She Belongs: A Daughter's Right to Be Family

How Console Mission Began

In 2010, when Console Mission was consulting to get registered as an NGO, a question was raised: Why one more NGO? Our team was not aware of the existence of several NGOs. The person who raised the question was a native English-speaking nationality. Truthfully, it was not only that person's concern—everyone outside Nepal was questioning the impact that NGOs could make, given their large numbers.

That made me thoughtful. I set up an initial five-year period to understand the need for Console Mission. The question was clear: Why, despite numerous NGOs, is sustainable change still in question? That question became Console Mission’s research question.

Questions That Guided Our Journey

• Why does the change brought by NGOs through their projects not last?

• How were projects implemented that did not continue after the end?

• Why are NGOs working in the same place and for the same cause?

• Why are volunteers not fostering within NGOs? Why do they change professions so quickly?

To reach a conclusion, Console Mission conducted surveys, interacted with beneficiaries, and observed the vulnerable and victims. It was challenging to find or meet victims, but Console Mission did it—by partnering with a Home that helps those living on the street, mainly women and girls. These were not only elderly mothers, but also young girls, some of whom had returned to Nepal from brothels. When they went back home, they were kicked out by their own children—because they had left them when they were young.

The Vision Behind This Project

This project is now on the GlobalGiving online fundraising platform. It focuses on building a house for teenagers and young people coming from rural areas who have no financial capacity to pursue further study. It is mostly linked with the community learning centre called Our Study Place (an initiative of Console Mission).

OrStdPlc began in the community, mainly in rural areas. Those who graduate from school need to come to town to join vocational colleges and trainings. This place—called the Self-Managed Home—gives them a space to live and learn life lessons by managing the home together.

Pilot Phase: 2019–2023

This project was tested from 2019 to 2023 and did well. At first, beneficiaries were managed at a Safe House, but it was found unsuitable for this group. This group does not belong to the already victimised. The Self-Managed Home was designed to prevent such anti-social issues.

Current Status

The fund collected is kept safe in Console Mission’s bank account. We are hoping to raise more through this channel. Before launching on GlobalGiving, Console Mission shared this idea with existing INGOs in Nepal and with those concerned about human trafficking and the need for girls’ education.

Why Girls?

Console Mission identified that if girls receive quality education—both formal and informal, at home and in the community—they become agents of drastic change. Once a daughter becomes a mother, she doesn’t just move from her parents’ house to her husband’s or in-laws’ house—she takes her qualities with her. What she learned at OrStdPlc—self-discipline, the ability to speak up, and the skill to identify what is right and wrong—goes with her.

Console Mission found that it is not impactful or essential to speak up on issues like child labour or child marriage on behalf of others. These are their problems. Legal action may settle things temporarily, but psychological distractions—revenge and other evils—remain. Therefore, it must be none other than the individual herself who speaks up for her rights. Only then can NGOs, individuals, or concerned organisations support effectively.

What This Project Provides

This project focuses on creating a place where girls can stay while studying. It also connects them with others from similar backgrounds—those coming from outside to study in Lalitpur, the hub city—so they can get help whenever needed.

Their needs include:

• Psychological and emotional support – Console Mission plays the role of guardian.

• Representation of academic progress – advocating for their educational journey.

• Financial support – for non-scholarship students who face expenses for trainings or travel.

• Safety from human traffickers – having a home linked with police authority keeps them protected.

Urban Challenges

This project is based in an urban area, so construction costs are high—higher than what is presented. But Console Mission is hopeful to receive discounted rates, especially for land, which is costly in urban settings.

This project is based in an urban area, so construction costs are high—higher than what is presented. But Console Mission is hopeful to receive discounted rates, especially for land, which is costly in urban settings.

Links:

• Empowering girls through education and safe housing.

Exploring the history of the struggles of the three founders women of Console Mission, Martha, Parbati and Maya, they come from the same area of Nepal called Gorkha. After they reached secondary level of school, they had to leave their homes and the area but that was not permitted for them. So they worked together to leave, their bond worked. They went in the town where the United Mission to Nepal had a hospital. And its impact was high that people were positive and accepting changes like education for girls. They managed to live together as that helped to manage the cost. Willingness and courage was one important element for them as a girl. So as they stepped in, they got opportunity to volunteer and study in the areas of community services and health matter manly maternity and pregnancy. 

It is same today, as well. If for example, a girl last year completed her school and planned to come in town. So Console Mission found scholarship for her. But since her parents were not capable to invest her for monthly occuring cost, she quietly joined a factory that produces households materials. 

Want to learn more about the story of a 16-year-old girl who recently left her job and returned to her village, Chaughare—her education disrupted in the process? Reach out to us at advocacy@consolemission.org and let’s start the conversation that could drive meaningful change.

Why Some Parents Are Reluctant to Invest in Their Children’s Education After Grade 10

1. No Direct Cost Until Grade 10 Children attending public schools incur minimal expenses. Tuition is free, and essentials like uniforms, textbooks, and even notebooks are often covered by teachers and supported by NGOs like Console Mission. This makes parents less accustomed to budgeting for education.

2. Limited Parental Engagement While some parents attend meetings or visit schools voluntarily, many remain disengaged from their children’s long-term educational planning.

3. Income Instability Most families rely on farming, which is vulnerable to weather and seasonal cycles. Their earnings are irregular and unpredictable, making it difficult to commit to consistent financial support.

4. Financial Mismanagement Male heads of households sometimes prioritize spending on alcohol or gambling, diverting funds that could support their children’s future.

5. Urban Transition Challenges When children move to towns for higher education, some parents offer minimal or irregular financial help—often due to peer pressure or societal expectations. This sporadic support forces youth to take up work, often affecting their academic progress.

6. Rural-Urban Adjustment Struggles Transitioning from rural to urban life presents cultural, academic, and emotional difficulties. Without a strong support system, these students are especially vulnerable to exploitation and discouragement.

In villages of 18–24 households, every year two to four children graduate from school. These young minds—both girls and boys—stand at a critical juncture. Without proper guidance, they face heightened risks of exploitation, from unsafe work conditions to human trafficking.

From 2018 to 2024, Console Mission piloted the Self-Managed Home—a powerful intervention offering safe housing and mentorship. This initiative revealed that even with supportive environments, graduates encounter emotional, social, and logistical challenges. However, when they are clearly shown the path beyond college, their confidence grows, and their trajectory shifts.

Today, without a dedicated facility, we struggle to cover rent costs and ensure the presence of essential female staff. Despite this, Console Mission continues to help these youth secure scholarships and access safer living arrangements—though still far from ideal. These temporary solutions are significantly better than unsupervised rentals, which expose vulnerable teens to exploitation by traffickers or exploitative employers who prey on their unfamiliarity with fair labor standards.

This evolving project not only safeguards young citizens but also offers a vision for a more sustainable and equitable society. Our experiences are a call to action—for policymakers, funders, and communities alike—to invest in protection, guidance, and structured transition support for the next generation.

One Life. Every Life. Console Mission Counts on You.

In Nepal’s complex multiparty system, political affairs often dominate the agenda, leaving little room for urgent social concerns. In many parts of the world, the loss or disruption of a single young life prompts immediate action. But in countries like ours, such stories often go unseen.

It’s disheartening to witness how many NGOs, though well-intentioned, remain confined to policy-level work—raising voices against issues like child marriage—without effectively reaching the vulnerable teens already working in bus stations, canteens, and factories. These young people, navigating adult responsibilities far too soon, deserve more than slogans. They need safety, support, and a future.

At Console Mission, we believe that every life matters deeply. We've seen firsthand how transformational even a single intervention can be. That’s why we focus not only on policy but on real lives—those living on the edge of being forgotten.

If you’ve donated, shared our work, or even taken the time to read this: you are part of this impact. Your support helps us protect, guide, and uplift young people when no one else is watching. Thank you for standing with us—and with them.