AIDS Awareness Month & NYF’s New Life Center

AIDS Awareness Month

AIDS Awareness Month occurs each October. This is an opportunity to share science-based, factual, and clear information about the disease—as well as ways members of the public can help those impacted.

Today, over 37 million people live with HIV worldwide. An estimated 50,200 of these people live in Nepal. Some of those infected are children.

The first diagnosis of HIV in Nepal was in 1988. Within that same year, the Nepali government launched its first response—the National AIDS Prevention and Control Program, led by committees based in both the national and local governments and health services.

But since the beginning, community-based organizations have been the strongest groups addressing HIV in the country. These groups work hard to ensure government resources reach the individuals who need them.

Please note: Due to the extreme level of stigma associated with HIV in Nepal, we take special care to preserve the privacy of our New Life Center children and families. We have blurred the faces of individuals throughout this article. The stories shared below are true, though we have changed all names and some identifying details. Children pictured are not the children from these stories.

The New Life Center

NYF first joined the fight against HIV in 2006. We stepped into the network of community organizations to serve a vital role delivering special care to children living with this formidable virus.

NYF established the New Life Center (NLC) to provide specialized, supportive care to Nepali children living with HIV. We restore their bodies to health and make their lives not just longer, but more joyful. The NLC also educates caregivers of these children, teaching hygienic practices, nutrition, and the effective management of HIV. Counselors from Ankur Counseling center provide group and individual therapeutic interventions. After discharge, families unable to access the free medicine provided by the Nepali government benefit from delivery services by NLC staff.

New Life Center staff members include cooks, nurses, a nutritionist, a driver, and more, with hospital-based pediatricians visiting at least once a month during non-pandemic times. (We shared stories about our remarkable New Life Center nurses in 2020. Read more here!)

Treatment at the NLC

Capable of treating up to 18 child-mother pairs on-site at a time, the NLC strives to provide holistic residential care to between 50 and 60 children living with HIV each year (often alongside their mothers, who are often also living with HIV). A few children who have lost their parents and have no other options for guardianship remain in NYF care on a permanent basis. One-week residential services are provided to an additional 20 children during their routine follow-up visits to Kathmandu. Besides medical care at the NLC, patients also receive psychological support provided in partnership with NYF’s Ankur Counseling Center. For discharged patients unable to access antiretroviral medication refills, NLC staff members deliver government-provided medication to remote villages throughout Nepal. In 2019, our team took took 180 such trips via motorbike.

AIDS Awareness Means Knowing the Challenges

People living with HIV/AIDS in Nepal face social isolation, medical neglect, and physical and emotional abandonment. Though the Nepali government offers HIV medication and other treatment programs free of charge, these services are difficult to access for patients in remote villages. Some hospitals still refuse care to affected people. Many children only receive a diagnosis after their fathers, and sometimes both parents, have died of the disease. Tragically, low diagnosis rates have resulted in some mothers unknowingly passing the virus to multiple children.

These children are at extremely high risk. HIV/AIDS is one of the most stigmatized illnesses in Nepal. Schools shut their doors. Non-infected children won’t play with them. And they’re banned from many village activities. As kids living with HIV/AIDS become desperately sick with opportunistic diseases and feel brutally ostracized, their quality of life plummets.

Problems related specifically to HIV/AIDS in Nepal—in particular where children are concerned—include:

(1) Scarce specialized programs for people living with HIV/AIDS, (2) limited access to available programs and resources, particularly for families in geographically remote villages, (3) cultural stigma and superstition around HIV/AIDS status, (4) low and late diagnosis rates, especially for rural communities, (5) parental death leaving behind orphan children unable to access care, (6) large families prioritizing uninfected children, (7) necessarily-long hospital stays for children receiving care, and (8) endemic malnutrition throughout the country. Pediatric malnutrition, the focus of many of NYF’s programs, is a systemic issue impacting children throughout Nepal. But it poses a special threat to immunocompromised children like those living with HIV/AIDS.

NYF works closely with many other local organizations serving communities living with HIV to respond to these problems as effectively as possible.

AIDS Awareness in a Developing Nation

In developing nations like Nepal, there is often a sharp divide between urban areas (which are beginning to access and enjoy the technological and economic advances available in industrialized nations) and the rural areas (where infrastructure—like roads, running water, electrical connectivity, and internet access—does not yet exist to allow those advances to spread equitably).

Parents and caregivers for children living with HIV/AIDS in remote Nepal face heartbreaking dilemmas. True subsistence farming—an economic model nearly forgotten in the developed world—is still the reality for many throughout Nepal. Subsistence farmers grow food crops not to sell in marketplaces, but to feed themselves and their families throughout the year with little, if any, surplus. Many of Nepal’s subsistence farmers struggle to produce enough food throughout the year.

A family’s level of wealth or poverty is measured in part on how many months of the year they can achieve self-sufficiency.

All family members must participate in farming as much as possible. Ideally, they would manage to produce more in crop yields than they consume. Failing to do so may result in months of hunger for the entire family. In families wherein a father has passed away, and in which a mother of young children has learned (having become extremely sick herself) that she is now living with HIV/AIDS, the illness itself is only a piece of the greater extended family’s dilemma. This is especially if accurate information about HIV is not available in the community. And if children at infected, the situation is worse.

For many, the choice of whether an adult should travel hundreds of miles to Kathmandu to find hospital care for one of their children—even care that is provided free of charge—is the impossible choice between healthcare for one family member versus food for them all.

Once the trip is made and the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS is confirmed, often not only for the child but for the parent as well, these caregivers must weigh the prognosis as they understand it culturally. They must bear in mind the stigma to come, the impact it will have on the entire family, and the seeming impossibility of stable, long-term medical care for a family living many rugged miles from the nearest provider.

Families who try to manage their child’s illness often struggle, and many fail, in a system without a safety net. This is no one’s fault. The challenge of pediatric HIV, within already-demanding circumstances, is devastating.

Pediatric AIDS Awareness

The children who visit the New Life Center are referred to NYF either through Nepal’s hospital system (when a child arrives terribly sick and their HIV status is discovered) or through local HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations for adults (who are approached by caregivers searching for resources). Because pediatric HIV/AIDS requires specialized care, these groups know to send these children to us. Nepal Youth Foundation is highly trusted within the network of HIV resources in Nepal.

An average initial stay at the New Life Center lasts for three months. Families served here return fairly regularly for support. Because children’s immune systems are not fully developed, children living with HIV get much sicker than adults. And they do so more often as well.

These children are exposed to all the same illnesses as other children, but even when their HIV is well-managed, their weakened immune systems struggle to fight effectively against common ailments like the flu, the common cold, urinary tract infections, and more.

Tuberculosis and pneumonia are special dangers for Nepalese children living with HIV.

Getting a child living with HIV safely across the age-15 threshold is a tremendous undertaking. But it is also extremely worthwhile to see these children regain their health, engage with their educational opportunities, and chase their dreams.

For many families, the New Life Center is an absolutely crucial piece of their journey with HIV, and our role in their lives lasts for years.

When each of these children reaches the milestone of their 15th birthday, they are considered adults in HIV-treatment terms. NYF facilitates connections with their local organizations for adults, ensuring seamless, continued support for the duration of their lifetime. These young people are full of promise and opportunity, having learned important skills for maintaining their health. In spite of intense cultural stigma, they also find found confidence in their own worth as human beings

Through extensive awareness campaigns and other interventions, Nepal’s government has made remarkable progress in lowering the rates of mother-to-child HIV transmission. Doctors are diagnosing far fewer cases of pediatric HIV in recent years. Resources for these individuals are easier to access.

Unfortunately, many families are still unable to reach the care available in Nepal. This includes the significant time investment required to visit the New Life Center. This reality has been a challenge the New Life Center has grappled with in recent years, in the hopes of expanding our reach into more remote regions of Nepal. Since early 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our focus on this challenge has sharpened.

AIDS Awareness During COVID-19

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, we realized that the New Life Center patients would be safer in rural isolation than they would be in Kathmandu, and we sent them to their home villages. Only a few children remained at the NLC—those living completely under NYF’s care.

We focused our efforts on maintaining contact with families over the telephone. Our staff often scheduled times when caregivers could visit a location with a stable phone connection. Caregivers would share information on their child’s health status, and our staff members would provide them with advice and encouragement. This included advice to visit the nearest hospital when necessary, and the financial assistance necessary to do so.

In early 2021, the New Life Center staff organized a massive nutritional relief delivery trip. Our staff used as much care as possible and coordinated with four community-based NGOs working on HIV. We made deliveries in seven different districts across Nepal. Altogether, 167 families of children living with HIV received nutrition relief packages containing rice, legumes, oil, eggs, and other essential food items, plus a special hygiene kit to protect against COVID-19.

As we coordinated this care, our NLC team began to see new solutions to old problems.

Expanding Access with Home-Based Care

In 2021, the New Life Center is beginning a new phase of development, incorporating lessons learned during the pandemic into an expanded program beyond the walls of our dedicated facility.

Residential treatment will remain a valuable piece of the New Life Center’s work. However, using our connections to other grassroots organizations, we are expanding our outreach capabilities.

New elements for the program will include more regular nutritional delivery visits, wrapped into our existing medication deliveries. These visits will now involve check-ups for the children. Our hope is that this will allow NLC staff members to catch warning signs early, making return trips to the New Life Center unnecessary. Home visits will also allow our staff members to make more personalized recommendations to families. These may include advice ranging from thoughts on hygiene best-practices to reasonably-simple garden additions. All should vastly improve family nutritional health.

Mothers in need of income generation help will also become eligible for some of our programs aimed at small business start-ups.

Ankur Counseling Center’s role in this work will grow.

Previously, counseling services have focused on those currently staying in the New Life Center. Now, counseling will be available to children and caregivers over the telephone. This allows for a stable, sustained counseling experience which will help families cope with day-to-day challenges.

In coordination with our hospital friends and grassroots partners, NYF will expand our AIDS Awareness campaign efforts. Our team will share accurate information about the illness—including information about preventing the spread of HIV—in the hopes of alleviating cultural stigma. We will provide a telephone helpline for those hoping to keep their status private. And we will produce and distribute Nepali-language educational resources for caregivers.

Our hope is that by expanding our reach in this way, we can save and enrich many more lives—and help Nepal continue its progress in addressing this global challenge.

Spread Awareness!

To help us commemorate AIDS Awareness Month at Nepal Youth Foundation, please share our message on your social media, including the hashtags #AIDSAwarenessMonth and #LoveWorks.

Do you know anyone interested in supporting causes like global health or pediatric HIV healthcare? Take a moment this month to reach out and share our story. We would love to connect!

Updates from NYF President Som Paneru

Dear NYF Community,

I hope you are all continuing to stay safe and healthy. Earlier this month, the Nepal government made an announcement to ease COVID-19 restrictions. Among other things, this included the physical re-opening of schools and public spaces. This decision has several impacts on our programs at NYF, and I am delighted to share these new updates with all of you.

COVID-19 Updates & Response Programs

NYF’s COVID Isolation Center at our flagship Nutrition Rehabilitation Home (NRH) ran until September 16, 2021. Since its opening, we’ve admitted and treated more than 240 COVID-positive patients at our facilities. Following this recent government decision to re-open public spaces, NYF suspended isolation center services on September 17th to fully resume our regular NRH programming. We are continuing to produce Lito, our homemade “super” flour, at the NRH and are still distributing them to communities in need via the Lito for Life program. For more updates and information about our COVID-19 response, visit NYF’s COVID Timeline.

Education

Until now, schools and colleges nationwide have been closed. Out of the 643 scholarship students NYF currently supports, 70% have been attending online classes run by their schools and colleges. After this most recent decision, most NYF children will likely be able to return to in-person classes later this fall. Additionally, after a massive COVID-related delay, the long-awaited examinations for grade 12 students finally took place on September 15, 2021. About 40 NYF students took the exam.

Vocational Education & Career Counseling

As you may recall, most of our vocational training programs were put on hold earlier this year.  We are happy to announce that NYF has safely resumed some training programs in the electrical, welding, carpentry and plumbing trades. Effective last week, we have 4 vocational training satellite courses currently running. NYF is also preparing to complete 2 more Sustainable Agriculture and Entrepreneurship Trainings (SAAET) by the end of the year.

Nutrition Rehabilitation Homes (NRH) & Nutrition Camps

There are currently 8 children being treated at the NRH for malnourishment. We are expecting an increase in the number of admissions as we resume our regular services and programming. Our NYF nutrition staff is also busy strategizing how to safely conduct our regular nutrition camps this year.

New Life Center (NLC)

Due to travel restrictions brought about by COVID-19, patients had a difficult time traveling to the New Life Center in Kathmandu Valley to receive treatment. In order to increase access to supportive care for children living with HIV/AIDS in rural communities, NYF has redesigned the NLC program.

The aim of this redesign is to bring New Life Center resources to a larger population of children. To do so, we’ve moved beyond the “residential-treatment only” approach to an expanded “outreach and community-based” approach. According to the new plan, the NLC will cater residential services to approximately 20 children, while all the other services will be completed in rural communities via community outreach. These community outreach programs include awareness and advocacy, food and essentials delivery, financial support for caretakers, and tele-counseling services.

While this program will still be run from the NLC office in Kathmandu, we are excited to partner with a number of grassroots organizations — all doing incredible work in the communities we plan to serve.

Olgapuri Children’s Village

First and foremost, all 71 children (and house parents!) at Olgapuri remain safe and healthy. This year, nine students will soon be moving out after graduating high school. We are so proud of each graduate, and look forward to seeing them go on to do incredible things!

Thank you for your support.

Friends, we are deeply grateful for your continued love and support for the children, young adults, and families in our care. Thank you, also, to our staff on the ground in Nepal and for their incredible work. As always, if you have any questions about these updates or would like more information about our programs in general, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@nepalyouthfoundation.org.

With gratitude,

Som Paneru
NYF President

Make a Will Month – Opportunities for Impact through NYF’s Legacy Circle!

In 2021, for the very first time, 18-34-year-olds were more likely to have a will than 35-54-year-olds. Nearly 27% of young adults have prepared a will, compared to only 22.5% of those between 35 and 54.

Make a Will Month occurs every August. As the summer starts to wind down, this is a great opportunity to think about long-term plans. Your estate plan can have a positive impact on your loved ones and the causes you believe in most.

The Legacy Circle

Bequests and other planned gifts make an incredible difference for nonprofits like Nepal Youth Foundation. These generous remembrances help bolster organizations like ours through unexpected disasters like earthquakes and pandemics. They truly allow us to maximize impact for the children in our care.

These special donors mean the world to the NYF team. It is a profound honor to be included in a long-time supporter’s estate planning, and a joy to know that our programs can continue providing Education, Health, Shelter and Freedom for children in Nepal for years to come!

Members of NYF’s Legacy Circle have helped transform the lives of thousands of children through educational scholarships, family support, malnutrition interventions, psychological counseling, job-readiness training, emergency relief, and much more.

Many of the children served are enthusiastic supporters of their communities in adulthood. We are only beginning to see the incredible impact of this work.

The Legacy Circle is NYF’s way of saying Thank You, to those who remember us in their estate planning.

All you need to do is let us know you’ve included NYF in your will or other plans. There is no minimum bequest required to become part of this special group.

In 2021, the NYF team is refining what membership in the Legacy Circle means. We will be recommitting ourselves to show our appreciation. A description of specific gifts of thanks will be coming soon.

But for Make a Will Month, we want to encourage each and every one of our supporters and friends to take a moment to consider your estate planning—not just for NYF, but for yourself and for your loved ones.

Do You Have an Estate Plan?

Did you know that 70% of American adults do not have an up-to-date will? According to a 2021 poll by Caring.com, only 44% of American adults over 55 years of age have prepared this valuable document. Common reasons for this include:

“I haven’t gotten around to it.”
“I don’t have enough assets to leave anyone.”
“It’s too expensive and complicated to set up.”
“I don’t know how to get a will or living trust.”

In years past, the process of creating a will felt daunting and complicated—not to mention financially draining. But the estate planning process isn’t like that anymore.

Online resources like FreeWill.com provide all the help many individuals need to create a free, simple, legally-binding will. Using easy-to-follow instructions based on your state, this resource makes the process simple and accessible to those of any age. In some cases, you won’t even need to find a notary.

Why Create an Estate Plan?

Estate planning isn’t just about money. It’s about love—and peace of mind.

An up-to-date estate plan saves time, money, and stress for your loved ones during a time of great emotional upheaval. It also lowers the potential for family disputes by making your wishes clear. When someone passes away without creating a will, their estate is distributed based on the laws in your state. This process can be slow and expensive—and your assets will be frozen throughout the process.

Your will is a place for you to identify the trusted person who will carry out your wishes, whether your estate is very large and complicated, or very small.

When you sit down to consider it, almost no one has an estate so small that there is no room for confusion. If you have minor children, your estate plan is a place to nominate a preferred guardian for them. You may even select a guardian for your pets and leave funds to provide for their care.

Many people choose to detail their funeral wishes in their estate plans. Though these are not legally binding, this is another opportunity to ease the minds of your loved ones, who may otherwise worry about whether you would have approved of their ways of commemorating your life.

In your estate plan you will decide, in detail, how to distribute your assets and property. This includes not only items like stocks, homes, vehicles, cash, and jewelry, but digital assets as well—the copyright to your travel blog, for example. When it comes to sentimental items, many individuals gain peace of mind by identifying the beneficiary who would most cherish the item. Recipients of these bequests often feel comfort at being remembered so specifically.

Including a nonprofit as a beneficiary (leaving an “outright” gift) can be as simple as adding a single sentence or amendment to your will.

Popular ways of making these planned gifts include leaving a specific amount, leaving a percentage of a donor’s total wealth, or designating the remainder of a donor’s estate after other bequests have been paid.

Leaving part of your estate to a nonprofit is a great way to reduce estate taxes for your heirs.

Planned Giving

Planned giving can be as unique as you are—and often includes options many individuals don’t think of immediately.

For example, if you leave what remains of your Retirement Plan (401(k) or IRA) to a nonprofit rather than an individual, you avoid capital gains tax and estate taxes.

Designating NYF as the beneficiary of all or part of a Life Insurance Policy that is no longer needed for its original purpose can be a thoughtful donation—and may also provide your heirs with substantial tax benefits.

It’s easy to do: simply ask your retirement account manager or life insurance agent for a beneficiary designation form and name the Nepal Youth Foundation as the beneficiary.

Another excellent planned gift is real estate.

Taxes and other costs associated with receiving well-intentioned gifts of real estate can sometimes be overwhelming for heirs. Leaving vacation homes or other such property to a nonprofit instead can spare loved ones from unexpected tax liabilities further down the road.

Those with more complex estates may benefit from Charitable Annuities and Trusts. To create a charitable trust, you will benefit from a financial representative. But these types of gifts can be incredibly beneficial to you during your lifetime, to your heirs, and to the nonprofit organization(s) you choose to receive benefits.

Creating a charitable trust is a useful, multipronged approach to leaving a legacy. It allows you to set aside money for both a charity and your beneficiaries, realize specific tax advantages—and have a say over how and when any income should be distributed while you are still alive.

Celebrate Make A Will Month by Starting or Reviewing Your Estate Plans Today!

Having an up-to-date will is important whether you are 18 or 108—not only for yourself, but for your loved ones.

Whether you are starting your very first will or simply reviewing your existing plan, we hope you set aside time during the month of August to consider these impactful plans. FreeWill.com is an excellent, nonprofit-friendly place to start!

And if you are interested in learning more about joining NYF’s Legacy Circle or in identifying the best options for your planned gift, please let us know right away by calling 415-331-8585 or emailing info@nepalyouthfoundation.org. Though we are unable to officially give personal legal or tax advice, we are prepared to share ideas you may bring to your attorney, tax advisor, and trusted family members.

We are always happy to discuss the most impactful ways our community can join us in providing Education, Health, Shelter, and Freedom to children in Nepal for years to come.

For more information, please visit our following pages: Planning Giving In Wills, Planning Giving with Retirement Insurance Funds, Planned Giving By Charitable Trusts.

Olga Inspires on CBS Evening News: Still Sharing Her Life’s Mission

Olga inspires just about everyone she meets, so the NYF team was delighted when CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell asked to feature her recently.

Viewers who tuned in for the spot’s original airing on the night of July 5^th, 2021 learned a bit about Olga’s mission: extending educational opportunities to Nepal’s children, as well as providing health, freedom, and shelter.

We are so grateful to CBS News correspondent Jamie Yuccas for helping Olga inspire new audiences with her story of personal impact in a world that often downplays “women of a certain age”. With support and solidarity from friends around the world, Olga and NYF are helping Nepali children chase their dreams and build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.

“I don’t think about stopping,” Olga says. And neither does the global NYF team. Thank you all for being part of this incredible continuing journey!

You can watch the full segment on YouTube or Facebook. CBS Evening News also tweeted about this special segment, which can be viewed here.

Founder’s Day 2021 – Thank You for Sharing the Joy!

Founder’s Day 2021 – held over Zoom on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021 – was a resounding success!

Thank you to everyone who attended! This heartfelt, joyful reunion of old and new friends, supporters, alumni, and team members was an inspiration and a delight to so many. Our team deeply appreciates the many messages of congratulations and support we have received; Olga is touched by the outpouring of well-wishes in honor of her 96th birthday; and Som is so encouraged by the many words of support and love in honor of his 25th anniversary of serving the children of Nepal at NYF.

Links to the beautiful videos provided by filmmakers Roy Cox and Robin Mortarotti are available on our YouTube channel. Click here to enjoy and share Som’s incredible story. Click here for the video on our efforts to reduce the rate of child marriage in Nepal.

If you missed the event or would like to enjoy it again, a full recording is available here.

Special thanks go to co-hosts Dr. Jagadamba Pandit and Angela Pal, PhD; videographers Roy Cox and Robin Mortarotti; and guest speakers Dr. Kamal Lamichhane and Ajeeta Rana for helping shape the inspiring presentations; author and philanthropist Isabel Allende for her beautiful message; to our host committee: Tanya Bodde, Chris Heffelfinger, Andrea McTamaney, Ron Rosano, and Greg & Barbara Rosston; to the volunteers, board members, advisory board members, and staff working behind the scenes; and of course, to Olga Murray and Som Paneru for giving us so much to celebrate!

Olga’s Founder’s Day 2021 Birthday Wish

Thank you to each of our wonderful supporters who donated in honor of Founder’s Day 2021. Our goal this year was $96,000 in honor of Olga’s 96th birthday. Ahead of the event, thoughtful early donations had brought us approximately halfway to meeting our goal.

By the time pledging (public and private) had ended during the event, we were only $1,150 short. And before the end of the evening, a few additional pledges had tipped us over our goal amount, with auction bids pushing us over $100,000!

Our global team is overwhelmed by the generosity of the NYF Community. Thoughtful Founder’s Day gifts are still arriving – including some increased pledges. At this time, our incredible, thoughtful supporters have contributed over $105,000 in support of our NYF’s mission.

Your love is providing Health, Freedom, Shelter, and Education to Nepal’s newest generation – and graduates from our programs are proving that your #LoveWorks. Dhanyabad!

If you have not yet fulfilled your Founder’s Day pledge, or if you would like to make another thoughtful gift, please do so here.

Lucky Winners

Our U.S. team is contacting auction winners, pledge raffle winners, and Olga’s Promise recipients. If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to us by emailing info@nepalyouthfoundation.org.

More to Come in 2021

As we step into the coming months, our global team is braced for more pandemic uncertainty – but the NYF Community’s encouraging love and enthusiasm inspires us with confidence. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your trust and dedication to making sure your #LoveWorks!

We look forward to sharing updates with you right here on our blog as the year continues.

Dhanyabad!

Purposeful Living & Olga Murray: A Celebration and an Invitation

Purposeful living is the focus of a new Washington Post article about our very own founder, Olga Murray (click the link to open the article in a new tab – it is a beautiful tribute by Pulitzer-Prize winner Katherine Ellison!). Our beloved Olga, on the cusp of her 96th birthday, has been an inspiration during the past year of lockdowns and uncertainty.

‘ “I’m not a doctor,” ‘ the article quotes Olga during a recent interview, ‘ “but I do know that when I get out of bed every morning and think that I might help a little kid in Nepal, I’m not focused on my body… My main focus is on the kids.”

In her interview, Olga is characteristically modest. So much of Olga’s work is driven by her belief in others. She believes in those she partners with at NYF, like President Som Paneru. She believes in her friends, her connections – all those generous donors who make her work possible. Most of all, she believes in the children of Nepal, and in the incredible things they can accomplish if given the proper opportunities. (Bishnu Chaudhary, the young woman freed from domestic slavery who recently passed the Nepalese bar exam, is just one example!)

Even with purposeful living fueling her longevity, “I’m not going to be around forever,” Olga says pragmatically. “And the thing I want most in the world is for this program to go on.”

The NYF community is determined to make that wish come true.

If you’d like to learn more (and to see Olga Murray live over Zoom!), click here to register for our upcoming virtual Founder’s Day celebration! Join NYF’s email list here.

To support NYF’s mission during this challenging time – bringing Education, Health, Shelter, and Freedom to Nepali children – please donate here. For more powerful impact, consider making yours a monthly donation!

COVID Isolation Centers Provide a Lifeline as Nepal Battles a Surge

COVID isolation centers are becoming a life-saving necessity for families in Nepal as the pandemic surges through South Asia. Kathmandu is in lockdown once again, with schools closed and hospitals filled beyond capacity.

Nepal Youth Foundation opened our first COVID Isolation Center in our Kathmandu Nutritional Rehabilitation Home on Tuesday, May 4th, and it is already full, mostly with people under the age of 18. Isolation centers provide safe care for individuals who have been infected with COVID-19 and must be isolated from their families, but who are not sick enough to be hospitalized. Our vaccinated staff members are doing all they can to provide high-quality care to these children, working to ensure their safe recovery.

To help us respond to this growing crisis, please make a donation now.

Som Speaks to BBC News

NYF President Som Paneru recently spoke with BBC News about the situation in Nepal. You may listen to the 2-minute interview here, or read the transcription below.

Som: The second wave is causing a great level of distress among the population here. The cases are rising at an alarming rate since the last couple of weeks. People are desperate to find life-saving services like oxygen, hospital beds, ICU, ventilators, etc. So a severe lack of safe isolation places is one of the root causes right now for spreading the virus. Families are living in very congested living conditions, and one family member gets infected and infects the rest. So that’s how it has reached every family and eventually the community. So the situation is very desperate, getting very desperate right now.

BBC News: And what are the hospitals saying in terms of, as you say, the beds. How have they been? Because we’ve been hearing what’s happening in neighboring India. How have people been managing if they haven’t had the oxygen supplies? Has it been the same where they’ve been buying their own cylinders, looking for them to be filled, or has it not yet got to that stage?

Som: We are pretty much going towards the same trail like in India. The families are desperate to secure a cylinder to keep at home. Because there are no places to go in hospitals. Hospitals are turning down new admissions in most of the places. Unless it is a really critical situation. So people are losing lives in the ambulance, traveling from one hospital to another.

BBC News: Can you tell us, please, Som, what your organization has been doing to try and help? What have you been seeing?

Som: Nepal Youth Foundation has recently started an isolation center. A safe isolation place for those people who are infected but are not able to go to hospital, and they cannot stay in the family either. So the isolation center is the first step towards breaking this chain of spreading the virus. So we’ve started one center in Kathmandu, and now there’s a huge demand for opening more centers like this across the country.

Slowing the spread of this virus is critical, and safe isolation centers are an important part of this process in crowded cities like Kathmandu. To learn about NYF’s other COVID responses, please visit our timeline here. And if you are able to donate, please do so by clicking the button below.

You’re invited: Founder’s Day 2021

On June 3rd, Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF) will be hosting another “Virtual Founder’s Day” – a free event open to old and new friends alike.

Day: June 3, 2021
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m. PDT
Location: Zoom!

At this event, we will be honoring Founder Olga Murray’s 96th birthday and President Som Paneru’s 25th year of service and leadership. 

We’ll kick off the event by discussing recent COVID-19 developments in Nepal and talk about how NYF has responded to, and is continuing to respond to, the ongoing global pandemic.  We’ll celebrate how we created educational opportunities for hundreds of village children whose schooling would have otherwise come to a halt.  We’ll also learn, for the first time, more about NYF’s role combating and protecting young girls from child marriage. 

Since our successful virtual Founder’s Day last year, we have learned a thing or two about helping to make online events more enjoyable for more members of our community. For example, we will be working with a live captioner during this year’s event! If you or one of your guests would benefit from an accommodation during our virtual Founder’s Day, please let us know right away by emailing info@nepalyouthfoundation.org or by calling 415-331-8585. We are eager to do what we can to present an accessible, joyous event to as many guests as possible!

Guest Speakers

NYF scholarship alumni Ajeeta Rana and Dr. Kamal Lamicchane will be this year’s guest speakers at Founder’s Day. We are so grateful to have them join us, and hope you’ll tune in too!

Ajeeta Rana is an NYF Scholarship alumna who received a nursing degree from one of the most renowned universities in Nepal. Since then, she has moved to London and has earned three more degrees (B.Sc in health and social care, M.Sc in healthcare leadership, and an MBA in hospital management). She currently lives in London with her husband as she pursues her fourth degree (MSc in Nursing) while she works as a nurse.

Dr. Kamal Lamichhane is currently an associate professor at Tsukuba University in Japan, and he is a NYF Scholarship alumnus and the first person with a visual impairment from Nepal to receive a doctorate degree. His fields of research include disability studies, economics of education, inclusive education, and education policy.

Hosts

We are so honored to have Dr. Jagadamba Pandit and Angela Pal be our hosts at this year’s event! Join us live on June 3rd at 6:30 p.m. PDT to hear Dr. Pandit and Angela speak to Olga, Som, and our guest speakers.

Angela Pal Angela has been in healthcare for over 23 years as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner. She is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and director of the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program.

Angela was introduced to Nepal Youth Foundation, Olgapuri and the Nutritional Rehabilitation Hospital on her first trip to Nepal in 2018 for a medical mission. Her immediate thoughts were about how happy the children were, and how it seemed like a large family. She was immediately drawn to the openness and empathy of the Nepali children with each other and visitors. She observed firsthand the impact of the foundation on the children of Nepal, and the power of OlgaDidi’s vision and perseverance.

Dr. Jagadamba Pandit currently works at a community mental health center in the United States. After graduating from medical school in Nepal and finishing her residency in psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University, she completed a fellowship in addiction psychiatry. She has spent lots of time raising awareness about mental health issues both in the U.S. and in Nepal through radio programs and videos. She enjoys mentoring medical students and telling stories to children at Olgapuri.

Dr. Pandit came to know of NYF in 2004 through her husband, who was an NYF scholarship recipient in medical school. She then met Olga for the first time on Olga’s 80th birthday, and was extremely impressed with NYF’s mission and work. Since then, Dr. Pandit has been a devoted donor and supporter of NYF!

2021 Host Committee

Special thanks to our 2021 Host Committee members:  Tanya Bodde, Chris Heffelfinger, Andrea McTamaney, Ron Rosano, and Greg and Barbara Rosston.

If you’d like to be on the Founder’s Day 2021 Host Committee, please contact Eric@NepalYouthFoundation.org for more information.

Volunteer Spotlight: Avipsa

In continued celebration of #NationalVolunteerWeek, NYF is excited to share another spotlight to honor one more wonderful volunteer! Today, we’re sharing our Q&A session with Avipsa, a Nepali-American high school student who has been volunteering remotely with the U.S. Office since the beginning of this year.

Let’s start with why you wanted to start volunteering for NYF. What was your calling?

I wanted to start volunteering with NYF because its purpose and values really resonated with me. Even as a Nepali person myself, I never really knew much about specific issues facing Nepali youth. Seeing that NYF dealt with many of these issues and how much it had accomplished, I knew that this was a place where I could truly make a difference and help Nepali youth receive the opportunities they deserved. It was also a way for me to connect to my own heritage and experience volunteering in the nonprofit sector. 

Can you share what you are currently doing for NYF?

Currently, I am volunteering to help with social media and website design. I have been helping with the Editorial Calendar, which focuses on social media posts every month. I am also helping to create and build tests for UserTesting to ensure that our website is appealing and accessible. I have done a little bit of outreach as well. 

What are you enjoying the most as a volunteer?

As a volunteer, I enjoy the creative freedom I have, as well as, access to multiple opportunities the most. I’ve been given a lot of freedom with themes for social media posts such as #FunFactFriday, which I came up with to educate the online audience more about Nepali culture. Before volunteering with NYF, I never heard about UserTesting and I didn’t know if I would be interested in doing it. NYF allowed me to try something new and it was actually a very informative experience. 

What’s something you learned through volunteering for NYF?

By volunteering for NYF, I have learned about the importance of social media in raising awareness and social issues that Nepali youth face. As NYF focuses on social issues such as child servitude, lack of education, nutrition rehabilitation, and more, I learned that just one post can educate so many. Social media is a great way to raise awareness and bring attention to serious topics. It provides an environment to advocate and make a difference in peoples’ lives. 

What are some of your goals for the future?

For my future in NYF, I hope to connect with more staff and hopefully, the youth! I also hope to recruit more volunteers as well. Personally, I would like to venture out into researching social issues facing Nepali youth and raising awareness about them. As someone who is very interested in psychology and mental health, my goal is to advocate for destigmatizing mental health and connecting with the Ankur Counseling Center for future research. As I grow further into my career, I hope to work in the field of psychology, psychiatry, or public health. 

Any advice for other high school students who want to help make a difference?

My advice for other high school students that want to help make a difference is simple: start somewhere. Whether it is your passion, your niche, or something you recently discovered, the only way to make a difference is through action. The day that I found NYF was the same day I reached out to volunteer. Even though I didn’t know everything about the nonprofit, I knew it was advocating for a cause that I was also passionate about. Starting somewhere can push you to find new opportunities and eventually, reach your goals. 

And lastly, can you share something fun about yourself?

When I visited Nepal in 2016, I went to multiple cities and locations. One of my favorite tourist attractions was Devi’s Falls in Pokhara. The waterfall was really extraordinary and mysterious as well. I found it really interesting that also goes through an underground tunnel. When I go back, I definitely want to visit there again!

We’re so deeply grateful to Avipsa for all the hard work she is doing to support our work! Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!