Total Population: 23 Million
GNP per capita per year: US$220
(compared with US$33,900 in the USA)
Total adult literacy rate: 28% (23% females, 58% males)
Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births): 75
Tuberculosis: More than half of the 23 million population are infected with TB
90,000 suffer from acute tuberculosis.
44,000 new infecions every year
Leprosy: India, Myanmar and Nepal account for 70% of the world's leprosy cases. At the beginning of the year 2000 13,572 cases were registered in Nepal.
HIV/AIDS: At the end of 2001 38,000 cases of HIV infections were estimated in Nepal. More than 2,500 children have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
The Kingdom of Nepal is among the twelve poorest countries in the world. Imported goods exceed exported goods by 3.5 times. Due to decreasing employment and educational possibilities in the mountainous regions there is increased migration towards the valley of Kathmandu.
In Boudhanath, an area close to Kathmandu, many destitute people gather to beg from tourists visiting the Holy Stupa. ROKPA has given short and long term aid in this area through the following projects:
The ROKPA Soup Kitchen
The ROKPA Soup Kitchen serves about 800 meals a day during the winter, giving people hot milky tea and warm bread for breakfast and a nutritious meal of rice, lentils and curried vegetables for lunch.Basic and emergency treatment is offered in the Soup Kitchen's Medical Tent. In cases of severe sickness or when an operation is necessary the patients are transferred to doctors and hospitals. In addition temporary shelter for sick people and pregnant women is offered, as well as warm clothing.
The work involved is carried out by local people (eg cooks) and volunteers from all over the world. Every year up to 40 helpers come to Kathmandu to work on a voluntary basis from 4 to 12 weeks.
ROKPA Children's Home
The ROKPA Children's Home opened in March 1996 and over 50 neglected or orphaned children are now taken care of in familiar surroundings and sent to school.
After many years in rented accommodation, a new home was opened in March 2005. It is run by a small team of locals who give a high quality of loving care. All the children go to local schools. Eventually, they will be trained in a skill or go onto higher education.
Women's Workshop
Women in Nepal are often married and have had children at a very early age, so missing out on their education. Many are abandoned by their husbands and are forced to beg to support themselves and their families.
Since 1996 ROKPA has offered apprenticeships for women. They are taught to design and sew clothes and other articles. These are sold to support the women and their families and give their children an education. This workshop has been approved by the Fair Trade Organisation.
ROKPA UK Overseas Projects
Kagyu Samye Ling, Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfriesshire DG13 0QL
Telephone: 013873 73232 Ext: 3
Fax: 013873 73223
email: charity@RokpaUK.org
ROKPA Trust Reg. Charity No: England & Wales (1059293): Scotland (SCO38628)