Julien Bettler (MIR ’05) co-founded the NGO Norlha that brings development support to remote communities in the Himalayas.
Shortly after graduating from the Institute in 2005, Julien Bettler used this background in international relations and his previous experience and passion for Asian cultures, along with a pinch of idealism, to co-found the NGO Norlha that brings development support to remote communities in the Himalayas.
Since those early days, Julien has built a team at Norlha of over 30 volunteer professionals and retired civil servants from various backgrounds in prominent international organisations, management, and international business.
Working on an almost full-time volunteer basis for his NGO, Julien also works part-time at the EPFL helping to manage the promotion of Swiss bilateral research programmes with Brazil, India and Vietnam.
Ten years after its creation, “Norlha Helping people in the Himalayas” has become a mid-sized international development NGO based in Lausanne, with a Regional Office in Kathmandu, that sees itself as a mountain-to-mountain bridge of solidarity and know-how between the Alps and the Himalayas.
Focusing initially on work in the Tibetan plateau, Norlha later developed several projects in the mountainous districts of Northern Nepal. Norlha's goal is to support remote communities in the Himalayas by building capacities that encourage and engrain sustainable development through integrated projects in agriculture (food security), income generation and environment, with a strong gender component.
Prior to the earthquake that hit Nepal last Saturday, the mountain communities of the Dhading, Rasuwa and Lamjung/Gorkha regions were already very poor. This is why Norlha has focused its efforts on helping villagers in these areas for the past several years.
The recent earthquake’s epicentre and several aftershocks hit precisely the region where Dhading, Rasuwa and Lamjung/Gorkha are located. Some towns and villages are 80% destroyed. Casualties are mounting with each day.
The immediate needs in these districts are enormous:
- Search and Rescue for thousands still trapped under the rubble of their schools and homes
- Medical attention for the wounded and disposal of bodies
- Food, water and blankets for exposed survivors
As a Swiss organisation with teams on the ground in Nepal, Norlha knows the region and the affected communities exceptionally well.
Please help us to help these mountain communities today. Our teams are ready.
Every franc will make a huge difference.
Donations can be made to:
Account number 10-187842-6
IBAN CH24 0900 0000 1018 7842 6
BIC/Swift POFICHBEXXX
Bank: La Poste Suisse – PostFinance
Bank address: Nordring 8 – 3030 Bern
With Norlha every cent is acknowledged and accounted for.
Contact
Julien Bettler, Director, +41 76 472 52 00, julien.bettler@norlha.org, www.norlha.org