Karen Barkley, in middle by window, and Frances Klatzel, at the right in red, at Lukla, Nepal
The Donors: Karen Barkley and Frances Klatzel
The Gift: Creating CORE International
The Reason: To support education, finance and health programs in Nepal
Five years ago, two long-time friends from Canmore, Alta., Karen Barkley and Frances Klatzel, went for a hike in Banff National Park. They hadn't seen each other in a while and both were eager to catch up.
Ms. Barkley had just returned from Africa, where she had worked with a not-for-profit organization, while Ms. Klatzel, a writer and naturalist, was home for a visit from Nepal where she was involved in a number of projects.
As they walked, the women began talking about launching their own non-profit organization. "Frances wanted to bring together all of the volunteer work that she was doing in Nepal kind of on her own and I was looking for a new opportunity," Ms. Barkley, a former teacher, said from her home in Canmore.
By the time they completed the hike, the two women had established the framework for CORE International, a charity devoted to helping women in Nepal.
CORE grew quickly and it now supports programs for roughly 600 people in Kathmandu. The efforts include microfinance loans for street vendors and disadvantaged women, health-care initiatives and an out of school learning centre for children. CORE also supports adult literacy courses, student scholarships and works with local non-profit agencies on other projects.
The women raise about $30,000 annually to support CORE and most of the donations come from friends in Canmore. As a mountain community, "almost everyone here has been to Nepal at one time or another and they feel very connected to it," said Ms. Barkley, who recently returned from Nepal. "And, they love the fact that they know us, they can trust and they know what we are doing is working."
Ms. Klatzel, who has spent most of the past 20 years in Nepal, said the work is challenging and rewarding. "Especially the first visit to the [learning centre]when it was just opening. My reaction was, 'Wow, we made this happen,'" she said from Kathmandu.
"Going forward in the world we have to become much more of a global citizen," added Ms. Barkley. "And become concerned and caring about other people, not just ourselves."
Paul Waldie