Child Protection Nepal Project #2739

Psychological Counseling for 20 Nepali Children

by Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF)

Project Report | May 22, 2026
The Growing Impact of Ankur Counseling Center

By Nepal Youth Foundation | Project Leader

Psychological Care Camps for Kids

Thanks to your ongoing support, Ankur Counseling Center continues to expand access to mental health care for children, youth, caregivers, and communities across Nepal.

Ankur was Nepal’s first counseling center created specifically for children. In a country where mental health care remains deeply under-resourced and stigma still prevents many from seeking help, Ankur is helping children and families understand that mental wellness is essential for healing, learning, and healthy relationships.

Recently, Ankur conducted more than 400 counseling sessions for children and youth from NYF’s Children’s Homes, scholarship programs, vocational education programs, childcare homes, and surrounding communities. Counselors also completed regular visits to Olgapuri Children’s Village, providing emotional support for children and guidance for caregivers and house parents.

Ankur also continues to strengthen Nepal’s mental health sector through specialized trainings. One recent highlight was a 30-hour Foundational Play Therapy Training for mental health professionals. Play therapy is an important tool that helps children safely express emotions, process trauma, and build trust through creative and developmentally appropriate activities. Professionals from multiple organizations participated in the training, helping expand child-focused mental health care far beyond NYF’s own programs.

In schools, Ankur recently led a day-long Creative Movement Therapy session for teachers from local public schools. The workshop gave educators a safe and supportive space to express stress, reflect on their own mental well-being, and learn new approaches for emotional regulation and classroom support. Ankur also facilitated teacher support meetings and Mental Health Desk (“Man Chautari”) events within schools and communities to encourage open conversations around emotional health and reduce stigma.

From therapy for children at Olgapuri, to peer counseling support for young women in the Caste Equality Project, to emotional wellness workshops for vocational trainees and teachers, Ankur’s work continues to reach deeply into nearly every NYF program.

Mental Health Desks at School

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Jan 26, 2026
1,751 Counseling Sessions in FY 2024-25: Healing Support for Nepali Children

By Nepal Youth Foundation | Project Leader

Thank you for making it possible for Nepali children to access psychological counseling when they need it most. Your support provides more than sessions — it creates a safe space for healing, stability, and long-term emotional wellbeing.

Nepal Youth Foundation’s Ankur Counseling Center supports children and adolescents facing trauma and life difficulties through a comprehensive approach that includes not only the child, but also caregivers such as parents, teachers, and child care professionals.

FY 2024–25 Impact at Ankur Counseling Center

In the last fiscal year (FY 2024–25), Ankur provided:

1,751 counseling sessions (exceeding the planned 1,600 sessions)
50 house visits to Olgapuri Children’s Homes for observation, group activities, and discussions with house parents
Expanded support through online counseling for community cases as the need for mental health care continues to rise

Counselors at Ankur use child-centered therapeutic approaches including Sand Play Therapy, Expressive Art Therapy, mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and creative movement therapy, meeting each child at their emotional and developmental level.

This year, children from NYF’s care also participated in the 2025 Psychological Care Camp conducted by Ankur — an additional space for reflection, support, and connection.

Strengthening Support Systems Around Children

In FY 2024–25, Ankur also delivered 56 training/orientation sessions reaching 1,297 participants, including teachers, peer counselors, psychology students, and child care professionals.

Thank you again for standing with Nepali children and helping ensure they are not navigating emotional distress alone.

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Oct 8, 2025
Nurturing Young Minds: Expanding Mental Health Support in Nepal

By Nepal Youth Foundation | Project Leader

At Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF), we believe mental health is just as vital as physical health, especially for children and young people who have faced significant challenges in their early lives. Through our partnership with Ankur Counseling and Training Center, we are proud to provide compassionate psychological support to children at Olgapuri Children’s Village and beyond.

This year, Ankur’s work has gone far beyond individual counseling sessions. The team has been creating powerful learning opportunities for caregivers, educators, and young people to build a stronger, more resilient support system for every child in our care.

One recent highlight was a training on Positive Dealing with Children and Adolescents, grounded in Dr. Thomas Gordon’s belief that “children don’t misbehave, they simply behave to get their needs met.” This training helped caregivers and staff identify the needs behind challenging behaviors and respond in ways that foster growth, trust, and emotional safety.

Ankur also led a workshop called “Nurturing Young Minds: Psychological and Mindful Interventions for Educators” for teachers at Tsoknyi Gechak Ling and Tsoknyi Gargon Ling. The session explored stages of emotional development and provided practical tools for using mindful interventions to encourage positive behaviors in the classroom.

To further support students, Ankur created and distributed booklets on trauma and exam anxiety, equipping children and educators with tools to better understand and manage these common experiences. The team also conducted a focused session on exam anxiety for students preparing for their municipal board exams.

Our peer counseling program continues to grow as well. After a successful refresher course at Olgapuri, peer counselors now participate in monthly orientation and supervision meetings that build their confidence and skills to support classmates with empathy.

Finally, Ankur continues to integrate play-based therapy into its work, recognizing the truth behind Gary L. Landreth’s words: “Toys are children’s words, and play is their language.” Play allows children to express themselves, process emotions, and build resilience. By using play as a therapeutic tool, Ankur’s counselors help children connect with themselves and others, rehearse for life’s challenges, and heal in meaningful ways.

All of this work — from workshops and peer counseling to therapeutic practices — is made possible by your support. Together, we are helping children in Nepal build healthy coping skills, express themselves confidently, and grow into emotionally resilient young people. Thank you for standing with us in this essential work.

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