Thank you for your understanding as we worked through our next steps.
Aishworya can remain open. The intervention was based on an unfortunate misunderstanding. We’ve now proven that Aishworya and the hostel are separate entities, and that the children have been well cared for.
However, this experience has led us to consider our future, and we’ve decided to re-establish as a small foundation – Aishworya Educational Foundation. The Foundation will exist to see our current children through to independence.
This means we’ll no longer be a residential children’s home or take new children in. But rest assured, the 35 children who were living at Aishworya will be placed in good care. 15 will remain in our personal care. The remaining 20 will go to relatives, who’ll receive our support towards their continued education. We’ll work with those relatives to help improve their circumstances so they can eventually support the children on their own.
You’ll find more information below, including why we believe it’s best. There’s also a thank you message for all the support Aishworya Children’s Home has received over the last 14 years – we couldn’t have done it without you.
If you’d like more information, or to know about particular children, please get in touch by emailing us.
We’d love to keep you updated about the Foundation with our newsletters – sign up on the right.
As ever, thank you so much you for all your support
Assistant Director
What this means for our children
Our children’s continued well-being and education is our biggest priority. For most children, we’ve found relatives willing to take them in.
- 20 children will go to relatives and Aishworya Educational Foundation will cover their education costs. Pramila will work with these families to help improve their circumstances so they can eventually cover these costs themselves.
- The remaining 15 will stay in our personal care, funded by the Foundation. There are seven girls and eight boys aged 6 to 17. This includes children for whom we can’t find relatives, or whose relatives couldn’t provide a safe environment. It also includes some older children about to finish high school whose studies need to keep momentum. We’ve rented two apartments to do this: one for the girls; one for the boys, and our family will live there to care for them.
Aishworya Educational Foundation will exist to see these children and families through to independence. Depending on how their education progresses, we believe this will require funding of up to USD $6,000 per year for up to 4 years.
Many of our existing donors have agreed to continue their support to make this happen. If you’d also like to support, please get in touch by replying to this email.
Note that Aishworya was supporting a further 15 children who were already non-resident, i.e. they lived with struggling families and we provided support where possible. For example, when we received large donations of school supplies, we’d also send them to these families. We’ll continue to do this whenever we can.
Why we believe becoming a small foundation is best
- Aama established Aishworya 14 years ago and has since been “mum” to hundreds of children. But following her recent heart attack, Aama’s unable to continue the same level of involvement.
- The Human Rights Association, Children’s Home Association and our lawyers have encouraged us to take the Central Child’s Welfare Board to court for how this was handled, placing the children under stress, and to protect our name. However, we don’t want to create any further stress for our children, and believe our resources are better invested in making sure they continue to receive the best care possible.
- Before this, we believed we could close organically in 3-4 years. This is because there’s a decreasing need for children’s homes in Nepal. From 1996-2006 Nepal was in the grips of civil war, and we took in children orphaned and abandoned by this conflict for many years. 13 years of peace later, and the need is no longer there. Peace and stability also mean that living relatives are better able to take children in. Additionally, better access to education for women, increased availability of contraceptives, legalisation of abortion, and greater Government investment in children’s wellbeing, have all been positive developments that have lead to less need for children’s homes.
Celebrating 14 years – a message from Pramila and Aama
We’re so proud of what Aishworya Children’s Home achieved. We provided a loving home and a brighter future to hundreds of children who’ve stayed with us over the last 14 years.
The last few months have been difficult. But we’ve been overwhelmed by the messages of encouragement we’ve had from supporters, staff, schools, police, neighbours, and of course our children – both past and present – who’ve rallied around us and provided statements of support.
To us, success is our children feeling like they have a home and family. If even one child had pointed a finger at us, we’d have felt failure – but we’ve only had their continued love and support.
We’re so thankful to everyone who’s helped us over those 14 years… our staff, our local community, the schools who kept our school fees affordable, the dental, medical and educational specialists who provided their time free of charge – and of course – you. We’re eternally grateful.
We’re now looking forward to establishing Aishworya Educational Foundation. Through all of this, only one thing has mattered: ensuring our children continue receiving the best possible start to life, through good care and education.
A message from Kim, who helps with the newsletters
I volunteered at Aishworya in 2009. I was
blown away by the wonderful job they do, so I’ve since continued my
support through donation and helping with the website and newsletters.
I’ve just visited Nepal. I sought reassurance and to understand what was
happening first-hand, so I could help Pramila communicate to
supporters.
This misunderstanding is so frustrating. Particularly the way this was
handled by the Central Child Welfare Board who didn’t investigate before
acting on information, and who placed the children in a distressing
situation. However, I support Aama and Pramila in their decision to
leave this behind, so they can focus on continued care for the children.
I’ve come away completely reassured that my support was well placed.
Instead of my own words, I’d like to share some statements of support
from a couple past children. This, to me, shows more than anything what a
wonderful job they’ve done over the past 14 years.
Dhirisha (lived at Aishworya five years, is now a property caretaker and a volunteer at Pink – a programme providing better information to women about menstruation)
“Amaa there she care us like as her own child, she love us, she has
given us proper care proper medical check up proper food… every
saturday we had some plan either its picnic either its cinema or either
it’s our choice of food… every children of ACH they had never felt
that they were orphans… Don’t worry Aama we were always there for you,
we all know how you have care for us, how you give us love, it’s all
because of you we were in right path and had great life… Because of
you (Love you Amaa) thank for everything you have done for us, you have
given your whole life towards children”
Dhurga (lived at Aishworya for eight years, now owns his own garment shop)
“we all know that our momy and all the staff take care us a lot and
we are very grateful toward them. Today we are able to stand on our own
feet because of only aishworya children home”
If you’d like any more information from me, please feel free to email me.
