Giving vulnerable children in Nepal an education

We delight in the joy your giving creates. 

Achievement works like a booster, which encourages not only you but others too.

Our champ Aarav, from one of the single mum families we support, is a brilliant kid whose only dream is to give his mum a happy, healthy life in the future. We thank each one of you for all you do for these young kids. And once again, I can say that personally, I know that investing in children such as these is the best investment I could ever make.

Currently, we are supporting 40 students from primary school through university, and over the past fourteen years of being in Nepal, we have had many opportunities to delight in the outcomes our students have achieved. 

We’re also delighted that many of our students go against the national trend of leaving Nepal to find work, and so contribute to the wider needs of building community and bringing health and wealth to those ‘at home’. Some of our graduates are now working in hospitals, banks, hospitality and small local businesses, some are following their passion for in the world of art and music. 

Our ‘family of families’ approach often finds our students in late-night conversations, discussing their plans and their goals. We are inspired by their different visions and equally inspired by the generosity of all who make this possible.

Education is a human right. 

At IGWR, we believe every child deserves access to quality education, no matter where they live. That’s why we support over 40 students across 10 schools and universities, and also over 45 students in remote Nepal through our education programs – ensuring access to quality education and safe learning environments. 

Simmone (IGWR Inc. Committee) has recently made two visits to Nepal and has established a Teacher Training Program. Simmone has established links with Local universities that acknowledge her special expertise in this important field. She is looking to establish the program with a number of rural schools, as this will leverage our mission to improve the opportunities for educating children in Nepal. 

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela

Visits that help and inspire. 

Rachel recently took a group to Nepal in order for them to experience our work firsthand. As some in the group did some much-needed repainting at a rural school, she used the visit to trial the YWA school-ready program, which is being adapted, with the support and input from Nepali teachers, for the Nepali context. We can’t wait to see what comes from this project. We are all learning from each other, and having lots of fun at the same time!

Financial update… 

Our Budget for 2025-26 is $132,154 for our primary areas of operation supporting 40 students, running our two hostels for some of the students and giving monthly essential support to a number of single mothers.

With two education specialists on the committee, we are also looking at programs to support Rural Schools and to provide teacher training, and these activities will run as distinct projects with their own budget and sources of funding.

IGWR began with a moment of realisation, a vision that we could make a difference; that we can give life to a child for the cost of a cup of coffee a day, it is a vision we are thankful you share with us.

Little By Little….

Like the drops that make an ocean, little by little, we make a big difference together, and in March we partner with GlobalGiving for this annual campaign.

The "Little X Little" campaign is a great opportunity to make a Big difference with a little gift. And a great way to introduce your friends to the work of IGWR-Nepal that you support. Please take this opportunity to share the story of your generosity and invite friends to make a small gift.

Every gift UNDER US$50 will have a 50% bonus added to it.

So, a $10 gift becomes $15 and a $50 gift becomes $75.

Thank you again from all of us at IGWR;   we are run by caring volunteers and that means that 99.52% of all monies donated goes directly to the operations of IGWR-Nepal. And remember gifts in Australia are tax deductible.

Links:

• Visit our website for more

• full report (PDF)
  

We make such a difference when we share together.

Some wonderful news this week as some of our students received their final exam results. And Ayog was one of 218 from 2,135 who passed his exams; on Monday we’ll complete his registration for a Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree. 

Ayog and his siblings are truly amazing people, his sister Swikriti is currently in studying in India to be a nurse and we are looking for a small business as a start-up for his little brother as he’s not as academic. The three had a start in life that few of us can imagine. However, over the fourteen years we have been looking after them they have shined as brightly as any other kids. 

Personally, I have discovered that investing in children such as these is the best investment I could ever make. Ayog is a real inspiration to all of us, and he gives us an understanding that so valuable in today’s world. We can make a difference, and we can all play a part in creating a better tomorrow. 

Dreams for a better future can become reality

Nepal has recently experienced a “Gen-Z revolution” that has ousted the government amidst much social unrest. For over two weeks schools were closed, and the situation was very dangerous with the parliament building and many prominent hotels and high-end shops destroyed. The situation has stabilised for now, and many are looking toward a future that will be free from the corruption of the past. Just as we seek to realise the dreams of our students, so too the country now looks toward a better tomorrow. 

You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own. - Michelle Obama

Scars of the past, dreams of the future. 

Matt Landy, photographer, and a member of IGWR and active sponsor and supporter, recently won an award for a photo of Ayog. He titled the picture “Ayog, Scars of the past and dreams of the future”. It is a title that echoes the changes we bring to the children in Nepal, healing the past and bringing the opportunity for a new and fuller life in the future. 

Your generosity is what enables us, together, to bring dreams into reality. In a world that sometimes seems fractured and self-seeking, we can see the benefit of working toward a future in which the dream of all humanity is something we all share in.

Time for celebrations…

Raja and the team in Nepal are full of joy as students and staff celebrated Dashain, one of Nepal’s most cherished festivals. With dancing, laughter, bright tikas, and plenty of delicious food to share the celebrations bring much needed joy after the recent upheavals, and end of term exams for the students. For us we feel like parents, and rejoice when we see such happiness brought to life in ‘our kids’.

Coming soon….

The IGWR Inc. committee is planning another visit to Nepal early in next year and we will be introducing a program of teacher training for rural schools that are underfunded and often have poorly trained staff. It is another volunteer initiative that can bring about important changes for kids that have little opportunity to break the cycle of poverty that they, and their families survive in. Working as a small group, at grassroots level enables us to deliver life giving programs without the need for extensive and expensive overheads.

IGWR began with a moment of realisation, a vision that we could make a difference; that we can give life to a child for the cost of a cup of coffee a day...  

IGWR is run by caring volunteers and that means that 99.52% of all monies donated goes directly to the operations of IGWR-Nepal. And remember gifts in Australia are tax deductible.

“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future." - Nelson Mandela

Thank you for “giving”, you not only enable our work in Nepal but being part of this ‘family of families’ inspires and encourages us and others.

Links:

• Visit our website for more

• full report (PDF)