Transform Lives in Nepal: Donate for Health and Livelihood

I'm Steve Folmar, currently an associate professor of anthropology at Wake Forest University. I am in my 70s and nearing retirement. I have lived with, studied, and worked to improve the health and livelihood of marginalized people in Nepal for over 20 years. Over the course of my career, I have come to embrace how important it is for me to give back to the people who so generously invited me into their lives and willingly answered my endless questions, no matter how silly, intrusive, or embarrassing they might be.

While living among Nepali people, they generously gave me their time, their deep concern, and regard. The less they had, the more they gave. People in the most meager circumstances housed me, fed me, transported me, and taught me. It's a debt I can never fully repay. But, I can give back in meaningful ways. And you can help.

I am raising money to help the people of two villages in Lamjung district, Nepal, called Maigum and Rawal Gaun address their livelihood and health needs. I have come to know and care about these people through our mutual regard. I have become part of their "family" and they have become part of mine. I share their joys and sorrows. In converstation with the people of Maigum and Rawal Gaun, we collaborated to identify meaningful, feasible goals. By reaching them, we hope to help improve their well-being through this fundraiser.

These underserved communities endure the conditions of low income and poor health. Many families deal with multiple intertwined challenges to their physical and mental health. Their main obstacle to better health is the lack of economic resources.

They are not looking simply for a handout. The people in these villages are intelligent, industrious, caring, and committed. What they lack mostly is the money necessary to begin improving their lives. Financial assistance is something we can provide. I cannot do it alone, so I need your support. A modest amount of money in the US can go quite a long way to helping with health needs.

A small donation from you can support:

Raising goats. Poverty is the main obstacle to a better and healthier life. The community can increase their household economies through buying goats and providing for their needs. The outcome is increased cash, or access to milk and meat, or both. A mere $75 will purchase one goat for one family. Or $75 could be used to provide the materials to build a pen for a goat. $150 would provide both. There are 45 households in these two villages; $6750 is sufficient to empower every family to raise goats.

Microcredit loans. Raising goats is a great start, but this alone will not raise the standard of living enough. We will also establish a fund of $5000 for microcredit, low-interest loans to individuals who need funds to start or support an initiative to increase their income.

Health insurance. A family can be covered with insurance for a whole year for $27. This donation covers $580 of health service for the year, making access in reach for most families. Each household would be covered for an entire year for a mere $1215.

Urgent care for serious conditions like cancer is more expensive and ongoing. A cancer patient can travel to the cancer hospital, receive treatment, and provide room and board for a family member for $400 per treatment. Treatments often entail several visits, possibly plunging a family into a massive debt of $2000, $3000, or more. We hope to build a fund of $4000 to take care of dire medical situations.

The remaining money, approximately $4000, will be used to address emergent social, educational, economic, and health needs. A portion could be used, for example, as a scholarship to assist a student with fees associated with attending primary, secondary, or higher education. It can also stand as an emergency reserve for disasters, which are not uncommon in Nepal.

Will you please help? Your contribution will improve the lives of deserving people and enhance your own. With much gratitude, Namaste. Steve

For more information, please contact me at your convenience.