Leena Satyal, Executive Director and Yogesh Satyal, Board President of our partner NGO, BSF, will be visiting from Nepal between August 27 - September 9, 2018 to spend time with our dedicated child sponsors, staff and board members. We can't wait to see them.

Please join us for one of our get-togethers to be held at fellow child sponsor and board member homes. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet them (or see them again), talk to them about your sponsored child, and listen to updates about Nepal in a small group session. Please select one get-together that matches the grade age of your sponsored child(ren) and RSVP on the corresponding link.

We hope you will join us for a a private screening of the documentary film the Eldest Son on Friday, September 7, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. at the Arden Mead Center, 17 Selma Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119. The film itself is 30 minutes, but we encourage you to stay after for an informative Q&A with filmmaker Amy Benson and Mitrata Executive Director and Founder Dr. Christine Schutz.
Reserve your complimentary ticket here. We are limited to 100 seats; please reserve now.

Our 16 climbers and six rope leaders raised $34,000 at the conclusion of our annual Climb for Himalaya Children of Mt. Rainier, Wa. We're so thankful to everyone who volunteered their time to make this happen and to the climbers and their friends and families who supported them on this physically and mentally challenging 3-day ascent. Also a shout out to the many "pack-mules" who hauled tents and ropes and stoves up to and down from the high camps to make it easier for the climbers and rope leaders!

16 climbers, 10 sherpas and six rope leaders set out on Thursday morning to kick off our three-day Climb for Himalaya Children of Mt. Rainier, Wa. Led by board members Ambrose Bittner and Len Kannapell and sponsored by Red Lantern Journeys and Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance. Three days roundtrip to the 14,411 ft. summit of the highest mountain of the Cascade range in the Pacific Northwest and the highest mountain in Washington State.

On Saturday I went along with Yogesh and his children for a day of hiking at Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. I was very excited to join them on this hike in hopes of seeing some animals unique to Nepal.  The Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park offers a somewhat challenging trail due to the changing altitude throughout the hike.  I was relieved to reach the top of the trail because I was excited to look over the entire Kathmandu Valley.  Looking over the valley was very peaceful, despite the hectic buzz of the city down below.  On our hike back down was nothing out of the ordinary until we ran into a tribe of Asamese Monkeys. 

After a wonderful week in Kathmandu learning about all that Mitrata is doing there, it was time for me to move on and make room for volunteer Larissa. I took a fairly harrowing bus ride along a winding river in a rainstorm to reach Chitwan, where I met Sudan and Sushmita. Sudan is a medical student here, and Sushmita is a dental student. Chitwan Medical College is attached to a teaching hospital, and I wandered through the very large, rather modern-looking hospital atrium while I waited for Sushmita and Sudan to finish class. They very graciously met me for lunch and patiently answered my many questions about their schooling process.

During my time in Nepal I'm spending my days at the Contact Center.  On normal days (Sunday - Thursday) the children sharpen their skills in math, English, Nepali and more, but on Fridays Mina and Sarita plan a fun program for the children.  On Friday mornings the children come in and eat breakfast, like they normally do, but after that, they practice their dancing and singing skills.  After lunch we continued our fun day by watching cartoons and eating popcorn.  

We are so excited to share our new video. It shares our story, the beauty and hardships of Nepal, the hope and hard work of our children, and the dedication of our child sponsors, staff, board members and volunteers. We made it with our friends and child sponsors, Amy Benson and Scott Squire, documentary filmmakers and the creative team behind Nonfiction Media. Amy and Scott created a beautifully intimate portrait of what's important to us, to our children and their families.