In these difficult times, our thoughts go out to the people who are ill, to their families, and to all of those risking their own health for the health of others around the world every day.
In response to COVID-19, our solar training program has been temporarily suspended to help prevent the spread of the virus. Our team continues to provide information to villagers, including best practices to avoid COVID-19 and recommendations in case of illness.
In the meantime, we are busy with plans and preparations. Our plans include training for more solar installers, distribution of solar panels to those most in need, and continuing training and education.
Thank you for giving the gift of solar to those in need, and thank you for your continued support during these uncertain times! Active support is important now more than ever, as our programs and beneficiaries will need all the support they can get to recover and return to a normal life when this disaster subsides.
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As Karuna-Shechen enters our 20th year of service in the Himalayas, we are reminded of one of our main objectives: to empower, support, and increase opportunity for women.
Because of your support, our program Bring Light to Isolated Villagers in Nepal is making an important impact. With women leading the way to distribute, install, and provide maintenance for home solar lighting systems, we’re bringing light and opportunity to the communities we serve. Many of our women solar installers are taking their skills and expanding into entrepreneurial opportunities by opening small electronic shops or offering additional services. To that end, Karuna-Shechen is offering additional support to these women through specific trainings that add to their skills, such as cell phone repair.
By supporting opportunities for women, we are improving the quality of life of our solar technicians, their families, and the entire community.
On behalf of everyone at Karuna-Shechen and the villagers we have helped, together, thank you!
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We’re so happy to share that our project, “Bring Light to Isolated Villagers in Nepal” has received over 100 donations from people around the world!
Together, we are training local women in remote, under-served villages in Nepal to become bearers of light in their communities. As trained solar technicians, these women have new economic opportunities and are empowered to serve as models for other women and girls to achieve an education and help lead progress.
In one of our recent site visits, conducted regularly in all 6 project districts, we talked with Bimala, one of our solar technicians who has taken advantage of our continuing education to become an entrepreneur in her neighborhood.
Bimala has not only become a solar technician, installed solar home lighting sets in her village, and repaired solar sets — she has also opened a shop to sell solar and other electrical items.
“Without the help of this program,” Bimala told us, “I couldn’t have done this. So I want to thank you everyone for believing in me.”
Both Bimala and her husband work in the shop Bimala recently opened, and they are already doing good business.
We are so grateful for your role in empowering women like Bimala to bring light and opportunity to villages in Nepal! We look forward to continuing to work together to install more solar light for people in need in remote villages.
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Dear Friends,
Thanks to your support, Karuna-Shechen is bringing light to remote mountain villages in Nepal that have been without electricity – until now!
Our goal was to train local women to install solar lighting systems in households in need, with a special focus on villages impacted by the two earthquakes that struck the country four years ago.
We are thrilled to share this story with you:
Last year, we installed a solar home lighting set for Laxmi, an 84-year-old widow in the Khopachangu Village. She had been living alone for the past five years, relying on a small tuki (kerosene lamp) as her only light source.
We recently visited Laxmi to see how it was going. She told us that before receiving the solar lighting set, much of her time was spent in darkness.
“I can’t work fast because I am old,” Laxmi said. “Now with the lights, I can work slowly and sleep a bit later. I find it very helpful.”
Laxmi then made tea for us to show her gratitude, even though we insisted it wasn’t necessary.
We’d like to pass Laxmi’s gratitude on to you, whose generous support makes it possible to bring light to people in need in Nepal. Solar light is not only improving quality of life, but also increasing the health and safety for people who no longer need to rely on kerosene lamps.
On behalf of everyone at Karuna-Shechen and the villagers we have helped so far, thank you!
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Dear Friends,
It is with great pleasure that we share this update on our campaign.
Our goal was to train local women to install solar lighting systems in households in need, with a special focus on villages impacted by the two earthquakes that struck the country four years ago.
Thanks to your generosity, women are bringing light to their communities! We are thrilled to share this recent story with you:
Kesari was one of twelve women selected to take part in our Solar Training program in 2018. After two full weeks of training, she returned to her village and began her new life as a certified solar technician.
“Before and after work, I cook food at home,” Kesari says. “In the morning I work as a tailor in a local shop, and in the afternoon I install solar sets and do solar related work.”
Following this schedule, Kesari has installed 100 solar sets in her village.
When asked what challenges she faced, Kesari recounts that the household selection process was difficult.
“We only had 100 sets to distribute,” she says, “and many more people wanted them.”
Supported by the village elders and the elected government officials, Kesari selected the households most in need and worked diligently to bring solar light into their homes.
“This process,” she says, “taught me to stick to the right path even when things are difficult. I will continue to do this to help my community.”
We are so grateful for your role in empowering Kesari and other Nepalese women to bring light to villages in Nepal! We look forward to continuing to work together to install more solar light for people in need in remote Nepalese villages.
On behalf of everyone at Karuna-Shechen and the villagers we have helped, together, thank you!
If you have not done so already, please sign up HERE for our newsletter to keep up to date on how we’re making a difference, together.
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