Sagarmatha International works in three regions of Nepal.

The community is very active and well organized. In Nepal, local tradition and culture have a strong sense of solidarity leading for example to make joint work during the harvest season or to build small infrastructures such as irrigation canals, trails, unpaved stretches of road.

"Thulopakhar Village Development Committee", the local committee, is elected by the community to identify the population needs and promote solutions to fill the gaps. In Thulopakhar the main sources of income are agriculture (mainly for self-consumption) and internal remittances sent by relatives leaving the village to work in other regions of Nepal (on permanent or seasonal basis). Therefore Thulopakar area has been targeted by Sagarmatha International development action in 2008 under the informal program. Since 2011, as soon as the solid school building hosting 120 children was finished, Sagarmatha has been committed in a feasibility study to achieve the next goal: to build a health center to serve the entire area and 6000 residents. In the area is very active the “Women Community”, a five hundred women association that mobilize resources to run a small microfinance program and pay for basic health services. The association is self-financed and operates through membership fees and monthly savings’ collection of 100 Rupees (one Euro) from each member.

Bungmati, Lalitpur District

Bungamati is a tipical Newari village of the sixteenth century located in Lalitpur District, an hour’s drive north of Kathmandu.

The main sources of income are agriculture and handicraft. Bungmati is famous for finely woodcarving artisans. In Bungmati Sagarmatha International works with woodcarving artisans and a group of skilled metal craftsmen producing finely decorated objects of exquisite workmanship thanks to an art handed down from father to son.

 

Gorka

Located in the district taking its name, five hours drive from Kathmandu and 2,200 m in height, Gorka was the birthplace of King Prithvi Narayan Shan, the conqueror of the Kathmandu Valley and founder of modern Nepal.

Today, climbing the stairs that stand behind the homes of the artisans of Sagarmatha International, we can see the Durbar Gorka, a magnificent example of Newari architecture, exquisite and powerful at the same time a fortress, palace and temple, a place of pilgrimage and devotion. In Gorka Sagarmatha is working with a small group of weavers.