COVID-19 has changed the world, creating uncertainty and challenges for every human being. Businesses are closing, travel is stopped and thousands of people are facing compromised health. We send our love and appreciation to everyone that is in the middle of this struggle, and our deepest gratitude to each of you that is taking care of yourself and others during this time. We hope that you and your family are healthy, well and able to find peace, wherever you may be.
Here in Nepal, the country is dealing with similar challenges, dozens of new COVID-19 cases everyday, and the first few COVID-19 deaths this past week. A nationwide lockdown has been issued until June 2nd, and the international airport is closed. The economic challenges of the lockdown are beginning to affect all families in Nepal. There have been very few cases of coronavirus in the district of Sindhupalchok where we live, and most farmers continue their lives as usual, planting corn in the fields and collecting grass for their animals. At Conscious Impact, we are healthy and eating well, sheltered in place at our camp in Takure.
Despite the global crisis, local farmers have no choice but to continue their work, and we are committed to supporting them in any way we can. Many farmers already rely on less than $5/day of income, and often struggle to afford basic necessities such as food, supplies and education for their children. Taking a break from their work is just not an option. Similarly, we feel that our work in Takure and around this region is essential, and we aim to continue supporting farmers in every way that we can. Global challenges like climate change, economic instability and COVID-19 are not new to these rural families that have spent generations building self-sufficiency, and our work has always been to strengthen their resilience and independence. We believe that planting coffee trees is one of the greatest ways we can support the planet and Takure families during these challenging times.
We are asking for support to continue this work.
Goma Kafle (shown in the above photo) is one of Conscious Impact's partner farmers. In the last 5 years, she has planted more than 250 coffee trees with our support, and this year she harvested beautiful coffee cherries! Her mature coffee trees will increase her annual income by more than 1200 USD to buy essential food and supplies for her family.
Every coffee tree planted and cared for sequesters carbon, mitigates climate change and provides a much needed sustainable livelihood for local farmers. A single coffee tree can produce 10kg of red cherry every year. At $1/kg, a farm of 100 trees can bring in an extra $1000/year, or nearly the equivalent of a year’s salary for one full-time job. This makes an enormous difference in the lives of these farmers and their families.
Over the past 5 years, Conscious Impact has partnered with over 100 farmers to plant more than 15,000 trees.
Our goal this year is to plant another 3,000 coffee trees.
The work has already begun, and the Conscious Impact team is working every day to plant trees alongside local families. COVID-19, however, has stopped all international travel to Nepal, and halted the majority of income to Conscious Impact. Without any donations, we are unable to pay our local staff and provide the necessary support to continue. After 5 years of hard work to get this far, we are not ready to quit. We are so grateful to anyone considering donating to our current fundraising campaign.
Each donation of $5 "adopts" one coffee tree in Nepal for life. That means digging the hole, carrying compost, planting the tree and providing the initial care. It also includes follow up consultations and support from our Nepali team and international volunteers for years to come.
Each tree produces 10 kg of red cherry equivalent to 10 USD in annual income to a local farmer. We support farmers to plant 50-100 trees depending on their land availability, which can provide an additional 500-1000 USD annually (nearly doubling many local families' annual income).
$5 Donation = 1 Tree Adopted for Life
$25 = Adopt 5 Trees
$50 = Adopt 10 Trees
$100 = Adopt 20 Trees
$500 = Adopt 100 Trees or a Local Farm (supports a farmer to increase their annual income by $500-1000)
We understand that right now is a difficult time for people all across the world. COVID-19 has changed all of our lives, and many of us are suffering. We truly hope that you and your family are healthy and well during this time. If you are not in a position to fundraise, we completely understand. If you can still help share this campaign and spread awareness about our work with others, that is also helpful. Every donation helps, just $25-$50 can plant and care for 5-10 trees.
Above, Sanu Kanchi Rana Magar stands alongside her husband Ambar with one of their new coffee trees. This tree, as well as dozens of others they have planted, will provide much needed income to their family in future years.
Additionally, every tree planted sequesters carbon, mitigates climate change, supports local ecology and rebuilds soil. Our goal is to plant more than 50,000 trees in the next 10 years to transform the environment and economy of the local area.
Narayan Bhattarai, our Lead Community Organizer, stands with his wife Sita and daughter Anju (in the above photo) next to one of their 4-year-old coffee trees. Narayan will be one of the staff that Conscious Impact continues to employ with the support of our international donors. He has more than 100 trees planted, and is excited to continue training farmers across this region of the Himalayas to plant coffee for years to come.
Kumary Bomjon, our Agriculture Program Lead (shown in the above photo), sits happily among more than 50kgs of locally harvested coffee. Our goal is for coffee to become abundant in this region of the Himalayas so that local families can sustain their livelihoods without needing to leave to the cities or foreign countries for work. Coffee is a great cash crop, in addition to being great for the local environment. We love it and we hope you do to!
