Shenpen Helps Raute Community with Traditional Dresses and Roofing Materials

Shenpen Helps Raute Community with Traditional Dresses and Roofing Materials

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The Rautey community currently residing in a river bank near Surkhet, represents Nepal’s last remaining nomadic indigenous groups. Their way of life is unlike any other, and they continue to preserve their unique cultural traditions despite the challenges of the modern world. Living in harmony with nature, they gather natural resources such as fruits, tubers, and herbs from the forest. They also craft tools, wooden utensils, and various items for trade, creating a sustainable economy within their community based on natural resources.

This traditional lifestyle, however, is increasingly difficult to sustain in the face of deforestation, climate change, and encroaching development. The Rautes live in temporary shelters made from natural materials, moving from one place to another through the forests. Due to their isolation, the Rautey community faces significant challenges in accessing basic services such as healthcare, education, and essential infrastructure.

Shenpen recently visited the Rautey community to understand their needs and offer assistance in ways that would respect and preserve their traditional lifestyle. During our visit, we spent time speaking with the Rautes and learning about the challenges they face. They shared their needs with us for their traditional clothing and roofing materials for their shelters.

In response to the community’s requests, Shenpen provided traditional dresses to all 143 individuals, helping them continue to celebrate and preserve their cultural identity. Additionally, we donated roofing materials, specifically chosen to match their traditional style, to reinforce their shelters, which are typically temporary and makeshift.

It is an honor to stand with Nepal’s indigenous communities, supporting them in ways that respect and uplift their way of life.

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