By Freema Davis | Executive Director
Meet our new children!
Bungamati Family House welcome six orphaned children to their House.
The Global Family Village model of care for orphaned and abandoned children is well underway! Recent additions to the first family were brought in once the GFV supporting programs of community development and early childhood education were well developed and strong. Of the eight children (one more child is on his way) now living in the Bungamati Family House 7 of them are orphans and 1 child is supported by a mother and father from the community who cannot take care of him on a daily basis. The selection of children represents our belief in the importance of community values and integration. All of the children will grow up together, not as orphans, but as a family in the Bungamati Family House with a strong sense of family and community support.
The Central Child Welfare Board of Nepal brought a young girl and her younger brother to us. Their father died and their mother, unable to cope as an impoverished widow, committed suicide. They, and all the other children (and the Mother) will have ongoing psycho-social counseling so that they can heal from their trauma and begin to form healthy bonds of attachment. It is our commitment that the children feel nourished and loved.
Early Childhood program is thriving!
The early childhood program is not only thriving, it is also becoming more supported locally, both financially and with volunteering parent participation. This is an important step towards this program's success and sustainability.
Working in partnership with the community!
Global Family Village-Nepal conducted a family survey in the Bungamati area, in July. Our goal is to better learn the strengths and needs of the overall community, and individuals within it. We sought information regarding their knowledge, perception and habits on the following topics: Issues around family and women's rights; early childhood development and education; child rights; orphans and widows; and nutrition and health. The information collected from the survey will allow GFV to enhance community development and economy with relevant education, workshops and income generating programs. It will also foster community participation in the early childhood development education and family programs. This participation is critical to meet our goal of sustainability.
The community needs our support now and for the next couple of years, while they take full ownership of the program and the program becomes sustainable. Then the model will be successful and complete; the children will be truly well-integrated family and community members. At that point the program can be replicated in other villages in Nepal where there are orphaned, abandoned or needy children living in an institution without the advantages of a family or community.
Please continue your support and follow our progress at our website (www.globalfamilyvillage.org), front page, bottom under Project Update.
Namaste from the Boards of GFV and GFV-N in Nepal
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