Three day long Appreciative Participatory Planning and Action (APPA) workshops were conducted in Phortse, Thamo, Thame and Thameteng villages of Khumjung and Namche VDCs with active participation of Snow Leopard Saving and Credit (S&C) Groups between November 23 and December 5, 2016. The S&C groups were established with the financial and technical support of Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) of USA in 2010 and 2011. More than 15 members took part in each of the village specific workshops. The majority of the participants were women.
The objectives of the workshops were to discover strengths of each saving and credit groups and prepare a ་three year action plan based on a shared vision to enhance their livelihood and conserve snow leopard in the Sagarmatha National Park. The workshops were facilitated by a team of APPA practitioners from Mountain Spirit including Mr. Lhakpa Tenji Lama, Dr. Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa, Dr. Mingma Norbu Sherpa and Mr. Ngawang Thapke Sherpa. The team was assisted locally by Ms. Kami Doma Sherpa and Ms. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa of Thameteng village. Ms. Chhing Lhamu Sherpa provided her inputs in the workshop planning and report preparation phases.
The planning workshops assisted each of the S&C groups in discovering their strengths and opportunities, understanding individual and institutional capacity, and identifying potential livelihood improvement activities and conservation initiatives. The workshops also helped reorient the groups in the concept of saving and credit operation. All four S&C groups of Phortse, Thamo, Thame and Thameteng villages appreciated the support provided by the Snow Leopard Conservancy in establishing and training the groups. The groups are interested in expanding their activities and memberships. They are seeking continued support and cooperation of partners such as Snow Leopard Conservancy, Mountain Spirit, SPCC and SNP Buffer Zone for the long-term sustainability of snow leopard conservation and livelihood improvement.
