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

Duke, everybody is allowed to have their own opinion, but I just want to say that FoST is a small, family run Nepalese organization dedicated to improve life in their own country. Have a look at my personal website: www.gorpproductions.com or at the website of FoST www.fost-nepal.org.

Because of their hard work, dedication and selfless efforts they are in the finals of 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. Nobody said that FoST is working or supported by Shell or the BBC. Just look at the other finalists, they have nothing to do with renewable energy... they are focusing on completely different issues. It is not a competition about sustainable energies, it's a competition to make people around the world aware that there a people, unkown innovators, small organizations, dedicating their lives to improve the lives in their communities. And Duke, that is a great thing. If every individual would do half the things that Sanu Kaji Shrestha is doing than believe me the world would definitely be a better place. Because making a difference starts with yourself. If every individual person would contribute one little stone, all together we can build mountains!

FoST designs, develops and disseminates low-cost, adaptable products that improve the quality of life of Nepal’s rural and urban poor. EMPOWERING the poor communities, the women, the handicapped, the leprosy, the mentally retarded and the orphan groups by empowering through sustainable technologies. FoST deserves to win.

Hi everybody,  just wanted to remind you that the voting for the Nepalese organization in the global competition "the World Challenge 2007" is still going on, so please keep spreading the news. Don't forget to read the articles in Newsweek.

 I would not vote for this , imperialists backed programs. It is sponsored by bbc and bp and other organization which are basically the legs and arms of the big corporate and spending few bucks here and there to clean their image.

and there is'nt much disclosure on who actually is paying for the prizes. so people  stay out.

I think that before you make any comments you should do some study before, than you would realize that your comment is based on absolutely nothing. It's not by complaining and criticizing people that you will help Nepal.
FoST is a small, family run, Nepalese organizations doing great things for your country. Their selfless actions have helped thousands of people and is protecting the environment of Nepal, so please get educated before your post your comments. Go do something positive and contructive...

We are in no position to turn down any positive help towards the upliftment of the living standards of our dear brothers and sister in Nepal and we should humbly accept and appreciate help from volunteers all over the world who show their concern and want to contribute. I don't think we should be proud of the fact that Britain didn't colonize Nepal because if it had we wouldn't be so far in development as we are now. This false pride hurts and right now we need to encourage people like Sanu Kaji and Sandra as they are perfect examples of people with concern for others and our society needs people like them.

hey duke1,,
look @ the positive picture,,the big companies might get the name but look we will be benifiting from this.now with less donation & xposure ,FOST,THANKS TO SANU KAJI SHRSTHA,,is doing a great thing to help us & save the earth.
don`t think like politicians,,think like a normal human being & think about nepal. & pollution.

heartful thanks to sandra & sanu kaji shrestha for being an great example for the good cause.

More and more people are aware that we need to take better care of our planet, more and more people want clean, sustainable energies, and that is exactly what Sanu Kaji Shrestha is doing. His ideas, products and projects are not only applicable to Nepal, but could be used all over the world, Africa, South America, Asia... All these countries use wood as fuel to cook and heat homes and have immense problems such as deforestation, desertification, pollution and poverty. They are global problems. By supporting FoST in the World Challenge 2007, you show Nepal as a leading country that could be an example to the rest of the world. All the eyes will be on this Nepalese organization. So yes, it is of great importance...

I remember watching sanu Kaji video on google, and his project seemed pretty genuine to me.

 I think 'hami nepali' cannot really afford to ignore/reject volunteer organizations like FOST in the name of imperialsitc agenda. we simply cant afford it..... please vote fot this!

Common guys/gals, where are you all nepal-lovers? is your nationalism/pride limited to SMS-ing for prashant tamang so he could be "indian" idol?

The organization FoST is providing low-cost, low-tech, easily adaptable and locally built sustainable technologies to improve the lifes of the poor people living in the rural areas of Nepal and to protect the very fragile environment of Nepal.

They have been providing wide selection of products for cooking, drying, heat retaining and water purification using both solar and other environment-friendly sustainable technologies.

They are also working to further empower Nepalis, especially women, by providing training and employment opportunities through projects designed to create micro-enterprises in sustainable technology.

With very limited resources they are doing research and they are constantly evaluating existing sustainable technologies and adapting them to the specific resources and needs of Nepal.

FoST is also offering education to improve the lifes of the poor people living in the rural areas of Nepal. They regularly organize interactive training workshops and seminars for community members and schools to educate the public on the need for sustainable technologies and to protect the very fragile environment.

fost...i wrote here before(tho didnt post ;oP)...was a long one for duke1 ;oP haha..but well since everyone is conveying the same thot as me to him..and in short too..thats wat made me stop myself from postin ;oP..


but yeah..did wanna say...checked the site and all..wat u guys are all doin..is very commendable(which is an understatement of understatements!;oP)...and oh i already voted!:oD...good luck and hope u all will win the comp :oD..

and oh dun mind me..i got another email..and i think i might just vote for another one too..every work done there seems to be helpful to a needy..and i just would feel too guilty not givin one vote to anoter :oS..anyways..do know tho i will be happy if any other wins..i be more happy if u all win :oD...

good day!and keep up the great work!:oD

u inspire me!(even tho im one of the laziest pig around haha..)

(oh i might be able to just vote one more for u all..see...i wasnt kiddn when i said i feel more happy if u all won!:oD hehe)

don't judge the book by its cover.

Duke,

common dude! at least dont hurt if you cannot help!

Keep on voting!! Support your countrymen!!        www.fost-nepal.org
http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/cooking.php  listed under "Cooking without gas"

Common guys, this is important for Nepal!!

Don't forget to watch tomorrow on the BBC World. Also next week there's an article in Newsweek, so don't miss it.  Sandra