On the road through mountain villages

Report from the Trip to Nepal in April 2026

In April 2026, a small team from FriendCircle WorldHelp once again set out for Nepal. This time, Benno and Tina traveled to the Himalayan country to visit and continue various projects.

Weeks before the journey, the planning had already begun in close coordination with Mingmar Sherpa, our long-time friend and local contact person. Mingmar has been working together with friends help friends since the devastating earthquakes in Nepal in 2015. Alfred, who had traveled to Nepal several times in recent years and had supported many projects together with Mingmar, also contributed his experience during the preparation phase.

Despite the tense global political situation and the uncertainties connected to international air travel, the journey fortunately went smoothly. After arriving in Kathmandu, preparations for the coming days began immediately together with Mingmar. Even before the actual visits to the mountain villages could start, numerous purchases had to be organized — a task that in Nepal often takes considerably more time than originally expected.

Together they headed to a district in Kathmandu where many shops for sanitary supplies, pipes, and household goods are located. Since Saturday is traditionally considered a day of rest in Nepal, many stores were closed. Nevertheless, after long negotiations and intensive bargaining, they managed to organize water pipes, pumps, a large water tank, dishes for schools, school uniforms for 110 students, and many other urgently needed materials. In total, around 1.7 million Nepalese rupees were invested — equivalent to approximately 10,000 euros.

In the narrow streets of Kathmandu, water pumps, pipes, large cooking pots, dishes for schools, cables, tools, and many other materials were purchased. Mingmar had already organized some important components in advance because he feared supply shortages and rising prices due to international tensions. Once again, it became clear how valuable reliable friendships and long-term cooperation on site truly are.

One focus of the trip was the village of Phulbari. Many families there had suffered from severe problems with the water supply for a long time. Water had to be carried laboriously over long distances and steep paths. Together with the villagers, a new water system was therefore established. Water pipes were laid over hundreds of meters, a large water tank was installed, power lines were prepared, and finally a water pump was mounted at a spring far below the village.

The conditions in this remote mountain region were extremely challenging. Heavy rainfall repeatedly complicated the work and slowed down the entire process. In the higher surrounding mountain areas, snow was still up to two meters deep in some places. Despite these difficult conditions, the villagers worked with great diligence and strong motivation. Men, women, and young people dug trenches, transported materials, and continued working until late in the evening.

The most moving moment came when, after many hours of effort and tension, the pump finally worked and water reached the village for the first time. For many families, this will mean enormous relief in everyday life in the future. The exhausting task of carrying heavy containers of water up steep mountain paths is now at least partly a thing of the past.

As always, alongside the technical projects, many family visits were also an important part of the journey. Tina, Benno, and Mingmar visited elderly, sick, and particularly poor people directly in their simple homes and mud huts.

Especially touching was the visit to a blind couple living in very modest conditions together with the woman’s parents and their child. Equally moving were encounters with elderly women living alone, sick day laborers, and families who have to live together with their children and animals in a single room.

Again and again, it became clear how quickly illness or an accident can push families into existential hardship. People have no financial reserves. Medical treatment, medicines, or hospital stays often lead to debts that can hardly ever be repaid.

Through direct financial support, medicines, food, electricity connections, and necessary medical examinations could be made possible. At the same time, it was agreed to continue following up on some of these cases.

The journey then continued to the remote village of Rorang. Due to rain, difficult road conditions, and long travel times, the arrival was significantly delayed. Nevertheless, many families could also be visited there.

To provide the villagers with basic food supplies, large quantities of rice and lentils were first purchased. In total, the team organized 40 sacks of rice weighing 30 kilograms each, as well as eight sacks of lentils weighing 25 kilograms each, for the 40 households of the village of Rorang. Supplying this remote region once again proved to be a logistical challenge, as the food had to be transported to the mountain village in several trips.

In addition, the team distributed mattresses, blankets, tools, cooking utensils, and medicinal ointments. The local school also received support in the form of school uniforms, dishes, and other urgently needed materials.

After distributing 30 kilograms of rice and 5 kilograms of lentils to each family, as well as handing over school uniforms, dishes, and large cooking pots for the children of the local school, the villagers thanked the team with songs and traditional dances — a deeply moving moment for everyone involved.

As with many previous journeys, it was not only the material aid that remained memorable. Above all, the encounters with the people, their warmth despite difficult living conditions, and the grateful conversations left deep impressions on everyone involved.

After intensive days in the villages, Benno and Tina finally returned to Kathmandu. From there, the long journey home began once again — filled with impressions of Nepal’s fascinating mountain world on the one hand, and the difficult fates of the many people they had met on the other …