Mark and I have been involved in a little nepali run NGO, Childrens' development program (CDP), that helps very poor children with their education. It is run by Shankar and Bishnu Panthar, friends of ours from our church.
Firstly, they try to keep the children with their parents but provide support for school fees for the children to attend local schools as well as help with buying uniforms, stationary etc.
If the children are really bright and the local school can't provide for this or the parents are really struggling to feed them they bring them into a hostel that they are running in Pokhara and allow them to attend Pokhara schools. We have been to the hostel a few times and seen the impact that having a loving Christian family environment has had on some very behaviorally challenged children.
Mark and I got the opportunity to go to one of the villages and see the families that CDP is supporting. We were really encouraged to see Shankar and Bishnu providing support but also encouraging the family and community to help each other as well.
This little boy is supported by CDP. We spent a lot of time trying to convince his mother to take the child to Kathmandu and get his eye checked. He went to Pokhara but they wanted to send him to Kathmandu for a small operation which will save him from blindness, The cost and the time away from her home duties as well as the belief that he was born like this and 'that is life' has put the mother off.
We met other children at the school where they are studying. The buildings are simple.
Bishnu keeping an inventory of the supplies that are being given to the children.
A little boy receiving shoes to wear to school.
Jo was asked to give the school supplies to the students - they were so excited.
Firstly, they try to keep the children with their parents but provide support for school fees for the children to attend local schools as well as help with buying uniforms, stationary etc.
If the children are really bright and the local school can't provide for this or the parents are really struggling to feed them they bring them into a hostel that they are running in Pokhara and allow them to attend Pokhara schools. We have been to the hostel a few times and seen the impact that having a loving Christian family environment has had on some very behaviorally challenged children.
Mark and I got the opportunity to go to one of the villages and see the families that CDP is supporting. We were really encouraged to see Shankar and Bishnu providing support but also encouraging the family and community to help each other as well.
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