Our team visited Manang district from February 11th to 14th as part of preliminary research and site identification for the Himalayan Economic Upliftment Project (E2) under Amics’ new initiative, the Expansion Program. This project aims to address prevailing issues in Nepal’s Himalayan region, focusing on economic upliftment of communities while aligning with Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG4, SDG5, SDG8, and SDG12. The project targets youth and women, empowering them to start or enhance their entrepreneurial ventures and skills, with the aim of economic upliftment. Our visit proved to be fruitful as we engaged deeply with all local stakeholders, ranging from school representatives to the village development committee (VDC), and the education department, as well as local youth and women. The warm reception and enthusiastic participation underscored the community’s eagerness for positive change. Additionally, attending meetings with VDC and education department officials provided invaluable insights and opportunities for collaboration which laid the groundwork for the E2 project planned to kickstart in 2025.
Our preliminary research and site identification began in Timang village, situated in the heart of Manang district. Our initial interactions with the school representatives set a promising tone for our endeavour. At the school, we conducted introductory and creativity activities for students in grades seven and eight. Similarly, we were able to gain useful information on local educational and livelihood challenges through a focus group discussion with 26 youth and women . We also shared information about Amics del Nepal to enhance understanding and collaboration with the locals.
Our visit was followed by meetings with the Village Development Committee (VDC) office, and the Education Department office in Chame village to gather insights into local government efforts for community upliftment. During the trip, we stayed in Dharapani which is a 30 minutes motor ride from Timang and 1.5 hours from Chame. Situated at the foothills of the Himalayas in Gandaki Province, Manang is approximately a 12 hour drive from Kathmandu.
Returning to Kathmandu, we reflected on key findings, noting a lack of impactful educational projects in recent years and local government emphasis on education over short-term livelihood training. Although the locals expressed readiness to collaborate and support our future initiatives, discrepancies between government perspectives and community feedback highlight the need for a more comprehensive research. This first step into Manang signifies the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Amics will commence various research and feasibility studies from June 2024 to ensure the project meets all the requirements and needs of the village before its launch in 2025.
This project is possible thanks to the support of all the members of Amics del Nepal and the collaborating partners:
