The polytunnel frame is now constructed from bamboo grown locally. Krishna and his friends from Alliance Nepal have worked swiftly to erect this shelter to protect the vegetables, from the hailstorms and monsoon weather which is expected from mid June. It now awaits the polythene covering. Meanwhile the children have been very excited wanting to help plant the vegetables.
Huge thanks to krishna and Alliance Nepal for their hard work ensuring the children will have fresh vegetables in the months ahead.

Finally after weeks trying to locate essential medical items such as masks, gloves, aprons and thermal gun thermometers etc Sitara, our partner NGO organised delivery to four of our five Health Posts today with a further delivery planned on Thursday to Lapilang Health Post and the District Health Office medical staff.
In these exceptional times with the Covid-19 virus spreading so rapidly around the world, it is hard to find such equipment, even in developed countries, so we can understand the difficulties Sitara has faced in gathering these items and also for arranging the transportation despite the 'lockdown' in Nepal. In particular finding infrared thermal gun thermometers, vital in trying to identifying those likely to be suffering from the virus has proved to be almost impossible with stocks in the country having been bought up by a syndicate for sale on the black market. Police arrested the perpetrators and confiscated the thermometers. After days of contacting different suppliers and hours of negotiations Sitara has finally secured ten.The Nestling Trust thanks SItara most sincerely for their commitment and determination.
Thank you also to our loyal supporters - without you this would not be possible.

A severe thunderstorm hit the Pokhara area of Nepal yesterday. Hailstones and ice balls the size of golf balls damaged one of the solar panels on the Sarangkot Nestling Home. Many vegetables planted to provide food for the Children's Home, were also destroyed.
It is thought that the solar panel can be repaired after the 'lockdown' ends.

Today The Nepali Times reports that the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID Nepal) has provided a £802,000 grant to help strengthen Nepal’s preparedness and response to the corona virus pandemic (COVID-19).
The support (already provided) has helped mobilise the World Health Organization (WHO) to focus on increasing Nepal’s technical expertise, strengthening sample and laboratory management; disease surveillance and contact tracing; improving infection prevention and control; strengthening information management; and improving the clinical management of cases. Additionally, UK support has also helped provide the crucial consultation services of a microbiologist from Public Health England which complements DFID’s existing technical assistance to Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population.
Lisa Honan, Head of Office for DFID Nepal said, “The UK’s early commitment to tackle the unprecedented challenges presented by this pandemic reflect our strong relationship with the Government of Nepal. We will continue to support Nepal’s immediate and long-term needs, focusing now on protecting vulnerable people.”
Minister of Health and Population, Bhanubhakta Dhakal said, “The government of Nepal has worked actively to take precautions against the spread of corona virus in the country. We are grateful for this timely support from the UK to further strengthen our response to tackle the adverse impact of the virus.”
​
 https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/uk-support-to-help-strengthen-nepals-response-to-covid-19/ 

In response to the Corinavirus pandemic the Nepal government announced a total 'Lockdown'. This has been enforced by the security forces.
By the 2nd April '20 only 5 cases of people suffering with the virus had been confirmed but it is thought that this is due to lack of resources. So far less than 1000 have undergone testing.
Many migrant workers have returned from India, the Gulf States and China and prior to the 'Lockdown' thousands of Nepali families left Kathmandu and headed for their home villages. It could well be that Corinavirus has already spread to many villages around the country. 

Burns Night - and what a great night it was! The Nestling Trust welcomed guests with sprays of heather, then 'Ode to the Haggis' with the traditional piping in of the Haggis delighted everyone who then enjoyed the 'tatties, haggis and neeps'! Pipley Ceilldh Band were amazing and dancers thronged onto the floor to dance the night away. The Nestling Trust would like to thank everyone who helped to make it such a fantastic night including all who came to support the event. Nearly £2000 was raised - an amazing result!
We would especially like to thank Fiddington Nurseries who again supplied all the shrubs and trees making the  Community Hall particularly beautiful for the event.
Proceeds will help fund the building of a Health and Birthing Centre in Preeti, Nepal, where thousands are without medical facilities in an area which is cut off by snow and ice and landslides during the winter and monsoon seasons. here to edit.

Krishna - the little boy who four years ago could not stand, walk, talk, use his arms or hands, celebrated the start of 2020 cutting cake and sampling the results of a 'bake off' along with his friends at the SERC school!
We are constantly amazed by the progress little Krishna has achieved, and we thank the physiotherapists, speech therapists and all staff at SERC school whose skills, love and dedication have made, nothing less, than a miracle happen!

The Nestling Trust would like to wish friends, colleagues and supporters around the world, a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy 2020!

Site of the Health and Birthing Centre at Preeti!
A huge thank you to everyone who donated to the Nestling Trust Preeti project, through the BigGive Matchfunding Christmas Challenge.
We are delighted to say that through your generosity work can begin in January 2020 to build and establish a Health and Birthing Centre at Preeti, a remote area in Nepal where currently 30,000 people have no medical facility. Imagine having to trek for miles across difficult mountainous terrain to find the nearest health post, sometimes arriving too late to help very sick patients.
We are enormously grateful for everyone's support, which has come from as far away as NZ, USA and Canada as well as many places in the UK and of course from our local supporters in Wiltshire. Thank you for all your loyal support, for believing in us and encouraging us in our work in Nepal. It is through you that we are able to make changes to improve the health and the lives of the most needy, disadvantaged and marginalised people - thank you.
Sue.

The Nestling Trust is delighted to say that today - the first day of the BigGive campaign, £1,230 has been donated to help us build a Health and Birthing Centre in Preeti, where currently 30,000 people have no medical facility. A huge thank you to those who have donated. That figure will be doubled through the BigGive. 
The campaign runs until midday on the 10th December '19 - please continue to donate our target figure is £20,000.

Donations to our Health and Birthing Centre project in Preeti will be matched for 7 days only from 12 noon on Tuesday 3rd December ’19 to midday on Tuesday 10th December ’19.
 
 So ….. One donation, twice the impact!
A donation of £5 will be doubled to £10 and could buy a stethoscope and blood pressure monitor. Give £10 and it will be doubled to £20 to provide a drip stand, a fully stocked first aid bag, or a stretcher. £30 when doubled would cover the salary of a trained nurse for a month. With £100, doubled to £200, the trust could pay for the nurse for over 3 months 
 
 If you would like to help this remote area of Nepal, where thousands of villagers are without medical facility, we highly recommend you do so during the Christmas Challenge (Tues 3rd Dec to 10th Dec) when your gift will be worth twice as much and will make even more of a difference to the villagers in and around Preeti

What happens next?
Please remember only donations made between 12 noon on 3rd December ’19 and 12 noon on 10th December '19 will be matchfunded.
This will be the link:  https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a051r00001OlWsMAAV
Please help us do this!
​Thank you so much.