Widowhood in Nepal

A Journey of Hope, Dignity and Independence

Dear Friends, Donors and Well-Wishers,

For Bahini Educare Foundation, supporting widowed and single mothers has never been about simply providing food, school fees or other basic necessities. It has always been about something much bigger: giving a woman the opportunity to believe that she can build a future for herself and her children.

Since 2014, BEF has been walking alongside families headed by widows and single women in Nepal. Over the years, we have supported more than 100 families, including approximately 100 widowed or single mothers and more than 300 children who depended on them.

Each family has brought a different story of loss, poverty, discrimination and struggle. But we have also witnessed something equally powerful: women rebuilding their lives, children staying in school, daughters entering professional training and employment, and families gradually reaching a point where they no longer need our regular support.

Beyond the Immediate Need

When a woman loses her husband, especially when she has young or dependent children, the loss is often much more than emotional. For many of the women we meet, widowhood also means losing the family's main source of income. Some have little education or employment experience. Many have no property or savings of their own. They are suddenly responsible for food, rent, healthcare and the education of their children.

Their daughters can be particularly vulnerable. When a family is struggling to survive, girls may be taken out of school, married early or pushed into unsafe work.

This is why BEF's EduCare Family Program looks at the family as a whole.

We support children to remain in school. We help families meet basic food, health and hygiene needs. We provide counselling and emotional support when needed. We visit families regularly and stay connected with them through their difficult periods.

But our goal is not to keep a family dependent on BEF. Our goal is to help them reach a point where they can stand on their own.

When Support Becomes a Stepping Stone

Over the years, we have seen mothers who once struggled to put food on the table start small businesses or find more stable work. We have seen children who were at risk of dropping out continue their education and progress into higher education, professional training and employment. We have seen daughters who once depended entirely on their mothers become skilled and economically active.

And we have seen families gradually move out of our program because they no longer need the same level of support. In 2025 alone, 6 EduCare families reached a level of sustainability and successfully exited the program. For us, these exits are not a loss. They are a success!

When one family becomes independent, it means we can turn our attention to another woman who is still waiting for that opportunity.

2025: A New Chapter in Sustainability

As we learned from years of working with families, we realized that providing support alone was not enough. A family may survive with food and education assistance today, but what happens five years from now? This question led us to strengthen the sustainability component of our work.

In 2025, BEF appointed a dedicated Sustainable Futures Coordinator to work specifically on helping women and their children develop the skills and confidence they need for a more secure future. The focus is on practical pathways toward independence, including:

• Financial literacy and basic money management
• Savings and responsible financial habits
• Life skills and confidence building
• Vocational and professional skills
• Employment opportunities
• Small businesses and entrepreneurship
• Identifying the strengths and potential of individual family members
• Preparing families for a gradual and dignified exit from the Educare program

Your Support Makes This Journey Possible

None of this work happens in isolation. Behind every family we support is a community of donors, friends and well-wishers who choose to believe in the potential of women and children they may never meet personally.

Your donations through GlobalGiving have helped us remain beside families during their most difficult years. They have helped children stay in school, mothers meet basic needs, families access healthcare and vulnerable women regain confidence and hope.

And as our approach evolves, your support is helping us do something even more important: move families from dependence toward sustainability.

Every family that becomes self-reliant gives us the opportunity to reach another family. Every child who stays in school represents a different future. Every woman who begins earning an income gain more than money. She gains confidence, choices and dignity.

This is why we continue this journey.

Since 2014, we have supported more than 100 families. We are now supporting families in two districts, and we hope to reach many more women and girls across Nepal in the years ahead.

There is still much to do. But after all these years, we know that change is possible.

Your continued generosity motivates us to keep working toward our mission, to stand beside women when they need us most, and to create opportunities for as many vulnerable women and girls in Nepal as we can.

With gratitude,

Surendra, Raymond & the BEF Team