World Water Week 2022: Bringing clean water to Barswara

This week is World Water Week, and we wanted to highlight one of the greatest gifts we can give: empowering communities in Nepal with clean water. By ensuring a safe water source and providing education on the importance of sanitation, we see a sharp drop in waterborne diseases.

Gurkha widow Masino Gurung told us that she is forever grateful to the GWT’s donors for helping bring clean water to her village. At 78 years old, Masino cannot walk far distances, and before our intervention she struggled to collect clean water every day.

“We faced a lot of hardship for water in the past,” Masino said. “I have a problem with my back – so it was very difficult to fetch water.”

Masino’s rural village of Barswara is 100km from Pokhara, and you’d need to travel off-road for half the journey to reach it. When we first arrived, it was clear that the communal water tap system was far from adequate – perhaps even dangerous. During the monsoon, the water became dirty as it would fill with debris from its unprotected source, putting the health of villagers like Masino at risk.

The GWT worked together with the villagers to create a plan that would provide water for years to come. From water tanks to pipes to sand and cement, none of it would have been possible without the help of our supporters.

Masino Gurung and her grandchildren can now enjoy clean, safe water.

“The GWT’s new water system was difficult to build and took three months to complete – with everyone working together,” Masino said. “Now, we have water to our doorstep. We have forgotten all the hardship. We are forever thankful.”

Lila Gurung, another villager in Barswara, helped coordinate the water project’s construction as the Chairman of the Water Users and Sanitation Committee. He said the community is thrilled to have safe water at their doorsteps.

“It has become very convenient now,” said Lila. “We have running taps at every house. We use it in our bathroom, kitchen and also to feed the animals. We are no longer required to carry water from the streams and communal taps.

“The donors have helped this remote community. From me personally and the villagers, a million thanks!”

Lila Gurung uses his new water tap stand.

Our Annual Auction is live!

Our online auction week is in full swing! You can now bid on some truly unforgettable items and experiences including a five-night stay at a peaceful retreat in France, an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience of Changing of the Guard, and dinner for two at St James’s Palace. We also have a selection of authentic Nepali items, beautiful gifts and GWT branded clothing and accessories.

Funds raised from the auction will go towards our work in Nepal, providing vital financial aid and medical care to Gurkha veterans and widows.

Bidding is simple and easy, with automatic updates so you don’t get outbid. There are only a few days left so don’t miss out on the chance to win one of these exclusive items!

The auction ends Sunday 28 August at 10pm

Below are just a few of the items available – click here to see the full catalogue!

Changing of the Guard

An exclusive hosted viewing of the Changing of the Queen’s Guard. You will watch the forming up parade in Wellington Barracks, view the full parade from the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, then enjoy lunch in the Officer’s Mess at St James’s Palace.

Day at Formby Golf Club

A fantastic opportunity for you and two friends to enjoy lunch and a round of golf at Formby Golf Club. Founded in 1884, this is one of the world’s greatest links courses, with a combination of well-protected greens, undulating fairways and challenging tee shots.

Five-night retreat in France

La Raziniere is a retreat for former Armed Forces Veterans and those still in service. This amazing prize is for a five-night stay for two at the retreat, in beautiful peaceful surroundings in the Dordogne region of South West France.

Gurkha Kothimora Kukri

We are auctioning two kukri knives made by Heritage Knives of Nepal – a Kothimora Kukri and Parade Kukri. Both have a 10.5 inch steel blade, handle made from black water buffalo horn with brass fittings, and a beautifully decorated scabbard.

The Kukri knife: A Gurkha’s signature weapon

Gurkha soldiers are famed for carrying a kukri, the national weapon of Nepal. This machete-like blade has been used by the Gurkhas for centuries, with some believing it dates back to the 13th century.

Kukris are forged from spring steel with a notch at the end of the blade, designed so that blood and sap drip off the knife instead of seeping onto the hardwood handle. The knives, measuring 16 to 18 inches, are curved with a hard, tempered edge and a softer spine.

When Britain initially encountered Gurkhas in the mountains of Nepal in 1814, the Gurkhas fought so fiercely and admirably with their kukris that they were recruited into the British Army. It was the start of a unique bond that has lasted over 200 years.

Though technology has advanced through the centuries, Gurkhas have carried kukris into every major conflict where the British Army has been deployed. To this day, Gurkha soldiers are issued with two kukris – a ceremonial one for parade, ceremonies and display, and the second kukri for training and general use. The legend goes that whenever a Gurkha draws his kukri in anger, he must also draw blood…

Though the kukri is best known as a ruthless weapon for combat, the knife has several other uses. Gurkhas can use their kukris to chop or carve wood, cut meat and vegetables, dig, and hunt wild animals. The famed knife also has ceremonial uses in weddings and other formal events.

From 22 to 28 August, The Gurkha Welfare Trust is holding its Annual Auction, with two prizes being a Brigade of Gurkhas Kothimora Kukri and a Parade Kukri (pictured below). You can bid on these impressive kukris and other unforgettable items and experiences here.

A Brigade of Gurkhas Kothimora Kukri and Parade Kukri, both available to bid on in this year’s GWT Annual Auction.

Training to take on Nepal’s roads during Monsoon

From around mid-June to the end of September, Nepal suffers an annual, devastating monsoon.

Amongst damage to homes and farmland, the heavy rains cause severe flooding on roads. This can make it all the more difficult for our Pensioner Support Teams to reach Gurkha veterans and widows living in remote villages in the hills.

Although we can predict that the monsoon season will occur from June to September every year, we can’t predict the severity. However, we’re ready to deal with every possible eventuality when traveling to visit vulnerable veterans and widows. This is why our team undergoes rigorous training in how to navigate muddy, flooded roads in motorbikes and 4×4 vehicles.
Watch our trainees in the video below as they tackle bumpy rides, steep inclines, and flooded paths!

Students from Dharbang look forward to their new school

Shree Janapriya Secondary School is the oldest school in Myagdi District, established in the town of Dharbang in 1951. The original school buildings were on a site very close to the riverbank. In 2001, heavy rainfall caused a flash flood and the riverbank to collapse.  Sadly, the main school buildings were swept away. Classes moved to a temporary site in the town, but as student numbers increased to over 600, the existing facility became overcrowded and inadequate, and the quality of education suffered.

Desperately in need of more space and better facilities, the school committee applied to The Gurkha Welfare Trust, and in 2021, construction began on the new school.

During a site visit, GWT staff spoke to some of the students and teachers about conditions at the existing school.

The school is overcrowded and noisy

Devi Bishwakarma, aged 18 and now in grade 12, joined the school in year 10 as there were no high schools near her hometown. Because her house is a 3-4 hour journey from Dharbang, she rents a room near the school. She stays there during the week and at the weekend goes home to see her family, walking as she cannot afford the bus fare. Life is difficult for Devi. She is not from a wealthy family – her father used to work in India and send money home to support his wife and children. Devi’s father sadly passed away two years ago, and it is hard for her to afford the school fees.

Devi says the school is too crowded – there are so many students that the school has to run two shifts, morning and afternoon.

“There are about 95 students in grade 12 in a single class. That’s a lot of students. The students get separated only when we have to study different subjects. Most of the time we study together. Because of the overwhelming number of students, sometimes the class gets very noisy and it is difficult to understand what the teacher is saying.

“But I like this school. It is very good and so are the students. The problem is insufficient classrooms and girl’s toilet. I am not sure about the boy’s toilet but the girl’s toilet is not good and clean.”

“It’s difficult for the children to concentrate and for us to teach.”

The junior classes are taught in a different block about a ten-minute walk from the main school building. Headteacher Indra Tulachand has been teaching at the school since 1982 and teaches all subjects to classes 1-5.

“The school building where I studied was swept away by a flood in 2001. We did not have sufficient space and on top of that the flood took away one of the school buildings so there were fewer classrooms for the students. Now, classrooms have been partitioned with wooden planks. It’s very congested and noisy. It’s difficult for the children to concentrate and for us to teach.”

“Another problem we are facing is that we have this river right next to our school. It’s not safe. The school compound is also not fenced. So, during break time, we constantly have to be on high alert, run after the children so that they won’t go to the edge of the river. We have toilets but they are not sufficient. Students have to queue up to go to the toilet.”

“We are really happy and excited about the new school building”

Students Sunita Bitalu, Anita, Nirjala and Susmita study in grade 10. They walk to school together, a one-hour journey each way. They also talked about the problem of insufficient classroom space.

“In year 10 there are about 100 students. There are a lot of students in our class, which means a lot of noise. It’s more difficult for the students sitting at the back to listen and concentrate on what the teacher is teaching at the front.

We asked the girls about the new school project and how they felt about it.

“We are really happy and excited about the new school building and we wish the school to be the best in the village. We will no longer have morning and day shifts. Everyone can study together with sufficient classes.”

When the school build is completed at the end of the summer, the students will have better infrastructure and much improved learning environment. They also will have new classroom furniture, gender-separate toilets, a clean water supply and handwashing facilities. The building itself will be constructed to earthquake-resilient standard, and the site is away from the river in a safe place where the children, their teachers and parents won’t have to worry about the risk of floods and landslides.

‘May you have a prosperous life’: Bir Maya thanks our supporters

As we head into the monsoon season, our team in Nepal is visiting as many rural pensioners as possible before the roads to their homes become impassable.

Gurkha widow Bir Maya Sunwar lives in a remote village that is very difficult to reach due to poor road conditions – our team from Pokhara have to travel for nearly two days to visit her. So it was essential that we delivered Bir Maya’s pension and medical check-up before the path to her village became flooded from the monsoon.

At 78 years old, Bir Maya doesn’t leave the house much and is dependent on our support. When we visit, she enjoys sharing stories about her late husband Maniraj Sunwar, who enlisted with the Gurkhas as a driver in 1962.

“I got married when I was 26 years old,” Bir Maya said. “My husband was 28 at that time. We got married in 1969. He married me after he was made redundant from the Army.

“My husband used to talk about his Army days. He used to say that he, along with many others, was made redundant and so he had to come back home to Nepal. He said that it was very difficult for people to get recruited into the British Army. He also said that he had to go to battlefield to fight. He liked to share the stories with us.

“After he came back to Nepal, he married me. We worked on the farm together and grow crops.”

After her husband passed away, Bir Maya travelled with her son to collect her GWT pension. “But now, I cannot go anymore as I am getting old and cannot walk very far,” she said.

Today, we deliver Bir Maya’s pension and medical care straight to her doorstep. Without our support, it would take her over 45 minutes to reach the nearest health post, which would be unfeasible with her mobility issues.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Bir Maya does not need to worry about working to afford food or medicine. She lives a peaceful retired life in the countryside, looking after her buffalo, three goats, and a pig.

“I can’t cut grass and feed them like I used to,” Bir Maya said. “But I give them grass which has already been cut by my son.

“I haven’t worked in the fields for a long time. I use the GWT pension to buy food and things needed in the house. The GWT has given me this pension so that I can eat.”

“I really feel happy that there is someone looking after me,” she said. “The Gurkha Welfare Trust has given me medicine, blankets, a pension, and they come and visit me often. So, I am very thankful. When I come to think of it, they are doing good. I am grateful for the love and support they have given me. If there was no pension, then my life would have been very difficult.

“I feel proud to be the wife of a Gurkha soldier. May God bless you and may you have a prosperous life.”

How to make your own Malas (flower garlands)

Across Nepal, garlands, or Malas, are handmade using seasonal flowers. The vibrant and easy growing nature of the marigold makes them a popular choice. Once made, Malas are often found adorning the necks of guests at welcome ceremonies, celebrations or festivals. They even get used to decorate dogs during the celebration of Kukur Tihar!

Make your own Malas

You’ll need:

• A selection of flower heads – cut with permission!

• Some string, wool or twine, cut to around a meter or so

• A knitting needle or similar to make a small hole for threading

Instructions

1. Once you have your selection of chosen flowers, remove the heads from the stems.

2. Using the knitting needle, carefully make a small hole in the back of the flower head.

3. Gently push through the end of your string through the back of the flower head. Continue threading flower heads, before tying the string ends together to complete the loop.

It’s possible to use smaller number of flowers. By tying a knot just after you thread a flower, and then a little further along before you thread the next, you can space the flowers out more.

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Growing marigolds at our Residential Homes

Gardening is a favourite pastime for many of the pensioners at our two Residential Homes in Nepal. You’ll often find marigolds growing at the Homes, along with a variety of fruit and vegetables.

Working on the gardens gives staff and pensioners a chance to unwind and relax, and also gives them a sense of purpose and achievement.

“Gardening helps to create a healthier environment, from producing oxygen to creating more greenery. Spending time outside can help reduce stress.”

– Residential Home Nurse Ujwala Maharjan‎

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Make a Mala at your Garden Gala

This summer we are inviting supporters to host their own Garden Galas in aid of The Gurkha Welfare Trust. Why not make some vibrant mala garlands with family and friends?

Find out more about how to host a Garden Gala here, and all of the materials you need to set up your party here.

Celebrating Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee

In 2022, Her Majesty the Queen becomes the first Monarch to reign over Britain for 70 years. As our way of commemorating this historic occasion, we wanted to highlight the special bond between the Queen and the Gurkhas through the years.

The Royal Family has a long association with the Gurkhas, dating back to Queen Victoria, who established a group of Gurkha Orderly Officers to attend to the Sovereign in 1876. In 1954, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II reintroduced this practice by commanding that two Gurkha Officers should be nominated annually as ‘The Queen’s Gurkha Orderly Officers’ (QGOOs). The Queen insists that QGOOs are by her side at public events. To this day, two soldiers (rotated annually) attend official functions by Her Majesty’s side.

The Queen and the Brigade of Gurkhas, through the years

Photo courtesy of The British Army

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October 1960: The Queen, accompanied by King Mahendra of Nepal, reviews the Brigade of Gurkhas at Buckingham Palace.

Photo courtesy of 6th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association.

June 1962: Her Majesty presenting the Royal Pipe Banners for both Battalions at Buckingham Palace.

December 1972: Queen Elizabeth II attends the premiere of Alice in Wonderland in London, held in aid of The Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Photo courtesy of 6th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association.

1978: The Queen visits the Battalion in Church Crookham.

Photo courtesy of The British Army.

October 1986: Her Majesty escorted by Major Gopalbahadur Gurung MBE, Commander of the Guard of Honour, at the Queen’s Pier Hong Kong Island.

Photo courtesy of 6th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association.

1993: Her Majesty the Queen presents the Queen’s Medal to Lt (QGO) Dharmendra Gurung in Bisley.

The Queen attends our G200 Pageant

In 2015, we held our G200 celebration, marking 200 years of the Gurkhas’ courageous and loyal service in the British Army. To celebrate this momentous milestone, amongst other members of the Royal Family, The Queen attended the G200 pageant in London in recognition of all that the Gurkhas have done for Britain.

The Queen attended the G200 pageant in London in recognition of all that the Gurkhas have done for Britain.

The Queen’s Truncheon Presentation

Photo courtesy of The Gurkha Brigade Association

In 2019, to mark the 25th Anniversary of the formation of The Royal Gurkha Rifles, the RGR formally presented The Queen’s Truncheon to Her Majesty the Queen in a private ceremony inside Buckingham Palace.

The Queen then presented two of her Queen’s Gurkha Orderly Officers with their Royal Victorian Order medals (MVO), in recognition of their services to the Royal family during their tenure over the last 12 months.

Her Majesty had said that it was a pleasure to see The Queen’s Truncheon again, which resides in the safe custody of The Royal Gurkha Rifles.

World Menstrual Hygiene Day: Working to change the stigma in Nepal

Each year on the 28th of May, we celebrate World Menstrual Hygiene Day. Around the world, millions of women and girls face exclusion and discrimination because they menstruate. The stigmatisation can prevent women and girls from getting an education, earning an income, and participating in everyday life.

If menstruation is not understood or managed effectively, it can have a negative effect on well-being for women and girls, including school attendance and learning opportunities. There are also health risks if menstrual hygiene isn’t practised correctly.

The goal of World Menstrual Hygiene Day is to end the stigma of menstruation and make it a normal fact of life by 2030.

Since 2018, the Government of Nepal has recognised the importance of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) and is working to eradicate taboos and encourage dignified menstruation for all women and girls.

Helping through our school projects

Our Schools Programme builds, repairs, and improves schools in remote regions of Nepal, which in turn provides access to education and a better future for Nepali children. Since 1990, we’ve built over 300 schools across Nepal and refurbished over 2,000.

During our school building projects, we construct gender-separate toilets. Clean and separate toilets are incredibly important for female students to feel comfortable attending school during their menstrual cycle.

Empowering young girls

Our team also travels out to rural schools to provide sanitary pads and educate young girls about menstruation, as well as the importance of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. By offering these as part of our school projects, we have seen huge improvements in female student attendance.

At our most recent menstrual health awareness programme at Shree Dudha Pokhari Secondary School in Kaski, we distributed sanitary pads to female students, and held discussions about breaking the stigma around menstruation to help girls thrive in school.

“We don’t have to feel ashamed about the menstruation,” said Bina Pariyar, a student at Shree Dudha Secondary School, after she attended one of The GWT’s workshops. “It is a natural process. We should take good care of ourselves during menstruation. We shouldn’t fear it…now I have got reusable pads, so it is very helpful. We can focus on our studies.

“Thank you, GWT for providing the pads and advocating for us. Our junior students also got to know about the importance of menstruation, so it will be helpful for them in future. Our hygiene and health will improve in the future.”

“Thanks to this programme, young girls do not have to skip school due to menstruation,” said Uttam Kumar Shrestha, the principal of Shree Dudha Pokhari. “Students can focus more on their studies. Thank you to The GWT for helping us.”

Leading the way in community development: Rish Maya’s story

When The Gurkha Welfare Trust begins a water project in a remote Nepali village, we seek to involve everyone in the community. We provide training for those in the village so that they can educate others on the importance of clean water, sanitation, and hand hygiene. We also set up a Water Users Committee to empower the local community to take responsibility for the water project, regularly testing water quality and carrying out routine maintenance. This ensures its sustainability for years to come.

Along with installing infrastructure to provide clean, safe water, one of our goals is to uplift and empower women in the village.

Rish Maya Gurung, aged 46, became involved with our water project for her community in Lapsibot, a village in the Lamjung District. Once she received training from The GWT, she shared what she’d learned with others in her community and became a role model for the village’s youth. After she showed great leadership on the Water Project Committee, she was appointed as a Chairperson of the village’s School Management Committee.

“I was so happy that I was appointed as Chairperson of Lapsibot’s School Management Committee,” Rish Maya said. “Women should not just stay at home and do household chores. We can achieve anything if we set our hearts on it.

“Now, I am confident enough to give my opinions and recommendations. I used to lower my voice in front of men, but now I can speak openly. We need courage and we need to take leadership so that we can move forward.

Rish Maya is a role model in her community, and earned a place on her village’s School Management Committee after showing great leadership on the Water Project Committee.

“I did not go to school when I was young due to difficult circumstances, but I always wanted to be educated. So, I joined informal education. Following that, I became a support teacher and taught villagers. Now, my family is proud of my achievements. We as women should have the confidence to make wise decisions which can help us move forward in our lives.”

Construction continues apace at Shree Prithvi School

Our Schools Programme is one of our longest-running programmes, and it has benefitted children living in hundreds of remote villages across Nepal. Especially after the earthquakes of 2015, many schools throughout Nepal are in need of refurbishment or a complete rebuild.

We are halfway through a major rebuilding project for Shree Prithvi Secondary School, located in Baksila, Khotang. Baksila is about three and a half hours’ drive from our Area Welfare Centre in Diktel. Initially built in 1960 as a primary school, Shree Prithvi Secondary School has grown substantially through the decades. It now runs classes from grade one to 12, as well as an Early Childhood Development class.

Construction on Shree Prithvi is underway.

The only road leading to Shree Prithvi is a dirt path which becomes impassable during peak monsoon season. As Nepal prepares to enter another tough summer of heavy rains and flash floods, our team is working hard to complete as much of the remaining construction as possible by the end of June.

The project at Shree Prithvi started last year with construction of a two-storey building with 12 classrooms and a refurbished library block. This year, we are setting an ambitious goal to construct another two buildings with a combined 18 classrooms, one community hall, one toilet block, a new water tap stand, and a brick masonry incinerator. We’ll also refurbish one of the old school blocks, and furnish all the new classrooms in the school.

Rana Bahadur Rai, Shree Prithvi’s principal, said, “This is the only school in the area offering studies up to grade 12. Other schools in the surrounding villages only offer classes up to grade 8. These villages are about one to one and a half hours away. So, we have students walking over an hour every day to come to our school for higher studies. We now currently have a total of 560 students, 290 girls and 270 boys.

Shree Prithvi Secondary School before The GWT began construction.

“As we have a large catchment area, we hope to attract even more students once we have a fully completed and new building structure with other facilities.”

Shree Prithvi’s students are incredibly excited to study in their brand new classrooms once construction is completed. Yunika Thapa, aged 16, said, “The old classrooms leaked water when it rained. It was also difficult when it was windy. There wasn’t enough light and we had to study in the dark. I think the new school building will be much better, we will have the opportunity to study in a good school. We won’t have to fear sun or rain. It will also have the provision of lights.

“We would like to thank the people who helped build this school, as we will soon get to study in the new classrooms.”

Shree Prithvi students in front of one of the newly constructed school blocks.

Life-changing treatment at our Medical Camp in Diktel

The Gurkha Welfare Trust’s free Medical Camps are highly-regarded in Nepal, with some villagers in remote communities travelling for days to access our first-class treatment. For many, this is the only medical assistance they receive.

Our most recent Medical Camp in Diktel, in the hilly district of Khotang, was another great success. We aided 610 patients with medical check-ups and physiotherapy, and provided 331 patients with specialist treatment in eye, ear, and prosthesis care.

Helping young Sandip walk again

Thirteen-year-old Sandip Rai is from a remote village near Diktel called Khotehang. When Sandip was a baby, a tragic accident resulted in the amputation of his leg. He came to the GWT’s Medical Camp to be fitted for a new prosthetic, so he can walk freely and better enjoy his childhood.

“I study in class six at Pancha Secondary School,” Sandip said. “My leg was burnt when I was five or six months old. I met an elder a few days back who told me that a free medical camp is being held here.”

“They took the measurements for my leg today. They also gave me a new set of crutches. When I get the new legs, I want to travel all over!”

Restoring Nabin’s sight

Nabin Rai spent some years overseas to earn a living. When he returned to Nepal a few years ago, he developed a white spot in his right eye.

“My name is Nabin Rai, I am 37 years old. I am from Indreni Pokhari. It took about 4 hours by bus to get here. I came to know about the camp from the village health post. I have had a white spot in my right eye for four months.

“I used to work as a welder overseas and a metal object had lodged into my eye. The object was taken out two days later after an operation. I think it is the reason for my current situation. The doctors have told me that it needs to be operated on again. The procedure is free of cost.”

The day after his operation, we checked in on Nabin to see how he was feeling. He was thrilled to share that he can see clearly out of his right eye again.

“I wasn’t sure if the operation was going to be successful. But I can see now. I am really happy. I hope that I am able to see like this in the future.

“I want to thank The Gurkha Welfare Trust for bringing back my vision. I hope you will continue to help people like me in the coming days as well. Namaste!”

A new prosthetic for Yubaraj

Yubaraj Bahadur Rai’s father, the late Man Bahadur Rai, enlisted into the British Army with the 10th Gurkha Rifles in 1964. Through the years we provided Man Bahadur with a pension and medical care, until he passed away in 2016. Now, we are honouring his legacy by continuing to support his family in their times of need.

When Yubaraj was younger and went to work overseas, he suffered an accident that resulted in the amputation of his leg. We provide Yubaraj with a Disability Support Grant so that he can afford life’s essentials.

“The grant is the very means for my livelihood,” Yubaraj said. “Without it, it would have been difficult for a person like me to support my family. I have a wife, a son and a daughter. We live in Lichki Ramche, Khotehang. It takes about six hours drive by vehicle to get here.”

Yubaraj came to our Medical Camp in Diktel to be fitted for a new prosthetic leg.

“The GWT called me and even arranged for a vehicle to get me to this Medical Camp,” he said. “They took the measurements today. They have told me that I will be informed when the leg is ready so that I can come and have it fitted.

“I am happy from my heart that you are providing this service to people like us. I hope that I will be able to walk about easily.”

Anthony Wieler, 1937 – 2022

Anthony Wieler was instrumental in the founding of The Gurkha Welfare Trust and in organising the Trust’s very first appeal – to raise £1m from the British public in 1969.

The initial campaign, spearheaded by an advert in the Times, was an overwhelming success and raised over £1.5m (the equivalent of almost £28m in today’s money). On the back of that appeal, The Gurkha Welfare Trust was established and continues to support impoverished veterans across Nepal.

Anthony during his National Service

Anthony served his National Service with 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles (7GR) in the early 1960’s and was incredibly well-respected both here in the UK and in Nepal. When asked in 2013, what it was he loved so much about Nepal, he commented:

“There are so many things, most importantly the people of Nepal. […] Many retired colonels, generals, brigadiers and current generals and brigadiers of Nepal Army used to visit my home in London whenever they came for training.”

Following a successful career in finance, Anthony served as President and Chairman of the Britain-Nepal Chamber of Commerce before becoming a permanent advisor to them.

He remained a fervent supporter of Nepal, the Gurkhas and the GWT cause well into his retirement. He was awarded The Most Puissant Order of the Gorkha Dakshina Bahu (an order of Knighthood) by the King of Nepal in 1998.

Building a safe home for Dhan Bahadur and Sukmaya

Nepal is situated in one of the most seismically active areas on earth, at severe risk of an earthquake happening at any time. Many people in Nepal still feel the effects of the devastating 2015 earthquake which destroyed homes, families and their livelihoods. Since then we have been working tirelessly to build earthquake-resilient homes for our most vulnerable pensioners, so that they will be protected when the next tremors strike.

Having a safe place to call home is increasingly important to Gurkha veterans and widows, especially as they grow older. Rifleman Dhan Bahadur Limbu and his wife Sukmaya were very grateful to the GWT supporter whose donation enabled us to build them an earthquake-resilient home.

Dhan served in the 10th Gurkha Rifles, and he starkly remembers his service.

“I enlisted from Dharan,” Dhan said. “We were then separated and sent to different platoons. We went to Hong Kong. From there, we were taken to the conflict between Indonesia and Malaya in Borneo. Malaya later became Malaysia. The remaining became Indonesia. That’s how the conflict was solved.

“We were then told that we had to leave on redundancy. I was made redundant in 1969, after the conflict was settled between the two parties. I lost a few of my colleagues during the conflict.”

Dhan Bahadur’s medals from his service.

Dhan’s life was tough when he returned to Nepal after being made redundant. He worked in the fields to make a living, and for a long time he and his family lived in an old house made of timber and bamboo. The beams of the home were bent with age and were hazardous in the event of a natural disaster.

Dhan Bahadur and Sukmaya’s old home, which was structurally unsafe.

We constructed a new, earthquake-resilient home for Dhan and his wife Sukmaya, so that they can rest easy knowing they are safe from Nepal’s unpredictable environment.

“I like the house, it is enough for the two of us,” Dhan said. “I would like say ‘Dhanyabad’ to the gentleman who helped us.”

Our Residential Homes: supporting residents like Bhim

When we look at supporting Gurkha veterans and their families in Nepal, we do so holistically. For some, we might visit them at home, check their health, supply regular medication or provide them with some money. For others, living with dignity means needing a lot more than that – full-time care and a safe roof over their head.

Family life in Nepal

In Nepal, the family, as a social institution, is the main source of support and care for the elderly. It is traditional for younger members of the family to help them with day-to-day activities and support them in other ways.

“Traditional family values, including revering elders, and providing care and support to the elderly is considered a social norm and a moral duty for family members.” 

Advances in Aging Research > Vol.10 No.6, November 2021

There are occasions however, where this simply is not possible. With limited industry in Nepal, many children of Gurkhas have had to seek employment elsewhere, with many across the border in India for example – leaving elderly relatives to live alone. These isolating conditions in a country as unpredictable as Nepal can accelerate health issues, both physical and mental.

Our pioneering Residential Homes

Our two pioneering Residential Homes in Nepal (one in Pokhara in the west, and Dharan in the east) provide round-the-clock care to some of our most vulnerable Gurkha veterans and widows who would otherwise struggle to live alone. With no comparable facility in Nepal, they set the standard of care for the elderly. They combine the best in western geriatric care with an eastern culture of respect for elders.

Rifleman Bhim Bahadur Gurung

Rifleman Bhim Bahadur Gurung is a resident at the Home in Pokhara. At 98 years old, he is one of the oldest residents, and the team refer to him as ‘Baje’, translated roughly as ‘Grandad’.

Bhim served in the Gurkhas between 1942 and 1947 and was stationed in Burma, and later Afghanistan.

“In Burma, we stayed in Dhaku. There was a river and we had to stay on the bank of river in our tents for over five months. When they needed more men, they used to select soldiers who were strong and send them to fight.”

Bhim’s three brothers also fought in the Army:

“People used to say that this family will be rich as four of them are in the army but in reality, it was not the case.”

As with so many of the Gurkha veterans we support, the return to Nepal was difficult. However, thanks to our loyal supporters, Bhim is able to live with dignity in his old age.

“Now that GWT is looking after me, I am a lot happier. They have given me a place to stay, good food to eat, medicines. Thank you for the food, clothes, allowances, medicines. It’s good and I am happy.”

Watch Bhim enjoy knitting at our Residential Home:

From bedridden to walking independently: Kalu’s story

Kalu Gurung is the son of late Rifleman Padam Bahadur Gurung of 4/2 Gurkha Rifles. He lives in the small village of Bansar in Lamjung. Kalu’s father was recruited into the British Army in 1940 and discharged six years later without a pension. He received a monthly pension from The Gurkha Welfare Trust which enabled him to support his wife and seven children.

After Padam’s death in 2001, the pension was transferred to his widow, but she sadly passed away in 2006. Kalu has been unable to hear or speak since birth and as he was unable to earn a living on his own, GWT continued to support him by providing him with a monthly Disability Support Grant.

A lifeline for Kalu and his family

Since their mother died, Kalu has been looked after by his elder brother, Nanda Ras.

Kalu pictured with his brother and sister-in-law.

“Both Kalu and my youngest brother, Aita Sing were born deaf. Our father had registered Kalu and Aita Sing with the GWT as ‘disabled’ so I put forward an application. The application for Disability Support Grant was duly approved. This is a lifeline for Kalu and the whole family too. He could not have been able to earn a living and we, being poor, would have been in a very difficult situation to provide him with continuous support.”

Nanda joined the Indian Army, and after he left, returned to the village where he is dependent on subsistence farming.

“I do not have a stable source of income so supporting Kalu and Aita Sing would have been very difficult. Whatever GWT provides for Kalu lessens the burden on me too.

“Kalu used to live in a small shed made of wood and CGI sheet. His health condition started deteriorating about two years back. He became weak and was unable to walk. We had to carry him to the toilet. The mobile nurse at AWC Lamjung recommended that he be checked upon by a GWT physiotherapist. When the physiotherapist came to visit him here, it was discussed that he should be taken to Pokhara for further treatment.”

After months of care Kalu was able to walk on his own

Before Kalu stayed at our Residential Home and received rehabilitation therapy, he could not walk on his own.

In April 2021, 71-year-old Kalu was admitted to our Residential Home in Kaski for rehabilitation.

During his stay we provided continuous care and support, focusing on nutrition, hygiene, exercise and therapy. Kalu loved getting involved in social activities with other residents at the home. His health improved, he was able to move around with the help of a walker, eat by himself, and regained his regain bowel and bladder control.

Kalu in rehabilitation therapy at our Residential Home.

It was a long journey, but after 11 months of rehabilitation, Kalu was fit enough to return home. His family members and the whole village were stunned by the improvement in his health.

“I had thought it was very unlikely that he would recover, I had thought he was not coming back when the GWT team came to pick him up,” said Nanda. “But, on the day when he returned and I saw him walk, I was very happy! I was amazed to see the recovery and transformation that the team was able to make. All the staff involved have helped us a lot. I would like to give them many thanks.”

Kalu is delighted with his new home

While Kalu was in care we commenced construction of a new earthquake-resilient house for him. We have a new design for a one room house with an attached toilet and a kitchenette suitable for beneficiaries with disabilities. There are fixed railings around the house and inside the rooms so that our pensioners can easily walk around. When the house was ready, Kalu was able to return to his village and his new home.

“I would like to thank the British people and everyone involved for helping out my brother who is physically challenged,” said Nanda. “My family and the whole village is very happy and are appreciative of the help given by the British people to my brother. On behalf of my family and me personally too, many many ‘Dhanyabad’ (thanks)!”

World Water Day 2022: The impact of groundwater

On 22 March 2022, World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the global water crisis.

The theme of this year’s World Water Day is groundwater. Although groundwater is invisible, its impact is felt everywhere and enriches our lives. Almost all the freshwater in the world runs beneath our feet, and as the climate crisis worsens, it is increasingly important to manage the precious resource of groundwater.

Many remote villages across Nepal still struggle to find clean, safe water. Traditionally, women and children have needed to walk for hours to collect water. Heavy rainfall and flooding also sweep debris and waste into village water sources, causing a contamination risk.

In partnership with UK Aid, we continue to provide remote villages with access to clean water and sanitation. We search for groundwater high in the Nepali hills and source materials to pipe the freshwater straight to villagers’ doorsteps.

Shuva Bahadur Ale, a villager from Charghare in the Bardibas Municipality, said that before the GWT’s intervention, people in his village shared a communal well which was heavily used and dried up during the dry season. Villagers drinking the well water also risked catching waterborne diseases.

Pictured: The well which the community used previously risked contamination from mud, insects, and waste that would wash in during monsoon season.

“It was difficult at first,” Shuva said. “We did not have sufficient water from the well. We mainly relied on the dug wells in our community. Our dug wells…were not designed to provide a level of service to household premises and cope with increased water demand, so the well could not replenish fast enough to serve more than two households at the same time. It led to an intermittent supply where water was not always available when needed for households use, drinking water, hygiene and sanitation.

“Mainly children and women were facing problems beforehand. Sometimes, children could not attend school on a regular basis, and women had to rush their household activities to fetch the water.

“Now, children can regularly attend the school on time. Women can cook food and provide the lunch box for their husbands who are working in construction sites. There are also less incidents of waterborne diseases.”

As part of our water projects we set up a village committee, to include a Chairperson, Secretary and a Village Hygiene Worker. Forming these committees empowers the community to take responsibility of the project, ensuring its sustainability into the future.

“While receiving the various trainings from GWT, I learned about the importance of safe drinking water, hygiene, sanitation, water quality tests, leadership, how to run the committee, and sustainability,” Shuva said.

Pictured: GWT staff provides the Charghare community with training on water sanitation and hygiene.

In total, the GWT installed 551 tap stands, benefitting 3,035 people and 547 households in the Bardibas Municipality.

Now, villagers in Charghare do not need to worry about inconsistent water supply, contaminated water, or travelling for hours to find water from other sources when their well runs dry. Each household has a tap stand at its doorstep, supplying clean, safe water from the ground up.

International Women’s Day: Leading the community in sanitation education

Asha Waiba became a community leader after educating others in her village about the importance of clean water, sanitation, and hand hygiene.

Bringing clean water to a remote village in Nepal is a mammoth task. There are many steps, from designing the water system and gathering the building materials, to constructing the piping and tap stands. However, the most important part of our water projects is getting the village community involved. We empower residents with education on sanitation and how to maintain their new water system, so they can enjoy the benefits for years to come.

On this International Women’s Day, we recognise the dedication of Asha Waiba, a community member who trained with us during one of our latest water projects in the village of Gaduwa. Asha helps educate others in the village about the importance of clean water, sanitation, and hand hygiene, and is now a role model in her community.

Before our intervention, Asha and other women in her community had to walk for hours to gather drinking water. Because collecting water took so much time out of her day, Asha found it was difficult to balance other responsibilities at work and at home.

“It was very hard at first in the beginning,” Asha said. “We used to collect water from the well or river. It used to take a long time. Most of the women and children had to spend their time fetching the water.”

By drinking water from the well or river, villagers also risked catching water-borne diseases. Asha recounted how during the monsoon period, rats, insects, and dirt would wash into the community’s sources of water.

After training with members of the GWT, Asha learned best practices in hygiene and sanitation, and how to promote these practices within her community. She also learned how to help maintain the water system we installed. Now, she works with others in her community to routinely test the water quality and equipment.

Gaduwa’s clean water supply is stored using an overhead water tank.

“It was difficult to fetch water previously,” Asha said. “At first, the initial challenge was the water source, but we used boring to reach the water supply. We work together as a community on this project. So, we all have the feeling of ownership that we need to manage and sustain this project.

“After all the experience and training, I have earned respect from the community,” Asha said. “Now, women in my community perceive me as a role model and they have been inspired by my work.”

Since finishing our water project in Gaduwa, every household in the village has a tap stand on their doorstep, providing immediate access to clean and safe water. Asha said the women in her community have benefitted greatly from the project, and reports of water-borne illnesses have dropped sharply.

Villagers are thrilled with their water tap stands.

“We have mitigated many conflicts, coordinated with local authorities, empowered communities,” said Asha. “We have come a long way and we will continue to work more effectively to sustain this project.

“Thank you to the GWT…for bringing clean water to my community.”

Transforming Shree Saraswati Balkalyan School

Nearly 1,000 children attending Shree Saraswati Balkalyan Secondary School will have a brighter future, thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

The secondary school, located in the Jhapa District of Nepal, has been completely rebuilt by our team. Students can now learn in 24 new and improved classrooms, fitted with desks, benches, and bookshelves.

As part of the building project, the Trust constructed six gender separate toilet blocks and an incinerator. Our team also refurbished the school’s cafeteria and daycare facility.

“I am very happy that we will now be able to study in this new and high standard building,” said Manisha Rai, a student at the school.

Before construction was carried out, the walls of Shree Saraswati Balkalyan were aged and cracked following damage during the devastating earthquake of 2015. The rooms had been small and overcrowded, with up to 56 students crammed into one classroom at a time. The roofs had also given way and leaked during the monsoon, making it an unsafe environment for the children.

Premkumar Rai was one of the first students who attended Shree Saraswati Balkalyan when it was founded in 1980. Now, he teaches at the school. “When the school was first established, the population was very minimum around the area,” he said. “Our classrooms walls were sheets made of bamboo…there was no roof. Whenever we saw thick dark clouds in the sky, the school would have to close.”

Although the school had made small improvements over the years, like installing CGI (corrugated iron) roofing, the infrastructure was worn down by time and Nepal’s unpredictable weather.

The new school buildings constructed by The Gurkha Welfare Trust will give hundreds of students a safe environment to learn, where they won’t have to worry about leaking roofs, dilapidated desks, or cracked walls.

“I cannot express how happy I am [with the school],” said Premkumar. “The new building will provide an excellent environment. These classrooms will motivate students to attend classes and study. This will help the overall development of students. Social, mental, cultural, and educational development. This will help them achieve it.”

Bringing water to every family in Gaduwa

“Water is one of the most basic things and the most important”

Imagine having to go out with a bucket to collect water before you could make a cup of tea or clean your teeth in the morning. In rural Nepal many people do not have easy access to clean, safe water, one of the most basic necessities of life.

Our water projects pipe water to remote villages in Nepal and install tap stands for every household, bringing clean water right to their doorsteps. We visited Som Bahadur Tamang to find out how one such project at his village in Chitwan has benefited his family and the entire village. Som’s father Rifleman Ram Bahadur Tamang, a Gurkha veteran, died many years ago, and his mother Devi received a pension from The Gurkha Welfare Trust until she passed away three years back.

“My mother has been getting a welfare pension since a very long time ago. She also got to see the completed water project and got to use the water from this project for a couple of years. She was very happy.”

The struggle to fetch clean water

“Before GWT built this water project there was so much problem. There was no water tap in this area. People from this village used to collect water from wells. It was especially difficult in the summertime. We had to dig up wells in different areas and for that we had to call skilled people. They would charge about 5-6 thousand rupees. Despite paying them a good amount of money, the well would dry up quickly.

“So, the people over here had to go and fetch water in nearby rivers. We had to wake up at four in the morning and walk about 30 minutes to one hour just to fetch water. We also had to go to rivers to take a bath and to wash clothes.

“There were wells at the side of roads. Vehicles when passing from that road used to blow away dust which used to dirty the water. Three months of the summer season was really difficult.”

The challenge of bringing clean water to Gaduwa

Due to the difficulty of reaching a clean water source, the project involved drilling down to reach water, and installing an overhead water tank. However we achieved this monumental task and now each household has a tap supplying clean water right to their doorstep.

Initially some villagers had doubts about the project, but Som has been a great advocate for its success. Som said it was because of his father and his service with the Gurkhas that people in the village came to know and respect his family and listened to Som’s advice. With his support and through education from The GWT, villagers came to understand how the project would transform their daily lives.

“During the initial phase of the project, nobody knew about deep boring. They thought no organisation was capable of doing such a big project. They didn’t support us in the beginning. Staff from GWT came and explained to all the villagers and convinced them about the benefits of this project. After the project was successful, all the doubts were cleared.

“After seeing this project, people from other villages also asked for water. I have again filled out a form requesting GWT for a water project in another village.”

Reducing the burden on women

Supplying clean water to the village has reduced the burden on women who traditionally spent hours every day collecting water and doing household chores.

“I used to bring in two buckets in the morning and two in the evening,” Som’s wife explained. “During summer, the water used to be yellowish. My children had white school uniform and while washing their clothes with that water, it used to turn their uniforms yellow. We were also not able to grow crops due to insufficient water.

“It was really difficult. My kids were small at that time. I had to carry them as well as the dirty clothes and go to river to wash them.

“Now, it’s very easy. I can now cook and fill my water bottle at the same time. We don’t have to constantly think of water and think on how to get it.”

“Now all we have to do is turn on the tap”

The completed project in Gaduwa supplied water to 168 households, benefiting 970 people. Not only do they have clean water for drinking, cooking and washing, but they can also use a simple irrigation system to grow vegetables. This enables them to produce crops through the dry season and maintain a healthy diet.

“The first thing in peoples’ minds as soon as they woke up was to fetch water because even to brush your teeth you need water,” Som said. “Water is one of the most basic things and the most important. Now as soon as you wake up you can freshen up, do other work and the best thing is, to get water, all you have to do is turn on the tap. It’s that simple now.

“So, thank you very much to the donors and GWT for providing us with water in such a place and making all of our lives easier. We can’t give you anything in return except blessing and good wishes.”