BACKGROUND/ABOUT US

Solukhumbu, bestowed with the world's highest mountain. Mt. Everest, is abode to the Kirat-Rai community, the ethnic group indigenous to the eastern part of Nepal. Inheritors of rich and diverse culture, the Rais boasts of 32 languages still spoken among the community. Worshipers of their ancestral spirit, the unique ritual and religious belief render a unique identity to the Rai community. They pay homage to the mother earth during a festival called. "Washa" (Bhume Puja) and revere the Himalayas as it is at the foothill of the Himalayan that the soles of Kirat-Rai are destined to rest after one departs from the earthly life.
 

Farming in the difficult terrains of Solukhumbu, poverty and hardship has always remained as part of their lives. Though blessed with the world's tallest mountain, the fruit of tourism still eludes their grip. Their hardship is aggravated more by the lack of basic facilities, largely owing to the difficult terrain and lack of development initiatives in their part of world. To avail basic health services, it is not unusual to walk a day or two to the nearest health facility. Education is yet to change their livelihood as a large chunk of the school aged population are either dropo9uts or have never been to a school. As victim of the pervasive poverty and ignorance, the Rai community continues to migrate from their ancestral homeland to other places within and outside Nepal, thereby assimilating to the dominant culture and beliefs of the new place. External influences penetrating their very homeland Solukhumbu, continues to transform the life style of the community, gradually disintegrating the rich culture into oblivion and pushing their unique culture and language to the verge of culture and religious belief of Rai community is passed on from one generation to the next orally, without any written documentation.

A HELPING HAND FOR PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT:::

To avert  the extinction of rich culture and to  safeguard  the  tradition and religious  practices  of Rai community of  Solukhumbu  ,''Jimee " (Rai)  Utthan Samaj ( society) came into existence in 1999 AD 2005 BS  .The  Word  jimee has been derived from the word "Jimee -Bhumi", the title used to address the  forefathers  of the present generation Rais of Solukhumbu, signifying  the possession of large stretches of land by the  Rai community  then. Sustaining with contribution from its members, the  society is  an apolitical body formed with objective to preserve the age old culture of the Rai community of Slukhumbu and t0o work for the economical and educational development of the Rai community in and from Solukhumbu. The society has central, regional and local bodies in Kathmandu, Dharan Sunsari and Solukhumbu respectively.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SOCIETY:::

• Conserve cultural, religious beliefs of the Kirat Rai community.
• Help preservation of Kirat-Rai languages and literature.
• Help provide primary/secondary and higher education opportunities, especially to children from economically backward households.
• Provide skills training and support business enterprise to help promote employment opportunities.
• Instill interest in social and cultural activities among youths and children.
• Financial support to provide medical and other health assistance especially to those economically disadvantaged groups from Solukhumbu.
• Seek financial and technical assistance for the upliftment of the Kirat-Rai society.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND FUTURE PLAN:::

• Since its inception 2055 BS. 1999 Jimee (Rai) Utthan Samaj Society has own many friends from within and outside its community, largely because of its commitment and the catalytic role it has played for the preservation and promotion of Kirat-Rai culture. Sustaining on the voluntary contribution from its members, the society has made significant contribution, bearing both and short term benefit towards the community and the nation as a whole.
• Education Development Fund: With the generous contribution of Rs. 100,000 and Rs. 50,000, from two of its members Mr. Gokarna Rai and Mr. Daulat Rai respectively, the society, with its own contribution Development Fund worth Rs. 225,000. Every year two deserving student (girl and boy), selected on merit and economic background, receive education grant for higher education.
• Health Fund: The establishment of the Health Fund has been possible because of the generosity of its members and other well wishers. Mrs. Radha Rai and Mr. Yash Bahadur Rai, ardent members of the society, has contributed Rs. 50,000/- each towards this fund. Likewise support for this fund has been received from well wishers, Ms. Jane Pelling and Mr. alan Fairless. Through this fund, the society delivers medical support to the economically weaker section of the society financially.
• Conservation of Culture: The society gives special priority towards the conservation of Kirat-Rai language and culture. A project to document the age old rituals and traditions is underway. Similarly, the society has been supporting the revival of Rai ritual and cultural practices by raising awareness among the society and organizing cultural activities.
• Language Preservation: As the first step towards preservation of language, work towards the development of a dictionary is underway. The society is also supporting the documentation and compilation of existing Kirati-Rai literature.
• Demographic Information: Work is underway to collect information on population, educational and economic status of Kirat-Rai residing in Solukhumbu district.
• Cultural Research Fund: Efforts are on to establish the Research Fund. The Fund will support Master and Doctorate level researchers willing to carry out studies on Kirat-Rai language, culture and religious beliefs.
• Rai Community Cultural House: The society is working towards generating fund and other resources to build a community culture house for the Rai community in Kathmandu. The cultural house will display traditional costumes as well as religious and traditional artifacts. It will also be a place where members of the community can perform their religious and other rituals traditionally.
• Other Programmes: The society has been organizing Deusi and Bhailo programme to collect funds. To mark its birth anniversary, it has been organizing blood donation program and publishing souvenir "Prabaha" every year.

INCOME SOURCE:::

The society can implement all its policies and programs only when it becomes financially vibrant. Therefore, to increase fund, the society has been undertaking different programs as mentioned below:

• Membership Fee
• Sales of Souvenirs
• Sales of Calendars
• Donations from Deusi and Bhailo
• Donations and Gifts
• Levy collected from Central members of the society.