Her Farm, growing hope in the Himalaya

The number of women and children living at Her Farm is growing. We've partnered with a mental health program in Kathmandu called Koshish. Koshish rescues women from the streets. Each woman has a different story of how they wound up on the streets. Some have suffered mental illness for years and were kicked out of their homes by family members, some were discarded by thier spouse, many are victims of rape and have children who are products of those rapes and at least one was a drug abuser. Koshish provides counseling and rehab treatment at their facility in Kathmandu, but once these women have completed all the programs and treatments, there is no place for them to go. Families refuse to take them back and in many cases, the whereabouts of family members is unknown. Our partnership provides a "next step" for these women. Once Koshish determines their treatment is complete, many are moved from the institutional setting to Her Farm. 

Her Farm is providing a safe home and meaningful work for the women. Farming and especially caring for livestock gives direction and meaning again to their lives and daily routine that is within their ability. There are many such women and their children now living at Her Farm and thriving there. We now have a waiting list for other women wanting to graduate from institutional care to farm living. The April 2015 earthquakes destroyed some of the housing at Her Farm so our capacity is now limited, and we are currently out of space to accept more women. We are hoping to rectify that soon and create the additional housing needed to accomodate the 10plus women and children currently waiting to move to Her Farm.