The Himalayan nation of Nepal is one of the poorest and lest developed countries in the world. Mission East supports its partner NASSO in their work to help people lift themselves out of poverty, focusing on micro-credit and income generation activities.

NASSO's activities mainly involve child support and livelihood support, including micro-credit and income generation activities to the poorest and low caste population. The system of re-investing loan repayments has proven to be an efficient one, enabling further loans to be available to communities. Families receiving loans are using them for buying pigs and goats, or for investing in small businesses and trades.

There is a great interest in many more villages to get involved in this system. Most poor people, especially those of low caste, cannot acces loans from conventional sources to start up the entrepreneurial activities which they hope will enable them to support their families.

New areas of activity include support to building latrines in villages which have no proper sanitation provision. Organisations like NASSO are key to getting help to the people who really need it in a country like Nepal.