Rural Health, Agriculture Projects, and Livelihood Impacts: 2024 Fall Update (Q3)

The past quarter has been transformative, as we gain direction in new programs and work hard to develop our in-country partnerships.

We launched projects in health and agriculture, expanded health care services, and met with visitors from around the world. And, our team had the immense honor of meeting Rt. Hon. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to discuss our mission in Kalikot.

Whether you’ve been with Oda since 2003, or just learned about us, thank you for being our support: you make this incredible work possible. Read below for our favorite highlights from this quarter, and download a PDF here.

Questions? Send us a note at info@odafoundation.org.

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Redefining Rural Health Care

• In a partnership with Mahawai Rural Municipality, the local government will now fund the 11 hospital staff salaries, an increase from last year’s 6 staff members.

• With our partners at Kanthari International, we’ve secured an ambulance to serve the entire community with emergency response services. The tax-exempt vehicle is a huge component of lower-risk healthcare referrals.

• In developments for maternal health, in addition to safe deliveries at our birthing center, one high-risk case was successfully referred to a higher care center​. Two programs, the Aama Surakshya and Pradesh Kosheli Incentives, distributed over 6,000 NPRs to new mothers.

• At mobile health camps, a long-running Oda Foundation program, seniors over 55 received health screenings at health camps held in 3 rural districts, ensuring that our services and support are reaching the most vulnerable​.

Keystone Projects for Food Security and Sustainable Farming

• With the Fastenaktion Agroecology Partnership, we launched a project to improve food security for 600 households in Mahawai Rural Municipality, focusing on marginalized Dalit communities. The project with Fastenaktion encourages sustainable farming practices to reduce reliance on market-bought food​.

• Construction began for our Greenhouse Project, which provides practical agricultural training to 1,500 students from diverse backgrounds, including Dalit students. This project, in partnership with Kanthari International, aims to teach sustainable farming to young minds and improve community nutrition​​.

• In partnership with our Women’s Cooperative and the District Agriculture Office, the Model Agro Nursery focuses on providing employment and business opportunities to women via horticulture.

School Impacts: Uniforms, WASH, and more

• All students and teachers at Shree Dev Basic School — 150 in total — received new uniforms, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Kathmandu and the Friends and Family Project. The uniforms were sewn by local tailors, boosting local employment​.

• Oda Foundation has hired a new English teacher, Ms. Sadhana, at Shree Tila School.

• Construction of a new water filtration system at Shree Dev Basic School is underway, supported by EcoHimal, ensuring clean drinking water for students and staff​.

Capacity Building with Local Employment

• Our new projects have provided job opportunities and training for our local staff. While trainings don’t always sound exciting, they are critical for long-term sustainability using local employment. Major new trainings for our staff in Quarter 3 included:

  • Maternal & Child Health Orientation program by One Heart Nepal and VDSEF;

  • health camps in Surkhet and Manma;

  • vaccination training;

  • and participatory learning workshops for the Agroecology project team.