepal Foundation has enlisted other NGOs and groups which are active or interested in similar goals for the region.  Sharing expertise and resources has helped prevent wasteful duplication, strengthened the program, and provides an
example of diverse interests working together with the common goal of a stronger, healthier and self-sufficient community.

A vital link in The Basa Project is a young man from the region whose experience, education and abilities, including fluency in English, make him an invaluable participant.  Yadav has worked with The Nepal Foundation and other groups on projects aimed at improving Basa's schools and infrastructure, and is a highly respected and dedicated leader. 

Your interest and support can make this project succeed, thereby offering a model for other communities in Nepal.  If you make a donation, please specify if it is for The Basa Project or our general fund.

In other projects The Nepal Foundation has:
   ► Lent support to a group which distributes micro loans to individuals ready to start small local businesses in Nepal;
   
   ► Established a cooperative arrangement between US hospitals and Patan Hospital in Kathmandu for the exchange of ideas,  
       training, and equipment. GE healthcare donated medical equipment for a new wing of the Patan Hospital. Doctors have
       volunteered time there working and teaching;
   
   ► Initiated an Artist-in-Residence Program, which has enabled several young Nepali artists to spend time in the US working
       independently on their individual projects while learning about America;

   ► Convened staff from the Nepali Parks and Wildlife Deartment and the US National Park Service to collaborate on personnel
       training and the design of a Visitors' Center in Sagarmatha Park, where Mt. Everest is located;

   ► Organized trips to Nepal to increase understanding between people in the US and Nepal, to research potential avenues for
       assistance with a component of personal involvement;

   ► Sponsored community meetings in the US to create awareness of issues of interest to Nepal and the US;

   ► Participated in conferences, meetings and celebrations organized by Nepalis in the US.

      The Nepal Foundation is registered as a non-profit (501c3) organization. Even a modest individual donation, which is tax-deductible, can be of great benefit to a community or a project in Nepal.