Lamu: A Wellspring of Opportunity

Sava Gaon, India — The wells under the village's green hillsides are losing water by the day. A massive hydroelectric project is draining the water from under Sava Gaon and its surrounding villages to supply a nearby dam, much to the outrage of local citizens.

The aquifers beneath Sava Gaon aren't the only thing going dry, though. Job opportunities here are withering as well.

With the bleeding of the area's precious water sources, agricultural production - and therefore the entire local economy - is suffering. Nearly all of the village's 35 households depend on corn and potato farming to make ends meet. But that way of life is coming to a rapid, untimely end - and Darjeeling's famed tea estates don't have enough jobs to go around.

Mercy Corps' Community Health and Advancement Initiative (CHAI) is helping change that grim reality, with the help of determined, enterprising youth like Lamu Sherpa. The CHAI program, funded by Oregon-based Tazo Tea Company and implemented through local partner DEG, works with youth committees in 42 communities across Darjeeling district to discuss and address their most pressing needs - including rising unemployment.

Entrepreneurship springs forth

In Sava Gaon, Lamu is the secretary of the local committee, which calls itself the Sava Gaon Youth Club. The group has more than 35 members who meet regularly to brainstorm ideas about how to help their village survive - and prosper.

"Mercy Corps is helping us to explore other vocations and come up with new business opportunities," she explained. "That way, we can ease our reliance on farming."

With Mercy Corps' help, local youth have begun learning skills for trades such as carpentry, tailoring and transportation. A few young women from the group are planning to open up a clothing store in the near future. Other members have taken steps toward creating a youth hostel to serve hikers who are starting or finishing a popular trekking route that passes near Sava Gaon.

Tending to the future

As for Lamu, she's part of CHAI's Paramedic Support Program, which provides training and equipment to young women who are committed to entering the health field. The paramedic program serves two critical needs: ensuring the presence of qualified health care professionals in far-flung villages around Darjeeling, and giving hard-working youth a chance to earn a good living while making a difference in their communities.

"Since I started being a paramedic, I've seen a marked increase in scabies and other skin infections, especially among children," Lamu said. "The growing water shortage is really causing some serious health problems."

Lamu has the knowledge, expertise and supplies to treat most minor maladies and injuries that she comes across. When confronted with something more serious, she brings patients to a hospital in the district capital. Many of these critical cases have involved women with difficult pregnancies.

From nursing to tailoring, CHAI is helping hundreds of area youth - including Lamu and her colleagues in Sava Gaon - to find and pursue marketable skills and career opportunities. And young people aren't the only ones taking notice.

"There's been very little change in my 52 years here," said Panchir Lembu, father of one of the Sava Gaon Youth Club members. "This village has been here for seven generations, and it's never seen progress like this. CHAI has brought good things and great ideas to Sava Gaon and the surrounding villages, and given hope to its youth."

"With the help of Mercy Corps, I'm hopeful that we can achieve a lot."