Kamlari co-ops grow with your help

Thanks to supporters like you, we raised over $20,000 during the month of June for the Freedom Loan Fund — a micro-lending program that gives young women in Nepal who spent their childhoods as Kamlari slaves the opportunity to start a business and make a new life.

The freed Kamlaris have formed 37 business co-ops, now with 3,000 members, to support each other in building businesses. So far, more than 750 young women have used co-op loans to launch businesses such as vegetable farms, sewing shops, beauty salons, and even a motorcylce repair shop. And now, thanks to your support of the Freedom Loan Fund Campaign, another 70 former Kamlaris will be able to get a loan and start a business.

Co-ops get more organized
The Kamlari co-ops recently formed a network to give the young women the opportunity to share their experiences and improve the way they work together. Representatives from each co-op will meet regularly to share progress reports, create action plans and to review opportunities and challenges. NYF has also recently hired a manager to coordinate the rapidly expanding co-op movement.

Thanks for your support!
Thanks to all of you who have helped these amazing young women to build a better life for themselves and their families. We look forward to updating you on their progress.

Learn more:

Watch the ABC7 News video about NYF’s work to free girls from slavery.

Read about our Empowering Freed Kamlaris Program.

NYF news: Victory! Kamlari Child Slavery System Ends.

J&K Village: From dream to reality

Surrounded by their J&K House brothers and sisters and other well-wishers, five children laid the cornerstone of their new home on Saturday on July 19.

The joyful ceremony brought us closer to our dream of building a permanent residence for the vulnerable children in our care.

Crews began construction of the new children’s village last month. The complex will have houses for the boys and girls, a dining hall, two hostels for the teenagers, farmland, large play area, a vocational education center and a guest house.

We are booking the movers for October 2015. We hope you will join us for the inauguration!

One thing we’re still working on is coming up with a great name for the new village, and you can help. Please send your suggestions for a new name to Jackie Frost, our Development and Communications Manager at jfrost@staging.nepalyouthfoundation-old.flywheelsites.com. Thank you!

Learn more:

Read about our children’s homes.

NYF’s Freedom Loan Fund on ABC7 News!

From child slaves to free business women — a transformation in Nepal.

Many thanks to ABC7 News for telling the story of our campaign to end the Kamlari system of child slavery. This 3-minute video shows the former Kamlaris at work in their new businesses, and talks about the co-op loan program that is making this transformation possible.

Please share this video with family and friends, and let them know they can help by joining the Freedom Loan Fund Campaign. With your support, we’ll give hundreds of former child slaves in Nepal the opportunity to start a business and make a new life.

We did it — thank you!

With your help, we raised over $20,000 for the Freedom Loan Fund Campaign.

Girls who were rescued from the Kamlari system of child slavery are now free — and they’re becoming powerful young women who are starting their own businesses with help from a co-op loan program funded by Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF).

It’s already a huge success. The freed Kamlaris have formed 37 business co-ops with over 2,600 members. And they’ve already reinvested $40,000 back into their co-op loan fund.

But the loan fund hasn’t been able to keep up with all of the former Kamlaris who want to start a business, and there are hundreds of eager young women on the co-op loan waiting list.

Thanks to supporters like you, we raised over $20,000 during the month of June for the Freedom Loan Fund Campaign. This means that more than 70 former child slaves in Nepal will have the opportunity to start a business and make a new life.

It’s not too late to make a difference. Join the Freedom Loan Fund Campaign today and be a part of this amazing transformation!

Meet some of the freed Kamlari business co-op members:

Mina, beauty salon owner After Mina was rescued from Kamlari, she entered our special program to make up the schooling she had missed. She graduated high school and went on to beautician training in vocational school. Mina opened her own salon with a co-op loan, and now offers haircuts, facials and more — and earns up to 1,000 rupees a day. And she’s still in college, working towards a health degree.  

Kamala, motorcycle repair shop  She may be the only female motorcycle mechanic in Nepal! Kamala spent seven years as a Kamlari, working under terrible conditions. NYF rescued her in 2004 and put her through school and vocational training. With a loan from the co-op, Kamala started her business fixing motorcycles and selling parts. Now she brings in 5,000 rupees a day (good money there) and employees two men.

Asmita, vegetable farmer A Kamlari for five years before NYF rescued her, Asmita now tills her own fields with her family by her side. “Before we had to work in other people’s houses,” she said. “Now we work our own land.” After high school, NYF sponsored Asmita in an agricultural training program, and then she started her farm with a co-op loan. She’s also trained 40 other former Kamlari in farming to help ensure their independence.

Learn more about NYF’s programs and how you can make a difference in Nepal.

Learn more:

Watch the ABC7 News video about NYF’s work to free girls from slavery.

Read about our Empowering Freed Kamlari Program.

NYF news: Victory! Kamlari Child Slavery System Ends.