In Kanakasundari Rural Municipality, in remote Jumla district, the scenery is stunning but life is difficult.
Most families don’t have enough food to last the year, lack access to safe drinking water and decent sanitation, and are vulnerable to natural disasters and the growing impacts of climate change.
INF’s Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods Program will work with these communities over the next five years to:
- Help more than 1,500 people lift themselves above the extreme poverty line (living on less than USD 1.90 per day)
- Increase the number of households with adequate annual food consumption from 9% to 30%
- Halve the number of deaths of mothers, newborns and children under the age of five
- Ensure that more than 50% of children with disabilities attend school (from 10% currently)
- Double the number of people using safe, clean drinking water.
Project Feature – Team Leaders
Community empowerment is a long, patient process. INF’s team leaders – living locally – embody patience and passion for their task.
Join Raju Gharti Magar, one of our four team leaders in Kanakasundari Jumla, as he walks to walk and shares his hopes and plans for the WEAL project.
Find Out More
Newsletters
Twice per year (with apologies for COVID-19 interruptions), new issues of our Journey with Jumla newsletter will be available for download here:
Project Updates
During 2020–21
| Project Aims | Achieved So Far | Project Activities |
| Help more than 1,500 people lift themselves out of extreme poverty 1,300 people with increased income through farm improvements or new home-based enterprises | 1,300 people with increased income through farm improvements or new home-based enterprises |
|
| Increase number of households with adequate annual food consumption from 9% to 30% | 22% of households report adequate food consumption over the past year [up from 17% last year] |
|
| Reduce below 5% deaths of mothers, newborns and children under 5 | Zero maternal deaths and 3 newborn/infant deaths from 390 deliveries [0.7%] |
|
| Ensure that more than 50% of children with disabilities attend school | 97 of 103 children with disabilities regularly attending school [94%] |
|
| Double the number of people accessing clean drinking water [from 40% to 80%] | 70% of households have access to piped drinking water [up from 51% last year] |
|
Other project highlights:
- 25 women trained to form local farmer cooperatives
- 8 Health posts were supported with the medical equipment to combat COVID-19
- 33% of SHG members in decision-making positions in local authoritiews
- 100% of the population are now using latrines
- 44% of schools now have disability-accessible infrastructure and adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities
Find out more at our Project Updates page
Family Resources
Fun and engaging activities and resources for families and children:
- Around the House – activities comparing home life in Australia and Jumla [ages 5–15]
- Playing Games – traditional games from Nepal [ages 5+]
- Who Does What? – a simple activity for comparing boys’ and girls’ household jobs [all ages]
- Seasons – a powerful simulation experience for children, students, families, and mixed groups
See all Families in Jumla resources
INF Australia receives support from the Australian Government for our work in Jumla through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program [ANCP].