In May 2025, a team from MAP/Namaste, comprising Ms. Nancy Dotta, the administrator responsible for Nepal, Mr. Nicolas Ryter, the Programs Coordinator, and several volunteers from Monaco, including a highly qualified dentist, went to Nepal on a mission to monitor ongoing projects, evaluate the situation in the field and reflect on development prospects. Avignon’s ANA association, a long-standing partner, was also on board for its first joint mission. The visit was dense and rich in exchanges, marked by strong human encounters and a particular national context: a teachers’ strike temporarily paralyzing the education system. Despite this, the mission was successfully carried out in the various regions concerned.
At the heart of the mission: a visit to three schools built and supported by MAP/NAMASTE: in Dhuseni, Salleri and Rigaon Highschool. The aim: to assess the state of the infrastructure, and meet the principals, teachers and pupils. Although the national teachers’ strike limited certain interactions, we were able to exchange views with the educational teams present and witness their commitment in a difficult context. Education remains a priority, and our support for schools is growing stronger in this context of legitimate wage demands.
Our team also revisited the botanical trail, a testament to our environmental commitment, to check the state of preservation and visibility of the orientation table plaque. We were also able to see for ourselves how well the two Community Recycling Centers (CRC) in Rigaon and Tawal, set up in collaboration with DOKO Recyclers, are working. These initiatives have been well received by local residents, illustrating the concrete impact of our actions on local sustainable practices.
Individual support: scholarship holders at the heart of the project. In Kathmandu and Rigaon, we met the beneficiaries of our scholarship program. These exchanges enabled us to assess the individual and family impact of the support provided, and to strengthen the bonds of trust with the young people involved in their school careers, often in precarious conditions.
Women’s Empowerment: towards a tapestry workshop. Our Women Empowerment Program (WEP) is currently being reoriented towards a new activity: tapestry-making. This project aims to provide women with new, income-generating craft skills, while promoting local know-how.
Meeting with the authorities and institutional strengthening. In Phulkarka, a meeting with local authorities provided an opportunity to discuss regional priorities and strengthen synergies with local authorities. Finally, an administrative meeting was organized with our local partner NARAA to review current projects, revise operating procedures and check general accounts in the interests of transparency and good governance.
This mission once again illustrates our commitment to working alongside communities in the field to promote sustainable, participative human development that respects local realities.
