Podcast #1 * Nepal *

Putali Nepal and Give Basic Needs: A Potential for Collaboration
It is likely that Putali Nepal and Give Basic Needs would vibe well in helping reduce suffering and creating happiness in Nepal. Both organizations share a commitment to improving the lives of people in need.
Give Basic Needs is a private operating foundation dedicated to reducing suffering and maximizing happiness for all of humanity. They aim to achieve this vision through random acts of kindness and a "pay it forward" concept [1, 2]. They focus on providing food, shelter, and medical services to those in need. [3] They execute giving events where they provide resources directly to people. [1, 4]. Give Basic Needs has conducted menstrual education programs and distributed pads in Ghana, where females face similar cultural and financial issues around menstruation as in Nepal. [4]
Putali Nepal, on the other hand, focuses on using education as a tool for change and transformation, particularly in the areas of education, environment, and health. [5] Their mission is to empower girls and women through knowledge, with a specific focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), menstrual health management, and gender equality. [6]
Aligning Missions: Give Basic Needs' focus on reducing suffering and creating happiness through direct giving aligns with Putali Nepal's focus on empowering girls and women through education. In Nepal, addressing the stigma surrounding menstruation and providing access to menstrual hygiene products is key to reducing suffering and improving well-being. [7]
Complementary Approaches: Both organizations utilize different but complementary approaches. Give Basic Needs focuses on providing immediate relief through giving events, while Putali Nepal focuses on long-term empowerment through education and training. By collaborating, they could create a more comprehensive and sustainable impact.
Potential for Collaboration: Give Basic Needs' upcoming trip to Kathmandu in Spring 2025 presents a perfect opportunity for collaboration. Putali Nepal's expertise in menstrual health management and their existing programs, such as the Menstrupedia Comic and the Ruby Cup, could be valuable resources for Give Basic Needs' giving events.
Challenges: Give Basic Needs, as a private operating foundation, cannot partner with other organizations, but collaboration is possible. This means that Give Basic Needs members must be directly involved in the giving process. This could present logistical challenges, but it also ensures that the organization maintains control over how its funds are used.
While there is no direct mention of collaboration between the two organizations in the sources, their shared commitment to improving lives and their complementary approaches make them ideal collaborators for reducing suffering and creating happiness in Nepal.