In March, 2008, Earth Garden’s publishers, Alan and Judith Gray (left), travelled with the Himalayan Light Foundation (HLF) to a village in eastern Nepal to replace expensive, polluting kerosene lighting (or no lighting!) with small solar power systems donated by the Western visitors the HLF trains to install them. Two systems were installed at a village school and one at the village health post. (Read the full story here - 430kB PDF). The Grays returned to Australia determined to help more Himalayan communities by setting up the Earth Garden Foundation Australia.

EG FOUNDATION AUCTION

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FIRST PROJECT

Following the launch of the Earth Garden Foundation in September 2008, in October Alan and two of his sons trekked to another remote village (Rabaidanda) in Nepal to install five more solar lighting systems. Each trekker paid for one system, a fourth was paid for by membership fees from the new Earth Garden Foundation Australia, and the fifth was paid for by an elderly pensioner, who heard about the trip on ABC Radio. (Read the full story here - 230kB PDF).

SECOND PROJECT

EGFA’s second project has been completed successfully in the village of Deusa in the Solukhumbu region of eastern Nepal during April 2009.

This second project cost $3600 - all paid by EGFA membership fees - and involved the installation of two solar lighting systems in the village health post (left) by our Nepali project partner, the Himalayan Light Foundation.

The HLF technician who installed the systems also held training sessions so the Deusa people can understand how to install future systems they may fund themselves. This single health post serves thousands of villagers from surrounding areas who previously could not get medical assistance easily after dark.

For more photos – click here.

THIRD PROJECT COMPLETED

EGFA's third project saw an 85 watt solar lighting system with eight lights installed in a community building at Sotang village, which is in the eastern side of the Solukhumbu district of Nepal. The area is quite remote and it took the solar technicians 2.5 to 3 days to reach the site from the nearest roadhead.

Sotang village does not have mains electricity.  Some of the villagers have bought small solar lighting systems for their homes.  Many villagers use solar tuki (LED lights) and some use kerosene oil for light.

The community building has six rooms and is used for various community meetings such as: savings, credit and accounting meetings for the 36 women's groups of the district; adult literacy classes; training for teachers, facilitators and midwives etc.  The local village council (VDC) and other groups are planning to use two rooms of the building to establish a library for the villages of the district.

The US$2300 cost of the Sotang installation was met entirely from EGFA membership fees and the installation will be managed once again by the Himalayan Light Foundation in Kathmandu.

Hi Earth Garden Foundation members,
Thank you for supporting in electrification of remote village community center through Himalayan Light Foundation. The groups who are involved in the community centers are very happy and thankful to you all.
Warm regards,
Yadav Gurung
Program Manager, Himalayan Light Foundation, Kathmandu NEPAL

For more photos – click here.

ORPHANAGE PROJECT

The EGFA is now also supporting TEAM Nepal, who are planning to open a childrens’ home in Talamarang VDC, about 80km (north-east) of Kathmandu. Talamarang is an extremely beautiful location and with its abundance of fresh air and freedom; an ideal location for raising children. In addition, many street children and beggars on the streets of Kathmandu originally come from this area and move to the valley in the hope of a better future. TEAM Nepal aims to stop this tragedy and prevent these children from being exploited in Kathmandu, by providing support and a home for them. More info here....

FOURTH PROJECT COMPLETED

EGFA's fourth project was completed in January 2010.  This saw an 85 watt solar lighting system with eight lights installed in a newly-built monastery and attached building at the village of Kunikhop in the Solukhumbu region of Eastern Nepal.  The building has two rooms; one is a big hall and the other an office.  In the community building various training and community groups meet.  The village built the community building and monastery by donations, and the solar lighting installation fits in with their self-sufficient approach to village development.

For more photos – click here.

The installation was managed once again by EGFA's program partners, the Himalayan Light Foundation in Kathmandu, whose program manager, Yadav Gurung, sent the following message to EGFA members: 

"I would like to wish all the Foundation Members A VERY HAPPY  and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2010.  And at the same time we look forward to continue working with you in 2010 and beyond.
With best regards,
Yadav Gurung,
Program Manager, Himalayan Light Foundation

FIFTH PROJECT COMPLETED

Pokhari Narayanthan Ilaka Health Center was established in 1976 in the village of Pokhari in Kavrepalanchowk District north of Kathmandu valley. A few years back the government supported the health centre in reconstructing its building.

The centre receives many patients every day as it covers many adjoining villages of the area. It receives at least 1-3 patients every night on emergency for maternity, accidents etc. The centre used to ask the patients to bring their own candles for nighttime services.

The centre needed eight lights. In late March the EGFA-funded installation was completed and the health centre now has the lighting it needs.

For more photos – click here.

Join EGFA today and be assured that every cent of your membership money will go to direct project support via groups like our project partner, the Himalayan Light Foundation (www.hlf.org.np), to help provide solar lighting solutions to Himalayan communities.

NO ADMINISTRATION COSTS

Earth Garden magazine will continue to absorb all administration costs of the Foundation. So every dollar donated will go (initially) to getting solar power into remote Nepali health posts, schools, and other community centres via HLF programs.

Since EGFA was launched in the spring issue of Earth Garden, a Board of directors has been appointed (EG publishers Alan and Judith Gray, lawyer Anthony Hurren, and magistrate Gerard Lethbridge); we have registered the Foundation as a non-profit company limited by guarantee; obtained an ABN; gained approval from the ATO to be treated as a tax exempt entity; and completed two solar lighting projects.

At all times, project partners will be those implementing projects that reflect the long-standing sustainable living ideals of Earth Garden.

Help Australia’s longest-established sustainable living magazine to help poor families live more sustainably.

JOIN THE EARTH GARDEN FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA

Just $66 per year for a family or individual membership, sees every cent delivered, via project partners like the Himalayan Light Foundation, to needy Third World communities to implement long-term, sustainable living projects.

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POST A CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO 'EARTH GARDEN FOUNDATION LTD'
WITH A COMPLETED MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM TO - PO Box 2 Trentham, Victoria, 3458

PLEASE NOTE: Donations to Earth Garden Foundation Australia Ltd are not yet tax deductible.
The Foundation is actively seeking registration as an overseas charity. This process is time-consuming, and should be completed before the end of December 2009. This will in no way slow the Foundation’s activities.