SOS Children's Villages Nepal
SOS Children's Villages Nepal: beyond an ecological backpack, an opportunity
The initial evidence
When we started going frequently to Nepal to work with our workshops, we immersed ourselves in the daily life of the country. Little by little we became aware of the presence of lonely children in the streets of non-tourist areas, holding hands with their brothers or sisters.
Although there are many people in need, we decided to help the children, who are the country's future. We visited three different organizations, but it was right on our first visit to SOS Children's Villages Nepal that we were convinced, without any doubt, of their child-assistance commitment.
We believe that every child deserves a chance,
regardless of where they are born, to develop their full potential and become a fulfilled adult.
Many exchanges and visits to their headquarters in Sanothimi followed, to get to know each other better and establish our collaboration. Specifically, they had to see for themselves that our future donations would not come from workshops that allowed the use of child labour.
Direct, transparent, and effective aid
Since the launch of BHANGARA, we set out to leave a positive footprint in Nepal. Firstly, by making known its know-how on hemp. Then by selecting workshops that respected fair trade, promoted community development and allowed workers and their families to fully develop their potential and prosper.
Along the same lines, actively helping to transform the lives of underprivileged children meant a lot to us. We believe that every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves a chance to develop their full potential and become a fulfilled adult.
For every purchase of a BHANGARA product, either on our website or in our partner stores, we donate 5% of our annual net profits to SOS Children's Villages Nepal. This allows us to invest not only in the material well-being of children, but also in a family environment that gives them the love they need to grow up happily.
This collaboration does not entitle you to a tax reduction, as SOS Nepal is not a European association. Our goal is solely to help Nepalese children.
The mission of SOS Children's Villages Nepal
A protected family environment
SOS Aldeas Infantiles places the highest priority on the development of children in a "family nucleus". Indeed, as its name indicates, each shelter is made up of houses, as if it were a village. Each house accommodates a maximum of 10 children, cared for by a mom. Thus, the aim is to provide orphaned, abandoned or other vulnerable children with a caring family and a protective environment. Often the relationship with their "SOS" mothers and siblings is preserved for life.
Biological siblings are not separated.
If members of their biological family live close by, they’re encouraged to keep in touch with them.
Clear and protective rules
The organisation takes in children whose needs are real and imperative (International Convention on the Rights of the Child - CRC), so as not to encourage their abandonment. The respect of their freedom and rights is fundamental for SOS Children's Villages, to guarantee their psychological well-being and their identity as individuals. For the same reason, biological siblings are not separated. If members of their biological family live close by, they’re encouraged to keep in touch with them. The religion they practiced with their biological family is also respected.
Construction of schools
SOS has also built 7 schools in Nepal named after their founder, Hermann Gmeiner. The initial objective was to provide the resident children with a quality education. Nowadays, schools accept children from neighboring towns without distinction, with the purpose of opening up the children in foster care to a normal social life by mingling freely with their friends.
Teaching ranges from nursery school to primary school. Three of the schools have been expanded and now offer secondary education. SOS accompanies children throughout their schooling years up to university studies or vocational training, at which point they become "young people".
Global impact
Today, SOS cares for 1,870 children in ten facilities in Nepal. The organization also helps poor families whose stability is compromised by poverty, the 2015 earthquake, floods or the consequences of the war that took place between 1996 and 2006.
More than 16,000 beneficiaries, nearly 50 years of existence and almost the same number of ongoing projects: discover some figures on the impact of SOS Children's Villages in Nepal.