Economic Development

The Glenn Family Foundation works to meet the basic needs which will improve the lives of the hill villagers: clean drinking water, safe sanitation, regular health checks and better education, coupled with a concern to protect the youngest members of these communities from exploitation.

Longer-term, the Foundation's aim is to promote and support economic development in this poor area so that local people can make a sustainable living and have financial independence. This will assure the wellbeing of their communities in future

Economic development programs are currently being identified.  Examples include organic vegetable growing; the cultivation of  such crops as ginger, passionfruit, gladioli and turmeric, as well as developing  village-based tourism, pickle-making, honey production, vermicompost, dairy cows, piggeries and poultry farming.

In 2008, an independent analysis of the work of the GFF in the Kalimpong area was undertaken by the Centre for Development Studies in the Department of Geography at The University of Auckland. The report testified to the effectiveness of the work undertaken in Kalimpong and the GFF’s “sound development approach" which looks to encourage and empower the local communities. 
 

Much work remains to be done to develop new work opportunities and increased self-sufficiency for poor villagers in this area, but the GFF's local committee is working hard to identify possible new pathways and to support new initiatives from the villagers themselves.