A Sponsorship Success Story

“In early 2001 a small child showed up at Mitrata. He was from a dysfunctional and impoverished Kathmandu family with little hope for a safe and secure path to becoming a healthy and self-supporting Nepalese citizen. At the time, I was just beginning to understand the vision Dr. Christine Schutz had for what has become the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children, and I was eager to help out.

I began sponsoring this young boy. He had some adjustment issues early on, being put into a structured environment with a few other kids that he really didn’t know. Mitrata at this time was quite a bit smaller and less stable than it is now. Some of the subsequent transitions within the Nepal partner organization were also difficult for him. With the continuing support of the wonderful BSF staff, he overcame his emotional challenges and went on to graduate from high school and from Mitrata. 

Now, 25 years from those first days, he is a 29 year-old school teacher, earning a salary that provides him with an adequate living. Just like many young Nepalis, he has aspirations to work overseas where salaries are higher. Meanwhile, he’s quite happy, a big football fan (soccer), and we keep in touch regularly. He also stays in touch with the BSF and Mitrata staff members and many of his Mitrata classmates. The Mitrata “family” is a wonderful and growing community that provides a lot of mutual support, even after graduation.  

Mitrata is an effective way to support young people growing up in an economically difficult part of the world. I want to give to Mitrata so that many more children in Nepal can have the chance to become successful, prosperous and create a happy life for themselves and their community.

Recently, my wife and granddaughter have started jointly sponsoring a young girl in Mitrata: it’s becoming a family tradition!”

Jim Brasunas

Long-Term Child Sponsor, Retired Member of the Mitrata Board of Directors, and one of Mitrata’s First Advisors