Please read the following report from our partners in Nepal. It is exciting to see the opportunities for CFE and the local church to engage in right now and in the future.
Realistically, more than 70% of Nepali people are illiterate. Most of the good schools in the country are right here in Kathmandu; whereas, education in the villages are far from the reaches of most children. The lack of education in the past generation kept Nepal entrenched in poverty, and the trend continues with instability of political condition, and lack of progress at national levels.
However churches are stepping up to care for her children, especially, the outcaste, orphans and the victims. The Lord in his grace is raising up His church. The church is the only institution making forward progress, with its growth, and proclamation of Hope to the nations.
The plight of children is devastating. Child labor is rampant, almost every household keeps a child servant, owners claim to provide food and education, but they live far below humane conditions. Kamalari is a system in Nepal where a girl (who generally are not considered worthy of education) are sent to work under bonded labor in a rich man’s house.
At our church, we love children. They have special place in the church, they are valued highly. There are weekly programs, occasional children outings, several VBS per year.
In xxxxx, as of summer of 2009 we have begun an orphanage work. The pastor family, whose children are off to college or graduated, were eager to take in couple of orphan kids. Now there are two living with them and going to an English medium Christian School.
Sabitri is a daughter of a widow who studies in 6th grade. Every morning before school and after school runs to the near by Highway to sell snacks to the by passers so she could make some money for her family to survive. She is an active junior youth member of our church.
Now we are planting three more churches in xxxxxx district. Where there is poverty to the core, and as a result children suffer the most. In many cases one parent has either gone abroad or abandoned their children. Not to mention alcoholism is a deep-rooted problem in almost every family. We would like our “home for orphans” plans to be established there first. One married person would look after the children (5-7 per family) while the second parent go to work. Church life will be at the center, because the guardians must be committed Christians.
With the CFE scholarships, church will facilitate to provide and monitor children of single parent or total orphans to study, and abide in the life of the church, where they are spiritually nurtured.
The kids will attend mid-grade standard education available in their village. Which so far are English medium private schools. Kids from all various castes and backgrounds will be mixed in one home and taught together to love and appreciate each other. Children from other backgrounds shall also be allegeable for the scholarship after agreement with the terms and conditions of CFE and our church.
Pastor Dil together with other church leaders will decide which children will be brought into the home settings (in particular orphans) and which are provided education scholarship upon agreements to its policies.
Some one from our church will be in charge of overseeing this ministry, collecting reports, visiting occasionally (once in two months) and communicating with CFE on a regular basis (at least once in three months). Financial records will be kept by the local guardians and checked by our church staff . Annual reports of finances will be sent to CFE.