ABOUT US
The Chitepani Trust is a Charity registered in England. Charity Number1114778. The Trust was established on June 22nd 2006.
Trustees
- Ann Armstrong
- Peter Luckin
- Marilyn Luckin
- Rosemary Bramah
Our Man in Nepal
- Tika Ram Sapkota
Objectives
The objectives of the Trust are the advancement of health and education in socially and/or economically disadvantaged communities in Nepal and elsewhere and in particular (without prejudice to the generality) to promote primary health care, education and development projects to meet the needs of the people living in Chitepani and the surrounding region of Nepal.
Activities
The Trust provides funds for:
- Medical equipment at the Chitepani Primary Health Centre
- The employment of a trained Health Worker and Assistant
- Medicines and first aid requirements
- Enabling Doctors to visit Chitepani
- The continuation of child vaccination and family planning campaigns
By this support it has been possible to extend usage of the facilities to other communities on the mountainside.
The Trust also gives financial support to:
- Projects to raise the standard of living of the people of Chitepani
- Teaching materials and capital projects for the Chitepani Primary School
How it all Began
I first visited Chitepani when I was on a walking holiday in Nepal at Christmas 1999. Tika Ram Sapkota, our trekking guide, was brought up in the village. He was later to become the key link in establishing The Chitepani Trust.
A further trip to Nepal the following year, again with Tika as guide, included a visit to Chitepani. The remoteness of this stunning village along with the spontaneous warmth and generosity of those who lived there, despite the hardships imposed by subsistence farming, had an enormous impact on me. It contributed to my decision to return and give what help I could to the village school.
It was about a year later, while resident in Chitepani, that I was confronted with the need to establish there, some sort of medical provision. The nearest doctor was 17kms away in Pokhara, a hazardous journey, especially for those who, because of ill health or infirmity, need to be carried. Tika explained to me that the villagers longed to have their own health care centre. Sadly, an earlier promise of financial help for this purpose from a foreign visitor had come to nothing but not before a small building had been rented and a health worker appointed. When it became clear that the promised funds would not be forthcoming, the villagers knew they had no way of raising the necessary money. With Tika, I met with the villagers to discuss how the project might be saved but at that time I didn't have a clue!
Since then I have been encouraged and amazed by the number of people who have, in so many ways, come forward to help. The project has generated its own momentum. There have been times when obstacles have initially appeared insurmountable, but have in fact proved not to be the case. Whenever we have needed specific expertise, funding has presented itself, sometimes from the most surprising sources. The future presents many challenges, not least of these being the continuing need for fundraising. Financial security will enable the Trust, in partnership with the people of Chitepani, to support health, education and development projects for the benefit of the mountain community.
[Ann Armstrong, UK Co-ordinator, Chitepani Trust]