As well as satisfying my passion for trekking which is discussed ad nauseum in my section Trekking in the India Himalayas I have had several opportunities to become involved with the organisation Mend. This organisation was started by my brother many years ago and is somewhat different to other non-government organisations.

Mend has been supporting local organisations in developing countries to improve the mobility and independence of their disabled members. Essentially it works with local groups helping them set up according to their needs. The type of work can vary and is not limited to any particular activity. Financial assistance and donations are always needed. ( for more info have a look at Mend website highlighted above)  Donations such as hearing aids and artificial limbs can also be very usefully recycled.

Hope Disability Centre with new second floor added

Whilst I was in Srinagar this year I had the opportunity to see the organisations for which Robert has been involved. I first of all revisited the Hope Disability Centre in Waya just outside of Srinagar. I had the opportunity to catch up with Sami Wani who has been running the centre this its inception. It has grown enormously since I saw it two years ago.

Hope Centre Extensions - with 2nd building for invalid Accommodation

After visited the Hope Disability Centre I met Dr. Musood Shah who has been instrumental in starting another organisation in Kashmir. Originally this organisation was to be called DAD (Disabled and Disadvantaged Society of Kashmir) but had to be dissolved due to problems with its charter. It now re-emerges with the new name Uplift Kashmir.

Inaugural Meeting Uplift Kashmir

Field Day to Discuss Jam Making and Fruit Growing

Musood has an inspiring personality with professional qualifications in Dentistry. He has many contacts in the medical professions who are keen to help underprivileged persons get the appropriate treatments. It would particularly apply to persons from rural areas who are unfamiliar with procedures for obtaining treatment and left to their own devices would probably not receive treatment at all.

As part of this new organisation we discussed ways in which women in particular might start a business making jams and after products. This as well as fruit growing is an area I have some experience with an might be able to help.

As part of this investigation I visited a farm owned by Dr. Arshid (left: centre holding baby)  and was surprised at how different horticulture practices were here. It seemed to me that much could be done to improve techniques for growing fruit, harvesting and subsequent distribution. It was made clear to me that the industry is in trouble due to competition from elsewhere in India and also China.

Jam production was discussed but as no suitable fruit seemed to be around in mid-July we didn’t get to making any product. I did however supply samples of my own product to give everyone an opportunity to taste the difference. I think it was generally agreed that good quality jams might have some market opportunities and that the matter should be pursued.

Picking Apples this way is not efficient

Packing Apples- this seems to be typical of the size