Giving vulnerable children in Nepal an education

A New Year begins. 

As I write this brief report on New Year’s Eve, I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering just what 2022 will be like.

Before we look ahead, a brief thank-you from Raja in Nepal summarises what we’ve done together in 2021, and that’s well worth celebrating. 

“We at IGWR Nepal are lucky having you and your full support even this hard time. With your help we were able achieve our goals and we were able to help others in this difficult time. 

With your help in 2021 we were able to complete following things:

1. We fed and housed 26 kids and staff.
2. We supported several families with food and financial help.
3. We are providing educational support to 55 kids
4. We successfully started a ‘special needs’ foster family home.
5. We looked after 8 single mothers.
6. We painted our houses.
7. We bought new beddings, utensils, etc.”

We were able to achieve so much in 2021, especially considering the challenges of Covid in Nepal, and so we look ahead to 2022 with Hope, Optimism and empowered by the reality that together, even in difficult times, we can make a difference.

2022, what will be different? 

The changing of years reminds us that the world is always changing; and perhaps we are slowly learning from the challenges we face.

“As global health leaders have repeated ad nauseum during the pandemic, no-one is safe until everyone is safe. Helping vaccinate the world is therefore a matter of national self-interest. Yet less than 3 per cent of people in low-income countries have to date received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose.”

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/assessing-australias-role-global-vaccine-equity 

We are learning that “In Giving We Receive”, our own well being very much depends on our sharing what we have to ensure the well-being of others. 

Our GlobalGiving supporters have already discovered this reality, and as we look to 2022, we might well expect our generosity to ‘infect’ others and so increase the possibility of bringing light and life to those who live in the shadows of poverty.

Our plans for the New Year. 

Our budget tells the story of our commitments for the year ahead; we will make some adjustments early in 2022 when we have secured college places for some of the senior students and we’re also aware that circumstances in Nepal have created some inflationary price pressures, so the task ahead is very much a challenge for all of us.

Thank you for so much..... 

Our Budget, Our plans and the Future for the children in Nepal are a reality that is very much the fruit of your generosity. We continue to be inspired, and each gift is a very real YES! that we can make a difference.

My personal plan for 2022; is to give the kids in Nepal the opportunity that my own grandkids already have.

We know that we ourselves are changed by what we give....

So, thank you for sharing in making the world a better place for all.

And a brief note to our Australian supporters:

After an exhaustive two-year validation process, we have been acknowledged and all donations (from Australia) will now be given Tax Deductible receipts.It is also a recognition of IGWR-Nepal's reputation and performance; we do make a real difference in people's lives and we do it as a best practice organisation.

• full report (DOCX)

A brief summary of the situation in Nepal.

We are still able to keep in touch with our team via regular Skype/Zoom meetings, but it is not the same as being there and renewing our sense of what a wonderful difference our giving creates in the lives of the nearly sixty children we care for.

We are very aware of the challenges being faced in Nepal and this quote from a 32-year-old woman sums up the situation:

Even if food items were available in the market, food prices were increased by 4 times, and we could not afford it. I have two children and I need to earn money each day to provide food to my family otherwise we have to sleep without food. I have no alternative source of income. In our community, we have 30–40 households that are severely affected by this. It is a really very terrible situation for poor families like ours.”

Raja and the team in Nepal are meeting these challenges daily, and have been ensuring our children are safe, cared for and home-schooled during the recent restrictions.

NEWS Highlights

1. We have consolidated our various activities to address the Covid-19 situation, and that’s reflected in the changed Project Title of our GlobalGiving project.

2. We have a new committee member for IGWR Inc. and are really delighted to have Dr Hillary Wallace working with us.

3. We are happy to announce that our recent 3 SEE ( YEAR 10 ) graduates have been Enrolled for year 11- and 12 at Bagmati college, Kathmandu. All thanks to your generosity!

4. We met all our commitments for the last financial year with an income of $126,411. The budget for the year ahead is $170,964 and so we now have a lot to achieve this year.

5. Looking after nearly sixty kids during a pandemic is an amazing challenge, but so far, they are all doing well, and maybe home schooling has been better than what the Nepal Education System offers!

                    Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher, can change the world.

                                                                                      Malala Yousafzai

Our story continues to shine in a world somewhat broken

The unfolding of the Covid-19 pandemic has given us all an unwelcome opportunity to look again at the future.

In a world filled with division, selfishness and greed the IGWR story stands against the tide.

We dream of a better future, and we participate in making that dream a reality.

The act of ‘giving’ is the act of creation; it is echoed in ancient wisdom around the globe; and yet we still hear of the major G20 countries hoarding covid-19 vaccines.

To change this ‘norm’, we need to change, and every act of giving and sharing is a step toward that change.

What’s next?

1. We need to share the IGWR story; our website and facebook pages are filled with the reality of individuals coming together to make a real difference. Please take a look, help us improve our story telling and share YOUR story, tell others of the ‘giving’ you are involved in.

2. We want to find more regular donors/sponsors to enable us to shine more brightly; and give more kids the opportunities we have had.

3. The GlobalGiving “LittleXLittle” campaign starts on September 13^th, it is a wonderful example of “a little can make a big difference”. and it is an opportunity to add 50% to your gift.

4. Some of us who cannot travel to Nepal are donating our airfares to the work of IGWR-Nepal, it’s a great way to fly.... when you cannot fly! It would be great if this became a trend!

And know that we ourselves are changed by what we give....

So, thank you for sharing in making the world a better place for all.

Links:

• Visit our website for more

• full report (PDF)