What is the dZi Foundation?

The dZi Foundation works with remote mountainous communities in Eastern Nepal that are some of the most rural and under-resourced of the nation, often overlooked by international aid and government support. They work hand-in-hand with community members to sow impactful, long-lasting seeds of change that empower these communities to break the cycle of poverty.

Seed (Year 1-3)

They start by working with the community to create a shared vision for the future. Over these first three years, partnerships deepen, projects are undertaken and completed, and the seeds of sustainable change start to sprout.

Grow (Year 4-6)

Roots deepen, boughs extend, and the tree of change takes form. Over these next three years, dZi helps the community identify their greatest needs and designs big picture projects to address them. Whether agriculture, education, sanitation, or construction, the community members learn to plan and lead these projects. This growth creates a stronger, healthier, more resilient community, and the tree of change starts to bear fruit.

Empower (Year 7-9)

The last stage is the empowerment stage, where the communities are “more unified, earning more income, and leading safer, more productive, and more connected lives.” After these last three years, dZi leaves the tree in the community's empowered, educated, capable hands. The tree continues to grow and transform the health, education, and livelihoods of not just that community, but also surrounding communities and future generations.

Over the past two decades the trees of the dZi Foundation have directly impacted the lives of over 44,000 individuals, and radically reshaped the future of northeastern Nepal.

What is Mexicali’s relationship with dZi?

Mexicali first partnered with dZi following the devastating earthquakes of 2015, when we raised over $25,000 for earthquake relief with the help of our customers by donating 100% of the sales of our prayer flags in our “Prayers for Nepal” drive. 

The following year, we matched donations with our customers and raised $25,000 to build an earthquake-safe school in Sotang, Nepal. 

In 2017, Pete and Kim hiked six days to Sotang to visit the school. There, they fell in love with the mountains, the people, and the culture. When we learned of a community in the neighboring town of Rok that had been without a school for over a year, we looked to our customers for support and together raised another $25,000 to re-build another earthquake-safe school and ensure access to education for future generations in the region.

What’s next?

On their visit to Eastern Nepal, Kim and Pete hiked three days to the beautiful village of Chheskam, at that point inaccessible to automobiles. There they shared tea, smiles, and stories with the community. Needless to say, a relationship was formed that started with a frisbee and ended with belly laughs.

Chheskam is home to the Kulung Rai, an ethnic group that has been both protected and disadvantaged by their hard-to-access home in the Himalaya. Bokchamsido, a neighborhood in Chheskam, recently approached dZi to help them build a new water system. With the community’s help, dZi has started construction of the new safe drinking water system, which will impact 825 individuals, 25 households, 2 community buildings, 1 school, and countless future generations.

We have some exciting plans in the pipeline to make this water project dream a reality, stay tuned in the coming weeks to learn more about what Mexicali, the dZi Foundation, and YOU, our customers can do to help the community of Chheskam…

We are excited to announce that Mexicali Blues has pledged to fund 100% of the Bokchamsido drinking water project, learn more about the water project here.

 While there may now be motorbikes and frisbees in the remote villages of Eastern Nepal, there are also resilient communities, impactful organizations, and seeds of change that were sown  hand-in-hand to improve quality of life while also preserving the way of life of the region. We are proud to support the dZi Foundation and look forward to what the future holds for the trees of dZi, Mexicali, and the communities of Eastern Nepal.