Tuharuko Awaj: Projects for children in Nepal
The Dutch foundation Tuharuko Awaj funds and sets up projects for (orphaned) children in Nepal.
In 2006 Marcel and Ankie van Wersch worked as volunteers in an orphanage in Nepal. They decided that when they got back home, they would raise money to set up a 'better' orphanage, where children would not just have a roof over their heads, but where they would get the attention they need and proper education. Because of their volunteer work they had come into contact with Tej Shrestha and the organisation VSN. Tej now works for us and sets up and manages all our projects in Nepal.
This is why in 2007 we set up our foundation. We decided to open an orphanage, as soon as we would have gathered 3 years of funding. This lead to the opening of New Life Children's Home in Pepsi Cola (Kathmandu) in February 2008.
Since the opening of the orphanage we have also set up new projects, such as Career Building International Academy, a school (also in Pepsi Cola, Kathmandu) where childrend can get quality education for an affordable school fee. The school aims to give about 15% of its students a scholarship, so that even children whose parents cannot afford to give them any education at all, get a chance at a better future.
Also, we are running a Girls' Scholarship Program in the rural region Solokhumbu (started in 2009), where girls often don't get a chance to go to school at all. With our help, 36 girls get to go to a school that offers quality education.
Our latest project is in Banepa (Kavre region), where streetchildren are offered scholarships: education for a couple of hours a day. We had been asked by the Red Cross to set up and manage this project.
If you would like more information or have any questions about our projects in Nepal, please send an e-mail to info@weeshuisnepal.com.
Our Philosophy
The main goal of our foundation is: To improve the quality of life of (orphaned) children in Nepal. Also, there are five basics that are the starting points for all of our projects:
Durability
This means that we aim at improving quality of life in the long run. We do not finance single excursion or a new set of clothes, but focus on education, health care, and self-reliance.
Transparency
99,9% of all donations we receive go straight to the projects in Nepal. We feel that we need to act legally correct and provide financial transparency. Therefore, we have established a foundation: Foundation Tuharuko Awaj (Nepali for: the voice of the child). This foundation is registered as a public interest institution. Also our finances are monitored on a yearly basis by Flow Accountants.
Professionalism
Quality is our goal and we do not go for second best. Therefore, in Nepal we only work with reliable and experienced people and whom we know and have met. Tej Shresta, is program manager at Everest Foundation (the Nepali counterpart of our foundation) under which all our projects reside. Tej used to work as a projectmanager for the international Red Cross and is co-founder as well as president of Volunteer Society Nepal (VSN).
Continuity
Only when we have financial guarantees for the long term we get involved or set up a project. To prevent the children will be out on the street and/or find themselves unable to complete their education. This means for example that we always want to have a 2,5 year cash reserve at hand for all our projects.
Local ownership
It is important to us that our projects are adopted by the local community. Only then can we ensure lasting results. We always work with local projectmanagers and, whenever possible, make use of local expertise and local products.
