Kagendra Raj & Piyush Priya Ability Development Endowment (KPAD) Fund

The Rotary Club of Patan (RCP) has a long history of support to people with disability, including the successful completion of the 3H grant project (2008-2012) to raise awareness in this regard.  In September 2018, with an initial pledge of NRs. 10 Lakhs by Rtn. Rabendra Raj Pandey, the RCP established, in his parents’ name, ‘Khagendra Raj and Piyush Priya Ability Development Endowment Fund’ (KPAD).  

Highlights of the KPAD Programme: 

• RCP KPAD Fund was established with a long-term vision to enable people with disabilities.
• The RCP family committed to take ownership of this flagship programme through advocacy for fund-raising and voluntary contributions by a maximum number of the RCP family.
• Within three months of its establishment, the RCP raised over NRs. 25 Lakh (2.5 million) and set its aim to raise NRs. 1 crore (10 million) within 3 years.
• All interest from the KPAD Trust Fund is deposited into a Programme Fund, 100% of which will be used to support programmes for people with disabilities. All the professional time and resources provided by the RCP family to manage this programme are voluntary.
• First support from the KPAD funds was made in December 2019 to the Karnali secondary school’s 20 visually impaired students with supplies worth NRs. 32,500.  

2020-2021 Activities: 

Representatives of the RCP KPAD committee have been working to start a sustainable project to support people with disabilities. A five-year ‘Project Cooperation Agreement’ has already been signed in April 2021 between three project partners (the Rose International Fund for Children (TRIFC) – USA Non-profit (NGO); Ability Development Society of Nepal (ADSoN) – Nepal NGO; and the Rotary Club of Patan).  The project is called ‘Empowering People with Disabilities in Nepal by Teaching Organic Vegetable and Poultry Farming Skills’.  A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is in the final stage of preparation with the implementing partner ‘Shijan Organic Pvt. Ltd., Nepal’.

Learning how to grow organic vegetables and raise organic poultry are skills which can help lift people with disabilities (PwD’s) in Nepal by instilling the values of life-long learning, cooperation, cross-disability interaction, helping others and dignity, all the while learning and earning. This project will hire and train PwD’s from all different disability areas who will in turn teach other PwD’s through a 3-month vocational training course designed to be disability accessible and inclusive.  Programme graduates will be prepared and qualified to start their own farming enterprise with the option of joining a cooperative to help market and sell their products.  Some graduates may choose to start their own garden area in their own home to grow vegetables and poultry for their family to consume.  Follow up help and support will be provided as needed.  Whatever the programme graduates choose to do with their farming knowledge, they will have learned valuable skills that will empower, improve self-esteem, and be greatly valued by their families. 

The project will establish a disability-friendly, inclusive organic farm on a parcel of leased farmland in the Kathmandu valley to provide for the economic sustainability and improved nutritional health of people with disabilities. The project partners will undertake their activities through its implementing partner after receiving extensive advice and counsel from organic farming experts, marketing experts and organizations supporting people with disabilities.