Our Nepalese odyssey
A Troon couple have started a charity to help improve the welfare of animals in developing countries.
The One Health Foundation was launched in June by Colin McDermott, a senior account manager, his wife Inga McDermott and Maiju Tamminen who are both vets.
Their primary focus is to provide and improve veterinary education.
Colin revealed: “Inga is a vet so that is where the passion for this originated.
“She had started volunteering four years ago and went to India on her own with a charity called WVS ( Worldwide Veterinary Service). We both then went out to Thailand.
“On the back of all that, I did a course myself on animal welfare. The two of us and a woman, Maiju, who we met while volunteering, decided to get together and launch the One Health Foundation and it has since grown arms and legs.
“The One Health Foundation is about working together with animal doctors, human doctors and conservationists.
“At the moment, we have come at it from an animal perspective because both Inga and Maiju are vets. However, Maiju has given lectures to doctors as it is about working together.
“Right now we are working alongside a charity in Nepal called HART ( Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust and they will be sending people to work with us, such as dog handlers.”
The international organisation will be providing fourth- year veterinary students with the basic skills needed to stay and practice in Nepal after graduation.
Colin, Inga and Maiju will be heading to work in Chitwan, Nepal, towards the end of the year, with Maiju going out to run a project in November and Colin and Igna following at the end of December.
Colin added: “We will be going for one month and just now we are crowd funding. When we are over there in December, we are going to also do a trek and Poon Hill through the Himalayas as a fund- raising exercise. “
For more info or if you would like to donate, visit www. facebook. com/ theonehealthfoundation.