Visiting Nepal Partners

Our recent two week trip to Nepal to visit and plan projects with MCC's national partners was quite an adventure. When we arrived we discovered that a general strike had been called by the Madhesi Front (a loose group of organizations fighting for an autonomous state on the border with India). They were able to keep petrol and other supplies from entering Nepal, bringing the economy to a virtual standstill for two weeks.

We were, nevertheless, able to travel to most places for our visits, even if we had to use cycle rickshaws for part of our trips. Our MCC partners are doing some exciting things in peacebuilding, including starting a grassroots School of Shanti. The aim is to bring peace training to rural communities devastated by the recent civil war.

The first picture on the left is of us riding to the next town in cycle rickshaws because a curfew had been imposed on all other kinds of vehicles. The top picture on the right is participants at a partner meeting in Kathmandu. Following that is a picture of the ancient Newari palace and temple complex in Kathmandu Valley. The last picture is of women at a rural discussion of HIV/AIDS and how it is impacting their community in the western hill region of Nepal.

One MCC partner is working to combat HIV/AIDS in target communities. Another is conducting non-formal literacy classes for adults. Yet another is helping Nepali Christians develop greater capacity to respond to natural disasters along with other NGOs and government agencies. There is so much work to do and we are impressed by the energy and vision of people on the ground who really want to make a difference. They dare to dream of a new Nepal and are anxious because things appear to be moving too slowly.

Nepal is in the midst of a major political, social, economic, and spiritual transition. The transition from a Hindu monarchy to a secular democracy sometimes feels more like anarchy. The interim government is a seven party coalition until general constituent parliamentary elections are held on April 10, 2008. The new constituent assembly then begins the work of creating a new constitution. In the meantime there are many issues affecting daily life that go unresolved.

The former Maoist insurgency, which brought conflict to the countryside and killed 13,000 people since 1996, has ended with a peace agreement and Maoist participation in the interim government. The political situation, nevertheless, remains unstable. Still, the 2006 peace agreement has allowed a breather for all Nepal sectors and continues to offer hope for a new, revitalized society. The battered economy is showing signs of recovery as tourism and the service industry pick up. Social challenges that remain largely unresolved include:

1. Poverty: Semi-feudal agricultural conditions and large landholdings on the Terai contributed to the recent agitation. Small landholdings in hill communities cannot support families, forcing people to become migrant laborers in India and other countries. The GDP per capita of $1,529 is among the lowest in the world.

2. Education: Nepal has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world (only 42% of the population above 15 years of age can read and write). Initiatives in non-formal adult education and primary education are crucial needs.

3. Health Care: Migrant workers traveling to other countries for employment, human trafficking related to the sex trade, and drug use contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS. There is a continued need for basic health care and nutrition in many remote rural communities.

4. Peace: The recent armed conflict has left deep scars in rural communities. There are interfaith challenges for Nepali Christians whose churches have only recently been recognized by the government. Ethnic and caste divides are also sources of discrimination and conflict. Initiatives in grassroots conflict mediation and trauma healing are needed to give depth to the recent national peace agreement.