Report demonstrates positive impact of education, vocational training, and rehabilitation initiatives on local Nepalese community
Dedicated to supporting sustainable development of the local community, Nepalese eco-luxury resort, The Pavilions Himalayas, alongside its NGO arm, Right4Children (R4C), has spent over a decade supporting and implementing charitable, community initiatives in the Pokhara region. The latest annual impact report* from R4C details the extent of their work over the course of the year and the significant positive impact this has yet again made to the lives of local people, including the completion of the five-year Child-Friendly School project, which reached over 14,000 pupils and a new anti-trafficking initiative that provided support to over 4,400 young women and girls.
Founded by Douglas and Insuba Maclagan, with the aim of supporting and empowering the most vulnerable children, young people and women in the region, R4C and the resort once again implemented a range of initiatives. From education workshops; health camps and rehabilitation for young women and girls; to hospitality training courses, the year’s* initiatives have led to a significant increase in the number of people supported.
Douglas Maclagan, Founder of Right4Children and The Pavilions Himalayas, commented “In the previous year’s Annual Review, Insuba and I were able to report on the first 11 years’ progress and positive impact of Right4Children. This year, we can celebrate its most successful year yet, in terms of reaching target communities, and the size and number of projects we’ve been able to implement. Alongside renewed commitments from previous funding partners, we attracted support from new collaborators.”
Child-Friendly School project reaches 14,000 people
Dedicated to making schools safe and welcoming for all students, the five-year Child-Friendly School (CFS) project concluded in late 2023. Working with 26 community schools in the Kaski District and Pokhara region, the project directly benefited 4,666 children and 2,165 parents, while training 469 teachers. 1,821 pupils were supported through dental camps, while 1,188 students attended an array of art workshops held by the project. Initiatives also saw an increase in the availability of ICT materials, such as computers, projectors and televisions, and significant improvements in classroom environments, from furniture and flooring to lighting, with a further 6,700 people indirectly benefiting from the project.
Additionally, CFS supported the holistic development of children through Right2Run, a programme established by British athlete runner Emily Shaw. To continue its support for local pupils, CFS will be implementing a two-year follow-up support project.
School Improvement for Quality Assurance and Enhancement in Education (SIQAEE)
The SIQAEE Project, supported by ONGD-FNEL, a Luxembourg-based non-profit organisation, aims to transform community schools into centres of excellence in Hupsekot and Baudikali Rural Municipalities of Nawalpur. Launched in 2024, the project focuses on improving school infrastructure, enhancing Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, empowering teachers with creative teaching methods, and integrating ICT for modern learning. With a goal to serve 20 schools, SIQAEE has already reached six schools in its first year. Through remedial classes to improve learning outcomes, parental engagement initiatives to foster positive participation in children's education, Child Group (CG) sessions, and health and hygiene promotion activities, the project has benefited over 3,000 individuals, including 738 parents and more than 150 teachers.
FAB Hospitality School – 55 students trained during the year
Established by R4C to support younger generations gain the skills needed to pursue a hospitality career, domestically or internationally, the FAB Hospitality School provides vocational training in F&B; housekeeping; bakery and production. Last year, 55 trainees participated in short-term and long-term programmes, 30 of whom have since successfully secured employment in the industry.
PRAYASS – providing support for over 8,312 direct beneficiaries
In association with the Kadoorie Charitable Foundation, Enjoolata Foundation, Child Welfare Scheme Hongkong and Children4Children Nepal, R4C committed to one of its largest new projects in 2023 - Protection from Risk and Assisting Young Women and Girls in Accessing Social Services (PRAYASS). The anti-trafficking programme seeks to protect and strengthen vulnerable, high-risk city communities, their families and children, offering care and protection to those at risk of abuse, exploitation and trafficking.
PRAYASS’S preventative approach focuses on community empowerment and worked with six low-income Pokhara communities in last two years; three new communities will be added to the outreach annually. Initiatives included vocational training (tailoring, customer care, light vehicle driving etc.) for 188 girls; remedial classes for 228 children; career guidance sessions for 5,431 students; and early childhood development centres, which reached 89 children. Health awareness sessions and a health camp reached 2376 and 3202 adults and children respectively, providing guidance on family planning, personal care, health insurance and safe abortion.
PRAYASS also undertakes rehabilitative activities to support those who have been affected by trafficking. During two years' time, 349 outreach visits were conducted, and a breadth of dance bars, cabin restaurants, and spa massage centres were investigated. The project, received over 1571 calls relating to vocational training, health information, educational support and counselling.
38 rescue operations were carried out, each of which saw individuals referred to SHE Shelter for provisional care, and 21 individuals were successfully reunited with their families or in alternative communities. PRAYASS also encompasses shelter assistance to help prepare rescued girls for rehabilitation with their families, and psychosocial counselling, which has supported 280 individuals to date.
R4C, in collaboration with British ethically sourced knitwear brand Pachamama, also helped an underprivileged community establish a drinking water initiative to serve 400 households and employ a health worker to provide additional wellbeing services, particularly for young at-risk men.
Douglas Maclagan continued, “We founded The Pavilions Himalayas to create a social business that supported the sustainable development of the Pokhara community - a key goal of ours is to employ 50 per cent of the local village and assist the remaining 50 per cent in learning to develop their own business and farm skills. Through our ‘three Ws’ we provide sustainable Work to the local community; reinvest 50 percent of the resort’s net Wealth into life-changing opportunities for vulnerable children and young individuals; and share Wisdom with our guests, staff, and the tourism industry in the form of eco-friendly operational best practices. We look forward to continuing our work and expanding the positive impact of our initiatives, with the kind support of our partners, guests and staff.”
Located in a lush forest valley against the backdrop of the majestic Annapurna Himalayan Mountain range, The Pavilions Himalayas offer an unparalleled eco-luxury experience designed to enrich the lives of the local community, and comprises The Pavilions Himalayas, The Farm; and its satellite sister, luxury tented camp The Pavilions Himalayas Lakeview.
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*Latest report outlines initiatives and results of 2024.
About The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts
Step into one of The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts' properties and experience luxury and immersive locales like no other. Every hotel is a sophisticated, private haven in which to relax, play or find adventure. Following an ethos that it's not just where guests want to go, but how they want to feel, The Pavilions is known for offering its signature Curated Journeys travel service to its guests. These innovative travel itineraries – curated by local insiders, unique to each property and designed to encompass an emotive experience, from romance to adventure to feeling good – put the bespoke into a luxury holiday. Whether the foodie-themed "Like a Chef" journey in Rome, a romantic "Just the Two of Us" adventure in Thailand, or the "Like a Boss" Madrid itinerary that turns business travel on its head, each Curated Journey connects guests with a range of experts in each of its destinations whose passion and talents open the door to unique experiences.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest-growing boutique hotel groups in the region. With their boutique size and thoughtful design philosophy, The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts offer secluded spaces with attentive service, even in the busiest of cities. The hotels are distinctly individual and unique, yet all are underpinned by the core values of building meaningful connections in unrivalled locations, a mindful respect for privacy and service beyond expectations.
The group owns, manages and offers franchise of its brand across the globe.
The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts' portfolio currently comprises:
Asia
The Pavilions Anambas
Europe
The First Hotel Cortina by The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts
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