I’ve been working in the development sector for almost three years and this trip marked my first visit to the Karnali Province. Karnali – a melody for few, a cacophony for others is one of the remotest regions of Nepal. Known for its breathtaking beauty Karnali’s landscape is awe-inspiring, with mountains that seem to stretch forever, rivers carving their way through valleys, and a sense of calm that feels miles away from the chaos of city life. But behind that beauty lies a tough reality. The challenges here are as vast as the mountains themselves - a natural wonderland yet a crucible of challenges shaped by complex topography, lack of basic services, limited infrastructure, and vulnerability to disasters such as earthquake and landslides. I have had the privilege of designing projects and writing reports related to numerous development interventions happening in Jajarkot District of the Karnali Province, but this visit to Jajarkot offered a perspective that no proposals, report, meeting, or presentation ever could. The raw realities of the community’s struggles - and their resilience - are stories that deserve to be heard.
CARE Nepal has been actively working in Jajarkot District through the range of interventions related to health, education and livelihood. Jajarkot’s challenges are immense. The terrain is rugged and isolating, making even basic services like healthcare and education hard to reach. Talking to people there, I heard stories that paused me in my tracks. Mothers described walking for hours—sometimes days—while heavily pregnant, just to get to a health facility. Some never made it. Others delivered their babies along the way. Many didn’t even attempt the journey, delivering at home because it simply felt impossible. These aren’t just stories; this is daily life for so many families in Jajarkot.
Apart from the usual development dilemmas, even forces of nature challenges Jajarkot District. It continuously trembles under the threat of looming natural disasters such as Earthquake and Landslides. One woman I met shared her fear of the earthquakes that frequently disrupt their lives. “I don’t know if I will be alive tomorrow,” she said, her voice steady despite the weight of her words. It was a sobering reminder of how much these communities endure. They are strong, but sometimes, I wish they didn’t have to be. I wish they could mourn their losses without worrying about the next earthquake, their next meal, clean water, or a safe place to sleep. The region’s heavy reliance on migrant labor further compounds the challenges. Men leave in search of work, leaving behind women who shoulder the burden of keeping households and communities afloat. Their resilience is extraordinary, but their circumstances make it an uphill battle.
CARE Nepal is working to transform these narratives by establishing birthing centers, waiting homes, and collaborating with the local governments for inclusive and comprehensive health service delivery. These facilities are lifelines for pregnant women who would otherwise face arduous journeys for accessing basic medical care. I had the privilege of meeting health workers who go above and beyond their duties every day. Their unwavering dedication and relentless efforts are saving lives of hundreds of mothers who no longer have to fear those long, exhausting journeys just to give birth. They no longer have to walk for hours to reach a birthing center. For many, this has meant safer deliveries and a renewed sense of hope.
I left Jajarkot with mixed feelings– joyful to witness tales which I had heard and read in reports, yet burdened by the weight of the heavy truths where each problem runs deeper and wider than one could imagine. There’s deeper appreciation for the work we’re doing, and a renewed vigor to amplify the voices of these communities and weave their stories into different elements of program development. This trip reminded me why I joined the development sector in the first place. It’s easy to get lost in reports, budgets, and deadlines, but the heart of it all is people—people with dreams, fears, and an unshakable will to move forward, no matter how tough things get. Jajarkot isn’t just a district on the map. It’s a reminder of resilience, but also a call to action. It’s a place that demands our attention—not just because of its challenges, but because of the incredible potential of its people.