“Our team has people from different walks of life, so we often come across diverse views and ideas. Hence, we evaluate those ideas by measuring them through the lens of sustainability, impact on the community and economic feasibility. Sometimes we are barred by policies from picking ideas that we consider good from personal perspectives.” Saran elaborates on the challenges.
With the expansion of digital mediums of SDA, Saran believes anyone with accessibility can know about its work in the rural hills of Makwanpur for the Chepang community through intervention in education, health and agriculture and deaf children in Jumla.
Saran envisions impactful and integrated projects in the communities of the project areas. Besides, he foresees SDA learning and growing into new ideas of developmental horizon. As a developing nation, Saran considers community development a necessity for Nepal to bring forth progressive , positive and innovative developmental changes at the grass root level through integration of solid ideas with planning , Coordination , Networking, Cooperation and effective implementation. SDA focuses on different sectors of development ,change and improvements.
Saran, who visited 11 of the 13 most affected areas, realized the impact of SDA and youths in development work when he saw the teamwork and coordination in effective way for the earthquake relief distribution projects, Reconstruction of Houses and schools, implementing different development projects , Awareness activities and campaigns .
The Journey from the Founding phase of the organization till now have been a great learning and experiencing journey. Most of the personal goals of Saran do align with that of the organization. Saran acknowledges that SDA has helped in broadening knowledge, experience ,personal growth and development.
Prakriti Bhandari, the Vice-Chairperson, started her journey with SDA as an inexperienced teenager. Over the years, she has grown in both a personal and professional capacity. Prakriti, whose fondest memory is going to Kalikatar (project area) for the first time, does not regret spending her time in SDA.
Prakriti believes the progress and heights the former SDA hostel girls have achieved speak for the impact that SDA has had in the lives of its beneficiaries. For her, a local government holding power justifies the importance of community development because it focuses on overlooked things.
SDA has left a mark on her professional life, and Prakriti credits the organization for where she is today.
Her personal goals of capacity building and community development align with the objectives of SDA. As someone who finds it fun travelling to the field, Prakriti summarizes her journey with SDA as a journey of leadership, lifetime experience and adventure.
“The visibility of SDA will likely be the same because our philosophy when we started was community development, so I see us continuing the work for the underprivileged communities.” Prakriti envisions the future of SDA.
“My goal is to provide service to the Nepali people for their welfare through the health project of SDA,” Reeta, a health front liner voices. The founder and chairperson of the Govinda Development Association (GDA) guided Reeta and her colleagues to start an organization. “It feels like a dream come true,” Reeta shares her experience with SDA.
“What could be the fondest moment other than a well-established organization initiated by the helpless for the helpless?” Reeta questions, who also fondly remembers the teamwork among the youth.
“If we do not help, then who would help us.” A quote from Buddha inspired the team of youth. Reeta, who views social work as an opportunity to exchange help, envisions SDA spreading its arms in at least five other districts in ten years. Teamwork has always motivated her toward cooperation among young people and their goals.
Dashrath recognizes SDA as an organization founded with a motive to do social work in communities deprived of basic needs. “Our goals as an organization is to help them uplift their living standard,” he adds.
For Dashrath, who oversees the Education project, social work holds a significant meaning in his life. He visits various parts of Nepal and observes people and their communities from near during his professional work unrelated to SDA. The disadvantaged lives in rural areas push him to social work.
Dashrath believes that a country cannot develop unless its communities develop. He further explains, “working in communities helps to learn about the obstacles from close and that somehow makes it easier to solve them efficiently.”
Social work has always been a part of Dashrath’s personal goals, and he gets to serve the community through SDA and considers that it has helped in achieving his personal goals.
An engineering student, Jagdish reads up a lot on social work. He fondly remembers being part of the post-earthquake relief fund distribution program of 2015, where he went to Makwanpur and contributed there.
Since childhood, Jagdish feels that he does not know another world other than the world of social work. He considers that social work amounts to certain sacrifices from time and effort.
As someone who aspires to be the change he wants to see in the world, Jagdish sees SDA growing its presence and acclimatizing to the changes as it moves forward. He feels that as the organization grows, its accountability towards the communities it works with and for also grows.
Jagdish feels as though he learned a lot for someone his age. He credits the multicultural exposure during meetings for the knowledge he has gained over the years. “If it weren’t for SDA, I would not have the growth and knowledge I now have,” Jagdish speaks honestly. He summarizes his journey with SDA as a learning experience.
The journey with SDA has been a struggle but full of learning experiences. The first time I had been to the field area in Kalikatar was during the earthquake to distribute relief supplies. I was glad to have been a part of it with my fellow executive committee bodies. Likewise, the staff development training/workshops were fun and knowledgeable.
Working for community development helps bring about social change and improve the quality of life in their local area. It guides communities to organize themselves and provides a platform for them to live a better life, minimizing the issues that affect the life of a neighbourhood. Moreover, developed communities lead the nation towards the path of development.
The camp, conducted in three different places in Kailash Rural Municipality, is his fondest memory from SDA. As someone from a non-medical background, Bikash did not have experience participating in a Health Outreach Camp. Therefore, he reminisces about the time he spent during that time.
Beyond recollecting memories, Bikash also introduces SDA to his friends through its work in its project areas of Makwanpur and Jumla.
“I talk about the activities SDA carries out for community development there.” He adds.
Furthermore, Bikash believes that community development is necessary because it creates awareness in people of different facets of development, helps them identify issues that require attention and motivate them to take collective action to generate solutions. He elaborates, “SDA has contributed its effort and time to alleviate the standard of health, education and agriculture of Kailash Rural Municipality, through which there has been a significant improvement in achieving community development.”
Bikash summarises his journey with SDA as memorable, engaging and stimulating. Also, since his involvement with SDA, he has realized that it has fuelled his creativity.