NDA Journal 2021

are areas of interest that predominate among BRANNGO members, so these 2 areas are particularly active. A third Working Group looking at Environment, Conservation and Climate Change issues is currently being set up. As well as helping members develop ideas and opportunities, these Groups also help develop policies in relation to the many challenges associated with NGO work in Nepal such as child labour and trafficking, enhancements to the education system and women’s and minority rights. The organisation is also developing local-area focus groups to exchange information and ideas in relation to particular places in Nepal. This initiative is at an early stage but there has been encouraging support for it from NGOs and the local Nepalese Government. BRANNGO also recently appointed a representative in Nepal. As well as providing a useful in-country contact point for members and strengthening liaison with individuals and organisations in the country, Kirtijai publishes a monthly review of the Nepalese press which members find a very useful way of keeping abreast of events there. These all provide additional ways in which members can keep in touch with each other and with other stakeholders. BRANNGO is managed by a Committee, all of whose members have long experience in various aspects of charity work in Nepal. Day-to-day management is led by the Chairman, Nick Hinton (see above), assisted by the Treasurer, Carol Clare, and by various committee members (such as the chairs of the Working Groups) to whom particularly activities or tasks are delegated. BRANNGO is not a fund-raising or grant-making organisation and consequently does not have charitable status. In summary, BRANNGO is a sociable, interactive organisation with a wide spectrum of members and partners united by the common endeavour of enhancing charitable assistance to disadvantaged and needy people in Nepal. A programme of activities and communications provides the means of collaboration and coordination to this end. We are constantly innovating and welcome new members and partners both for what they can contribute and to ensure that more and more organisations and individuals are involved in the beneficial work we are trying to expand and enhance. In 2019, I made contact with the Nepal Doctors Association UK. I had been following your organisation and because of my background hoped that we could work together; that I could help the organisation in some way, here in the UK and in Nepal. I joined the Charity Wing and it was my utmost delight when at the last AGM, I was made your first Honorary Member, something of which I am genuinely most proud. And so, here we are in 2021, the last 16 years in a ‘long winded nutshell’ . There are so many stories to tell, experiences had, memories made, friends and family who are extremely dear to me and a country that took me in and of which, I feel a part. Nepal is my 2nd home and I look forward to many more years ahead of helping children with their education and helping others through medicine. Thank you to you all for taking the time to read my story. Dhanyabad. Mero Nepali naam Nawang Dolma ho / Lisa Whitehouse-Foskett cfenc@btinternet.com Facebook: The Charitable Foundation for the Education of Nepalese Children Twitter: CFENC1 YouTube: CFENC UK Charity 17 NDA UK JOURNAL, JULY 2021