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At ActionAid, we highly value partnerships built on the principles of equality and respect, where shared values guide our collaborative efforts. We firmly believe in the power of partnerships, recognizing the crucial role that communities, partners, and various stakeholders play in driving transformative change within the communities we serve. We view ourselves as facilitators, understanding that real impact can only be achieved when communities take ownership of the process and drive the initiative. The voices of those facing challenges should be at the forefront, raising awareness and advocating for their rights. That's why we emphasize building partnerships with communities, using participatory approaches to earn their trust, address their concerns, mobilize them, amplify their voices, and foster solidarity to resolve their issues and ensure they receive their rightful entitlements as citizens. Consequently, garnering widespread support and collaborating with like-minded organizations are crucial in holding duty bearers accountable and guiding them in addressing the concerns of the people they serve. Effective communication is vital throughout the program cycle to raise awareness, foster solidarity, engage communities and supporters, and ensure a participatory process. Sustainable impact can only be achieved when an issue or agenda becomes a shared concern, prompting people to take ownership and work towards justice. We believe that the communities we serve should experience the change or impact directly and be an integral part of our efforts. We don't simply claim impact based on reporting processes; instead, we center our work around feminist principles, placing the rights of people living in poverty and facing exclusion at the core of everything we do. ActionAid operates within a federal structure, allowing countries to set their own priorities while aligning them (partially or fully) with the global strategy of ActionAid International. Countries prioritize issues and campaigns based on their specific contexts, and interventions are planned and executed accordingly. To collectively raise voices on global issues, countries implement interventions aligned with their planned activities. They may also develop their own program intervention plans and campaigns, working independently but with communities as the driving force in addressing issues and concerns. To ensure effective communication, we develop comprehensive communication, monitoring, and evaluation plans that convey authentic information while considering branding and visibility. Through periodic community and cluster reviews, we provide opportunities for communities to share their perspectives on the program approach and the changes they have experienced. We also encourage feedback and opinions during partners' annual social audits, capturing the voices of communities and stakeholders through various communication channels, social media platforms, and our global communication team. By involving local communities in the planning process and aligning global perspectives with local contexts, we enable communities to prioritize issues based on their importance and sensitivity. ActionAid's primary communication focus is amplifying the agenda of impoverished and marginalized communities, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed. We actively engage with different levels of government to develop and amend policies that better serve these communities, aiming to ensure their rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled at all levels. In the past, we have organized dialogue forums to engage policymakers in constructive debates about policy gaps and the way forward. Drawing from our past experiences, we have collaborated with government counterparts to enhance technical capacity in key areas that require attention. We strive to make public services more accessible and gender-responsive, and we have made significant progress in that regard. These various processes create an enabling environment for prioritizing identified issues within government plans and policies. ActionAid has been working in Nepal since 1982, and our success is largely attributed to the indispensable role played by our partners and communities. By partnering with people living in poverty and exclusion, we have recognized the importance of shifting power dynamics in their favor. This realization led us to form groups that actively participate in savings and credit initiatives, empowering themselves and mobilizing their communities to tackle shared issues and challenges. To capture the voices and stories of communities and frontline workers, both our partner staff and ActionAid personnel play a critical role in regularly documenting evidence that demonstrates the positive changes in the lives of the people we work with. We conduct periodic evaluations of program areas, seeking anecdotes, stories, and the perspectives of government authorities and other stakeholders. During organizational events, we prioritize the voices of community members, enabling them to share their reflections and experiences regarding our program interventions. These stories and anecdotes are shared through various communication platforms, showcasing our efforts to transform the lives of communities and individuals. ActionAid is widely recognized as a human rights-based organization. In Nepal, we have pioneered the REFLECT Circle and organized social audits, garnering admiration for these initiatives. We rely on these processes to showcase the quality of our work. However, measuring program impact and assessing empowerment are challenging tasks that require collective efforts. ActionAid acknowledges that impactful results require collaboration among many individuals and organizations, networks, and alliances. Positive change is brought about through a collective and mindful endeavor, where lessons are learned from both successes and failures. Through our interventions, we have witnessed activists, staff members, community group facilitators, and beneficiaries rising to leadership positions within local government organizations, some even attaining regional and national roles. This success speaks to ActionAid's ability to adapt and integrate valuable lessons and experiences, influencing our identity and priorities in a positive way. Our approach to activism and social mobilization is grounded in praxis mode, where we take action, reflect, learn, and strategize to improve our work. Learning from both successes and failures is essential in our continuous efforts to create a meaningful impact. Narayan Pd Sitaula Narayan Pd. Sitaula is a highly accomplished professional leading the Organizational Impact and Communication department at ActionAid Nepal. With a robust background in strategic planning and communication, Narayan brings a wealth of experience to his role, fostering positive change and creating substantial impact within the organization. His expertise lies in designing and executing innovative communication strategies that effectively engage stakeholders and raise awareness about critical social issues. Narayan's visionary leadership and unwavering commitment contribute to ActionAid Nepal's mission of promoting social justice, equality, and sustainable development. Guided by his exceptional communication skills and a deep passion for driving social change, Narayan Pd. Sitaula continues to play a pivotal role in advancing ActionAid Nepal's mission and building a more equitable and just society. Saroj Pokhrel   Saroj Pokhrel, a highly regarded professional, currently holds the position of Head of Program Policy at ActionAid Nepal. With an impressive background in policy formulation and program management, Saroj brings extensive knowledge and expertise to his role. His unwavering dedication to social justice and sustainable development is evident through his strategic leadership in designing and implementing impactful programs. Saroj's visionary approach to program policy development ensures that ActionAid Nepal's initiatives align with the organization's mission and effectively address pressing social issues. With a strong commitment to empowering marginalized communities and promoting gender equality, Saroj spearheads transformative projects that bring about positive change. Leveraging his exceptional analytical skills and deep understanding of local contexts, he identifies key areas for intervention and develops evidence-based policies that create lasting impact. Through his relentless efforts, Saroj Pokhrel continues to propel ActionAid Nepal's mission, making a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable populations and contributing to the realization of a just and inclusive society.

Rabindra Puri Foundation for Conservation (RPFC) on Friday organized a farewell program for Jorg Bahr, who has been doing philanthropic work in Nepal for over two decades. Born in Germany in 1940, Bahr came to Nepal in 1999 after his retirement as German Army Colonel and started working for the improvement of Nepal’s education with a main focus on rural areas, it was informed at the program.

Realizing that there will be no development of the community and the country without education, his organizations have been supporting the construction of infrastructure for 12 community schools like school buildings, science labs, computer labs and providing scholarships as well as educational materials.

“After retiring from my job 22 years ago, a Rotarian professor friend brought me to Nepal and since then I started visiting Nepal 2-3 times a year,” Bahr said. I have become a part of education-health programs in operation in Nepali villages. Thus, I have become a German by birth and a Nepali by deed.”  In 2009, he established ‘Schulerhilfe fur Nepal’ (School help for Nepal), which has constructed nine out of 12 planned school buildings and associated infrastructure—in Kavre, Gorkha, Bhaktapur, Ramechhap, Gorkha and Nawalparasi through RPFC—per information provided at the program.

Nepal Vocational Academy (NVA), operating from Kamalbinayak (Bhaktapur) in collaboration with the Schulerhilfe fur Nepal and RPFC, aims to produce 100 skilled personnel every year. In Thambesi, a village in Nawalparasi, around 250 students study at Chhatisdevi Secondary School, which boasts of a well-equipped and solar-powered computer lab, courtesy of Schulerhilfe fur Nepal.

Saraswati Primary School in Kavre, Bhimeshwar Basic School, Sri Krishna High School and Shatlingeshwar Higher Secondary School in Ramechhap have new infrastructure, with help from Schulerhilfe fur Nepal, benefiting around 5,000 children studying there. RPFC has been coordinating with the campaign of Schulerhilfe fur Nepal to construct community school buildings, associated structures and rehabilitating heritages, with about Rs 10m already collected reportedly for the campaign.

After the 2015 earthquake, Schulerhilfe fur Nepal helped with the distribution of Pall filters, reconstruction of damaged school buildings as well as some houses. It has also provided support to Dhulikhel Hospital, Scheer Memorial Hospital in Banepa, Sushma Koirala Hospital in Sankhu, Tilganga Eye Hospital, Iwamura Hospital in Bhaktapur, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Shechen Clinic in Boudha and Manthali Hospital in Ramechhap through German Rotary Volunteer Doctors’ Organization.  

Besides, in coordination with Schulerhilfe fur Nepal, Nepali doctors were sent to Germany for special training, according to Rabindra Puri. “Bahr also supported the construction of high temperature incinerators for waste disposal centers and smokeless stoves in rural areas for hospital waste management.”

The past two years have been nothing but an unexpected turn of events for the 25-year-old Sanjan Gautam, also known as Cr7 Horaa, a YouTuber and game streamer from Morang, currently living in Kathmandu. He played PUBG (an online shooter game) for fun but it quickly became a lot more when he began streaming his gaming sessions live on YouTube in 2021. Within three months, his YouTube channel ‘Cr7 Horaa’,P had garnered 100,000 subscribers, breaking records among Nepali game streamers. Now, he has around 9,000-10,000 people viewing his live streams daily.  “I started streaming PUBG because I was bored,” says Gautam. It was during the Covid-19 lockdown when he first came up with the idea of streaming live on YouTube. At that time, Gautam had dropped out of college while pursuing a bachelor’s degree. He had initially planned on going abroad but the pandemic put a damper on his plans. “I spent all my days playing games. Then it occurred to me that I should stream it live,” he says. None of his family members were aware of what he was up to. He would often have disagreements with his mother who wanted him to stop playing games and do something productive. “I was a college drop-out so I understood her concerns,” he says, adding that was why letting them know about him being a streamer wasn’t an option. “I don’t think there are any Nepali households that would support their child when s/he wants to become a game streamer,” he says. He eventually had to tell them but it wasn’t until he began earning quite well from his live streams.  Gautam wasn’t aware that becoming a streamer would make him famous. “I didn’t make any investments, and I didn’t have proper streaming tools,” he says. But in less than two years, Gautam has managed to become one of the PUBG partners because of which his voice will be added to the game itself. “I have now managed to get myself a good computer through which my live streams are even better,” he says.  He starts live streaming his sessions at around nine at night and is done by two in the morning. “I like to get it done by midnight so that I can get some decent sleep but that hasn’t been possible yet,” he says.  “I think people like the way I speak more than how I play the game,” he says. Indeed,  a lot of people on his social media have admired his way of talking and how that has kept them engaged in all of his live streams. This, Gautam adds, puts a certain pressure on him.  “It’s difficult to keep people engaged with your content for a long time,” he says. He mostly streams PUBG and occasionally some other games too. But, he says, just streaming games can easily become mundane for the viewers. “So I like to entertain them [viewers] by talking about different things while I’m live,” he says. So he talks about the current political and social scenarios of Nepal besides picking other random topics where he can be his witty self. “I would like to think I’m a funny guy. I try to bring in some humor in all my content and keep my viewers entertained that way” he says.  Streaming games has also become his source of income which he has put to good use. “When you are earning and earning well you shouldn’t just keep the money for yourself. You need to give it to people who need it,” he says, adding he often organizes charity streams since he started getting requests from people to help them out. “I give every rupee I collect from that day’s livestream to the one for whom I organized the event. And sometimes I give money out of my pocket,” he adds. In the two years he has been into game streaming, Gautam has donated around Rs 150,000. He mostly gives money to those who need immediate medical attention.  In the future, Gautam doesn’t just want to be limited to being a streamer. He also wants to sell his merchandise. “I have already started my merch business and, so far, it’s going well,” he says. He further mentions that he is planning to complete his bachelor’s degree as well. “I don’t know what I’ll study but I want to go to college and get a degree,” he says. That doesn’t mean his life as a streamer is over. “I don’t know for how long PUBG or other games are going to be relevant. But if indeed my reason for fame is the way I  speak then, no matter what, I think I will always have an audience,” he says.

The Namuna Ghar in Datattraya, Bhaktapur, is a special heritage that reflects Nepal’s glorious medieval art, architecture, and history. The house was initially discovered to be over 150 years old before the restoration process by Rabindra Puri in 1999. It was being used as a chicken coop, a shame for all the potential it held.  This house was redesigned and rebuilt, now featuring beautiful attributes that graced traditional Nepali architecture. It went on to win the prestigious UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2004.

Even prior to attaining global recognition, the building was already regarded to be Namuna Ghar (translates to mean ‘model house’) by Bhaktapur Municipality, which is how the building got its name.  “When I first joined the heritage conservation field, I was called insane for passing up a comfortable life and career in Europe and choosing a zero-income sector,” says Puri.  About 60 percent of this building required new construction, with the remainder achieving satisfactory results through retrofitting. Original structural components were carefully removed and reused wherever possible. This restoration project was completed in roughly a year and a half.

Quickly thereafter, the home gained traction and received unexpected appreciation and recognition. Items that highlight Nepali culture and tradition are on display at Namuna Ghar. The main objective for restoring and promoting Namuna Ghar with this approach is to inspire Nepali people to appreciate and conserve their rich and beautiful heritage. “I also started a homestay at the Namuna Ghar, and it was from here, the concept of bed and breakfast took off in Nepal,” Puri adds.