Chay Ya
What began in 2007 as an initiative of a few friends at a kitchen table in Kathmandu is today an organization that fights daily for the basic rights of people who are not able to do so themselves, with little administrative and personnel effort. The focus is on medical care, education, food security, women's empowerment and the environment.
Chay Ya comes from Tibetan and can be translated as "Let's do it ", and that is exactly what we are doing:
All our projects are carried out with the involvement of the local population and their voluntary participation and assistance. Our Nepalese sister NGO Chay-Ya Nepal works closely with local decision-makers. Without our qualified colleagues in Nepal, we would not be able to guarantee the quality of our projects, which we have been demonstrating for many years.
Our projects in cooperation with the Karl Zünd Foundation
Construction of a health and birth center in Limi Valley, Humla, Nepal
The entire Namkha region, which includes Limi Valley, had no functioning health facility. There was a single government health post, but it was never manned. Long distances and the lack of alternatives made it impossible for the local population to seek professional medical help for preventive medical examinations, as well as in emergencies and births.
In cooperation with the local government and community, as well as sponsors such as the Karl Zünd Foundation, Chay Ya built a health and maternity station where all residents, especially mothers and children, receive optimal care. Access to basic medical care is finally guaranteed.
The center is located at 4,000 meters above sea level and has been in operation since November 2020. Around 4,800 people benefit from this project.
Construction of a health and birth center in Riusa Bagar, Mugu, Nepal
Mugu, the most remote of all districts in Nepal, is known as the "least developed" due to the lack of education and health facilities. Over 65,000 residents live here, but there used to be only one doctor.
The previous health care was accordingly catastrophic: the women in the 15 mountain villages of the Mugum Karmarong district gave birth at home and without the assistance of a midwife or nurse, as there was not a single health post or maternity ward in the entire area. The nearest health post is 35 kilometers away on foot, south of Rara Lake, and can only be reached by steep mountain paths.
In 2018, Chay Ya, with the support of the Karl Zun Foundation, started the construction of the health facility. Only a few months later, in April 2019, the finished project was handed over to the community. Since then, it has been in operation and a point of contact for up to 5,400 people in the region.
Construction of a living and learning center for children with disabilities, Tulsipur, Dang, Nepal
People with disabilities are exposed to strong discrimination in Nepal. Many children with disabilities do not receive any school education, and there is hardly any support infrastructure from the state.
To support these children and give them a dignified, self-determined life, Chay Ya built a boarding school with the support of the Karl Zünd Foundation. The boarding school was handed over to the local government in September 2022 and has been run by the government ever since.
The aim is to provide the children and young people with motor and intellectual support in parallel to the integrative schooling in the regular village school in the home. It is also about teaching practical skills such as cooking, personal hygiene, or manual work to be able to lead an independent life later - as far as possible - and to make it easier for them to find work.
Construction of a waste separation and recycling facility and awareness raising in Palungtar, Gorkha, Nepal
Litter in general and plastic waste in particular are a serious problem in Nepal. Often, waste simply ends up on roads, in rivers, or in natural areas. To revolutionize waste management in Palungtar, a pilot project was launched. Previously, the system consisted of collecting household and industrial waste, which was then disposed of in pits or landfills or inadequately incinerated. Due to population growth, environmental pollution worsened and the amount of waste grew continuously.
The goal of our waste separation and recycling facility is to implement an efficient and ecological system where organic residues are composted and inorganic materials are recycled. The recycling facility has a waste reception area, separate sorting areas by materials, a dedicated area for composting, an electricity room, toilets for employees, and a large space for trucks to transport the sorted material for further recycling.
The plant is now not only self-sufficient but even generates a profit - so far over 2,500 euros from the sale of non-biodegradable waste (plastic, metal, glass, and paper) and several hundred euros in revenue from compost. After successfully establishing the plant under the leadership of an existing local women's group trained by Chay-Ya Nepal, the local government, in cooperation with a cooperative/company, has taken over the management of the plant. Thus, the operation of the plant is secured for the future.
Construction of an organic model farm in Mulkot, Dang, Nepal
Chay Ya Austria, in partnership with Chay-Ya Nepal, has launched an organic model farm in Mulkot, Dang. This project, launched in September 2021, aims to empower women to generate their own income through training in vegetable growing and small animal husbandry. This strengthens their position in the family and society. Mulkot, located at an altitude of 1400 meters, offers ideal conditions for this project.
We have achieved considerable success in the first two phases: The community is highly motivated and actively involved. The women are successfully producing various types of vegetables and have already increased their income.
Phase 3, supported by the Karl Zünd Foundation, focuses on expanding and improving the farm. In addition to the establishment of a seed bank and the expansion of lemon tree cultivation, this also includes the development of an irrigation system and the improvement of goat breeding. In addition, training in ecotourism and women's health is offered.
A key objective is to open up market access to enable the women of Mulkot to sell their products in cities. Marketing training and the purchase of a rickshaw for transportation are part of these efforts.