Information
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Ama Foundation
Berkeley, CA, United States
Ama Ghar was co-founded by Shrawan Nepali, who spent part of his childhood at the Paropokar orphanage in Kathmandu. He was fortunate to have the support of his godmother, Ama Tika Basnett, who encouraged and helped him during the darkest times of his life. Assisted by Peace Corps volunteers, Shrawan was educated in the U.S. but he never forgot those less fortunate that he left behind in Nepal. With co-founders Ama Tika Basnet and Shekhar Silwal, he formalized his vision and opened Ama Ghar in 2001; the first 14 children arrived at Ama Ghar during that year. Now, 11 years later, Ama Ghar has grown to a family of 46 children and 8 staff members. Three of our children have transitioned and started a new life on their own.
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Current Projects
Ama Ghar Children’s Home: Provide a Safe and Loving Home
At Ama Ghar, in Kathmandu, the children are truly part of a family. A small staff to child ratio, and our commitment to giving time for counseling, playing, and special outings reflect Ama Ghar’s mission to support a child’s whole development. Our new Ama Ghar home will guarantee that the current and future children always have a permanent place to come home to.
Beyond Ama Ghar: Educate and Empower Children
Ama Foundation provides the children living at Ama Ghar access to the best local education through the high school level. After graduation, staff members guide each child’s transition beyond Ama Ghar. Depending on the child’s individual strengths and interests, he or she will continue on to higher education or vocational training. Our first Ama Ghar graduates have attended nursing and medical schools with the generous help of our partnership with the Bo M. Karlsson Foundation.
Community Scholarships: Create a Network of Community and Caring
Currently, Ama Foundation grants scholarships to underprivileged students in the villages surrounding Ama Ghar. With the completion of the new home next year, we plan to expand our presence in the community to provide the most needed services and support for the local residents. The possibilities are many, but ideas include a community library and computer lab, heath clinics, pre-natal care seminars, and vocational training. We also hope that our many volunteers can share their skills to serve the community in innovative and exciting ways.
Partner Needs
Our current focus is on education, as we have 17 teenage children who will be enrolled in high school or college within the next 2 years. We support the children through age 18, and will pay for college if they qualify. For children who don't qualify for college, we provide help with vocational training - the goal is for all the children to be self-sufficient Nepali citizens. We need help with funding for this: It costs about $1,000 per year per student to cover tuition, uniforms, books, fees and transportation.
Financial Needs
The children at Ama Ghar are totally dependent on private donations from individuals who believe in our mission.
We encourage donors to make an annual or monthly pledge to Ama Foundation. This enables us to plan for the future and insures that our current and future children receive they care the deserve. Our Support A Child program gives donors the potential to provide complete care for a child for one year, including all educational fees, food, medical care and clothing... all for about $5.50 a day, $166 a month, or $2,000 a year.
In Kind Needs
Ama Foundation gladly acceps in-kind donations, if the donor can cover the shipping cost or will be traveling to Nepal to deliver the donation. Currently we are seeking computers, school supplies and sports equipment.
Mission Statement
The Ama Foundation is dedicated to providing the most underprivileged children of Nepal with a loving home, education and opportunities to live healthy and secure lives within their community. We currently support Ama Ghar Children’s Home outside Kathmandu, Nepal, which provides education, health care and a secure home to 38 orphaned or abandoned Nepalese children. Our commitment is to support these children through their college-level education or technical training, to provide them with the skills to support themselves as adults and be productive Nepali citizens. We also aspire to be a contributing member of the community surrounding Ama Ghar. Currently we help poor families in the nearby village pay for educational fees and supplies so they can send their children to school. Construction of our new sustainable home was completed in 2010, and we held a Grand Opening Ceremony in November of 2011. Now we plan to expand our services to fulfill unaddressed needs expressed by the local villagers.