Friendship and collaboration…
Kam For Sud’s aim isn’t to “go and help the poor”. Rather, we are a group of Swiss and Nepalese friends attempting to build a better world together, an association working in a joyful, yet serious and professional way to increase the planet’s gross happiness.
…become a work philosophy
Having observed the failure of many initiatives -although created with the best of intentions- that do not sufficiently take root in local realities, Kam For Sud has come to the following conclusion: a cooperation project can succeed only if it is based on sincere friendship and deep mutual respect among those involved. This means an equal dignity and value of people on both ends, and although it may be through different experiences and with various backgrounds, a fundamentally identical involvement of everyone. No sense of superiority, no matter how hidden, from those who bring financial resources and technology, no sense of dependence or inferiority for those who are materially poorer – especially considering that this kind of poverty clearly doesn’t make people less happy…
Kam For Sud’s projects are financed mainly through private donations.
A daily contact between Switzerland and Nepal
To make sure projects progress smoothly, Rajan Shrestha, coordinator in Nepal, woorks full time together with his different projects staff. He is in constant contact with the Swiss responsible coordinator, Silvia Lafranchi, who personally verifies the projects’ advancement through regular visits, and with Daniel Pittet, engineer specialized in sustainable habitat and responsible for all technical aspects. Both are benefitting from many years’ professional experience in Nepal.
Working behind the scenes
Administration and finance are taken care of by Aurora Guggisberg. Besides this, she supervises the sponsorship program and manages Kam For Sud’s Bazaar in Locarno. Her passionate, “behind the scenes” work enables the whole structure to function.
Two partner committees
In 2008 Kam For SUd was registered also as Nepalese NGO. The committee, composed by 7 professionals from differents fields (education, financial management, bilateral cooperation in the technic and social sectors) accompanies the operative staff, ensuring the projects’ proper development. In Switzerland, a similar executive committee composed by 7 professionals from the legal, administrative, technical, educational, medical and paramedical fields, meets regularly to check on and plan activities. All importand strategic decisions are taken in mututal agreement.
The annual assembly
Every important subject is discussed during regular assemblies in which the association’s members take part. Download here the minutes of the general assembly 2011 that has been held in Lugano on October 12th. (italian language)
Civilists and volunteers
Occasionally, volunteers or civilists are selected to participate in particular programs, in Switzerland or in Nepal, for limited periods.