Welcome to FONA’s new website. This site redesign aims to bring you more up to date content from across all the programs and communities with whom we are involved. We see this evolution of our online presence as necessary for our work, but also as the outcome of it. Since launching in 2015, FONA’s mission has been clear: to design, drive & influence models, policies & initiatives that empower developing communities to create their own thriving future. We are delighted to say that our programs and projects are well underway, our partnerships growing, and the new expanded website structure and content demonstrates our approach and provides more information about our work and model.

New tagline

You may notice also that we have changed our tagline. This is now “Big ideas, practical solutions”. We wanted to use the tagline to summarise our approach – not only do we focus on connecting the best minds to address a problem, but we are also passionate about making it happen, by using the deep insights we have about the communities concerned, and ensuring they are empowered to deliver a real result. Take our flagship Education Centre of Excellence for example – whilst the planning phase was a highly consultative and collaborative process, we are following through to delivery, with stage one construction commencing in a matter of weeks.

“Big ideas, practical solutions.”

Partnerships

Both the solutions we deliver, and the ideas that underpin them, could not be realised without partners, and it is partnership that is accelerating the change we seek to deliver. Not least our partnership with Nepali communities and the government, but also the invaluable help from experts at the University of Melbourne, UNESCO, Cohere, Thrive Research Hub, TAFE and Includesign, amongst other organisations. These partnerships have been crucial to getting key flagship projects like the Education Centre of Excellence at Purano Jhangajholi and the heritage rehabilitation at Changu Narayan off the ground.

“It is partnership that is accelerating the change we seek to deliver.”

Growing our community

One of our goals for 2017 is to expand our supporter and partnership base. We see this as an imperative if we are to undertake more of these community and partnership-led projects. We want to share our innovative and collaborative model as widely as we can, creating new, effective strategies for international development around the world, all of it designed to deliver long term impact, and give people the opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential.

“We want to share our innovative & collaborative model as widely as we can.”

Nepal at the heart of what we do

Nepal is the current focus for all our work, and will continue to be central to FONA. Whilst we are using more our short name – FONA – rather than the full ‘Friends of Nepal Association’ this is just so that other countries do not feel excluded from potential partnership with us.  We are deeply connected to the Nepali community, and have learned so much already from our work with them, that we look forward to applying our knowledge to many more projects in Nepal, and beyond. We are convinced that a profound understanding of the culture and community in which we work is critical for success.

“We are deeply connected to the Nepali community.”

Help grow the movement

Thank you for your support of FONA at this exciting time and we ask you to help keep the momentum going. Take a moment to look around the website – perhaps start at the homepage –  including our recent blogs on the Benefit Mindset or the principles of Regenerative Design that help inform our work. Share this website, like us on Facebook or other social channels if you haven’t already.  If you like the programs we are undertaking, or the model we have adopted to work with Nepali communities, share that with your friends and colleagues.

And sign up now for the upcoming Everest Fundraising Trek in September 2017, which will be an extraordinary experience and, as our Chairman Amit Thapa says is: 

“An opportunity to stretch yourself, connect with like-minded people and make a difference in the world.”

– Amit Thapa

FONA’s new website | FONA

FONA is moving beyond traditional aid models. We believe that development solutions of the past, whatever form they have taken, should be evolved along new lines of thinking. FONA is connecting the world’s best minds—from think tanks and research institutes, to the educational and corporate sectors—to drive this change and ensure that we adopt best practice, including any new technologies, across the board. We define ourselves by this practice of dynamism and collaboration, and through it seek to realise what we are about—understanding aspirations, providing people the opportunity to thrive, and to achieve their full potential.

“Connecting the world’s best minds.”

A collaborative, consultative and benefit-minded approach to solutions

The way we approach solutions is fundamentally collaborative & consultative and our grounding organisational concern is not scarcity—of funding, resources or benefactors—but opportunity. We don’t think that being guided by constraint is empowering, nor is it consistent with our practice of empowering communities in Nepal. Instead, we see, and are guided by, the abundance of opportunity—in the form of ideas, partners and investments—for individuals and groups across our communities. And when we connect with passionate investors and communities, we see solutions in terms of these opportunities, for all involved. This more commercial and benefit-minded approach, reflects not only our backgrounds in international business, but also the idea of Ash Buchanan’s “Benefit Mindset”, which argues that the first duty of any organisation—corporate or NFP—is to look at the opportunity and potential of the people and communities it is a part of, and play to their strengths. In this way, our model shifts away from typical charity exchanges based on closed-silos of individual gain, and rather is driven by the finding that there is real value, for the individual as well as society, in collective benefit—to the community, to nature and to the future. Thus, FONA’s whole systems approach involves both the consultation with local communities and the collaboration with global partners in order to find a solution that promotes long term well being and collective benefit to all involved.

“Consultation with local communities and collaboration with global partners.”

Partnership as the cornerstone of success

Partnering is the way FONA operates as an organisation. We don’t see other organisations and communities as rivals or competition, or even just as stakeholders, but as potential collaborators. Collaborating not only to deliver projects and programs, but also to approach solutions, and identify shared goals. Finding a win-win with all partners, be they corporate, think tanks, state actors, communities or individuals, is critical to the way we function.

A case in point is the world class Education Centre of Excellence project in Purano Jhangajoli. The design for the learning and technology hub and community centre came as a result of community consultation and a FONA hosted “think tank” in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, IncluDesign, Thrive Research Hub, Cohere and Biourbem. Throughout the planning process representatives from the village were present, as were experts including designers, architects, engineers, heads of social enterprise, sustainability and regenerative design, educators, academics and positive psychologists. What’s more, FONA and the University of Melbourne used this opportunity to conduct research into the benefits of a collaborative development process. Evidence showed that involving people in all stages of the design process creates a sense of stewardship and ownership of the project, and that this collective process of setting a vision for the future, planning for it, and realising that vision, is particularly important for people who have experienced tragedy—in this case, local communities affected by the 2015 earthquake. Bringing experts together and working in this collaborative way also provides the opportunity for personal and professional growth for all involved. During the project, Janak Raj Pant, a Nepali engineer working in the district of Sindhuli, was introduced to the concept of Regenerative Design by Lead Designer Angelica Rojas Gracia, leading to his own new understanding that it is possible to both develop and protect a community’s heritage and environment. Janak is now an advocate for Regenerative Design—[see our blogpost about Janak and Angelica’s collaboration for more information]—and applies these ideas to his work for the Nepali government. These are just a few of the manifold benefits we see from partnering at all levels of our organisation and throughout all stages of the development process.

“Opportunities for personal and professional growth for all involved.”

Inspiring the next generation

Finally, and in line with our purpose to provide people the opportunity to thrive, and achieve their full potential, we are interested in inspiring the next generation. We do this by pioneering new forms and levels of community consultation, by adopting new methods of design, and by finding from around the world the best solutions for community development.

We work closely with the communities we partner with so that the solution to their needs comes from them, and through this process, they create their own hope. We adopt a Regenerative Design model, to build back community infrastructure better than before. We look at the aspirations and strengths of distinct communities and ask ourselves what leapfrog technologies we can provide to allow them to connect with the world and access other opportunities.

Our Education Centre of Excellence, as an example, is going to feature science and computer labs as well as innovative natural and renewable resource management solutions, with solar energy, water harvesting, and a biogas sanitation system. By offering the best, we’ve really made people—communities and organisational partners alike—excited at the prospect of these opportunities. Many organisations now want to be associated with this more holistic and involved relationship of ‘inspiration aspiration’ rather than the simple dispatch of aid. And rather than just donations, we’re finding people are now willing to give us $100, 000 worth of their time and skills, which to me, and others involved in the work we do, is priceless. It means another partner, another advocate; people so involved with the solution that they can them explain the benefits of our approach to others.

“It means another partner, another advocate.”

Connecting the people

We are passionate about fostering one-to-one relationships between Nepali’s and their overseas peers. We’ve begun facilitating these connections between individuals through a range of programs. Our internships link young people and professionals to Nepal through the communities we partner with, championing a spirit of curiosity, openness and respect. This fosters both cultural and professional learning, and is designed to facilitate future partnerships and exchanges between interns and those they connect with. We will also extend a professional mentorship and networking program to Nepalis  in Australia, enabling the Nepali diaspora to connect with one another to realise their potential through the power of network.

“Designed to facilitate future partnerships and exchanges.”

Ultimately the Nepali people and their aspirations are the reason for our existence at FONA. And the fortunate, personal connection I have with the country helps me to share in some way a vision for its future. I grew up in Sindhuli province, was educated in Nepal, and understand from my own lived-experience some of the challenges its people are facing. And just as importantly, I am cognisant of the spiritual, cultural and economic strengths of Nepal, which are what we need to focus on moving forward. First and foremost this personal connection will be about understanding—about listening and communicating always, before anything else. And in this way FONA, its partners and the communities won’t forget why we exist—to work together, through consultation and innovation, to empower Nepal.

Share this article and tell us what you think of FONA’s new model for development.

FONA: a new model for development | FONA

Ash Buchanan is a director at Cohere, and a design and developmental consultant with over ten years’ experience spanning the areas of wellness, leadership and sustainability. He has partnered with FONA for the design of the Education Centre of Excellence, and as a part of this has shared his work on the Benefit Mindset. The Benefit Mindset model, which builds on the pioneering research of Carol Dweck (as discussed by Ash in a blogpost), promotes the need for design that has positive impacts on the whole community.

FONA sat down with Ash to learn about the Benefit Mindset, and how adopting it can help communities.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself Ash.

“I’ve got a background as an engineer focusing on sustainability, working with architects and engineers. My focus was on developing sustainability plans. I originally thought the solution to our sustainability issues was a technical one, for example putting solar panels on buildings, but as time went by I started to realise that I could provide businesses with the best solutions and plans, but unless the companies and people had the right culture the projects wouldn’t be that successful.

So basically, I became really interested in the cultural and people aspect of sustainability. That’s what lead me to a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology, and to develop the Benefit Mindset.”

2. How did the Benefit Mindset model come about?

“Originally, I had wanted to create a one slide presentation to explain to my clients the sort of culture they needed for their buildings to thrive. From my research I realised it didn’t exist in the psychology literature. So, I took something close and added to it.”

3. How do you describe the Benefit Mindset?

“In the framework I’ve put together there are three mindsets which people adopt and the assumptions that they hold.

Fixed mindset: they are the everyday expert. They know how everything works, they don’t want to try new things and learn.

Growth mindset: this is currently a popular idea in education and business. They are willing to fail and try new things in order to develop themselves.

I suggested that neither were sufficient to create a thriving building. So, I added a third, the Benefit Mindset. This person is willing to learn, to contribute and become an everyday leader who looks beyond personal achievement, and promotes wellbeing on both an individual and a collective level.”

4. What is an everyday leader?

“An everyday leader is someone who promotes their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of the ecosystem that they are a part of. They do things that are meaningful to them, that give them a sense of purpose in life, but also bring out the best in the building they are in, or the community they are in. They see that everything thrives together rather than trying to be just individually successful.”

5. How can the Non For Profit Sector adopt the Benefit Mindset?

“The issue I’m seeing in the world is lots of people starting to make a difference on their own at the moment, but what we really need is for people to come together in concert with one another.

Coming together and promoting wellbeing together rather than individualised ideas of what success is.

FONA adopts the Benefit Mindset by focusing on its culture, making time to talk about their values and instilling them in their relationships. It’s about becoming the change you seek.”

6. How does the Benefit Mindset connect to the Education Centre of Excellence?

“FONA have shown the community they understand what they care about, and it’s not about being an outsider projecting their vision of the Education Centre onto the local community.

The Education Centre is a wonderful model for showing people what is possible.”

7. How can we continue the use of the Benefit Mindset in education?

“We’ve actually just done a workshop with 500 students and we’ll be working with ten more schools in the next months.

The important thing is for young people to discover learning is important but it’s not the last they can do. You can learn to be kind, you can choose to be kind and that’s a different sort of school. They can take what they’ve learnt and use it to lead. Leadership labs are being set up so students can learn how to be leaders and ultimately be the change they want to see.”

Read the full transcript of the interview with Ash at this link.

Share this article and tell us why you think the Benefit Mindset is important.

What is the “Benefit Mindset”? | FONA

Collaboration can have powerful results. The collaborative design process used for the Education Centre of Excellence brought together experts from a variety of fields and connected great minds from Australia and Nepal. Janak Raj Pant, a Nepali engineer, worked with Angelica Rojas Gracia, Creative Director of IncluDesign and Lead Designer and Collaborative Design Expert on the Education Centre project. Their collaboration and knowledge sharing was an enriching experience for both of them, but for Janak in particular it provided the opportunity to re-evaluate his design ideas and current work practices.

About Janak

Janak is a passionate, skilled civil engineer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Tribhuvan University, and currently works for the district office of Sindhuli as an engineer. His attitude reflects a strong commitment to personal growth:

“I have to learn to enhance my skills and capabilities and I always strive in this.”

– Janak Raj Pant

Moreover, despite being faced with corruption and political instability in his government job, Janak is convinced that it is collective effort and collaboration that is the key to positive and sustainable community development. He maintains an optimistic outlook in the interest of achieving to the best of his ability and that of others.

“I think if we have strong dedication and willpower we can do many things.”

– Janak Raj Pant

Introduction to Regenerative Design

Janak worked with FONA’s design team to prepare a topographical survey of the site our Education Centre is built upon, and through this process became a self-styled ‘#regenerativearchitect’. The site is home to a sacred peepal tree, which was identified in the community consultation as holding significant value to the community, and thus its restoration became a central part of the site design. The local engineers disagreed with this proposition, and were insistent that the trees be cut down, and this led to a 6-month debate about their fate.

Once Angelica had completed her Master Plan drawings of the Education Centre she shared them with Janak, and introduced the concept of Regenerative Design, which was completely new to him. What Janak took from this was that it is possible to both develop and protect a community’s heritage and environment. While previously holding the view that it was necessary to cut down the trees to make way for the buildings, he was delighted to see how development can be designed to coexist with the natural environment.

“I think Regenerative design is a sustainable design concept that harmonises physical, built and natural environments. Now I know that the building should suit the environment & landscape, be energy efficient and environment friendly.”

– Janak Raj Pant

Angelica commented this after their collaboration:

“Janak was really engaged with the project and the Regenerative Design Methodology applied to it. He wants to learn more about it and I believe that he can become a Regenerative leader. He was part of the team that did the topographical survey and he told us how much he has learned by observing the drawings. He told me “now I understand why you wanted the exact tree location” …”now I can see that our local materials are beautiful””

– Angelica Rojas Gracia

Janak has since become an advocate of Regenerative Design in his job for the Nepali government:

“As I am in government service, we have to construct different public buildings, schools and many other structures, I would apply this type of concept there”.

– Janak Raj Pant

Collaboration: partnership-led development

Janak’s story is a powerful example of a partnership-led development model in action. It’s about connecting the right people together to challenge established thinking and drive transformation, and then working with partners to build the capabilities of communities to achieve sustainable advantage. As a part of this model of collaboration, FONA advocates that all parties involved adopt a Benefit Mindset, to help drive projects forward with better practice in all facets of work. This collaborative outlook aligns with Janak’s idea as to the collective purpose and impact of design. We are thrilled to have an ongoing partnership with Janak and other Nepali engineers.

Share this article and tell us why you think Regenerative Design is important.

The Power of Partnerships | FONA

From our Chairman:

In Nepal, every family is aligned to a temple. It is a very important part of our culture.

As a boy, growing up in Nepal, I visited Changu Narayan Temple, Nepal’s oldest Hindu temple in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one of seven World Heritage sites, and what makes it truly remarkable is that it is a living monument – to this day it is actively used by Nepali people as a place of worship and reflection, social congregation, and celebration. Changu Narayan is one of the oldest and most important temples in Nepal since the 6th century AD.

For those who haven’t been to the temple or surround village, it really is a beautiful place. The temple itself is, set atop a hill and surrounded by an evergreen forest. It has some of the most wonderful carvings from the Licchavi period. The temple precinct is a thriving community, it is one of the few ancient monuments which is at the heart of a Nepali community and embedded in culture.

When I saw Nepal’s monuments damaged in the 2015 earthquakes, I was quite heart broken. It felt like a part of my identity had been destroyed.

I think all Nepali people feel this way.

I was moved to act. I understood the importance of these monuments to the people of Nepal and the huge loss beyond the bricks and timber. It rocked the core of what it means to be Nepali – our culture, spirituality and national pride.

At FONA, we recognised that there was an opportunity for Australia to play a role in restoring one of the monuments. Relations between Nepal and Australia are closer and more important than every before. We have a significant Nepali population in Australia, with a history of people coming to Australia to pursue education or employment opportunities. So we felt it would be a symbolic gesture of friendship and goodwill between two nations with growing economic and cultural ties.

That’s why FONA decided to lead the charge and lobby the government and forge partnerships to collaborate with and connect aligned projects on the ground in Nepal with Australian institutions, like Macquarie University.

We are collaborating with heritage architect, John Sanday, who has been in Sydney supporting FONA to raise awareness of Nepal’s heritage particularly Changu Narayan. For those who don’t know John, he is renowned in his field, having consulted on some of the biggest global restorations, such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Living and working in Nepal for more than 40 years, John is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about Changu Narayan. Since the 2015 earthquake, he has worked alongside the community of Kathmandu Valley with the aim of restoring the temple.

On Friday night, we had the pleasure of hearing John speak at a Macquarie University lecture to students, academics, architects and the general public interested in Nepal.

One of the reasons why we are so delighted to be working with John is because he sees the opportunity of creating a project around Changu’s reconstruction which not only rebuilds the temple but looks at opportunities for long term conservation, such as through training programs. We are also looking at fostering collaboration between Australia and Nepal to exchange skills and knowledge in areas such as heritage conservation, archaeology, marketing, media and town planning. There is an immense opportunity to learn from each other.

To me, I see this a project with the potential to be a model example of heritage conservation not only in Nepal but for the world.

Much of the focus post-earthquake has been on rebuilding of homes, hospitals and schools, which is understandable. But monuments like Changu Narayan are a vital part of the social fabric of Nepali society. The work we are doing is very symbolic of hope and national pride. In these villages, some people would place higher importance on having their temple than on having a beautiful new home.

FONA understands that it is vital to address these needs as well.

Through this project we will not only be restoring the temple, but the homes and businesses of the precinct, while creating training opportunities for local people to learn how to rebuild their own homes.

For the people who live in the community or rely on Changu Narayan, it means they can once again have their place of worship and congregation. This will provide people comfort and hope.

For local industry, it’s an opportunity to revive tourism and local businesses and become more sustainable. Our project includes components such as training tour guides, promoting unique handicrafts of the area, and developing beneficial agricultural schemes, to help rebuild livelihoods.

For tourists, they can experience a traditional Newari settlement and witness the beauty of an ancient living monument, gaining a deep insight into Nepali culture. With some focus on marketing, the community will attract more tourists and leverage their strengths.

For architects, anthropologists, scholars or historians, they can participate in an innovative approach to restoring a living monument, post-earthquake. The site can become a remarkable destination for researchers and scholars and a successful religious and cultural centre.

For the world, it means that a monument of great historic and artistic significance is preserved for future generations to enjoy.

These are only some of the opportunities – there are many more.

There is a unique opportunity for Australia to play a role. We believed this from the moment the earthquake struck. But last year we uncovered a historical connection between Australia and Changu Narayan, dating back to 1986. At that time, a group of Australian architects from Sydney Institute of TAFE visited Nepal to survey the temple and village complex, and document the site in a set of architectural drawings . This connection formed the basis of a FONA-led collaborative reconstruction program between Australia and Nepal.

So FONA, together with the architects, presented the architectural drawings to the Prime Minister of Nepal to assist with the site’s reconstruction.

With the support of the Prime Minister of Nepal and UNESCO, we’re building on this relationship by connecting Australian expertise to Changu Narayan and seeking financial and non-financial support from the Australian Government and others to support reconstruction efforts.

We will keep you updated as the project progresses. Thank you for your support.

Amit J Thapa
Saving the heritage of Nepal: recovery and restoration after the earthquake was supported by the Faculty of Arts at Macquarie University, in collaboration with FONA.

Saving the Heritage of Nepal | FONA

Everyone stepped up to the challenge, which included a tough ascent and descent in snow!

We passed through the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake and saw the scale of destruction – with whole villages swept away and evidence of many rock falls and landslides. Reconstruction efforts were evident – but much more needs to be done to help get locals out of makeshift housing and into proper housing and schools.

At the end of the trek, we visited Sindhuli and were guests of honour at the school talent contest. The students shared their culture with music and dance, it was a great time of celebration.

CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS IN OUR FLICKR ALBUM:

Manaslu Circuit Trek Nepal 2016

HIGHLIGHTS

“For me it was the privilege of visiting such an unique and beautiful part of the world with an amazing group of trekkers and support crew. I also fell for the beautiful Nepalese people and culture – their tenacity, courage, humour and resilience very much evident despite incredible adversity and hardship.” (Maryanne)

A huge thank you for supporting the trekkers and helping to make our regenerative vision for rural communities in Nepal a reality.

We also extend our thanks to group of trekkers who gave 4 weeks to take part in the challenge and who gave their time to hold events to raise money for FONA.

Hope to see you on the Nepal trails or a FONA event in future!

Fundraising Trek – Manaslu Circuit | FONA

Friends of Nepal Association launches its first ever crowdfunding campaign!

Education is such an important part of life and is key for the development of children.

At FONA, we believe that the future of education in Nepal is worth investing in. We want to invite you to be part of giving children in Nepal the gift of education too.

In the earthquakes of April/May 2015 a large number of schools in Nepal were destroyed. Temporary schools have been built from bamboo however this is not a long term solution, new schools need to be built.

What we are doing

Friends of Nepal Association (FONA) has a Regional Education Centre Project with the aim of building a model school which will be an educational centre of excellence delivering high quality education for children and adults living in rural districts in Nepal.

We believe that the school can be the “hub” of a community and a platform for sustainable transformation, delivering not only infrastructure but also social and economic benefits to the village.

We have a team of experts designing the master plan in collaboration with the community. Students, teachers and parents all have a voice in the school design and will be part of the construction.

What we need from you

We are crowdfunding to raise $10,000 to build the first classroom in our state-of-the-art education centre.

An investment in the school will fund the building of the school, and indirectly provide employment opportunities and income for villagers participating in the project.

Can you help us?

We would love your help, any contribution large or small, to get these kids back into school AND help a rural community develop sustainably over the long term.

FONA’s First Ever Crowdfunding Campaign Launches! | FONA

The event raised more than $2,500 for FONA’s projects, and provided an opportunity for us to share some recent developments.

A big thank you to Wine Communicators, Red Balloon, Diamond Picture Framing, Palace Cinemas and our friend and photographer Cassandra Hannagan for the wonderful raffle prizes.

FONA Sydney Fundraisier | FONA

The reception we received by the students of Shree Ganesh School was overwhelming. Every single child in the school came to welcome us with flowers and blessings. It was a very touching experience to be greeted by the big smiles and warm embrace of the students.

Where the school had once stood were crumbling buildings and piles of rubble.

A series of lightweight Temporary Learning Centres which had been erected by an international NGO as part of the immediate humanitarian response. The TLCs offered decent temporary shelter with light and ventilation but these are not appropriate learning environments for students over the winter. Clearly only a temporary solution.

What was clear to us was that even aside from the earthquake, the school facilities were very very basic. Some classrooms had no furniture and students were sitting on plastic sheets on the floor. Students shared pens. Some classrooms had no whiteboard.

We found out later that this humble school lacked some of the basic facilities students needed to compete even the core educational curriculum, such as science and maths. It was hard to fathom that students could fail school simply because they couldn’t pass the practical component of the exam for lack of resources. We realized how the needs of the community were much deeper than buildings. We take even the simplest study tools and facilities for granted.

But the sentiment of the day was pure excitement. We were excited to begin the process of designing the model education centre and the community was excited by our vision, the prospect of being the lucky first community to pilot the model school concept, and importantly, by being invited to participate in the design process.

Joining us on the visit was our talented and gracious architect, Angelica Rojas Gracia a PhD candidate from one of Australia’s leading tertiary institutions the University of Melbourne. Angelica led the community engagement program and invited participation from the local community to inform the design. Students, teachers, parents, the school management committee and district education officials were invited to share their vision for the new education centre.

Our thanks to Angelica Rojas Gracia and the University of Melbourne for coming all the way to Sindhuli Nepal to collaborate with FONA and to help us realize our vision for a high quality and beautiful school for a rural community in Nepal. This work will also contribute to research in the area of participatory architecture to show how architecture design can be used to have a positive impact on the social, ecological and economic environment, which is very exciting.

Even the poorest children deserve access to high quality education and it is our aim to develop a model school that is capable of being replicated across Nepal. By taking a participatory approach and embedding the community’s aspirations into the school design, we aim to instill hope in these children that their dreams can come true when they see their dream school become a reality.

We look forward to sharing with you some of the key insights from the community consultation.

Community Consultation on the Post-Earthquake Reconstruction | FONA

A key part of this work is to apply a Collaborative Design Process in a community with deep cultural, spiritual and environmental heritage to co-create the school in collaboration with its stakeholders – the children, teachers, parents and community.

Our visit to the first pilot school drew a lot of curiosity from the children ..

Our aim was ensure that every child had the opportunity to have their voice heard, to share their dreams for their school, village and their future.

Each child provide written responses and drawings to the question

• what do you love about your village?

• what do you want to see  in your new school?

From these drawings and responses we are going to extract the themes to inform the design brief. Some of the most obvious themes included:

• Temple
• Water tap
• Nature / mountain views
• Ambulance
• Computer lab
• Peepal tree with a sitting area
• Playground

Our little “co-designers” shared some incredible ideas and forward-thinking vision for their school.

Some samples of children’s drawings:

The significance of the big tree in the school grounds was a major theme in the childrens’ responses.

We love this student’s vision for renewables and solar energy, what a visionary!

And the spiritual and cultural heritage of their place was clearly cherished by the children.

Collaborative Design – Setting the Vision | FONA

We hope you will join us on this journey to help build a more resilient Nepal.

Welcome.

I would like start by acknowledging the traditional owners of this land, the Gandigal and Wangal people.

I am Amit Thapa, the Chairman of the Friends of Nepal Association or FONA (FONA means a young flower in Nepali).

I am one of the founders of FONA, together with my wife Sarah Thapa. Sarah is the engine room of FONA none of this would have happened without her, so I would like to thank her.

I come from a small village called Janghajholi in Sindhuli District of Nepal, which is 70km east of Kathmandu. I have been living in Australia for the past 20 years.

FONA came to life in the days after the massive earthquakes in April and May 2015. For me, like most Nepali people living outside of Nepal, in the initial few days after the earthquake were rocked by shock and helplessness as we waited to hear news of our family and friends.

Driven to act, we set up a Facebook community called Friends of Nepal and ran a fundraising appeal from our living room. Leveraging our corporate and personal networks we raised more than $0.5 million for the emergency humanitarian appeal.

But more than 800,000 homes and thousands of schools have been damaged or destroyed by the earthquakes. To give you an idea, in my village of 5000 houses, 80% have been destroyed.

Where do you start to respond to such a crisis?

In the words of our friend Paul Pholeros, it may be as simple as placing one safe stone at a time.

So what’s the plan?

In the last months FONA has been developing a strategy to respond to the earthquake, collaborating with some of the best minds to shed light on solutions.

1. Housing

Our biggest fear was how do we ensure that Nepal did not turn into a corrugated iron, shanty town landscape like we have seen happen after disasters elsewhere in the world.

We were not interested in a third world solution. We wanted to bring the best knowledge and innovation in the earthquake engineering arena to solve the problem.

Our first initiative was to work with architects and earthquake specialists to come up with a solution for rebuilding safer houses that were affordable and culturally appropriate, and would preserve the traditional beauty of Nepal.

We are excited to be working with an Australian award-winning organisation, Health Habitat. Together, our plan is to roll out a program in 2016 introducing new earthquake safe designs to help villages rebuild their homes. We will provide targeted subsidies to help families pay the cost of the additional materials and methods required to make their houses safer. For as little as $1,000 we can buy the materials and deliver the training to build a family’s house back safely.

Though this work, our aim is to influence safe construction across Nepal. We are playing a leadership role to provide strategic direction, bring innovation and offer actionable and scalable solutions.

2. Education

Personally, I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been fortunate enough to have the benefit of a quality education in Australia.

It is our simple belief that everyone regardless of where they live has the right to a quality education.

Our initial vision was to develop a state-of-the-art education centre to deliver high quality education with an emphasis on applied learning. Our aim was to bring world class architecture and innovation to inspire a rural community of the possibilities and opportunities that come through education, to drive growth in local economies and shape future leaders and entrepreneurs.

In partnership with the University of Melbourne, we are developing a sustainably designed education centre which addresses the educational, social and ecological needs of the community. This is a very exciting step for a rural community, the centre will be one-of-a-kind in the region.

I’m delighted to introduce Angelica Rojas Gracia, and thank her for helping us bring this vision to life. Angelica has won international awards for sustainably designed schools, we are so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with her.

The first education will be built in the small village where I was born. Though this centre, we will engage at a local and leadership level in Nepal to convert the concept into a model school that can be replicated at scale across Nepal.

3. Heritage Monument

We are working to help Nepal preserve and restore its ancient cultural heritage. FONA is leading negotiations between the Australian and Nepalese Governments to restore one of the oldest and most important heritage sites, Changu Narayan temple. Changu Narayan is a 5^thcentury temple and one of seven world heritage listed sites in Kathmandu Valley.

Thanks to our friend Rod Horan from Sydney Institute of TAFE, we have delivered the architectural drawings of Changu Narayan that will form the basis of the reconstruction. We hope the Australian connection to this special site will continue for a long time. Rod couldn’t here tonight but we would like to thank his wife Cathy Horan who is in the audience tonight.

In this endeavour we have received strong encouragement and support from the highest level of government in Nepal and Australia, and as a result we are now in the process of putting a formal proposal to the Australian Government to support Nepal in this initiative.

What’s next?

Looking back on the past 6 months it would be fair to say we have been busy.

Later this month, FONA is heading to Nepal to kick off some of our initiatives with the local community and broader stakeholders.

2016 is going to be a big year for us. We move from strategic planning and foundation setting to first stage implementation.

Our long term aim is to be advocates for positive social and economic transformation in Nepal.

One key challenge is how to ensure that funds raised during the appeal are deployed where they are most needed. We need to promote big picture thinking rather than have a charity mindset or focus on pet projects.

What started out of our living room is now an internationally recognised organisation with more than 5,000 members (at last count!). We now need to think about how we can meaningfully engage this growing membership base.

Our aim is to deploy 100% of the funds that we raise to our projects. We want to show people where funds are deployed and help people connect to the personal stories of the impact that we are having.

How can you help?

The greatest way you can help us is to share your ideas. The most invaluable source of support we have received to date has been the introductions made by people in our network. These introductions have opened up doors to us that have made this journey possible.

We have a number of events planned in 2016. There will be a gala dinner in early March and running a trekking expedition in Nepal over Easter. We are taking a group to hike the stunningly pristine Manaslu Circuit in the Himalayas and visit the villages to see our projects in progress.

We welcome your support and ideas to help us on this journey. Your engagement with an organisation like FONA has the potential to inspire a lifelong relationship with a community, one family and one village at a time.

We hope you can join us. Thank you.

Update From FONA Nov 2015 | FONA

During one of Nepal’s biggest festival season, the situation for Nepali people is extremely tenuous as tensions between Nepal and its southern neighbour increase.

Nepal’s new constitution, adopted on 20 September 2015, has created internal conflict and tensions with India due to concerns about how Nepal has drawn the borders of the new 7 provinces nations and in particular the division of two adjoining states on India’s border.

Initially, India encouraged the introduction of a federal structure within Nepal, reducing the number of zones from 14 to 7 states. The associated streamlining of Nepal’s governance structure along the border between India and Nepal would reduce administrative complexity associated with cross-border trade and increase India’s leverage in strategic and security concerns in the region.

However, India was in favour of the creation of a single southern state comprising the Terai-Madhes people. The Terai people living in the low lands of the south of Nepal are ethnically distinct from Nepal’s hill and mountain groups.  Some say that India’s focus on a single border state was to protect its “constituency” within Nepal as the Terai-Madhes people share ethnic and cultural ties with India.

Instead, the new constitution established 7 states which did not follow the boundary of areas inhabited by Terai-Madhes people.

As a result, tensions have broken out at the border causing a border blockage and diplomatic stand off between India and Nepal. The blockade is preventing the passage of basic life supporting supplies, such as food, medicines, petroleum and other daily essentials, all of them imported from India border states.

What has caused these internal tensions?

People are frustrated by the haste with which Nepal’s political leaders pushed through a new constitution after many years of political instability and despite there being significant concerns raised internally. The Nepalese government failed to meaningfully consult with its people, providing only 2 days of consultation on the final draft. This has upset many internal (and external) parties.

Furthermore, the Terai people want to have a greater say in the political affairs of Nepal and fear that the division of the areas occupied by this ethnic group would deny them a voice in the running of the nation. Terai demonstrators have gathered in protest against the new constitution and demanding the formation of a Terai province.

The middle hills and the capital Kathmandu have suffered fuel and cooking gas shortages after protesters in the south switched to blocking supplies from India, Nepal’s largest trading partner, almost two months ago. Many in Nepal accuse India of supporting the protesters – a claim which New Delhi denies. India has expressed its dissatisfaction with parts of the constitution, but says it cannot allow trucks to enter Nepal while conditions are unsafe.

What is clear is that it is the priority of Nepal’s political leaders to resolve internal differences and address the concerns that have been raised with respect to the new constitution. This includes balancing the interests of the people from the mountains, hills and plains and the national interest.

The Terai plains are the nation’s most fertile land and the “food bowl” for the rest of the nation. There are also security concerns about the creation of one southern state, comprised wholly of people with strong historical ties to India. Given the critical strategic importance of the low lands to the security of Nepal, it is important that Nepal’s leaders negotiate a peaceful outcome which is in the best interests of Nepal as a whole.

India also has an important role to play in helping to resolve the internal conflict of its neighbour in good faith and diplomatically.

The blockade has stalled post-earthquake reconstruction works; schools and factories are shut; transport services have completely come to halt; international airlines have almost closed their flights due to the shortage of aviation fuel; and the price of basic necessities has soared. The estimated losses are almost $3 billion to the country’s economy and are impacting potential investment and growth.

These issues are a distraction from the important reconstruction and development conversation that is desperately needed in Nepal.

Date: 18 October 2015

Nepal and India Diplomatic Tensions | FONA

Faces of Nepal from Jeremy Snell on Vimeo.

Faces of Nepal from Jeremy Snell on Vimeo.

Faces of Nepal | FONA

On September 8th, 2015, we are celebrating International Literacy Day and focus on raising awareness for those who cannot read or write or are without access to quality education.

Approximately 775 million people – 64% of whom are women- are functionally illiterate. In other words, they lack the basic reading and writing skills to manage daily living and employment tasks.

The cost of illiteracy to the global economy is estimated at USD $1.19 trillion. The effects of illiteracy are very similar in both developing and developed nations. This means that the impact of illiteracy – limited opportunities for employment or income generation, higher chances of poor health, propensity towards crime or dependence on social welfare or charity (if available) – can be found wherever illiteracy is found.

Educating girls and women, in particular, has unmatched transformative power. It is estimated that if all women completed primary education, there would be 66% fewer maternal deaths. Beyond this very basic level, educating women increases household incomes and influences better educational outcomes for children.

For these reasons, FONA has committed to delivering better education opportunities in Nepal by establishing education centres of excellence. These centres will be established in rural areas to help overcome the social and economic challenges and disadvantages experienced in remote communities. Our vision is that the centres will become a platform for transformation of entire communities through education with a focus on applied learning particularly for secondary students and adults.

International Literacy Day | FONA

The district of Sindhuli is one of the areas worst affected by the twin earthquakes. And it happens to be my childhood home.

This big white house on top of the hill in Purano Jhangajoli village is the place where I was born
This big white house on top of the hill in Purano Jhangajoli village is the place where I was born
It was a happy moment for me to see the familiar faces from my village in Purano Jhangajoli, despite the adversity people in my village are still smiling and resilient.

My primary school English teacher standing in front of his damaged home
My primary school English teacher standing in front of his damaged home

I was encourage to see how resourceful people can be.

Most people had built very decent temporary shelters out of the remnants of houses using materials available, they were sharing and trading previous commodities, temporary learning centres had been built for children to return to school.

A village family standing in front of their temporary shelter. The most impressive temporary shelter I have seen.
A village family standing in front of their temporary shelter. The most impressive temporary shelter I have seen.
It is clear that Nepalese people have the willpower and strength to recover and rebuild. The key for us is to determine what kind of support is needed to assist people in the villages with rebuilding.

There is a lot of noise in the media and in international community about plans to rebuild Nepal. International architects and engineers are devising some innovative and highly creative housing solutions, from earth bags to bamboo structures and even houses made of toilet paper rolls!

Despite their well-meaning, I question some of these proposals and how much consideration has been given to their suitability local culture, conditions, climate, culture and tradition, local availability of materials. Who is going to repair and maintain these structures when the international community leave Nepal? And what kind of legacy do these new structures leave in communities that have prided themselves on the beauty of their cultural heritage and traditional architecture.

A typical example of the damage in this village
Looking at my village, I ask myself, what do the people in the villages really want? What do they need? How is the money of our donors to be best spent and make the largest and most long term impact?

It seems to me that people simply want to rebuild their homes. They have the building materials and the manpower. There are stones, mud bricks, timber, tin sheets, and other locally available materials. These are all -reusable materials. But the key is building in some safety mechanisms and engineered reinforcements to these traditional houses, providing guidance on HOW to rebuild their houses more safely to withstand an earthquake. And they need some financial assistance for the costs of making their houses safer.

I truly believe we can rebuild villages of Nepal to be safer but without damaging the unique beauty and heritage of Nepalese architecture. And on all accounts this is what Nepalese people in the villages actually want.

Amit Jung Thapa, Chairman and Co-Founder

More images from Jhangajoli village:

Rebuilding the village is not just about the buildings, its about creating a future in these communities for the next generation like these boys
Rebuilding the village is not just about the reinstating buildings, its about creating a future in these communities for the next generation including these boys

Message from our Chairman | FONA