Namaste, Friends and Supporters of dZi,

Our registration for our International Non-Government Organization (INGO) status, in Nepal, is almost complete. We are excited to be opening an office, in Kathmandu, on December 1. Ben Ayres-our Nepal Project Coordinator-has a staff in place, ready to go. This formal registry with the Nepali Government will give dZi a much stronger footing for our work as we continue to expand into the regions of Eastern Nepal. We gain many advantages with INGO status: better financial security, a reduced dependency on US-based staff, and better positioning to support our local non-government organization partners. We want to congratulate all of our in-country staff: Ang Chokpa Sherpa, Gyan Bahadur Bhattarai, Dhan Bahaduar and Prema Tamang as they take our work in Nepal to the next level.

Strategic Framework Plan: Organizational Strengthening & Alignment Process

In every organization's evolution, there comes a time to take stock of who you are, what you have accomplished, and how you would like to move into the future. The dZi Foundation has reached this point. We knew we could stay in the start-up phase-as many organizations do-but we decided to set the bar significantly higher. We embarked on this challenging process with the generous underwriting of a longtime donor and, as mentioned in an earlier newsletter, the guidance of a strategic consultant.

All of our board members, domestic staff, and our international project coordinators have been involved. Together, we have spent numerous hours identifying our strengths and areas to improve; clarifying our values and core beliefs; and ultimately, establishing the appropriate strategic tracks and goals to move us forward in an effective, sustainable direction. We are excited to put the culmination of our work in place as we move forward into 2008.

Year-end funding appeal

By now you should have received our fall fund-raising mailer with the new DVD. We hope you enjoy this updated version of our work. We included the original (2004) edition on this DVD, so if you are new to dZi, please be sure to view it - it will help you understand the history of our organization, and how we have evolved.

Please share this powerful DVD with your friends and family. Even in this technologically overloaded society we live in, "Word of Mouth" is still the most effective means of connecting like-minded people to the dZi Foundation.

Holiday Gift-giving Ideas

This holiday season consider giving a dZi Foundation gift donation in the name of a friend or relative. Our greatest supporters and advocates are the people aware of our work. A great way to increase awareness is to give a friend or relative a gift donation and introduce them to the work of the dZi. Each gift donation recipient receives a letter acknowledging a donation has been made in their name; a description of the project gifted; and a dZi Foundation brochure and DVD.

Check out the gifting options on our website-click on the "Holiday Gift Ideas" wreath, and explore the following gifting opportunities: Optical Solutions, Primary Education Sponsorship, Primary Dental Care, The Nutritional Rehabilitation Home, and Marmot/dZi Foundation Jackets.

As always, we greatly appreciate all of your support. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

All the best.

Jim Nowak
Executive Director

Solu FM: Radio Education Program

-Ben Ayers, Nepali Project Coordinator

What do state of the art broadcasting equipment, Sambu the clever monkey, and 150,000 residents of remote villages in Nepal have in common? They are all part of a new Radio Education Program that the dZi Foundation has developed in coordination with SoluFM-a community-based radio station located in the remote Solukhumbu District of Eastern Nepal. Nepal's rugged terrain-and lack of nearly all other communications' infrastructure-has spawned a recent proliferation of community radio stations across the country. Each station broadcasts relevant programs such as market prices, local news, and programming in a variety of local languages and dialects. These programs are extremely popular among local residents. There is a nearly seamless soundtrack heard as one walks from one remote community to another. The radios are lashed to the massive loads of porters; hung in the windows of smoky tea- shops; and setup on the terraces as the farmers work in the fields.

Every Tuesday evening-and Sunday morning-SoluFM airs a half-hour Radio Education Program, attracting a strong following across Eastern Nepal. The program begins with coverage of local education news; interviews with teachers and village residents; and uplifting stories of communities that have built their own schools and raised money for additional teachers. The program then moves into fifteen minutes of English-language tutoring that supports the Nepali sixth-grade class curriculum.

In the impoverished communities that this program targets, school attendance is often dangerously low, with over half of the children joining the workforce as porters, field hands, or migrant laborers. Of those who do attend school, many drop out or fail the standardized tests required to advance to higher levels of education. Among these students, a significant number drop out after failing the sixth grade, and often cite English as the most challenging subject in the lineup. Accordingly, with dZi Foundation funding and logistical support, SoluFM has developed the Radio Education Program to encourage parents to keep their children in school, and to help those most at risk of dropping out.

The first weekly broadcast aired on June 3, 2007. The initial community response has been overwhelmingly positive. Since this date, twenty-four weekly broadcasts have been aired. The tutoring segment of the broadcast follows the curriculum set by the government. It helps students review the topics covered in school that week. Thus far, local students have stated that the program has helped them greatly understand English pronunciation and grammar. Local teachers have written into the station to comment on how students have improved the quality of their homework and performance in class. Already, there has been demand from listeners to expand the program to include other subjects such as Math, Nepali language, and Science.

The true impact of this pilot program will be measured in May when the District Education Office releases statistics on school attendance and pass/fail rates for the sixth-grade class. For the time being, the dZi Foundation is proud to support this innovative and extremely cost-effective initiative. Keep your ears peeled.

New dZi/Lions Club Health Building Hosts Fall Clinics

-Garry Schalla, Ladakh and Sikkim Project Coordinator

The dZi Foundation held its Fall 2007 dental and optical clinics in the new health facility in Ladakh. This wonderful building was constructed in partnership with the Lions Club International of Leh, Ladakh.

The dental clinic served just over 450 children-many of whom attended the spring clinic and showed remarkable improvement in their dental/oral health. The optical clinic examined over 750 students-providing prescription glasses to those who needed them, and distributing sunglasses to everyone.

The new building will continue to be our Leh home for all future spring and fall clinics. It will provide storage for dental and optical equipment, and serve as the office headquarters for the dZi Foundation Ladakhi staff. We are working with the Lions Club to set up a policy for other public and private uses for the facility.  Our goal is to provide community educational programs focused on health, hygiene and nutrition.

Dr. Ladol-Lions Club member and local counsel on women's health issues in Ladakh-commented, "We are glad to have such a proactive and culturally sensitive partner: one willing to address the educational health issues facing this country, particularly with regards to women. It will be my honor to help in furthering and promoting these initiatives." With support from Dr. Ladol, and other healthcare professionals, this facility will be a positive force in the advancement of healthcare in Ladakhi society.