Uniting for Change: Carers Worldwide and TPO Nepal Join Forces to Support Unpaid Carers

Carers Worldwide is thrilled to announce our new partnership with TPO Nepal, a collaboration set to make significant strides in supporting unpaid family carers in Nepal. This partnership emerges from a shared commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by these carers, who often grapple with social isolation, mental health issues, and a lack of recognition and resources.

Unpaid family carers are the backbone of society, providing essential care without formal support or acknowledgement. In Nepal, these unpaid carers face particularly acute challenges, including mental health struggles and insufficient access to resources. TPO Nepal, with its deep expertise in mental health and psychosocial support, is an ideal partner to address these issues. Their capacity-building initiatives and community-based interventions align seamlessly with Carers Worldwide's mission to enhance carer well-being.

Together, our goal is to create sustainable solutions, raise awareness, and advocate for policies that uplift and benefit unpaid carers. By leveraging TPO Nepal's experience and Carers Worldwide’s proven track record, we aim to improve the quality of care and support provided to both unpaid carers and the individuals they care for.

Mr Suraj Koirala, Technical Advisor at TPO Nepal said of the partnership:

“TPO Nepal is delighted to announce our formal partnership with Carers Worldwide to provide mental health and psychosocial support to unpaid carers and those they care for in the Bagmati Rural Municipality of Makawanpur district. By developing community-based interventions to enhance the mental health and psychosocial well-being of unpaid carers and their families, and by strengthening the capabilities of Female Community Health Volunteers to offer improved support, this initiative represents an innovative and impactful approach. We eagerly anticipate integrating these solutions within Nepal's government service delivery system.”

Anil Patil, Founder and Executive Director of Carers Worldwide:

"I am very excited about our partnership with TPO Nepal. This collaboration will tackle the critical issue of unpaid family carer stress by building the skills and capabilities of Female Community Health Volunteers in the Bagmati Rural Municipality. Our joint efforts will bring systemic change to Nepal, making a significant impact on mental health support and ensuring that caring is visible and valued."

What We Are Looking Forward to Achieving Together

Our partnership with TPO Nepal sets ambitious yet achievable goals:

• Train 25 Female Community Health Volunteers on our 'Barefoot Counselling' programme, equipping them with the skills to provide essential support.
• Support these volunteers in delivering Barefoot Counselling services over the next 12 months, aiming to reach around 500 unpaid carers and their families.
• Train 10 doctors and frontline workers who manage the Female Community Health Volunteers on the specific health needs of unpaid carers. This will encourage promotion of the barefoot counselling service, ensure referral of carers, and enable effective management of the FCHVs.
• Improve the emotional and mental well-being of over 80% of service users, ultimately enhancing the caregiving experience and quality of life for carers and their families.

Through this partnership, Carers Worldwide and TPO Nepal are poised to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of unpaid family carers in Nepal.

Highlights from the Launch Event

The launch event for this initiative was a small but significant gathering, attended by around 30 participants including Female Community Health Volunteer representatives, TPO Nepal staff, counsellors, Bagmathi Rural Municipality officers, education and health coordinators, and teachers. The event was inaugurated by Mr Phinenrda Kumar Timilsina, Deputy Mayor of Bagmathi Rural Municipality, who expressed great pride in the project and its potential impact.

A poignant moment came when Mr. Pramod Kumar Rai, a local teacher, reflected on the importance of recognising the needs of unpaid family carers:

“Gosh – why didn’t we think about the unpaid family carers before? I have a relative who is caring for her husband, and I know first-hand how much she needs help and support. I was always asking about her husband but not about her. This is something we can all do something about. I will change my perspective from today onwards.”

If you want to do something about this too, and help us support more unpaid carers across South Asia, then please do visit our donate page today and see what your donation could to.