The Economic Community Development Project in Dang, Nepal, coordinated by the Rotary Club of Kelowna Sunrise and approved by The Rotary Foundation in November of 2019, finally began to be implemented in February of 2021. The comprehensive project is providing employment skills training for women, youth and men in the impoverished Dang region of Nepal.
For a variety of reasons in Nepal, this project was delayed by well over a year; but the good news is that the first training course commenced in mid-February of 2021 and has continued since then with additional training opportunities.
The training program valued at $US73,806 is a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Kelowna Sunrise, the Dang Rotary Club and Crating Possibilities . The initial allocation of funds were provided by the Rotary Club of Kelowna Sunrise ($US6,000) and three additional Canadian Rotary clubs from District 5060 (West Kelowna Daybreak-$US2,000, Kelowna Ogopogo-$US3,000 and Kelowna-$US2,000) and then matched by District 5060 with a Designated District Grant-$US13,000. Fortunately, the Government of Canada through a Special Government of Canada Project Funding program then matched this amount by $US26,000. The Rotary Foundation’s World Fund completed the funding with a grant of $U21,606.
Ten women participated in the first course, a “Basket Weaving” session that lasted for one week, which from all reports left the women very satisfied with the training. During the first week of March ten young women started a three week Beautician/Hair styling course which is nearing its culmination. Additional training programs are scheduled.