To every Nepali it may concern,

NAMASTE!

My name is Sandra Wijnveldt, I am from Holland, and last winter my husband, my 9 year old daughter and myself worked in Nepal as volunteers. During our stay we made a small documentary video about the fantastic organization we worked with. The organization is called FoST (Foundation of Sustainable Technologies) and is a Nepalese organization, founded by a Nepalese man called Sanu Kaji Shrestha and it is totally run by Nepalese volunteers.

Foundation for Sustainable Technologies (FoST) is a non-profit non-governmental organization established in April 2002 under the Social Service Act 2034 of His Majesty's Government of Nepal. FoST was the brainchild of Sanu Kaji Shrestha - a retired official at the World Bank and solar energy hobbyist. He started this hobby since 1995 when there was a shortage of cooking gas in Kathmandu, Sanu Kaji found himself forced to take three days off from work to stand in long queues for fuel. It was then he realized the extent of Nepal's dependence and started seriously researching ways to bring sustainable domestic sources of energy to his country. In 2001, Sanu Kaji retired from the World Bank to work full time to fulfill this goal.

Over the last months a lot has happened for FoST. Just look at the many activities on their website (http://www.fost-nepal.org/)!

Due to their hard work, success and dedication to help and educate poor communities, I am very pleased to inform you that FoST are among the 12 finalists for the World Challenge 2007!

The World Challenge is a global competition and was set up three years ago by the BBC World, Newsweek and Shell to recognize the innovators of this world. The jury of the World Challenge has chosen FoST as one of the dozen finalists to be filmed for the 2007 series. The popular programmes will be shown on BBC World and featured in Newsweek from October 2007. Over 940 nominations were received which makes reaching the final 12 a great achievement for FoST!

All 12 finalists are great, I admit, but we personally know that FoST is trustworthy and helping many different causes using renewable energy / sustainable technologies.

The 15 minute documentary film on FoST activities will be released on the BBC World on Saturday 3rd November 2007 and will be repeated as follows:

3rd November, 2007 Saturday:
0930 GMT

4th November, 2007 Sunday: (not America or the Middle East)
0330 GMT
1330 GMT
1830 GMT

6th November, 2007 Tuesday:
1830 GMT

I would like to kindly ask you to spare a minute to vote for FoST to win the prestigious recognition in this global contest. Voting will be opened on 6th October and will be closed on 16th November 2007.

To vote please go to: http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/cooking.php (listed under Cooking Without Gas)

I really hope you could also forward this email to your contacts so that we could get more votes for FoST.

Your vote and your support is highly valued, because by reaching the top-3, it will help FoST tremendously to further sharpen their efforts in Nepal to protect the beautiful, but fragile environment, in improving the quality of life of the poor women, the rural communities, the handicapped, the leprosy, the mentally retarded and the orphan groups by empowering them through sustainable technologies.

If you want more info about FoST or see our personal video please go to: www.gorpproductions.com or go to www.fost-nepal.org We also have a photo gallery on our gorpproductions website.

Thank you very much for your support.

Warm regards,

Sandra Wijnveldt

Very nice! Great job!

But kind of dissappointed as there was no reply for this thread... Is it usual for Nepalese to support nepalese?

I am confused...

guys and gals

lets watch the program and make sure to vote . Just like for prashant

Thanks a lot for voting for FoST!

Great job!!!

Eagerly waiting on BBC

Yes, everyone needs to support it! Best wishes

Need mo' vote, come on people!

Thanks guys for the support! 

To vote please go to: http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/cooking.php (listed under Cooking Without Gas)

Sandra,
I also watched your video yesterday. It was great! Hope FoST wins the competition and use the prize money for future development.

Thanks World Map. FoST will definitely use the prize money for further selfless actions. For everyone who wants to see the video about FoST - Nepal on GOOGLE VIDEO go to:  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3128310824574419070&q=FoST+Nepal+Sustainable+Technologies&total=1&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

We are not a professional film crew, just a family trying to create awareness...

www.gorpproductions.com

come on guys, lets be united to make fost win it.

While voting, it says I need to confirm the vote once I get the email back, but I have not gotten any email......tried few times...is it just me huhhhh...?

swatantragaamy,
If you are using hotmail, it usually goes into junk mail, check in your junk folder. (check your junk folder even if its not hotmail, in case) . You have to click on the link in the email you receive to confirm.

Fost is doing Great job.........

Few more Sanu Kajis and Kathmandu will be better place to live..

Thanks Sandra for your effort and concern for environment and of course for bringing the issue here in sajha.com

FYI I would like to inform you that there have been many positive reactions WORLDWIDE, from Sydney to Boston, from Greece to Denmark! There have also been articles in several newspapers, such as the The Kantipur Daily! So keep on spreading the news and tell everyone you know to vote for FoST and to forward the message! http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/cooking.php 

www.fost-nepal.org   - www.gorpproductions.com 

Even in gmail, it goes to Spam. But i just voted.

Gret job

Well done. Here's my 2 votes from 2 different email accounts.

you're great! Thanks!!

good Job!! Keep up the great work we as Nepalese value your friendship and welcome your concern and together as friends we can help lead Nepal out of all the difficulties it is facing.