November 1999

30th November 1999

Participatory Assessment in Fuyou Village

DORS received a request from Huangmu Township Government to assist the 800 people of Fuyou Village with a community forestry project. Two ideas - planting a small tea plantation or duzhong (medicinal bark) trees - were discussed over several visits to the village and Township. These project ideas were Township Government and Party led, although the village leaders also expressed interest on behalf of the villagers. DORS responded by conducting a needs assessment using participatory methods in Fuyou village. This revealed that the villagers were primarily concerned about improving their drinking water supply. DORS decided to tackle this problem first, temporarily postponing discussions on forestry. Up to this point, discussions on the forestry project had progressed slowly. The villagers were now so enthusiastic about starting the water supply project they immediately began the measurements to draw up a simple plan, delivering it to DORS' office 4 days later.

The completed school in Na'er Village (See last month's newsletter)

New Integrated Development Projects - Nimei Township

DORS made a five-day trip to Nimei Township in early November. Nimei is the poorest, highest altitude (2000m above sea-level) and most remote township in the County. Three of Hanyuan County's 28 'particularly poor' villages are located here. Baseline studies were conducted in two of these villages, Hengshan and Huodi. These revealed several areas where DORS could assist including:

• drinking water supply in Hengshan Village
• electricity supply in Huodi Village hamlet 5,
• forestry projects to improve income, provide fuelwood, and timber crops. These projects were deemed suitable for implementation in Wanfu (the third particularly poor village) as well.
• training for villagers, particularly women, and
• education for the many children were not attending school due to poverty.

DORS will work alongside the villagers, with the help of the village leaders, Township leaders and relevant departments to develop these projects over the next few months.