Organic Tea Farms
Changing Lives Nepal supports social entrepreneurship and locally-driven change for sustainable development.
This project began in conjunction with Peace Corps in 2001 and stands to benefit over 1000 villagers. Tea plants take years to mature, and last season we had our first small-scale tea harvest! The tea is hand-rolled, organic, and grown on otherwise unusable land. Staff have continued working for this project on a volunteer basis after funding ended, the organization has successfully tapped government and local resources, and farmers have worked for nearly 8 years with no earnings while waiting for the tea to mature—all of which demonstrate the community’s dedication and makes this an ideal project for long-term sustainable change.
Women are primary tea harvesters and earners.
Farmers are at a critical juncture and would like to see the years of hard work materialize into tangible benefits. Starting in 2010, we will be providing assistance to improve processing, packaging, and market linkages. Other cash crops in the area have proven that people spend their earnings on better education for their children, solar energy for their homes, and household necessities–everything from soap and medicine to a new tin roof!
New solar panel atop a traditional home.