Nepal is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with an estimated 30% of Nepalis living below the poverty line - some 82% of people live on less than US$2 per day.
Sadly this means that many children miss out on receiving a full education, and remain stuck in the cycle of poverty, with little or no opportunities for career development.
Sponsorship through VIN provides children with the invaluable opportunity to enter or remain in education, and realize their full potential.
• Sponsorship Options http://www.volunteeringnepal.org/
VIN oversees the full sponsorship (US$230 per year) or partial sponsorship (US$50 per year) of many of the most disadvantaged children, including orphans, conflict victims, and children from extremely poor backgrounds or lower castes.
Children most in need of sponsorship are identified in conjunction with Head Teachers; Village Development Committee / Ward Chairpersons and a Community representative.
Sponsors can either allow VIN to select a child most urgently in need of sponsorship or choose a child to sponsor from one of the following three groups most in need of sponsorship:
Orphanage Children
VIN currently works with two orphanages in Kathmandu, helping provide destitute children with the care and devotion they need. These orphanages however lack sufficient funding, and rely on donations.
VIN wants to ensure that all children from the orphanages attend school, and are able to receive a full education, despite their extremely disadvantaged circumstances.
Conflict Victim Children
Although Nepal is now a Republic, the 10-year Maoist insurrection lead to the deaths of over 12,000 people and left thousands more maimed and 100,000 people displaced.
The conflict had a hugely detrimental impact on the lives of countless children in Nepal and resulted in the complete disruption of their education.
Through its Flexible Schooling Programme, VIN helps these vulnerable children, who have suffered as a result of the conflict, to catch up with the studies they missed and regain access to mainstream education.
Disadvantaged Children from Very Poor Backgrounds
Due to grinding poverty, many families from very poor communities or lower castes simply cannot afford to send their children to school. Girls in particular in Nepal are often deprived of a full education in through gender discrimination.
• How Much Does Sponsorship Cost?
Full sponsorship costs 230 USD per year and includes admission fees; examination fees; monthly tuition fees; two sets of uniform (shirt, pant, sweater, tie, belt, shoes, bag etc); stationery and books; medication; child club support; support for community development activities and an administrative charge (including correspondence;
Partial sponsorship costs 50 USD per year and includes stationery and books.
In addition VIN regularly:
:Visit the sponsored children, their school and their parents to monitor the child’s progress;
:Collect school reports to provide to the sponsor;
:Collect letters, cards and other correspondence from the child to provide to the sponsor should they wish to receive this;
:Conduct community awareness activities to help parents develop a congenial study environment at home;
:Support Children’s Clubs to help children explore and expand their creative talents.
What will the Sponsor Receive?
Full sponsors will receive:
:A photo of their sponsored child
:An electronic copy of their sponsored child’s progress report twice a year;
:Electronic copies of any letters, cards and other correspondence from their sponsored child, should they wish to receive this.
:VIN’s Annual Report and Newsletter
