The Tapriza NGO Switzerland was founded in 1998 to financially support the simultaneously established Tapriza School in the remote Nepalese district of Dolpo. The state-recognised boarding school educates around 200 children from kindergarten through to 10th grade. The Tapriza NGO Switzerland works closely with the Nepalese NGO TASHI-D. The NGO manages the Tapriza School and other local projects through a democratically elected board.

Shortly after the Tapriza NGO was founded, additional projects in the region were initiated to provide adults with further education and training, improve local infrastructure and healthcare, and preserve cultural heritage and customs. In this way, the Tapriza NGO Switzerland, together with TASHI-D, strengthens the entire region around Phoksundo Lake.

The school is financed through parental contributions, government salary payments for the teachers, and donations from the Tapriza NGO Switzerland and its partners.

 

Why do we provide support?

In the mountains of Nepal, many areas are difficult to access. There is often a lack of roads, electricity, and water supply. This is also the case in the region around Phoksundo Lake in Dolpo. This increases the cost of construction. It also makes schools less attractive for teaching staff, who have to live far away from their families for months at a time. Consequently, it is challenging to find enough qualified teachers. The Tapriza NGO Switzerland helps finance the additional costs for construction, maintenance, and personnel resulting from the remote location.

 

Goals and Impact

The region around Phoksundo Lake is predominantly agricultural, and older generations often have little or no formal education. Most families earn their living through farming, supplemented by trade with China. The Nepalese-Chinese border is only a three to four days' walk away. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic trekking tourism has gained importance.

Thanks to the solid basic education at the Tapriza School, former students are able to access new professional fields. Adults also benefit from further education programs. This might include working as hostel operators, tour organisers, or in technical fields such as the installation of solar power systems or in the healthcare sector. Thus, the support of the Tapriza NGO Switzerland achieves a significant increase in education throughout the entire region.

With the commitment to preserving cultural heritage, local customs, and the Bon religion, the population's pride in its own heritage is growing. This goes hand in hand with a steadily increasing understanding of democracy and self-confidence among the people. The improved healthcare provision helps, among other things, to significantly reduce child and maternal mortality in the region.