Update from BHW Nepal Partnership Facilitator

Recent Events

Activities

The situation in Nepal with COVID-19 has caused people to become disinterested in receiving loans and all they want is a handout so this is making the lending of funds very difficult. This places pressure on the Resource Centres that have been established. 

However, the Books Reading Cafe has begun and is doing OK. It is not as good as they hoped for but it is OK, ticking over and making a small profit which is all they can hope for at present. 

There is not enough space in the cafe for books and reading. They use the roof as well for a church service.

Just as they opened the cafe, COVID arrived so things did not go smoothly and there was a financial crisis in the country as well. But they wanted to do something anyway, so in a small space the cafe has started. Once things have picked up they will find a good place and buy books for customers to spend time in the cafe. Currently no-one wants to stay near to each other. Tourism has also totally stopped as there are still restrictions on travelling.

Cafe

Currently there are eight people working in the cafe and some evenings a few more casual staff come to help. Anywhere between 50 and 200 clients visit the cafe each day with more people generally coming in the evening. Unfortunately the government does not allow them to open after 10 pm due to COVID and public pressure.

The cafe is run by a group of Christian youth and Mr Saatis is the manager. They are doing a good job and seem to enjoy the opportunity to work and to learn. 

Ideas for the Future

Something is developing among the young people who come to the cafe. It is an incubation centre for the students where they can gather together to research new business activities which can meet today's challenges. They envisage it being a centre of counselling, empowerment, research and a think-tank. There is a real need for this, specifically to eradicate the foreign oriented mindset that has developed. Most students and young people in Nepal want to leave and go to a foreign country and settle down there. They don't think of getting a good job in Nepal which suits their education and qualifications. They think that living in a foreign country is better than to remain in Nepal. They cannot imagine that they can do many things in Nepal and have dignity. They are all striving to leave. Of course, the majority go to India and never come back.  

Many students had applied for countries like USA and Australia, had their visas and admission but were not able to go due to travel restrictions. They are just attending their classes online with a $3,000 annual fee. They expected to earn some money in the countries they were going to and all their plans have failed and now they are stranded. This is a good time to help them gain a different perspective. 

Current Issues and Challenges

The big issue is still COVID. It is restricting what they can do and how much they are able to earn with limited hours of operation. 

Prayer and Praise Points

1) COVID and government policies are the main issues they need prayer for. Please pray for relief from the pandemic and that the vaccines can reopen travelling. This will make the cafe very profitable.
2) Praise the Lord that the cafe has begun and is functioning in the current environment. This is giving them all great experience.  

Comments

It is great that they have got underway despite the circumstances. If they can survive in this environment it will set them up for better times. Repayment of the loan to the Resource Centre fund will be slower than expected but I have every confidence that Niranjan will make it work.  

It is great that eight young people are getting employment and experience.