Sunday Brunch – No Mountain Too High

Village Development in Nepal

Rod and Deborah Setterlund talk to BrisWest

 

Rod and Deborah have been involved with the Brisbane-based Nepal Australia Friendship Association (NAFA) since 2000. Rod has been President of NAFA (www.nafa.org.au) since 2007, with Deborah being NAFA’s Research and Evaluation Officer. They visit Nepal annually at their own expense, to assess and monitor NAFA supported projects.

 

Rod and Deborah were both awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2013 Queens’s Birthday Honours list. The award was in recognition of their service to the Nepalese people.

 

In October 2022 Rod published a book titled “No Mountain Too High: Village Development in Nepal”, which tells the story of a development partnership involving NAFA and villagers living in the remote village of Tawal. The book presents NAFA’s guide to providing international aid, which features two community development and market system practice frameworks. He will say that overseas aid needs to be more than “good intentions” to achieve success. No Mountain Too High also tells the story, in villagers’ own words, the experience of surviving and rebuilding livelihoods after the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on Anzac Day in 2015.

 

In November 2024 Deb published a book titled “Where the Tiger Lives: A Tamang Oral History”, which brings to life the rich history of the Tawal area. This book challenges the negative stereotypes of the Tamang ethnic group, telling the story of a strong, egalitarian people with an inspirational belief that, ultimately, their future is in their own hands.

 

Rod and Deb will welcome questions and comments from BrisWest members after their presentation.