Expansion Report

Dear Sponsors,

I would like to inform you that the works to extend the day care centre (DCC) will start soon. The extension had a big delay due to the lack of water. The reason is that we had a lot of landslides in August 2007, which destroyed about 600 meters of pipelines. QOLN had the intention to repair the pipes already in 2008, but the villagers were not there to cooperate. Also QOLN had to search for a new fund of 6.000 euro to repair the pipes and this was finally donated by a Belgian organization at the end of 2008.

Finally, at the end of January 2009, QOLN could motivate the villagers of Sarangkot (who had been waiting for the cooperation of the neighbor village Kaskikot, without success). Together they made a contract and on Friday the 6th of January the water pipes were bought in Pokhara and transported to Sarangkot.
Since that day a group of 9 people are working continuously in the jungle, to connect the pipes over the cliffs and the landslides. It is a very dangerous work and I went to take photos just on the day they were bridging a big landslide. But the workers are well-disposed towards getting water to the village and they were very happy to show me the drinking water.

On the 20th of February I visited the water project for a second time and they could show me the water reaching the water reservoir. In the next 2 weeks they will work on to finish the pipes to the village and the school and to make some more water taps.

If everything goes as planned, QOLN will organize a meeting after 2 weeks, to start the building of the DCC. An architect made the plan already and they appointed an engineer.

The total cost for the new floor will be 22.000 euro. We funded 17.000 euro in 2008 and hope to find still the extra 5.000 euro.
The raising of the price is due to the increase of the metal and cement price (which doubled from last year!)

To build in Nepal asks for a lot of water. The shortage of water in Sarangkot is a problem for years, and hopefully we will be able to solve this now.

We are very grateful for your financial support and your patience. I hope to give you good news of the start of our DCC in our next report.

Warm greetings,

Sabine Molemans – Sharma