Sustainable Toilet Programs Improve Health and Livelihood

Basdev Chaudhary lives in the rural Rampurwa District of Nepal.  Ethnically, she belongs to the Tharu community, the indigenous people of Nepal.  Like many Nepali villages, toilets or any form of santiation is almost unheard of, and areas like Rampurwa are often overlooked by NGO organizations.  Until now.

Living Earth Institute (LEI) and local partner Bikas Bikalpa Sanstha (BBS) work in the Rampurwa village to empower the communities to improve their health and livelihood through the development of santiation and water resources.  LEI first works on the ground helping community members define their needs and also providing organizational support needed to make the overall project sustainable.

This village established women’s training and micro-lending programs as a prioritiy.  Therefore, along with participating in the sanitation program, Basdev is a member of her local savings and credit group, where women have been able to start their own businesses, take training, and invest in projects to improve thier economic standing.

There is no question that lack of proper sanitation facilities has the largest negative impact on public health.  LEI in partnership with you and the people of Rampurwa are changing that in remarkable, sustainable ways.

Thank you for your gift of good health and livelihood to Basdev and her family.