Rehabilitate rescued child slaves in Nepal

Dear Global Giver,

Every year on January 1^st, we host an “UNcommon” birthday party to honor the rescued children who don’t know their birthdays, or would not usually celebrate them. It’s a day full of laughter, smiles and cake, as the residents of Hamro Ghar have a chance to put on their party hats and focus on the simple joys of being a child. This year, the atmosphere was just as festive as ever. We kicked off 2017 with celebration, and seeing the bright smiles in our children’s home prompted me to reflect on 2016 and the celebrations that brought us to where we are today. 

GoodWeave Nepal had a lot to celebrate this year. We saw a group of former “carpet kids” come in second place in a national dance competition, and get a chance to meet the president of Nepal. We saw the Weaving Opportunities training program grow, providing another 166 women with technical weaving skills that will allow them to support their families and ensure their children can attend school. We delivered winter clothing and school supplies to children who have gone without for far too long. And, most importantly, we saw 62 children rescued from labor who are now making a home at Hamro Ghar. That’s 62 more soccer games, 62 more crayon drawings, and 62 more chances at a better life. It’s 62 more birthday parties, and we have you – and your generous donations – to thank.

Hamro Ghar is an incredible community of resilience and joy. Creating a safe space for children has been and always will be at the heart of what GoodWeave does. We started our work in the carpet industry, and have made incredible progress there. Now, we are expanding our reach to the brick kilns and other sectors, where we are putting our model and our expertise to work to end child labor. We are excited about a future where more children will be able to celebrate their birthdays, and feel the childhood joy that day should bring.

I am consistently amazed and inspired by the support GoodWeave has received from the Global Giving community. Your continued dedication to ending child labor allows us to find the children who are waiting for us in Nepal and make sure that their stories become full of hope and happiness. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you – and I look forward to continuing this essential work with you in 2017.

Sincerely,

Nina Smith