Small grants make big gains for local culture and environment in Nepal

["Irfan Khan" <khania2@super.net.pk>]

[source: UNDP Newsfront - 27 Nov 2002]

Small grants make big gains for local culture and environment in 
Nepal

<...>

Villagers in remote Bongadovan in Baglung district in central Nepal, 
are using solar power for lighting, which helps them produce 
colourful traditional crocheted bags 
[http://www.hlf.org.np/help.htm#Products ] that are marketed on the 
Internet by the Himalyan Light Foundation 
[http://www.hlf.org.np/help.htm ], the organization carrying out the 
project. 

Solar power replaces smoky, unhealthy kerosene lamps, making it 
easier for women crocheting the bags during the evening and for 
children studying at home. The sale of one woollen bag per month for 
two years will pay back loans for installing solar power. Today all 
the 105 households in the village are using solar power and earn $110 
a year on average from the sale of the bags. 

Ms. Mikkola credits the Himalayan Light Foundation for not only 
linking clean energy and income generation, but also using e-commerce 
as an international market tool. "It is a unique approach indeed in 
Nepal," she said. 

There are 18 projects supported by the UNDP GEF Small Grants 
Programme underway in different areas of Nepal demonstrating how 
communities can find a balance between economic development and 
environmental conservation. 

For further information please contact Sangita Khadka, UNDP Nepal, or 
Trygve Olfarnes, UNDP Communications Office. 

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