NETIF would like to begin this newsletter by wishing you and your family a very happy and joyous Dashain and Dipwali. Enjoy your celebration and please always extend your thoughts to our environment and culture so that we may all go on celebrating for many years to come. Happy Dashain and Dipwali.

More than 200 people turned out on Saturday the 25th of September for a fun filled adventure to discover the ‘Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail’ (KVCTT). The day covered the leg of the KVCTT from Nagarkot to Dhulikhel. Trekkers covered the 12km distance in around 4 hours, soaking up the spectacular monsoon green views of Panckhal Valley and the hills beyond. The weather was perfect for the day, nice temperature for hiking and made for a relaxed atmosphere. The main aim of the event was to promote the KVCTT and health and recreation.

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UP-COMING EVENT

Join NETIF on this journey to experience the unspoilt villages of rural Nepal living in harmony with the natural environment. The program takes us from Kathmandu to Dhulikhel for a lavish buffet breakfast at Dhulikhel Mountain Resort and stunning views of the himalaya, before continuing on to the beautiful monastery at Namobuddha. Take some time to soak up the views and explore this monastery where the lord Buddha sacrificed his flesh to feed a starving tigress and her five cubs. From Namobuddha we hike for three hours through the orange orchids, villages, fields and patches of jungle. Along the way you can sample as many of the local, sweet and juicy fruits as you care to. Arriving at Balthali village we take lunch at the resort and relax and enjoy some local music for a while before the short half an hour hike to Kopasi and the transfer back to Kathmandu.

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GET TO KNOW NETIF

Mr. Ashok Maharja, Board Member

Ashok loves nature and the environment as well as local development and the communties role played in it, which drives his passion for working with NETIF.

NETIF Board Members

PUBLICATIONS

Drop by the office to get a copy of our 2010/2011 NETIF brochure.

Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail booklet is also now available from our office.

NETIF is also giving away Chisapani Panorama Posters to anyone that Visits our Office.

www.netif-nepal.org

NETIF has signed a MoU with Dhulikhel Municipality. This agreement will deal with the aspect of cleaning and gardening in Dhulikhel city. The idea behind the MoU is to help with the beautification of Dhulikhel in hope to attract more tourists and better business for local enterprises. The MoU dictates that NETIF will be working in close conjunction with the Dhulikhel Municipality to help manage waste in Dhulikhel.  While NETIF has been responsible in the most part for the placement of waste bins, the Municipality is responsible for the actual collection of the rubbish from the bins, which is collected and taken to the incinerators for final disposal. The Municipality has also supplied 60 pairs of rubbish bins to NETIF. The purpose of these bins is to be distributed to households throughout Dhulikhel. Each of the households will get two bins, one for plastics and non biodegradable rubbish and the other for organic waste which can then be turned into compost and recycled into gardening and vegetable production. The aim of this waste management on a house hold level is to firstly educate householders about the importance of waste management and proper waste disposal and also to minimize the actual amount of disposable waste as a community trail. There willl also be periodical tree plantings in Dhulikhel.

ECO CLUB – has been established by the Sanjibani Higher Secondary School. This club will take part in the management of waste collection and monitoring of the program. The group has been given 20,000nrs by NETIF to go towards the making of wicker waste baskets which they will take around the local business and shops and sell for the purpose of waste collection. ECO CLUB has also mapped the location of rubbish bins and is responsible for the placement of environment and waste management hoarding boards which have been supplied by NETIF. Dhulikhel Chamber of Commerce has also provided 15,000 nrs to ECO CLUB as part of its funding.

ECO CLUB is also monitoring on a weekly basis the current rubbish bins and seeing which business are and are not using them and disposing of waste correctly.  ECO CLUB is thus actively involved in waste management in Dhulikhel which helps to create a sense of better community and belonging and also instils the good ideas for environment conversation and better waste management into the youths, which is essential for the building of a brighter, greener future. They plan on regular rallies around the streets to promote environmental awarness.

NETIF, ECO CLUB and the Dhulikhel Municipality sincerely hope to build this MoU into and ongoing contract for the prolonged beautification of Dhulikhel with the view to improved tourism and business prospects and the protection of the local environment well into the future. Our main actions will be:-

• Employment of 6 cleaning staff – We propose to employ five full time cleaning staff who will be responsible for the collection of rubbish from public areas and streets to be placed in the rubbish bins. Collection of the rubbish from these bins will then be the daily responsibility of the Municipality. Staff will work 8 hours a day, six days a week and NETIF will be responsible for the employment of the cleaners. The area the cleaners will cover is from the main street and old market bazaar to the picnic area and the top of the stairs at Devi Sthan, Dhulikel Hospital and Kathmandu University and the grounds around each hotel in Dhulikhel.
• Employment of 2 Gardeners – Gardeners will be employed with the view to maintaining the gardens beds and park areas around Dhulikhel. Also at times they will be responsible for tree and ornamental plants and flower sowing.  With well maintained gardens we can vastly improve the visual impact and appeal of the township. Gardeners will be employed directly by NETIF.
• Placement of 200 Rubbish Bins – Around 200 waste bins have been supplied by NETIF and placed in the main areas of Dhulikhel. The bins are collection places for waste. Cleaners are responsible for placing rubbish in the bins and it also the responsibility of the local business as well to help keep their areas clean.
• Development of a Yearly Fund ­ The project needs funding to pay for wages and bins etc. We need to work together and come to an understanding between NETIF, Dhulikhel Municipality and the Hoteliers and Resort owners for a funding plan. Currently the Hoteliers of Dhulikhel will be providing 3000nrs rupees each per month towards the project fund, an amount which will be matched by NETIF for the ongoing sustainability of the waste management program

NETIF’s Role in Waste Management Along the KVCTT

NETIF is striving for pristine natural environment and beauty and is working hard in our project area to educate villagers about environmental conservation, provides waste management facilities for locals and trekkers alike and also to provide a solution to the ongoing problem of rubbish disposal and environment conservation. NETIF is actively working along the KVCTT to help manage waste and promote tourism as well as in other areas of the Kathmandu Valley.

Clean Up Campaigns – NETIF arranges periodical clean up and awareness campaigns in the villages along the trekking trail to encourage the villagers to keep it clean and also spread the message about environment and the importance of waste management.

Incinerators – 10 Incinerators have been constructed in major settlements along the trekking trail to provide a solution to rubbish issues in the villages. Now the villagers can manage themselves the collection and disposal of rubbish in the village area.

Waste Bins – NETIF has placed 360 waste bins and rings along the trekking trail and throughout villages in the area. The bins act as collection points for waste items and also serve to help the villagers keep their area neat, green and clean.

Training Programs – The best way to get villagers and students to understand the importance of waste management. NETIF hosts periodical training programs in our project area. The training programs help to raise awareness and provide solutions to waste management problems.

Awareness Boards and Slogans – Throughout the trekking trail, NETIF has placed hording boards promoting waste management and environment conservation to help educated trail users and locals.

Photos of NETIF's Waste Managment in KVCTT

Latest NETIF News - MoU With NRN

NRN – Non Resident Nepalese Association is a group that unties Nepalese people living in all corners of the world. Once a year to celebrate NRN Day they bring a group of Non Resident Nepalese People to Nepal. NRN has just signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understaing) with NETIF who will work together to manage this groups and help to promote the KVCTT. Points agreed upon in the MoU.

1. TFT (Task Force Team) will make necessary arrangements to invite the participants for the Trek Program.
2. NETIF will provide its expertise including voluntary Guides to escort the trekkers along the trek route.
3. NETIF will facilitate necessary refreshment and meals for all the participants of the trek. TFT will bear all the cost and expenses incurred.
4. TFT and NETIF will look for future opportunities to work jointly for promotion of sustainable tourism development in Nepal. TFT will make its efforts to promote KVCTT globally through NETIF.

Located at the tip of Shivapuri - Nagarjun National Park, overlooking the snow capped peaks of the Himalaya, you will find the Hill Station of Chisapani. Chisapani comprises of 6 hotels and lodges and is found at the end of the first days hiking along the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail.

Chisapani is a charming place where rural Nepal’s cultural meets pristine wilderness and sublime Himalayan and valley views. It’s the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu and enjoy local hospitality at its very best. Features of the village include a visit to the local cheese factory, a Buddhist Monastery, nature walks to the Dhap (Wetlands) and visits the nearby farms and villages.

Chisapani is an overnight stop along the KVCTT, as well as the gateway to trekking in Langtang and Helumbhu where 1000’s of trekkers pass through every year. Chisapani is reached within 5 hours of hiking from Sundarijal, just on the outskirts of Kathmandu.

Cultural dance Program a NETIF Incentive Program

One of NETIF’s local incentive programs was our involvement in the forming of the Gauri Shanka Cultural Dance Group. The idea behind this project was to take youths from the village and train them in the art of native dances from the various ethnic groups of Nepal. NETIF worked in conjunction with Dhulikhel Mountain Resort to bring in a professional choreographer to train the dancers. The troupe was also provided instruments and costumes. The success of this project is that now The Gauri Shanka Cultural Dance Group is now its very own registered business and performs on regular occasions at hotels, clubs, functions, restaurants and special events throughout the region. This is a successful project in empowering local people and helping them to form sustainable business related to tourism.

The Gauri Shanka Cultural Dance Group is now a fully formed enterprise. Their live performances include different dances from all of Nepal’s ethnic groups, traditional music played on traditional instruments and authentic national costumes’. The show extends over an hour and the groups compare explains the origins of each dance giving the audience a clearer picture of this aspect of Nepal’s vibrant culture.

Cultural Dance Photos