Category: NYF News
Clean water for over 100 families
This wonderful project was featured in our Summer 2016 newsletter.
If you’d like to receive mail or email updates on NYF’s work,
please contact us at Info@NepalYouthFoundation.org or call (415) 331-8585.
By giving now, you can help NYF be ready for the next opportunity to transform the lives of desperately impoverished Nepali children and families:
Nepali Children Welcome Home to Olgapuri Village
Nepali children, welcome home to OLGAPURI Village! Take a moment to welcome them yourself, by writing your message in the comments field below. Well-wishes received by September 20 will be displayed on colorful banners at the official inauguration in Nepal on September 25.
Be sure to check back for photos of the event!
If you’d like to receive our periodic newsletter and email dispatches containing news about NYF’s projects and the children we support, please sign up by emailing us your contact information.
You can help support this dream come true and all of Nepal Youth Foundation’s life-changing programs by giving your gift by donating today.
Stanwick Hall, The Little Foot Children’s Festival 2017
Stanwick Hall, The Little Foot Children’s Festival 2017
Stannwick Hall will be holding their first every Little Foot Children’s Festival thanks to our colleagues in the UK! The Little Foot Festival will take place at Stanwick Hall, Northamptonshire, UK from 12 – 5pm on September 3, 2017.
The festival’s theme this year is ‘exploring’. Zorbing, Rock Climbing, Forest School Skills, Story Telling, Crafting workshops will all feature along side good food, fun, music and an epic Teddy Bear’s picnic!
To learn more about the festival and buy tickets click here
ABC News report on NYF’s post-earthquake efforts
Watch the ABC News report on NYF’s efforts to help Nepal recover and rebuild after last spring’s devastating earthquakes. (FYI: video not supported by Firefox Mozilla browser)
Two freed child slaves earn college degrees
Two young women who spent their childhoods as indentured servants have earned college degrees – the first freed Kamlari to graduate from college.
Saraswoti Chaudhary and Basanti Chaudhary were honored for their achievements by the Freed Kamlari Development Forum (FKDF) at a ceremony in the Dang District of Western Nepal in January. Saraswoti was awarded a bachelor’s of English and Basanti studied electrical engineering.
NYF rescued the young women 15 years ago and helped them get the education denied them by the dehumanizing practice of childhood slavery known as Kamlari.
More than 12,000 girls were indentured as household slaves before NYF launched a campaign in 2000 to end the practice, formally abolished by the government in 2013.
As a Kamlari for six years, Saraswoti fantasized about getting an education. “I was compelled to wash dishes and clothes throughout the day whereas kids of my age went to school,” she said.
Her father, who was also a bonded laborer, died when Saraswoti was seven and she was sold into indentured servitude.
NYF rescued Saraswoti in 2002 and she went back to school. Her family pressured her to marry when she was in 12th grade, but she didn’t let that get in the way of her education. “I continued my studies even after marriage,” she said.
Her goal is to earn a master’s degree and work to improve the lives of other Kamlari.
NYF rescued Basanti in 2001 and the young women returned to school, excelling in electrical engineering. She married and plans to continue her education.
These two young women have proven that freed Kamlari can change their lives, said Bimala Chaudhary, who is local chairwoman of the FKDF.
More than 5,000 girls are currently receiving support in school, junior college, vocational training or working towards a bachelor’s degree through NYF’s Empowering Freed Kamlari program, which helps former Kamlari become healthy, productive and independent young women.
Read about our Empowering Freed Kamlari Program
Santa Visits NYF Children
It’s been such a challenging year in Nepal – but nothing keeps Santa from visiting the children of J & K Houses! Wishing Peace on Earth, for Nepal and all the world.
Watch NYF Founder Olga Murray at TEDx Vienna
on “Living a joyful and vibrant life at any age”
Life out of the Cage
Her family had no land of their own. She had no choice but become a Kamalari because her parents were bonded slaves themselves. Born in Hapur – 2 Basantapur VDC of Dang district in western Nepal, Bimala Chaudhary spent her entire childhood in slavery. She had to leave her parents at the tender age of 10 and move to another landlord’s house to work on her own. Having lived as a Kamalari for three years in Kathmandu and another three years in the city of Butwal, she was eventually rescued and freed by Nepal Youth Foundation in 2009.
After her rescue, she was directly admitted to grade nine in school. So much was her desire to study that even during her time in Slavery, she had pleaded with the landlord to admit her in school. She was not allowed to attend school, except during the exams, during which her parents substituted for her absence at her owner’s house. But her schooling was cut short when her owners moved to Butwal and her parents could not afford to make frequent travels to free her up for the exams. Even her 40 dollars yearly salary was denied to her at Butwal. She was given scrapes to eat and rags to sleep on. She wasn’t even treated as a human being.
After her freedom, she worked hard in school. She also inculcated a desire to become a civil leader at school. She used to represent her class in her school and fellow Kamalaris during their protests and civil movements. Recognizing her potential, the Freed Kamalari Development Forum nominated her as their Central President in 2013. 20 year old Bimala is now leading over 12,000 freed Kamalaris across the districts of Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur in the western Tarai. This is undoubtedly a big challenge for a young girl, but Bimala has shouldered the responsibility with remarkable ease and courage.
She says that she sees her current life as an opportunity for a second start. “I would have never had this opportunity to fight on behalf of the entire community of freed Kamalries had I not been rescued into this life of freedom,” she says, and adds, “I used to feel that I was living inside a cage. But my life has changed beyond my imagination.” She now commands respect in the society. Her parents are amazed at her success, but express sorrow at having had to let her become a Kamalari as a child.
Her older brother Pradeep had also worked in bonded labor as a Kamaiya. Her younger Chirbahadur is studying at Grade 12 at the moment. Her young brother was one grade behind her when they were living in the village. But as a result of her stay as a Kamalari, she is now behind her brother in school. When her father was a Kamaiya, their owner had allowed them to live in a small house on his land. But later they were forced out of the house when the Kamaiya System of bonded labor was abolished, and they had to then take refuge at the homes of other people. Eventually, they were able to save enough money to afford a small piece of land of their own.
Her father and brother are now working aboard and have made enough money to buy some more land in the village. Now they are able to afford to lease more land for farming too. Earlier, you had to send your daughter to become a Kamalari to secure a lease,” she reminisces, adding, “The times have changed. The compulsive environments that force people into slavery have begun to disappear.”
Warmer in Nepal, Earthquake Support Brings Joy to People in Nepal
In December, NYF staff made winter a little warmer for some earthquake survivors in Sindhupalchowk with a big delivery of blankets and warm clothes. The knit caps were very popular with the children. Please continue to keep Nepal in your hearts.
