ETC works in conjunction with many other organizations. These partnerships serve to both broaden and deepen the effect of our work.

Development Partners

While ETC has had great success with its Integrated Community Development model, replicating the lessons we've learned in other areas ourselves would be an expensive proposition. A more cost-effective and sustainable approach is to develop partnerships with existing community-based organizations. Currently, ETC has two community-based development partners: the Nepal Bhotia Education Center (NBEC) and the Thami Education Project (TEP).

Nepal Bhotia Education Center (NBEC)

NBEC works with the Bhotia (ethnic Tibetan) community in Sankhuwasabha district in northeastern Nepal and focuses on school improvement, teacher training, and higher education scholarships. NBEC was initiated by ETC board member Josh Brody and by his local counterpart, Chhongduk Bhotia.

Thami Education Project (TEP)

TEP is a scholarship and school improvement program working with the Thami ethnic group in Sindhupalchok and Dolakha districts, both northeast of Kathmandu. TEP was initiated by community leaders with the help of two anthropologists, Sara Shneiderman and Mark Turin. TEP is managed by Fashelung Samajik Sewa (Fashelung Social Service or FSS), a local NGO registered in Dolakha district.

Collaborations

International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

ETC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ICIMOD. Through this relationship ICIMOD will provide technological support for ETC's social mobilization and community development programs while ETC serves as a demonstration project for ICIMOD's innovative agricultural and alternative technologies.

Cornell University/CIMMYT

In partnership with ETC-supporter Julie Lauren and John Duxbury, scientists from Cornell University, and the Mexico-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), ETC is field testing an innovative technique called "soil solarization." The technique uses plastic sheeting, water and the sun to reduce the incidence of soil-borne pests and pathogens in seedbeds, leading to more vigorous seedlings and more productive plants when seedlings are transplanted into fields.