Our Mission

Current Status of Reconstruction in Nepal

One of the positive effects of the recent political changes in Nepal and anticipated stability of top leadership is that government funds promised to earthquake victims are now being released. All over the earthquake ravaged area, foundations are being poured in villages.

As an organization that began after the earthquake with the mission to rebuild communities sustainably, more specifically private homes, these developments have caused us to reconsider our goals and priorities for the immediate and longer term.

 Sangsangai’s Rebuilding Plans

 After careful consideration by the Nepal Team and the Sangsangai board in the US, we have come to the following conclusion about our plans to build homes in the village of Barbandi, Kavre.

 We have decided to forgo building any homes in Barbandi because of the following factors:

 -Almost all households have access to government funds and have started building their basic home structures.

-Two households were excluded from government funds but we neither have the permission to fund their houses as special cases, nor do they have land to build on.

-The water system in Barbandi is insufficient for required construction and also for operating homestays.

-Even if we were to build a homestay, the return on the investment for the villagers would take a long time to realize, and we believe we can unearth other options which would provide a faster return on investment.

-From past experience we have become wary of embarking on sizable construction projects without having assurances of substantially complete funding.

 Our immediate plans for Barbandi are to work to fully utilize the potential of the beautiful completed community center. Committee members, representing various interests have been selected in order to facilitate this:

 Management Committee:

1. Mr. Shiva Sharan Lama, Ward Chairman; PM-11 Coordinator

2. Mr. Raj Kumar Napit, President; Thana Devi Youth Club Member

3. Mr. Surya Lama, Land Donor Member

4. Mr. Harkajit Lama, Local resident Member

5. Mrs. Januka Kharel, Local resident Member

6. Mr. Shivaraj Naral ,Shree Bhagwati Secondary School Principal, Member

7. Mr. Madan Paudel, Kharelthok Health Post In-charge, Member

 Advisory Committee:

1) Gen. Madan Man Shrestha - ,Mohan Narayan Memorial Trust, Advisor

2) Mr. Mahesh Kharel - Mayor, Panchkhal Municipality, Advisor

3) Bibek Kumar Pandit - Founder, Sangsangai, Advisor

 Programs are expected to be held in the areas of health, agriculture, education, personal finance, and job skills training. The center will also be available for community events and celebrations such as weddings and festivals.

 As government funds go to rural areas for reconstruction, we are changing the focus of our work to the long-term effort of creating economic opportunities in rural Nepal.

 Sangsangai Planned Project

 Sangsangai has an agreement with Everest Fashions to pursue an economic development project in a Majhi village in Ramechhap district. The company will provide sufficient work to employ at least 50 individuals (one from each household).

We will be responsible for the construction of the workshop facility and a training program. Committed workers will be able to make comparable salaries to workers in Kathmandu, as Everest Fashions is a Fair Trade company, thus bringing significant economic benefit to a rural community.

In the meantime, the team in Nepal is focusing on the following important objectives:

-Craft a new mission statement for the long term future of the organization.

-Write a case study of Rainaskot in order to share the knowledge gained from this experience

-Implementation of programs in Barbandi and support for the homestay in Rainaskot

We thank all of our donors for the immense support you have given up to this point. Together we have accomplished many things in a few short years. We look forward to presenting you more opportunities to change lives in Nepal.