The population of Changu Narayan is 5,297 people. The average monthly income is about NRs. 400 - 1000 per month (about 600 - 1500 YEN). Most people make their income by farming and making bricks. 84% of Changu Narayan population is uneducated. Male is earning 86% of their total income and women is earning 16% by weiving during their house duty. There are 3 schools in Changu Narayan, but they are lack of teachers and teaching materials. Even the existing teachers' teaching level is low due to the lack of trainings.

Other than farming and brick making, they also earn their living as porters. The price is NRs.300 for carring 50kg for 2km. This is too difficult for the elders and it damages their health. Some people make local wine and sell at NRs. 20 per 1 litter.

This photo shows the women from Changu Narayan and Charlling villages were carrying the gravel for 5 to 6 hours per day up the hill to where the construction is progressing.

Mr. Santosh, the worker from a construction company, Mr. Slendra, a learning center staff, and Mr. Shiva, the water engineer exchanged information and opinions regularly. With the team of works by meeting once or twice a week, we were able to progress the work according to the original plan.

Naomi Sato from ICA Japan tasted the natural water. It was very cold and the taste was sweet. The natural water source contains lots of mineral.

This is the scene of the reservoir tank, which can contain 11,000 liters of water.

An interview with a villager. This man is from Charlling village. He participated in training session only 2 - 3 times. He was too busy with farming. We are planning to continue following up with all castes in order to encourage them to participate in the training sessions.

It is the rainy season from July to August in the project sites. When ICA Japan staff went there, the path was muddy and the forest was very slippery from the moss. It was very dangerous for the community people to carry construction materials.

Mr. Binod from a construction company had had many experiences with construction projects funded by over seas. He motivated the community to dig the ground for pipes, and was very cooperative to answer the villager's questions.

This is the small tank called "Intank". The water goes throught the filter and flows 40 - 50m down to the reservoir tank.

The digging for the 2nd trench started on the July 17th. An average of 10 to 20 people participated in the work and a total about 500 people participated in the whole process.

The villagers who participated in the construction work.

From teenagers to 60s dag trenchs. 80% of the participants were men, but 90% of stone and brick carrying were done by women.

Mr. Shive, an ICA engineer, is checking the depth of the trench. 90cm was necessary, but it was not possible to dig 90cm in the forest because of the big roots and hard stones. The villagers wanted to keep the roots to protect the environment, so some places were dug 40 - 50cm deep.

Water is very important for every body. To avoid unnecessary fights between villagers, we held meetings with all the staff. They were Changu Narayan water user committee, the Learning Center staff, ICA Japan, ICA Nepal, the Engineers and the construction company, and they made a contract.

This is the water tap. It is 120cm tall. One tap can provide water for 5 to 8 households. 500 people who got registered themselves to use the water are going to pay Rs. 15-20 per month for maintenance.

There were 2, 3 water sources around the Intank. If the community wants to extend the water pipe, they will be able to construct it using funds collected from the community.

We filled the tank with water and checked it for leakage. The tank will last for more than 40 years.

This is the distribution tank. The engineer is measuring the size and the quality of the tank. They also checked for leakage.

Shizuyo Sato and Wayne Ellswoth, trainers from Japan, visited the drinking water facility.

This is the completed water tap. There are a total of 20 taps, and these taps will bring water to the Changu Narayan and Charlling villages. The time for fetching water has been reduced by more than 1 hour, and they now have access to more clean water.

Women in the community started to plant trees around the Learning Center. They were taking good care of the Community Center.

We purchased some equipments for the learning center. The purpose was to use the learning center more effectively. Mr. Saotome, a NGO ambassador from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan, is handing the equipment to the staff of the learning center.

So far, 1200 people from all around Nepal have visited to participate in the training held in the learning center. The Learning center has facility as a guest house and a small cafe.

This is the group photo of ICA Nepal.

Mr. Duruga and Ms. Sato from ICA, Mr. Srendra and Ms. Deveka from the learning center, Mr. Shiva, an engineer, and Mr. Dangol, a restaurant manager are exchanging opinions about how to ensure the sustainability of the project.

From July 21st to 25th, we held 5 days training for T.O.T (Training of Trainers) at the ICA Nepal office. The trainers were 6 staff from ICA Nepal, and 13 people from Bhaktapur district participated.

These are some of the manuals that ICA Nepal is using for their training. "Building strong and independent community groups", "Group facilitation methods" and "Managing conflict" etc... These manuals are used in 35 countries in ICA trainings.

Mr. Tatwa, an ICA Nepal's training manager, is conducting an active part in training JICA Nepal and UNDP Nepal staff using ICA methods.

This is the workshop of "How do you build more effective teamwork?". Nepalese culture and custom were reflected in their answer which was very interesting. Government staff who learned ICA methods are working as ICA trainers now after their retirement.

She is Ms. Maya, a teacher for knitting. She lives in Changu Narayan and holds knitting training 2 days a week for the Changu Narayan women's group.

This is the gift shop in the learning center. 20 to 40% of the sales will be used for the learning center's maintenance fee. They will also use the money to purchase the woolen yarm, cloth and sewing tools.

This is the scene of the micro credit training held once in every 2 weeks. Every person is being encouraged to creat a savings account with a minimum deposit of Rs. 5 (about 7.5 yen). Present number of members are 164.

From August 24th to 26th, "Sustainable Agriculture training" was held in the learning center. 15 participants from Rupandehi district located in watern Nepal visited Changu Narayan. It took them about 8 hours to come to Changu Narayan.

Training on organic farming methods using vegetables and livestock droppings, as well as training on chilly peppers were held. During the 3 days of training, the participants stayed in the learning center.

Shizuyo Sato, an ICA Japan's director, and Wayne Ellsworth, an ICA Japan's co-director, visited Changu Narayan Learning Center, and held leadership training.

The participants are thinking which project impressed them the most. This was a good opportunity to reflect the project.

They are discussing the project using the "Principals of Economical, Social, and Cultural development". Their ideas were "to circulate among the community people as quickly as possible", "Identify the problem of manpower and the use of local resources in the future" and "Create community symbol".

Not only women, but also adult men, elder women and youth participated in the leadership training. After five years of training, community women are now able to participate in the meetings and trainings, and they can also give opinions and ideas with men.

He is talking about what kind of things can be improved in the community and what they can do to improve. After their discussions, they presented their opinions in front of the participants.

Mr. Ellsworth is handing the certificates to the participants. They were very happy and satisfied.

We gave teaching materials to Tauthali primary school in Nagarkot village on August 11. The same as Changu Narayan village, we did a survey by interviewing the teachers about what supplies they needed.

Things needed in Changu Narayan village and Nagarkot village were different. Changu Narayan village needed many learning posters, and Nagarkot village needed materials for music and physical education.

When we delivered the teaching materials, 110 students in Tauthali primary school arrived. A commemorative pencil was passed out to each students. Afterwards Nepal dance was presented by the students. The message was that "We appreciate Japan's support. We will take care of the materials. You are welcome to Nagarkoto any time."

Mr. Saotome, a MOFA NGO ambassador, Mr. Fujii from MOFA Tokyo, Mr. Tottori and Mr. Udeya from the Japanese embassy in Nepal visited Changu Narayan project.

Mr. Saotome is giving the speech about visiting the Changu Narayan project. Nepal television broadcasted the MOFA Japan visit on TV.

Teaching materials were handed from MOFA to the Changu Narayan primary school principal. The red school bag will be given to the students who gets the highest score on their examination. Learning posters, ruler sets for the teachers and dictionary sets were also given to the principal.

Changu Narayan VDC (Village Development Committee) is giving the thank you speech to MOFA. The village appreciates the support from Japan, and they promised to give a lot of effort to sustain the learning center.

Traditional Nepali dance was presented by the Changu Narayan women's group.

More than 300 people participated in the welcome ceremony.