Kaski is declared 'Open Defecation Free' District

On the same program, PM Khanal has reverenced NEST for its significant contribution in ODF campaign in Kaski. On behalf of NEST, Mr Gopal Gaire–Acting Executive Director of NEST,has received the 'Token of Appreciation'.

NEST has been regularly been participating in the ODF campaign in Kaski. It has been assisted the campaign being in the committees; and facilitating the ODF movement in three VDCs of Kaski: Bhalam, Majhthana and Machhapuchchhre. NEST has made cash and kind support of about NRs. six lakhs. Besides it, NEST has contributed the campaign through monitoring, campaign mobilization and providing thematic expert.

During the grand program organized at Pokhara, PM Khanal flagged the Green Flag–the symbol of ODF, fluttered the balloon and signed on the banner.

Mr. Krishna Prasad Acharya–Director General of Department of Water Supply and Sewage and Chairperson of Steering Committee for National Sanitation Action –handed over the certificate of the FIRST ODF DISTRICT to Mr. Guru Prasad Subedi–Chairperson of District Water and Sanitation Coordination Committee (DWSCC) Kaski, and Local Development Officer (LDO) of Kaski.

62 LRP-Agriculture Developed

25 January 2011

NEST accomplished three events of training for Local Resource Person (LRP)- Agriculture on 25^th January 2011 with the support of Practical Action Nepal . Altogether 62 leading and youth farmers from remote districts such as kalikot, Doti and Dailekh participated in the training. It is expected that the training participants will work in their own village as a resource person and model farmers to improve the agriculture production in the local level which ultimately contributes to solve the food security problem in mid and far west region of Nepal. 

Machhapuchhre VDC declared as ODF zone

Machhapuchhre Village Development Committee (VDC) is declared as Open Defecation Free ( ODF) zone on 7 January 2011 .  The declaration ceremony was organized in Dhiprang of Machhrapuchhre VDC. Nucleus for Empowerment through Skill Transfer (NEST) led the facilitation of ODF under the Livelihood Plus Project supported by Finish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM) for which NEST conducted Total Sanitation trainings, monitoring and material support for poor households. District Development Committee (DDC), Regional Monitoring and Supervision Office Kaski, Machhapuchhre VDC and other organizations and individuals joined hands together with VDC level Sanitation Committee which was formed in the VDC. Thousands of village people gathered in a place with play cards and bunches of flower after the rally during the ceremony. Mr. Guru Prasad Subedi, Local Development Officer (LDO) of Kaski district was the chief guest for the program. Mr. Gopal Khadka Chairperson, Mr. Gopal Gaire Program Coordinator and Mr. Surya Thapa General Member  and WaSH expert from NEST participated in the declaration program.

Similarly,  NEST has already facilitated to declare ODF to Bhalam VDC Kaski; and leading Majhathana  VDC of Kaski which is going to be declared ODF in February 2011. 

Signed Partnership Agreement

The partnership agreement between Nucleus for Empowerment through Skill Transfer (NEST) and World Vision International (WVI) to implement Livelihood Project in Kaski is signed in September 2010. The project will continue to September 2011.  Likewise, an agreement for Social Mobilization Program of Local Governance and Community Development Program (LGCDP), DDC kaski is signed between NEST and DDC Kaski November 2010. NEST will work in five VDCs ( Parche, Majhathana, Rupakot, Thumki and Machhapuchhre ) of kaski district under this program.

Annual General Assembly of NEST

Nucleus for Empowerment through Skill Transfer (NEST) accomplished its 8^th Annual General Assembly (AGA) on 7 October 2010 in Pokhara. The assembly endorsed the annual progress report of 2009-10 and planning of 2010-11. The AGA formed a new Governing Board (GB) for coming three years in the chairmanship of Mr. Gopal Khadka.  Mr. Guru Prasad Subedi , Local Development Officer (LDO) of Kaski district was the chief guest for the opening session. The chief guest and other guests put the words of well wishes during the program.