On October 16 2022, members of PiCCA gathered for the latest in our dialogue series, where Mr Rod Setterlund OAM presented his new book No Mountain Too High: Village Development in Nepal.
Rod is President of the Nepal Australia Friendship Association (NAFA) and also a foundation member of PiCCA.
No Mountain Too High is set over a 20-year period in the hilly region northwest of Kathmandu and tells the very personal story of the Tamang people living in the remote village of Tawal. It is first and foremost their story in a development partnership that helped them triumph over a long history of political neglect and social discrimination, a 10-year civil war and the devastating 2015 earthquake.
It is also a story Rod and his wife Deborah’s personal relationship with Nepal, a connection that began from a tourist trek in 1999 and grew through over 30 subsequent visits and more than 20 years as volunteers with NAFA. The book explores the highs, lows, successes and challenges in adopting a community and market-system approach to the development partnership.
At the Dialogue Rod and Deb engaged with PiCCA members in an inspirational and free flowing conversation about the book, Nepal, community development and the lessons we can learn from the communities where we are privileged to work.
