We are excited to learn that Himshikhara Socio-Cultural Society (HISCUS), our partner NGO in Nepal, has commenced a Dignity Empowerment programme for 12 schools in marginalised areas around Kathmandu. They will be addressing the often-taboo subject in Nepal, of menstruation. It is a sad fact that the onset of menstruation causes many girls to drop out of school in Nepal due to lack of money to buy hygiene products. IAFN is a UK Charity, and partners with TNT. It has considerable experience in educating groups about menstruation and methods of making reusable hygiene products. IAFN has generously agreed to fund the programme.

 Here is an extract from a report written by HISCUS:

Himshikhara Socio Cultural Society (HISCUS) is a nonprofit organization established in 1998
with the aim of empowering marginalized Nepali communities through sustainable practices and
inclusive education. Guided by its vision to support Nepal’s sustainable development, HISCUS
works to bridge disparities by providing essential health, educational, and economic
opportunities.
Building on the success of previous cloth pad-making programs HISCUS has done with local
women, which promoted menstrual health and sustainable hygiene practices, HISCUS has
expanded this initiative to include schoolgirls and Female Community Health Volunteers
(FCHVs) in rural and peri-urban areas. Through structured, hands-on workshops, participants
gain practical skills to produce reusable sanitary pads while also learning to share their
knowledge within their communities. This approach not only addresses immediate menstrual
hygiene needs but also fosters long-term community empowerment and sustainable change.

2. Purpose:
The overall aim of the program is to enhance menstrual health awareness, promote sustainable
hygiene, and empower communities. For students, the focus is on female students in Grades 8
and 9 from low-income, migrant backgrounds, helping them understand menstrual health, gain
practical skills in making reusable cloth pads, and participate in open, supportive discussions.

The program seeks to challenge stigma, provide accurate information, and build confidence so
students can manage their periods effectively and share knowledge within their communities.

3. Logistics and Operations
Venue Details: The event was held at Shree Ranidevi Secondary School, Kathmandu. The 
government school serves as a vital educational institution for the local community, situated in a
predominantly low-income, migrant neighbourhood.

What a great afternoon! Thank you to everyone who came to support The Nestling Trust - Sunday Afternoon Tea, Cakes and sale of Nepali items. Through your generosity, we were able to raise £1640. Also, a huge thank you to all those who helped in any way to make the event such a happy, vibrant and successful occasion.
All proceeds will help further vital work in bringing healthcare and health education to the remote village areas of Nepal.
​We thank you all most sincerely.

Sunday Afternoon Tea and Cakes
and sale of beautiful Nepali pashminas and other handmade items
by women’s groups  from the foothills of the Himalayas.
 
Sunday 21st September 2025
2.00pm – 4.00pm
 
At The Old School, Market Lavington









​14th November 2025
Charity Horse Race Night
Friday 14th November 2025
Doors open 7p.m. for 7.30 p.m. start
At Market Lavington Community Hall    

About the Event:
This will be a great night of fun, and you can try your luck with a flutter on the tote!

You have the opportunity to get involved by purchasing your own race horse before the event and your name in the programme, for just £5.

There will be 8 races and if your horse wins a race a bottle of fizz will be coming your way.

Tickets for the event are £15 which includes supper, please let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements.

Ways to purchase your tickets: 

01: Pop into Devizes Books in Devizes, or visit St Arbucks in Market Lavington.
02:Via the website link available live from October '25.
03: Make a Bank Transfer to the following bank account:
(NOTE: Please ensure to leave a reference [Horse Race Night] when making payment). 

CAF Bank Ltd
Account name: The Nestling Trust
Account number: 00024274
Sort Code: 40 52 40

The Himalayan Times reported on Thursday, 11th September '25, that the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern over the current situation in Nepal, where Gen Z-led protests have spiralled into violence following the deaths of 19 demonstrators on Monday's protest against the banning of all social media and government corruption. Guterres made a statement on Twitter, to say he was "closely following the situation in Nepal" and was "deeply saddened by the loss of life." He called for a thorough and independent investigation into the fatalities, urging authorities to comply with human rights law, exercise restraint, and prioritise dialogue. He emphasised that
"Protests must peacefully take place, respecting life and property." 
The Secretary-General's message follows a joint statement from the United Nations in Nepal, which had earlier underscored that freedom of expression, access to information, and peaceful assembly are fundamental rights protected under Nepali and international law. The UN called for both demonstrators and security forces to avoid violence and ensure responses remain proportionate.
During the last two days there has been intense turmoil in Kathmandu and other cities. Following Monday's deadly clashes, protests turned increasingly violent, with demonstrators resorting to arson and vandalism. Crowds targeted high-profile political figures' residences, party offices, and a number of state institutions. Among the damaged sites were the Federal Parliament building, Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court, the Office of the Attorney General, special courts, district courts, land revenue (Malpot) offices, and multiple police stations.
It has been reported that the Nepali Army has imposed a prohibitory orders and a nationwide curfew in response to escalating unrest linked to the Gen Z-led protests.

The Nepali Times reports on the violent spiral of events in Nepal. Please see link below.

What a lovely day! Even the afternoon showers couldn't dampen the spirits of all those who attended the West Lavington Manor Open Garden Event on Saturday, to enjoy the charm and serenity of this wonderful setting. A huge thank you to Jordi and Andrew for welcoming us to your breathtakingly beautiful garden.
The Nestling Trust was thrilled to be part of the day and to have the opportunity to share information about the work we do in Nepal, one of the world's poorest countries.
We are immensely grateful to Jordi and Andrew for their generous support in helping us provide healthcare and health education for remote, marginalised communities as well as providing protection for destitute/abused children, where in a safe caring environment they can live as a family, go to school and have real hope for the future.
Peter Rabbit made a special appearance, adding a touch of magic to the day.
It was great to meet all those who visited Nestling Trust Gazebo and took part in the Wildflowers of Nepal Treasure Hunt - we hope you enjoyed it.
Thank you to everyone who came along.

The Nestling Trust would like to thank all those who helped in any way to make the Fashion Show such a success. Thank you especially to everyone who came along to support the event we areb delighted to say that £685 was raised and will be used to help provide health education and healthcare in the remote village areas of Nepal.

All proceeds will help the Nestling Trust maintain The Sarangkot Nestling Home for destitute/abused children in Nepal, lifting them from despair and offering real hope for the future. It provides a safe caring environment, where children can grow up within the Nepalese culture, as a family, enjoying the happiness of simple childhood activities, playing games, singing, dancing and attending the local village school. They have the opportunity to learn the skills they will need in adult life, and are supported in their career choices.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

WorldPowerful earthquake kills nearly 100 in Tibet, rattles Nepal
​
Southwestern parts of China, Nepal and northern India are frequently hit by earthquakes caused by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Damaged houses are pictured after an earthquake at a village in Shigatse, Tibet Autonomous Region, China January 7, 2025 

Published at : January 7, 2025
Updated at : January 7, 2025 16:30
Beijing/kathmanduA magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked the northern foothills of the Himalayas near one of Tibet’s holiest cities on Tuesday, Chinese authorities said, killing at least 95 people and shaking buildings in neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan and India.
The quake hit at 9:05 a.m. (0105 GMT), with its epicentre located in Tingri, a rural county known as the northern gateway to the Everest region, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. The US Geological Service put the quake’s magnitude at 7.1.
At least 95 people were known to have been killed and 130 injured on the Tibetan side, China’s state-run television reported six hours later. There were no reports of deaths elsewhere.
Southwestern parts of China, Nepal and northern India are frequently hit by earthquakes caused by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Tuesday’s epicentre was around 80 km (50 miles) north of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain and a popular destination for climbers and trekkers.
Winter is not a popular season for climbers and hikers in Nepal, with a German climber the lone mountaineer with a permit to climb Mount Everest. He had already left the base camp after failing to reach the summit, Lilathar Awasthi, a Department of Tourism official, said.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the tremors were felt in seven hill districts bordering Tibet.
“So far we have not received any information of any loss of life and property,” NDRRMA spokesman Dizan Bhattarai told Reuters. “We have mobilised police, security forces and local authorities to collect information,” he said.
Many villages in the Nepalese border area, which are sparsely populated, are remote and can only be reached by foot.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit close to one of Tibet’s most sacred cities on the morning of Tuesday, January 7th.
The impact of the quake was felt across the Shigatse region of Tibet, home to 800,000 people. The region is administered by Shigatse city, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said all-out search and rescue efforts should be carried out to minimise casualties, properly resettle the affected people, and ensure a safe and warm winter.
More than 1,500 local firefighters and rescue workers have been dispatched to the affected areas, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
Some 22,000 items including cotton tents, cotton coats, quilts and folding beds have also been sent to the quake-hit region, it said.
Damaged houses are pictured after an earthquake at a village in Shigatse, Tibet Autonomous Region, China January 7, 2025.
Tremors, Aftershocks
Villages in Tingri, where the average elevation is around 4,000-5,000 metres (13,000-16,000 feet), reported strong shaking during the quake, which was followed by dozens of aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 4.4.
Crumbled shop fronts could be seen in a video on social media showing the aftermath in the town of Lhatse, with debris spilling out onto the road.
Reuters was able to confirm the location based on nearby buildings, windows, road layout, and signage that match satellite and street view imagery.
There are three townships and 27 villages within 20 km (12 miles) of the epicentre, with a total population of around 6,900, and more than 1,000 houses have been damaged, Xinhua reported.
Local government officials were liaising with nearby towns to gauge the impact of the quake and check for casualties, and China closed the Everest region to tourists after the quake, it added.
The Tingri tremor was caused by a rupture in what is known as the Lhasa block in an area under north-south compression and west-east stress, CCTV reported, citing Chinese experts.
Since 1950, there have been 21 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above in the Lhasa block, the largest of which was the 6.9-magnitude quake in Mainling in 2017, according to CCTV.
Mainling is located in the lower reaches of Tibet’s Yarlung Zangbo river where China is planning to build the world's largest hydropower dam.
A magnitude 7.8 tremor struck near Nepal’s capital Kathmandu in 2015, killing about 9,000 people and injuring thousands in the country’s worst ever earthquake. Among the dead were at least 18 people killed at the Mount Everest base camp when it was hit by an avalanche.
On Tuesday, tremors were felt in Kathmandu, some 400 km (250 miles) from the epicentre, and residents in the city ran out of their houses.
“The bed was shaking and I thought my child was moving the bed ... I didn’t pay that much attention but the shaking of (a) window made me understand that it's an earthquake,” said Kathmandu resident Meera Adhikarii. “I’m still shaking out of fear and am in shock.”
One person was injured in Kathmandu when he jumped off the top of a house after feeling the strong tremors, Nepal Police spokesman Bishwa Adhikari said. The man was being treated in hospital.
The quake also jolted Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, and the northern Indian state of Bihar which borders Nepal.
So far, no reports of any damage or loss to property have been received, officials in India and Bhutan said.


https://kathmandupost.com/world/2025/01/07/powerful-earthquake-kills-nearly-100-in-tibet-rattles-nepal

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones, those who have been made homeless, and the rescue teams.
Thank fully all our friends and colleagues in Nepal are safe and our projects are unaffected.

Wishing all family, friends and colleagues around the world a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. May the Peace and Hope of Christmas rest amongst the people of all nations.

 Thank you so much to everyone who has helped The Nestling Trust (TNT) reach the match funding target, £16.000 - we are immensely grateful!
Although donations will no longer be doubled the campaign is not over and will help us establish the Outreach Health Education Programme in Nepal - the aim is to reduce preventable deaths where 1 in 30 children die before their 5th Birthday. Exceeding the target will also mean that TNT will be eligible for a BigGive award..

 The Plan
The Nestling Trust (TNT) Is planning to provide a Health Education Outreach Programme to include the necessary resources in four remote village areas in Dolakha, Nepal.
Initial trianing will be given to members of staff from our Health facilities in Marbu, Bhirkot, Melung and Lapilang, aswell as the Female Volunter Health Workers (FVHW), at the Baiteshwor Health & Birthing Centre. Those staff will return to their village areas where they will then train up other staff to engage in Health Education sessions in schools, womens and community groups o raise awareness of simple choice/changes/skills that can be learnt and made to improve health and save lives. Topics will include Hygiene, Care of the newborn, Dangers of smoking, drugs etc

Situation
World Health Organisation 2020 estimates that in Nepal 66% of deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases, the highest being cardiovascular diseases. Two-thirds of all premature deaths can be linked to modifiable risk factors: unhealthy lifestyle & diet, poor hygiene, smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol/drugs etc. In the poor, marginalised communities of rural Nepal, villagers lack awareness of the risks, so suffer ill health/disability/job loss & have little knowledge of basic first aid. One in every 30 children die before their 5th birthday.
Outreach
The Health Education Programme will reach approx. 24,000 population in 4 remote villages of Dolakha. Unicef says health education is the bedrock of healthy communities. It's a process of empowering people to increase control over their health. HE sessions will help raise awareness of simple choices/changes that can be made to improve health and well-being, plus basic first aid skills.
We will be Training the Trainers - then Trainers will run monthly outreach community sessions plus the FVHW will be visiting families within their own homes.
.