Renewable energy resources for improved, sustainable livelihood: A case study of a holistic community development project with a remote and poor mountain village in the Nepal Himalayas

摘要

Families in remote areas in the high altitude Nepal Himalayas are very poor. They depend upon scarce firewood for cooking, room heating and light, and with no pit latrines and polluted drinking water, their hygienic conditions are very poor. Due to the harsh climate and the short agriculturally productive season there is a permanent food shortage in the mountain district of Humla, Nepal. Ill health, high mortality of children, malnutrition, low education, low life expectancy and massive deforestation, are the consequence. A holistic grass-roots community development project initiated through The ISIS Foundation and Kathmandu University tries to address these issues. Through elementary lighting, an appropriate stove, a suitable pit latrine, clean drinking water, hot water for washing, a greenhouse and functional literacy classes, and in close partnership with the community, the project seeks to achieve appropriate and sustainable impacts. This paper describes the background, implementation process and the expected impacts of these integrated projects on sustainable community development.