Despite Warnings, Goat Lady Pursues Her Goals in Nepal
Laguna Beach resident Rosalind Russell was honored in Banepa, Nepal, last week for her charity work helping impoverished women in rural mountain villages there by giving them goats and setting up microbanking operations for them. Russell, known locally as the goat lady, was invited to participate in the “Single Woman Awards” for her work with single women in villages of the Kavre district.
The 90-minute journey by mo- torcycle from Kathmandu to Banepa over pockmarked roads was arduous, but worth the effort, Russell said in an email message. She said single women in Nepal are “basically forgotten” and ignored. When she first proposed working with single women in 2004, the men who assisted her, from the goat gatherers to her “adopted son” and partner Rabin Sitaula, were skeptical and advised against it. Never- theless, she persevered, proving that single women can manage goat keeping and a microbank.
After seeing how the women took to the project and made the most of it in a short while, my mind was forever changed about the single women being not only capable, but deserving respect,” admitted Sitaula. “They are a privilege to work with.”
Russell ventures into a politically unstable area underserved by local and international nonprofits. She travels to Nepal to monitor ongoing projects established by her R Star Ministries nearly annually, making pilgrimages after raising funds and grants from her home base in the U.S. Women from 13 villages have benefited from her initiatives.
Russell expects to return home next week after a nearly monthlong trip to Nepal despite a State Department warning issued last month due to political protests, demonstrations and disruptions.
Despite strikes that stop business and traffic, and the danger of roaming beyond the protection of armed soldiers, Russell persevered in overseeing another donation of goats to women in two villages.
She has also checked up on the school she has built, thanks to donations from generous Laguna residents, among others. Though still short on desks, the school is largely complete and has its own working well. And there is money in the bank to pay the first teachers. Additionally, the school’s building served as a catalyst for an adult education program. Russell said there are now 22 women involved in literacy groups, many of whom will go on to teach in their own villages.
Not every Russell project takes immediate root. Some groups told her they wanted to dissolve their microbank and divide the money amongst themselves, eyeing the short-term gains over supporting entrepreneurial efforts. When Russell explained that the deposits would revert to her since she funded the bank, they backed down, recognizing the wisdom of its longterm benefits.
“Our two new groups are incredible,” wrote Russell, pleased they understood her ground rules to operate a microbank without fee gouging and to accept goats by promising to make a gift of their offspring. They “get that helping each other to succeed will benefit everyone,” she said.
Russell is accepting donations through PO BOXC 4183, Laguna Beach, CA 92652, at 949 497 4911, www.RStarMinistries.org and RSTAR@pacbell.net.
