Nepal

Nepal is one of the world’s poorest countries. It is landlocked between China and India and receives 30-60 inches of rain throughout the four-month monsoon season. Flat plains, a central hill region, and the Himalayan Mountains in the north give the country a wide variety of terrain that also hosts eight of the ten highest peaks in the world.

The country was thrown into a state of turmoil in 1996 during a rebellion led by Maoist extremists, which began a 10-year civil war against the government. The conflict finally ended in 2006 when a peace accord was established after more than 12,000 people were killed.

Nepal has an abundant agricultural industry. It provides jobs for approximately 75 percent of the population and is the primary source of income. For rural Nepalis, farming is a matter of survival. They must protect their crops from severe thunderstorms, drought, famine, and flooding. Unfortunately, lack of education and skilled labor leaves these farmers and over half of the population to survive on less than $2 a day.

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