Last week our staff went to Kareri for our annual picnic. The road up to this mountain village is very new and steep and the village not yet very developed. We walked through the fields to a camping ground by a rushing clear stream where we were able relax and enjoy a day in the lap of nature.

Nishtha brickmaking has come a long way with new bags for collection and making the blocks. We have sold 460 blocks for construction and have used a great many in filling the land under the swings and slides on the playground to create a soft landing.

Three of Nishtha farming team attended a two day workshop in natural farming techniques held by the Government Agricultural Department. There was a lot to learn and share about improving land by composting, mulching and the use of cow dung and urine mixtures. They also heard about the government schemes to help farmers improve their land with irrigation, cow purchase and using local seeds, which we will now share with local farmers.

Nishtha sponsored students put on a delightful performance of English language skits and Gaddhi dance for an audience of their families and friends in the CC last Sunday. They are such an amazing group this year and have made very good progress not only in English and dance but also in gaining confidence in themselves.

Our young cyclists are doing really well on their purpose built cycle track set away from the hectic activity of the sports ground and wearing the great shirts sent by the Bath cycle club. Luisa our volunteer is hugely successful at empowering the little girls who used to think that cycling was only a boys activity.

To fulfill a couple of large orders for our plastic bricks for construction, we are very busy these days collecting plastic and making bricks. If anyone living locally would like to help us by collecting soft plastic and delivering it to us we would be very grateful.

Nishtha kids are delighted with their new table tennis bought with some of the proceeds from the Nishtha Cycle tour. It is a lot of fun, requires skill and concentration and uses up lots of energy after school.

The Nishtha team hard at work putting in a base of soft plastic blocks to create a safe landing under the swings for the kids.

Noticing that several primary school children had very worn out shoes or were wearing sandals, our staff organised shoes and socks for the 39 children who really needed them. The children were very excited to have them as it is really very tough running around with holes in your shoes when there is snow on the ground!

On a cold Tuesday, Nishtha clinic team traveled to meet a gathering of over 50 women in village Sihampta in Chamba district.  We provided  basic health checks, detailed education about common illnesses and some private consultations. The clinic was much appreciated by these women who otherwise have few opportunities to learn about their health issues.