15 Children in need of support
Funds Required: $1500
Nepal’s history of dynastic rule worsened by the recent 10-year civil war, ensured great hardship especially for its majority population, the indigenous peoples. They were forced to occupy the remote, underserved and unproductive mountainous areas of Nepal. Most Nepalese rely on subsistence farming to supply their daily meals and many school-aged children are forced to work to help supplement needs beyond food. As such, a large number of families just cannot afford to pay school fees. One result of this is the very high illiteracy rate especially so among women (74%) compared to the men (38%) (World Bank, 2009). Girls education is not seen as a priority in Nepal and uneducated girls are at high risk of being trafficked.
CFE has just begun partnering with Higher Ground Ministries to provide education scholarships for Nepalese students. Such students could range from 5 to 21 years as many students start school very late due, not being able to afford the fees. Yet students in Nepal have high aspirations for the future. Many dream of becoming a doctor or an engineer but have no means of realizing these dreams.
God’s mercy has led CFE to intervene on behalf of Nepalese children and youth. Binta is a Nepalese student who at age 19 is now in the 12th grade. Her dream is to become a doctor. Already Binita has shown great courage and determination to achieve her goal, having received distinctions in 10th grade despite being in a home with an abusive father who is an alcoholic. CFE’s work in Nepal will help Binita on the road to realizing her dream.
Sarita 14, Suman 17 and Savitrii 19, have also received benefited from CFE. Before CFE’s support, attending school was sacrificed for helping their family earn a living by selling chips and bottled water to commuters through their neighborhood. Without education these children especially the girls are in great risk of living below their God given potential.
CFE’s work in Nepal is at an early stage, but the potential is great. God is using CFE to help break the transmission of poverty from parents to children and to transform the future prospects of young girls and boys. Most of all, CFE’s local partners ensure that the children come face to face with the power and demonstration of God’s love, and learn to be responsible stewards of God’s gift to them.
Quick Facts:
Nepal is an exotic nation in the Himalayas and a mountain climbers’ haven with eight of the ten highest peaks in the world, including Mt. Everest. Nestled between India and China.
Nepal has over 120 indigenous people groups. It is also among the poorest nations of the world with 55 percent of its 29m population living below US$1.25 per day (UNICEF).