Why Nepal? Why these three students?
Nepal Peace Home is a reconciliation orphanage for children who fell victim to Nepal's violent Maoist insurgency from 1996-2006. This ten-year-long civil war killed the families, mostly fathers, of children throughout the nation, making resources and the chance for a bright future nearly impossible. Asmita, Hari and Nima are three of those children. Last year, Nima--the oldest child at Nepal Peace Home--was the first to graduate from high school. He moved away from the children's center soon to attend one of Kathmandu's premiere colleges and study Science, all because of generous donors like you. If we don't act now, though, his first year of college will be for nought. This year, the children's center has two more graduates: Hari and Asmita. If their college tuition isn't funded, these three students will have nowhere to go.
Each of them has completed far more schooling than they could have ever imagined. When their families were no longer able to care for them, Asmita, Hari, and Nima were sent to our children's home and given the chance to continue their primary and secondary education. These students have already overcome immense obstacles to reach where they are today. All three are incredibly dedicated students who truly exemplify peace and stewardship for their 40 younger "brothers and sisters" at the children's center. Please help us show Nima, Hari, and Asmita that their hard work has paid off and provide them with their right to an education.
What They Need
- $3,060 total, $1,020 per student, will provide Hari, Asmita, and Nima with school, accommodations, food, and books for one year. This breaks down to $85 a month per student; less than $3 a day.
- Your donation is given to Nepal Peace Home, a tax deductible 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are eligible for tax refunds. Please visit our website, www.nepalpeacehome.org to learn more!
- All three students will start college at Campion Academy, a premiere private college in Kathmandu, within the next two months, as long as funds are provided.
- All students will live in a dormitory (where Nima currently lives) walking distance from the campus. The hostel includes a staff of cooks, cleaners, and a manager who looks after the children in a type of "RA" role.
- If we don't reach our entire goal, all funds will still go directly to the students' school and living costs.
- If we raise funds beyond our initial goal, all remaining proceeds will go directly to next year's high school graduates from Nepal Peace Home.
Words from our Students
We think Hari, Asmita, and Nima deserve to go to college. We can tell you lots of wonderful things about them. But why do they want to go to college? Here's what our students have to say for themselves.
Hari
Harishankar Khadka is a wiz kid: he's a diplomatic leader who has earned the respect of all the children at Nepal Peace Home, and already speaks with the tone of a politician for the people. "Hari" wants to be a social worker first and a politician later, so he can truly come to understand the needs of his people. His eloquence, maturity, and dedication far surpass his 17 years of age, as you'll read below.
Q: What is your family history? What education did your parents receive?
A: My father received a Bachelor's Degree 15 years ago when there was not more school to study. He had to walk an hour to reach school. He was a police Inspector and died in the Civil War between our government and the Maoists when I was 3 years old. My mother didn't get any formal education because there was no school for girls when she was young. Child marriage was also prevailing there. She was married when she was around 10 years old. So my father got an education, but not my mom, as she had to do all household work. After many years my father married another woman and he didn't want to divorce my mom. It was a secret marriage. After some years my dad was sent to Solukhumbu (District) by the National Police Department and he died there during the war. I was raised by my mom alone after the death of my dad. There was my uncle and aunt, but they did not help us. They even took our land, saying my dad has previously taken land from them. It was a difficult time.
Q: Why do you want to go to college?
A: I want to go to college for many reasons. First of all, I want to fulfill my dreams and develop my country and also develop my career. I want to be a qualified engineer. Education is most important for my country to eradicate social problems and evils. I also want to do some things for my nation. Many Nepalese citizens migrate to other countries after their college and learning some important talent and skills, but I want to stay in my country and make it better after I learn these skills in college. It is not a minor problem. It is one of the most serious problems of all Nepalese. It makes our country backward. I want to stay in Nepal to be an example for others. I want to give some lessons. I want to march my country on the path of development and make my country like heaven.
Q: What do you want to study in college and why?
A: I want to study many things but it is impossible for the people like me who doesn't have enough money to study. But if I'll get help, I want to study science and the history of Nepal because science is so important and needed by each and every person. Science is related to my aim of becoming an engineer. I want to study history because it is the base of our country for development. I want to learn history because previously our country was very strong, but due to corruption and poor political conditions, Nepal becomes weaker day by day. I want to learn about this and help to solve Nepal's political problems. Nepal has an unstable government. Our prime minister sometimes changes every four or five months. It doesn't last long. There is another serious problem: when there is an election, people either give votes to their relatives or vote for politicians who have bribed them with money. Due to this problem, the good leaders who could lead our country well cannot receive a victory in elections. Instead, bad leaders win. But I want to change their concept by educating people and raising our voices against this corruption. We need public awareness of this problem. I want to be a good leader, but first I need an education.
Q: What are your biggest educational and career goals?
A: My biggest dream is to see love, peace, and harmony among the people of the earth. And I want to see the end of corruption, war, dishonest, detection, and treachery. My other dream is to obtain a PhD in science. First, I want to be an engineer and make sustainable development in my country. After earning money and a name for myself, I want to do social service and run in the political field. I want to be a politician for the people, not for my own personal interest. I want true democracy for my nation. Since our country currently has an unstable government, Nepal is poor. But Nepal has many natural resources but we can't utilize them. I want to help my country by utilizing these resources. Nepal exports their raw materials to foreign countries inexpensively, but imports products of the same raw materials for a very high cost. Thus, Nepal doesn't have trade balance. I want to balance the trade of Nepal in the international field. Our main problem is corruption. If a foreign country donates some amount to Nepal, often, 50% is only used correctly. Half of the donation is stolen or used for personal gain by corrupt politicians. For example, some countries have provided money to improve the safety of roads in Nepal. But 50% has been corrupted by the main leaders, 25% to the middle leaders, and only 25% to actually construct the road. They will make the road for show, but it doesn't last long because bad equipment is used. But I want to be the opposite of these corrupt politicians, just as water is opposite of fire and needed to control the fire. So, I want to spend my life for the welfare of Nepal and its citizens. I want to live my life for Nepal.
Q: How will this scholarship help you?
A: This scholarship will help me in many ways. Private college is much more expensive [than Nepal's government colleges] because it offers a better education. My aim of becoming an engineer, social worker, and politician is not small. It can't be achieved through government college. Even government college is too expensive for my mother to pay with her pension alone. If I do not receive a scholarship, then I will not reach my potential to build up Nepal.
Asmita
Asmita Kapre is a quiet spirit with a nurturing quality and calming presence. These characteristics will make her the perfect nurse -- her dream job -- inspired by her role model, Florence Nightingale. She wants to help those less fortunate as a kind of dual nurse-social worker, and we say more power to her! Read more about her dreams below.
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Q: What is your family history? What education did your parents receive?
A: My father and mother didn't receive an education. When I was five years old, my father died. My mother was deaf and could not properly care for me. Also, my father and mother were never married. This is bad in Nepal. So my father and mother didn't care for me and left me in my grandmother's house. I do not know where my mother is.
Q: Why do you want to go to college?
A: I want to become a nurse and college is required for this. I want to study more about good things, do activities, learn new things, help others, my family, neighbors. If I can go to college, then I can help those who face difficult problems in society. I also want to be an example for going to college and being helpful to the people of Nepal.
Q: How will this scholarship help you?
A: Without this scholarship, my education will end. If I receive a scholarship for college, then I can study for my Bachelors and even my Masters degree and educate my small brothers and sisters. I want to share this bright future with others. Also, my grandmother is very poor and could never pay for my education. If I go to college I will make her very happy and proud of my success. A scholarship will change my life.
Q: What do you want to study and why?
A: I want to study science and health to become a nurse. I first decided that I want to become a Registered Nurse when I was 8 years old and I read about Florence Nightingale in a library book. She is so inspiring to me because she didn't allow discrimination. She was helpful and kind and this is the success in my life that I want. At that time I was also very sick with jaundice. I was in the hospital and saw many nurses who helped me and provided good services to me, so I want to study hard to give knowledge about health to people all over Nepal.
Q: What are your biggest education and career goals?
A: My aim in life is to become a nurse. Nurses help others in their community. In my community, there are very few nurses and I want to help those who are poor and ill.
Nima
Despite a slight stutter, Nima Tamang exudes a rare breed of leadership and quiet strength that is hard to find among children who have endured such violence and loss. Last year, you sent Nima to college in Kathmandu! This year, we thought we'd give you an update. Here's what Nima has to say about what the past year of college has done for him, and why he isn't ready to stop here.
Q: Describe your first year of school.
A: The educational institute where I study is Campion Academy. It offers one of the top quality educations in Kathmandu. This college even has many branches all over the world (called Chaudary Group). The teachers are so experienced and capable of helping their students through training. I also experienced the best friendships my first year. The friends are so kind and helpful. This helps to establish a mutual understanding between students, which never ends. Likewise, we solve any obstacles keeping hand in hand together. During my exams, I labored hard. This school is challenging for my, but the laboring process make me stronger. I go on without loosing my hope. College is leading me in the path to achieve my goals. It plays the key role, which helps me to gain the education.
Q: Why do you need to continue your education?
A: Education is the way that leads people to achieve their goals and the fulfill the thirst of the individual and the nation. I am getting the education from this institute which helps me to achieve my goals. Education is the key to unlock the golden door of success. It will make my dream true, but mostly help me to do something good for individual and my nation. So I want to continue the education to achieve the goals and fulfill the need of the nation and the helpless like me. If I stop college after one year, it will be for nothing. I must keep going. This is just the beginning of my higer study. If I will be given the chance to continue my studies, one day I will achieve my goals.
Click here to read last year's interview with Nima.
Other Ways You Can Help
- Nepal Peace Home's funding is in jeopardy. Without the stability of this children's center, younger students will not have the opportunity to go to college. Donate here to save the children's center!
- Help us spread the word by sharing our campaign with family and friends!
- Visit our new and improved website, nepalpeacehome.org, to learn about all the kids at Nepal Peace Home and how you can help them, just like Nima, Asmita, and Hari, as they embark on their upcoming collegiate journeys.
