The funds raised through ‘Travel for Charity’ will be provided to UNESYN (United Development Organization) charity. Lumle Holidays will add optional £10 to only on all package holidays sales invoices (effective from 01st July 2012 onward sales) for fundraising to UNESYN.

UNESYN runs various healthcare programmes for disadvantaged communities in remote rural areas of western Nepal. They provide mobile health camps for women’s health, children, eye, general surgery and various free medical treatments and help to enhance public health awareness (HIV/AIDS) and hygiene in partnership with various INGOs including Merlin, UK. In addition to the healthcare programme, UNESYN supports peoples of Gaumukhi Development Area (Pyuthan) to create and secure their livelihoods through enterprise projects in farming, market facilitation and credit (through its associate United Cooperative Bank). The charity also runs education programmes to enhance school and informal learning through HILVEC project. UNESYN Europe, the charity’s regional chapter in UK, supports ecotourism, Fairtrade and academic collaboration in Nepal.

Watch this video of UNESYN’s one of the surgical eye camps with supports from Seva Foundation, USA.

To receive newsletter, photos and articles about UNESYN’s activities and how your donation is changing lives of peoples in Nepal, email to unesyn.ics@gmail.com with subject line ‘Subscribe’.

“With funding support from our new corporate partner Lumle Holidays, we hope to double the treatment and rehabilitation for diabetes patient in Pyuthan as a strategic priority for 2012. In addition, the funds will also help to secure livelihoods for destitute peoples in GDA and to send their children to school.”

Gautam Nyaupane, UNESYN Patron

Why we chose UNESYN as charity of the year?

1.UNESYN is based in remotes of Pyuthan district of western Nepal where it is thoroughly involved in poverty alleviation and welfare through healthcare and education programmes since 7 years. Unlike most Nepalese NGOs operating from capital city Kathmandu, its focus and base both are in ‘where the problem is’, thereby to maintain greater effectiveness of programmes through local action.

2.UNESYN spends 98.5% of the funds directly into the communities through its various programmes which means a very small percentage of it is spent on administration. As UNESYN employs nearly fourteen hundred volunteers through its associate Gaumukhi Federation, it does not spend the donations in staff pay or other expenses. Its financial system is internally regulated through three levels of institutions (The Headquarters, Patron and Supreme Council) and externally through two different government agencies (DDC and SWC).