Trip to Rapcha, autumn 2023
Dear members and friends.

I’m delighted to come here once again to offer you my very best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2024. May good health enable you to enjoy the affection of your nearest and dearest, the friendship of those around you, and to achieve what you set your heart on.

The world in which we live gives us more cause for concern than cause for joy, and our hearts ache to think of all those who suffer from violence, intolerance, hatred of others, or harsh economic and climatic conditions. Fortunately, here and there, good news is reaching us about mutual aid, solidarity and action for greater justice and a livable future!

I would also like to see our beloved ANUVAM association looking resolutely to the future, with links as strong and warm as ever with our friends in Nepal.

These ties are strengthened with each new exchange, each new meeting, and in this respect, this autumn’s trip, initiated by Louis, is an enriching experience. Thanks to all those who took part for their wealth of information, observations and anecdotes! It seems that this very successful trip, serious and sporty, was also joyful and festive (Dashain’s party and …Michel’s birthday); we’ll look forward to hearing about it at the Annual General Meeting in May.

We’re already delighted to hear :

  • that the now well-developed track allows us to reach Rapcha in 3h30 from Phaplu (with good drivers! dixit Louis)
  • that in less than a year Rapcha will be connected to the national electricity grid (the poles are waiting by the roadside).
  • that the village remains dynamic, especially the schools and the farm.
Some of us keep a close eye on the news via social networks (thanks Jean-Claude), so we’ve learned that: A new trekking route has been launched as a new tourist destination by the Rural Municipality and the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board. It can be covered in four nights and five days, said President Rai. The route starts in Silgudhi and ends in Mahabhir via… Rapcha…. Mr. Bhandari, a member of the provincial assembly, insisted on everyone’s cooperation in developing the tourism sector, which is one of the pillars of the national economy. He felt that if tourists visiting the Sagarmatha region could be attracted here, tourism in this region could accelerate.

Yadav and Jase keep in touch through their regular e-mails, keeping us up to date with certain aspects of village life, as well as giving us news of their family, particularly Pancha: “Dolma, Aayushree and I came back to Kathmandu just now after spending a week with our parents and rest of family members in Terai. We had great time there together .As you can imagine, our Dad Pancha is struggling with his age and health but he is still very strong and healthy mentally.”

Our commitments:

ANUVAM has fulfilled the commitments made at the 2023 AGM, and Louis was able to hand over some of the funds during the October trip: €500 Yadav/Jase expenses, €500 dispensary, €600 farm (walnut tree project) €100 Rimku school, €100 Bodu school. We will shortly be transferring the salary of the Basakhali school science teacher directly to the school’s bank account, in accordance with Yadav’s instructions. I would like to thank the treasurers who are taking on this task.

The toilet project for Chandrodaya (Thulodhunga school) is currently being revised following Vincent’s recommendations; new plans and a new estimate will be submitted to us. Subsequently, we will ask Jase and Yadav to collect the plans and decisions of the village leaders for the investments they wish to undertake or pursue with ANUVAM’s support.

Louis confirms that there is work to be done on the upkeep of the dispensary and its water supply.

All this will be food for thought at our next Annual General Meeting, to be held at the Hélio-Ferme gîtes in La Roche à Brousse 63490 on May 04 and 05, 2024.

I look forward to seeing you there, and send you my warmest regards.

On behalf of the office,  Gisèle Bonnet, Chairman