Introduction:
Mr. Maarten Olthof travels to various parts of the globe especially to the underdeveloped and developing countries. During these visits he saw the level of poverty in these various countries and felt the need to contribute for their upliftment. He then started these projects on a small scale in Madagascar and Ecuador, followed by Nepal. As the success of these projects grew and funds started flowing in which could enable the formation of Vajra Foundation Holland in 1997. Soon after establishing Vajra Foundation Holland, a Nepalese counterpart was established, Vajra Foundation Nepal in 1998. Vajra Foundation Nepal (VFN) is a non-governmental, non-profit making, non-political, non-religious and non-sectoral social organization established in 1998. It is registered in District Administration Office, Kathmandu (Registration number is 717/054 B.S as per the Organization Registration Act 2034 BS). It is also affiliated with Social Welfare Council, NGO Federation Nepal and Blood Donor Association Nepal (affiliation no. are 9160/056 B.S., 127/058 and 802/058 respectively). VFN has been working in collaboration with United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital- Sinamangal, Lutheran World Federation and Nepal Medical Association too.
Vision: To help in improving the education, health and socio-economical conditions of the villagers who are backward and to enable them to become independent and self-reliant.
Mission: To conduct training and make them a skilled individuals by using natural resources of villages in order to make them self-reliant.
Goals:
- empower local communities
- to use the natural resources of the village surroundings
- promote and make villagers aware of their skills
- conduct training and programs to make them a more self reliant.
- resolve their requirements by introducing a self reliant and awareness policy.
Objectives:
- To make people aware regarding the issues of environmental protection.
- To provide scholarships to intelligent children below poverty line and orphans.
- To run an educational program for the poor, disabled and orphans.
- To improve the appropriate technologies for basic needs & create opportunities to improve the quality of life & economic status. · To provide the technical and management support in the field of energy and environment.
- To conduct various study and exchange information, share experiences and ideas related to rural development with other NGO’s.
- To execute the developmental activities in conduction with governmental agencies.
- To provide necessary training in order to upgrade the skills of the people.
- To motivate the people to unite and work collectively for the development of communities.
- To help people become aware about the need of development of their villages and communities.
Vajra Foundation Nepal & its activities: The following are the main activities of the foundation;
- Community Health Development Program:
- Free health camp program:
- Building construction program:
- Solar cooker program:
- Kitchen gardening program:
- Improved cooking stove program :
- Improved Livestock program:
- Dalit Support program:
- Educational scholarship program:
- Vajra Academy :
Vajra Foundation Nepal Board:
Mr. Ramkaji Paudel Chairman
Mr. Dor Bahadur Bhandari Vice-chairman
Mr. Tika Dhoj Bhandari Secretary
Mr. Laxman Thapa Treasurer
Mr. Bhupendra Bikram Thapa Executive Member
Mrs. Bimala Pandit Executive Member
Mr. Damodar Paudel Executive Member
Achievements of Vajra Foundation;
Community Health Development Program
Area: 8 VDCs of Sindhupalchok (Ramche, Mankha, Petku, Thumpakhar, Dhuskun, Barhabise, Ghumthang and Maneswara) Beneficiaries: Training
- AHWs (Auxiliary Health Worker)
- 8 VHWs (Village Health Worker)
- 7 MCHWs (Mother and Children Health Worker)
- 72 FCHVs (Female Community Health Volunteer)
- 1 male and 1 female selected members of each ward (= 144 people), 48 schools
First-Aid & Health Instruments
- 48 Schools, 72 FCHVs, 7 MCHWs and 8 VHWS
- Strecher for each wards
- Toilet and Drinking water supply construction most school.
Follow-up Camp (Organized in each 6 months)
- 1,000people benefited.
Kitchen Gardening
- About 900 mothers are trained and distributed seeds to them.
Altogether about 45000 people are benefited by this program
Free Health Camp Program
Area: Sindhupalchok district (patients from Neighbor districts and About 200 Tibetan are also benefiting)
About 18,000 people benefited by nonsurgical consultancies and medicinal support camp
About 1,500 people benefited by minor/ major surgical camp.
Solar Cooker Program
Area: Seven Bhutanese Refugees Camp of Jhapa and Morang District of Eastern Nepal (About 85,000 refugees are benefited)
6847 Solar Cooker has been distributed.
29,580 Aluminum cooking pots have been distributed.
14790 hey-boxes have been distributed.
Improved Cooking Stove
Area: Sindhupalchok district
About 220 stoves constructed and trained about how to construct.
About 220 housewives get rid of from smoke directly and thousands got also because after training they constructed for their neighbor also.
Animal Husbandry Program
Goat rearing in Ramche: 22 goats were distributed and local are continuing it as it is the source of income.
Building Construction Program
Area: Sindhupalchok district
1 Primary and 3 Secondary school was constructed and provided sufficient educational, musical sport materials; (About 3,000 students are getting quality education of their level) , 2 Secondary school building is under construction.
1 floor of Primary healthcare center Barhabise was upgraded and instruments were provided. (Capacity of building has been increased as it has greater patient flow and facilities helped to serve more than hundred extra patients in a day)
Drinking Water and Toilet construction Program
Toilet- 47nos., Drinking water-37nos. has been constructed and altogether about 30 thousands students benefited. (from Simavi)
35 Toilet s and 14 drinking water tap by Vajra in School (before Simavi) and about 10000 benefited.
Drinking Water Supply in Chulthi & Arukharka– about 300 people benefited.
Educational Program
Scholarship Program:
- 121 students are being sponsored.
- 59 students are studying in Merryland and other university (higher than class 9)
- 146 students are studying in Vajra Academy (Up to class 5)
Altogether about 150 (including the families whose child already completed study) families are benefiting and foundation got same numbers of volunteers to work in local level.
Vajra Academy:
Vajra Academy is constructed and operated from 15 April 2007 from Class Nursery to Class 3 (Six classes) & up to class 9.
Building and premises is Eco-friendly with solar steam Kitchen, Bio-gas installation and other Eco-friendly practices.
23 teachers and 1 Principal are the Academic staffs.
No. of Benificiaries (Directly/indirectly)
| S.N. | Program | Direct Beneficiaries | Indirect Beneficiaries | Total |
| 1 | Solar Cooker Program | 85,000 | All the human being due to less air pollution | 85000 |
| 2 | Health Camp | 20,000 | About 15,000 got consultancies only but not medicine mostly in follow up camp | 20000 |
| 3 | Scholarship Program | 150 | About 1000 (Assuming 6-7 family members) | 1000 |
| 4 | Water Supply and Toilet Construction | 40000 | 40000 | |
| 5 | Kitchen Gardening | 900 | About 6000 (Assuming 6-7 family members) | 6000 |
| Saving and Credit | About 250 | Assuming 6-7 family members | 1500 | |
| 6 | Building construction School Building Primary Health center | 8000 60000 | 30 VDCs are benefiting and neighbor districts are also benefited. | 8000 60000 |
| 7 | Vajra Academy (a secondary level school) | 310 Students +26 teachers+14 staffs | Sponsored students and family. (There are about 180 paying students also) | 400* |
| 8 | Goat rearing | 50 | About 500 (Assuming 10 farmers family members) | 500 |
| 9 | Community Health Development Program | About 50000 people | 50000 | |
| 10 | Improved Cooking Stove | 220 house | About 8000 Assuming 6-7 family members of 1500 family (Neighbors also constructed learning from them) | 8000 |
| Total | 2,80,500 |