A Chepang house in Makwanpur - lush monsoon greenery in the background with corn spikes in the foreground. Chepang settlements are sparse - sometimes one house itself is a village creating challenge to deliver services.

Fastenopfer - the Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund is a Swiss development organisation founded by the Catholics involved in pastoral work and development cooperation in 16 countries of the global South. It inquires into the causes of poverty that affects large sections of the population in the world today, and sees itself as a voice for the people in the South in the North. It supports development activities that are geared towards self-help and self-empowerment in the South that are strategic to addressing the causes of poverty and marginalization.

Its public information work in Switzerland is intended to motivate people to think about living conditions in the disadvantaged countries in the South and act on their best. Fastenopfer is mainly funded by donations and legacies.

Fastenopfer included Nepal as a priority country in November 2003, even though it had been working at minimal level in the country since 1999. While the present Country Programme 2005-09 was being formulated and approved by the Foundation Council in June 2004,

Nepal was undergoing through the height of Maoist insurgency and political turmoil. It decided to continue its operation to the best possible way the partners could adjust to the conflict situation, as it was the time when people needed support and solidarity rather than opting for an easy option for withdrawing itself. Therefore, a significant part of the first half of the programme period remained in the conflict situation.

Fastenopfer realizes that road to peace and prosperity of the people of Nepal is still not smooth. Fastenopfer in Nepal stands together for justice and peace with the people of Nepal negotiating with the circumstances with its feet firmly on the ground and eyes to the light.