News
Read stories and updates from our work with the children of Nepal. To find our old newsletters from 2003 to 2018, visit the archive! Otherwise, click in the search bar below to locate blogs on a topics you’re interested in.
Help Us Move the Contact Center, Gift More Space for Our Kids
Our Contact Center is a successful school readiness program that has been recognized in Nepal as unique and effective in serving homeless children, victims of child labor, children with parents who are itinerant workers, and children not enrolled in school because their parents cannot afford the cost. These children are behind in grade, lack school-readiness skills, and are neglected and malnourished, all of which interfere with their ability to learn and succeed academically.
Mitrata’s commitment to grow, develop the communities where we work, and empower our children and their families in a thoughtful, holistic way begins with expanding our Contact Center program.
We completed our first phase this year by adding two additional rooms to our currently overcrowded Contact Center in an adjacent building. However, in 2020, we will need to secure a larger, permanent space, which we anticipate costing at least $36,000. Thanks to a few Mitrata friends, we raised the funds necessary for these temporary classrooms and the initial funds to relocate our current Contact Center to a new space with three large classrooms; two multi-purpose rooms for our before- and after-school programs, a playroom, and a dining room; one room for an office, break room, or counseling area; a kitchen; and one full bathroom.
Spending time with the Contact Center kids!
Ricki Koppel talks about meeting the Contact Center kids for the first time. They see the kids getting an afternoon, singing and dancing, and take the kids to the zoo!
Exploring Pohkara, Nepal!
Pam Hughes and the gang visit Pokhara, a vibrant city with good food, a fun museum, and a beautiful lake complete with an island! They quickly realize they’d like to stay for the rest of the trip!!
Changing for the Good of Others
Rick Brown, a sponsor of two children with Mitrata, shares his experience with doing good and how giving back connects him with his late father. Visiting his sponsored children in Nepal feels life-changing, and Rick discusses how sharing Mitrata with friends has changed the lives of his kids in Nepal.
Hectic traffic, historic squares, and handmade goods: Nepal has exceeded my expectations!
Trip-goer Ricki Koppel shares her experience so far on her first trip to Nepal, including beautiful rooftop views, world heritage sites, shopping, visits with the older kids, and navigating streets with lots of crowds and traffic!
Teaching in Nepal
Board member Pam Hughes teaches a class about social and emotional health topics, such as self-control, anger management, decision-making and handling peer pressure. She is impressed with how seriously Mitrata students take the lecture, group work, and mindfulness exercises and receives great feedback after the workshop! Thanks, Pam!
My First Day in Nepal
Sponsor Adele Carey shares her experiences of her first visit to Nepal — the overwhelming sights, sounds, and colors! — and the lovely moments she shares meeting her two sponsored children, Anjali and Sijam.
My son from another mother
Reva Meadows has been sponsoring her child, Bibek, for ten years. She shares touching memories of watching him grow up from halfway around the world and how he calls himself her “son from another mother.” Reva also shares touching moments from this year’s Nepal trip where some sponsors met with their children for the first time. There was joy, tears, and hugs all around!
Interviewing our kids: the greatest reward in child sponsorship!
Christine interviews our kids and gives them their sponsor’s letters and gifts. This is truly one of the most rewarding and important parts of what we do: we can track the children’s progress, hear from them about how they are doing, and see the wonderful sparkle in their eyes as they learn more about their sponsors! It makes for many touching and heart-felt moments.
Taking a Break: A Hike to Nagi Gompa
Christine takes a hike with Himal and Yogesh to the Nagi Gompa monestary in the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. Along the way, they see beautiful views over Kathmandu, beautiful flowers, and some playful monkeys!