Nepal Village Foundation (UK)
Supporting sustainable livelihoods development projects in the rural villages of Nepal
Sunday, February 28, 2010, 09:36:47
Nepal Village Foundation (UK) all rights reserved 2009, www.nvf.org.uk, HMRC Tax ref: TX13105
Mr Krit Sharma
Founder Board Member
Mrs Carole Sharma
Acting Chair
Ms Theresa Halliday
Acting Treasurer
Mrs Christine Richardson
Board Member
Mr Subhash Sah
Board Member
Ms Linda Kirkham
Board Member
Ms Agnieszka Tadaj
Board Member
Mr Derek Richardson
Board Member
Ramsundar Sah
Board Member
I (Krit Sharma) have established this charity in Nov 2007 to support rural development and educational projects in the most remote and deprived villages of Nepal in order to improve livelihoods of the poorest and Dallits. It may have occurred to you why did I establish this organisation?
Well, let me tell you something about Nepal first; the Shah family empire which has the longest ruling history in Nepal, technically this ended in 2001 when the massacre of king Birendra’s family took place. After long political turmoil the country became the Federal democratic Republic of Nepal in 2008.
Geographically Nepal has three regions the Terai, Hills and Himalayas within these regions people have very different identities which has lead to racism. People from the Terai have darker skin then the Hills and Himalayas because of hot and humid climate and genetic difference.
People from hills and Himalayas have had much greater influence in government from prior to the Shah Empire and as Nepal government have absolute hand in any development projects within the country the Terai has been neglected. Nepal is the poorest South East Asian country and therefore corruption does exist.
Even though I live in Britain some of my family members are still living in Nepal therefore I visit Nepal almost every year and this is how I learn about problems in Nepal.
Life style, literacy and livelihoods of people in Hills and Himalayas are improving due to tourism, good connection with western world, access to Government power and international charity aid but the poverty in the Terai is growing slowly instead of decreasing
Tourism and charity aid in the Terai has been neglected and discouraged because of perceived threats of violence, crime and uncontrollable open boarder with Bihar (which is well known as a poor and violent state in India) mean while crime in the Hills and Himalayas is worse due to Maoist insurgency. However this did not put any barrier to the Nepal Authorities in continuing to promote tourism and foreign aid in these regions.
These are the reasons I founded the Nepal Village Foundation (UK). This charity will support the people of the Terai to improve their livelihoods and work with all other national and international NGOs and government bodies to help the people of Nepal in fairer ways.
I, the Board, and partners will make sure that corruption, discrimination against caste, gender and colour, and waste of resources,will not exist within our organisation and give you the best value for your contribution.