TWINNED CLUBS ACHIEVE SUCCESS WITH DALLU PROJECT  

TWINNED CLUBS ACHIEVE SUCCESS WITH DALLU PROJECT

 

In October June Lloyd-Adams and Janet Long from Worcester Lions embarked on the trip of a lifetime to Kathmandu in Nepal. Back in 2010 Worcester Lions together with their twinned Lions Club in Orleans Doyen, France plus the Ladies Lions Club of Kathmandu Bhrikuti had started a joint fund raising effort for their Dallu project. The fund raising efforts of the three clubs plus a large donation from Sheldon Lions enabled a total of £9,000 to be raised.

The object of the Dallu Project was to:-

Set up a vegetable cart scheme that would assist 26 women currently living in a slum in Dallu area of Kathmandu with 64 children to enable them to work, earn money and thus feed, clothe and educate their children. This would give them a chance to re-form family life, become self-sufficient and regain their self respect and hopefully be able to move to better accommodation.

Worcester Lions are now pleased to let everyone know that the project that was started two years ago is now reaching its final stage!

Following on from the pilot in autumn 2011 enhanced carts were designed with a canopy and storage under the cart capable of holding 35 kilos of vegetables.

The two Lions observed the new carts in action in October 2012 and looked at the savings scheme set up to monitor the women. The carts are working very successfully and it was with a great deal of pride that they saw how good the 10 carts looked prominently displaying the Lions symbol plus the Lions Clubs that involved. It was great to see how well the vegetables were selling.  


Vegetable cart in operation
 

They met both the families already operating the carts and the other women with their children that are hoping to start as soon as the remaining 16 vegetable carts are purchased.  


Some of the women with their families that will receive a vegetable cart soon (plus June Lloyd-Adams and Janet Long)
 

As there had not been enough money raised to buy a vehicle it had been decided to purchase the vegetables directly from a wholesaler. This seems to be a good option as there are no vehicle maintenance charges involved and although there is slightly less profit on the vegetables it is an easier option.

Dallu Children

All children are now in education.

Management of the Dallu Project

Students from the local university have trained all the women in basic skills, management of money, basic book keeping, weights & measure, food hygiene etc.

The project will be run by Bishwa from Happy Home Orphanage and the university students on a day-to-day basis and be overseen by the ladies of the Lions Club of Kathmandu Bhrikuti.

Worcester Lions also report that no further money is needed to complete this project.

Lions Janet and June concluded “A big thank you to everyone that has supported this project - you should be very proud of what has been achieved. It is amazing what can be achieved by Lions from 3 different countries working together”.  



Some of the Ladies Lions Club of Kathmandu Bhrikuti, past DG Rajan Lamsal (2010-2011 – District 325B Nepal), woman at front that is running the cart, June Lloyd –Adams (Shakespeare Lions) and Janet Long (Worcester Lions)