COUNTRY / PROBLEM
Nepal is a country in South Asia. The inhabitants of this country are among the poorest in the world.
In Nepal, if a parent is convicted, their children go to prison, too. In overcrowded prisons, children are not given any meals or additional places to sleep – they are treated as if they did not exist.
ORGANISATIONS
Pushpa Basnet established the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) organisation, which helps children who stay in prisons together with their convicted parents. In 2015, the organisation planned to open a home for its beneficiaries – the Butterfly Home – where children are provided with care, education, and extracurricular activities. The massive earthquake that hit Nepal in April 2015, destroyed 60% of the structure, but ECDC managed to rebuild the Butterfly Home. All children stay there with the consent of their imprisoned parent, who has the opportunity to support the child financially, e.g. by selling handicraft products made in prison. The parents are aware that, for the children, growing up outside prison walls is a chance for a better future. The children can attend school, play together, eat meals, and pursue their passions. In 2016, Pushpa Basnet was awarded the title of CNN Hero of the Decade for her work.
Indira Ranamagar, founder and activist of the Prisoners Assistance Nepal organisation (PA Nepal), also helps the children of imprisoned parents. She provides them with care and education outside prison walls, giving them the opportunity to live at liberty.
PROJECTS
Kulczyk Foundation supported:
- ECDC, by donating funds for equipping kitchens at the Butterfly Home and for purchasing materials intended for making handicraft products,
- PA Nepal, by donating funds to the organisation for the purchase of solar energy systems and solar heaters at: Sankhu Home, Lolang Home, Naybazar Home, Jhapa Home, Kumari Girls Home, and Palpa Home.
