Reports of the 7th AGM | Namaste Nepal

Annual General Meeting 2070/2013 
8th September 2013, Sunday  | Dechenling Garden Restaurant, Thamel


The meeting, chaired by President Mr.Megh Ale, started at exactly 2:00 PM at the Dechenling Garden Restaurant with a formal conversation. Nima Lama, General Secretary welcomed everyone, highlighting the purpose and agendas of the meeting. The following were picked up as the agenda for the meeting and soon after, a welcome drink of fresh lemon juice was served.

Participants in the meeting 

1. Mr. Megh Ale Founder/President and Director- NAMASTE NEPAL
2. Mr. Nima Lama General Secretary- NAMASTE NEPAL Board
3. Mr. Raj Gyawali Member, NAMASTE NEPAL Board
4. Mr. Mohan Lal Shrestha Member, NAMASTE NEPAL Board
5. Mr. Durga Das Shrestha Member, NAMASTE NEPAL
6. Mr. Nima Tshering Lama NAMASTE NEPAL, Project Coordinator


Agenda and decision points:

1. Annual progress report presentation: The coordinator presented the annual progress report and activities of Namaste Nepal. He also explained the current situation of the ongoing program in the respective area.

Conclusion: After a long discussion, we have come to generate different ideas, views, and possibilities to move forward on the efficiency of our work. This part also included the following points.

-> To empower the student committee and identify their key roles and responsibility and possibility approach should come through them for further development. Similarly, school management and teaching staff should empower the effective implementation of the project.

-> By suggesting them to form student alumni and make them involved in every activity of the school is the best way to follow up with the student who left school after completion of grade ten. Even a program should be prepared for them to make a tour to the reputed school for observation and let them implement it in the village.


2. Financial report: The financial report had prepared to present at AGM so, each copy was handed over to each of the participants. Treasurer clearly read out all the financial reports of the fiscal year 2069/70's expenses and explained the procedure of the financial management system to the participants. Though we work on the English calendar, there is a provision to prepare the report according to the Nepali fiscal year which starts from the 16th of July to the 15th of July next year.

Conclusion: Board has approved the financial report and its arrangement. However, everyone has assured financial transparency within the organization. Adding to this point, the board has also decided to recruit an experienced accountant in the near future for a regular update to supporters and board members about the investment of the organization.


3. Newsletter: For those who have been not using the internet, but working very closely with the organization- a newsletter is the best way to pass all the reports. Also, we will be preparing a newsletter to circulate around board members and provide a printed copy to each of the schools.

Conclusion: Board Members must be constantly updated, through emails and newsletters about the progress of the works and activities.


4. Eye Camp: Though every two years is scheduled for the eye camp program, we are searching locations and favorable times for the eye camp program. After a month there will be a national festival that starts and remain for a long period, which may not be effective to organize eye camp during the festival, so still we are behind the date.

Conclusion: After a long discussion board has decided to organize an eye camp during winter. The final decision for the specific date and location will finalize at the next meeting whereas the eye camp area will be selected on a need basis.

5. New board members: Some of the board members have resigned from the board directory. The 7th AGM appreciate their contribution from the establishment of the organization till date. The Board confers and makes a plan to replace vacant positions with some of the enthusiastic board members from the representative projected site/our partner village in the board.

Conclusion: For the first step, Board members Mohan Shrestha and Durga Shrestha will be finding out new candidates who could suitably be on our board- professionals who can assist us with our work, and people related to the field. In the same way, the coordinator will share information in Dansing and appeal to send a representative on board of Namaste Nepal.

6. Reshuffle board members: Decisions were also made on Board reshuffling and adding new members to the Board. The working duration of the executive on the board is 2 years as it has clearly been mentioned on the constitution of the organization during registration under the District Administration office.

i. Mr. Megh Ale - President
ii. Mr. Mohan Lal Shrestha - Vice President
iii. Mr. Raj Gyawali - General Secretary
iv. Mr. Nima Lama - Treasurer
v. Mr. Durga Das Shrestha - Member
vi. …………………………. - Member (a representative from the village)
vii. ……………….. - Member (a representative from the village)


The meeting concluded with the board of thanks to supporters, well-wishers, all board members, and associates for their contribution.

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Field Report | 07 Sep 2013

 - Nima Tshering Lama | Coordinator


Kali Devi Secondary School:
Grade Ten Students: There are 15 students in grade ten who are preparing to appear final grade ten exam (SLC) School Leaving Certificate examination for this year from Kali Devi Secondary School. I have found grade 10 students from the neighboring village staying at Gati for extra classes in morning start from 6:00 to 8:30 am. Here, I can say students are doing labor on their study for better result on upcoming examination. On the last examination, out of 11 students 9 have succeed to pass exam on first attempt and one has reappeared for second chance exam whereas one student has already left his study and didn't come to appear chance exam for second time. He refused to agree advice from school to convince him to continue his study. His family has own vehicle to transport goods from China boarder, so he is already involved on their business.           

Library setup: This year monsoon starts much earlier than expected and still continuing cause problem on road access to transport any material from market. So far, two additional rooms at Kali Devi Secondary School are almost completed and plastering work for remaining one room will begin as soon as monsoon settles down. Library will be setup in new room with well manage furniture and books. Furniture ordered for library has not yet reach to Kali Devi School. I hope new library can setup before arrival of guest from Freiberg. It comes to know that Gati people are planning to clean up blocks at road to Gati from highway once rain stops.

Internet connection:  Nepal Telecom has sent surveyor to check coverage of internet signal, hardly detect poor signal from closer tower in Gati because tower to broadcast signal is block by surrounding hills. They are searching alternative way to setup internet connection at Kali Devi School for easy access.

Kitchen Garden (Kali Devi School, Gati): Tomato plants have grown on kitchen garden of Kali Devi. So far plants look healthy enough but as per garden, sometime other living creatures come to disturb and destroy garden. So he has to go around regularly and keep his eyes stare on kitchen garden to prevent and protect from those creatures.

Coffee Project:
Coffee Nursery: Around 3000 new seedling have transplanted to plastic bag which will be healthy seedling for plantation in next year.  Nursery man is trying to produce more seedling as number of people interested to grow coffee is increasing and also people from surrounding village are also requesting for seedling. I have suggested them to obtain membership of coffee cooperative group so that every work can be done through cooperative group.
Coffee Plantation: It's obvious to all that members of coffee cooperative have already planted coffee in Gati for first time through Namaste Nepal's support. Coffee plant is growing about two – three leaves come out on plant after plantation. I have found taking out weeds and cleaning its surrounding of coffee planted area needs to be done shortly. So, I requested to do so and regular contact with coffee expert for more information. The coffee plantation field is in different location because interested members don't have their land in same place. Owner of the land closer to coffee planted area are also interested to do plantation in near future.   

Coffee Plantation in Dandakateri: About 900 coffee plants are planted on the lands that are not used for long time by two members of Dandakateri for the beginning of plantation.  Other people in Dandakateri are also willing to grow coffee in near future.  I have found there are lots of interested people Dandakateri, so number of coffee growing people will be increased by next year.  

 Kindergarten in Gati: Infrastructure development plan for year 2013 is completed in Gati kindergarten whereas kindergarten operation is carrying on effectively.  According to management committee, after returning from teachers training they have found gradual changes and improving on daily activities in kindergarten. I have observed that teaching and caring of kids have improved and trying to do better through different technique. 21 kids are enjoying their day time about 5 hours (from 10 to 3) in kindergarten and learn daily activities. I have found mothers are coming to kindergarten with their children and happy to take their children in Kindergarten as they receive special care and learn basic schooling. I request all mothers to support on cleaning and make them regular attendance of their child.
Mandra Kindergarten: There are regular attendance of large numbers of kids in single and dark room to learn basic schooling and daily activities. A single teacher hardly manages class from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. A helper prepares lunch for kids and help teacher for cleaning and taking care of health and hygiene of kids. Supporting teachers in Mandra kindergarten has been one of the most important achievements to initialize early child development program. Establishment of kindergarten has greatly benefitted to mothers because they can freely keep their child in Kindergarten and can go to their own filed work. I have found that mothers are very much happy on receiving special care and learn basic schooling. Kindergarten management committee has already received commitment from land owner for land contribution to build kindergarten building in near future for better facilities with child friendly environment.

Seti Devi Primary School (Dandakateri):
Development: The development project plan of year 2013 for Dandakateri is successfully accomplished with active involvement of community people. Installation of school equipment and other infrastructures development has improved the facilities and restructure of the school. They expressed immense thank to Namaste Nepal and Delft for generous support for the wide-ranging alterations of Dandakateri.

At present, school has running class for beginner and grade one in same room, thus causing a lots of disturbance for teaching. In regards, villagers are now interested in running kindergarten class separately for which the school needs another classroom.   
Improving Education System:  After receiving training, all the teaching staffs are highly motivated and enthusiastic to work for the advancement of Dandakateri. Within a month after training teachers, they have developed lots of educational material related to course books that help on teaching method in an easy way. Daily activities and education system in Dandakateri has been improved by applying different technique of teaching methods that learned from recent teachers training in Kathmandu. Teachers initiated to share all knowledge and skill to villagers, by which the villagers got high motivation and actively involving on ultimately better education environment in Dandakateri. 
Project Plan: We had long discussion to make an effort to develop new project plan for Dandakateri in near future. We school management board and teaching staff worked till mid night but still conclusion part of planning section remain to be concluded. Planning was mainly focused on quality education, to improve school management system and better environment. We also discussed on way to increase number of literacy rate in the village and parental educations were also set as major agenda on our meeting.  
Freiberg and Delft visit:
I have already informed about the Freiberg and Delft group visit. Villagers are exited and waiting for their arrival. Reception program and hosting plan will be set according to itinerary.
Lastly, I hope above mention information will clear about major activities and situation of project.  I have attached some picture, so please find the attached files.

7th Annual General Assembly

The 7th Annual General Meeting at Dechenling Restuarant on the 8th of September, 2013. It was attended by Megh Ale, Nima Lama, Mohan Lal Shrestha, Durga Das Shrestha, Raj Gyawali, and was coordinated by Nima Tshering Lama.

The meeting heard program and financial reports from the last financial year, and discussed ways to move forward.

Decisions were also made on Board reshuffling and adding new members into the Board.

Check for the reports of the meeting and field visits on the reports section of this site.