RISE

We are stronger together. Together we can raise more children to be thriving, vibrant and connected to family, community and opportunity. Make your tax deductible end-of-financial-year donation today.

Raising children is one of the most challenging and most fulfilling things you can do. Whether a birth parent, sibling, kinship carer, teacher, step-parent, aunt, uncle, foster carer or friend, the contribution you make has a significant and profound impact in shaping that young person’s life.

There are millions of children being raised all over the world and we all have a part to play. Forget Me Not works with some of the most vulnerable and remarkably resilient children – those who are living in orphanages, or are at risk of being trafficked into orphanages, through no fault of their own.

Together with skilled practitioners, generous donors, strong partnerships and loving care we are raising children to chase their dreams while providing individualised support for each child and their family for successful family and community reintegration.

Now more than ever these children and their families need our help. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has put food security and availability in jeopardy. Our teams have been supplying families with basic pantry essentials so that no child goes hungry thanks to generous donations from people like you. Thank you.

Meet Pabitra

Pabitra was just six years old when she was admitted into an orphanage in Kathmandu. The family was going through tough times after Pabitra’s father died suddenly. Believing she had the best interests of the child at heart, her mother’s sister suggested taking Pabitra to Kathmandu to ensure an excellent education and much brighter future for this sweet six year old.

Unfortunately, as is often the case, Pabitra was exposed to terrible abuse and neglect in institutional care. This tiny little girl was forced to fetch extremely heavy vessels of water, to undertake hard labour in the fields and wash mammoth amounts of laundry by hand. Extraordinary for any six year old, especially a little girl the size of Pabitra.

Pabitra endured this lifestyle for 18 months before being rescued by the Government of Nepal in 2019.

Our team found Pabitra’s family and supported the reunification process so that she could return home, where she belongs. Many tears of joy flowed as Pabrita and her mother were reunited and held each other tightly. Her mother now knows the harm caused by institutionalisation and tells others in her community not to send their children away no matter how dire their circumstances or how golden the opportunities seem.

Your donations continue to help Pabitra with her education and also help her family with sustainable income generation education and support.

Funds raised through this RISE campaign will also assist our team to get Pabitra specialist treatment for her recently fractured hand that hasn’t healed properly with village medical care.

Meet Devi

Despite having loving parents, Devi landed in an orphanage in Kathmandu by the hands of her mother’s sister. She was only ten years old when her parents entrusted the aunt with their beloved Devi and Rs. 30,000 ($360 AUD) to secure a good education until grade 12 in Kathmandu.

All the promises and hopes for brighter days came to a standstill when Devi and other children like her were forced to sleep in the same room due to lack of bedding. Often with empty tummies. Devi told us the owner of the orphanage used to get drunk and spit vulgar words at the children. Once when her family visited the orphanage to check on her, Devi was forced to say everything was just fine – even though it really wasn’t.

In 2019, a new dawn rose in the life of Devi and seven other children when they were freed from that orphanage with the help of Forget Me Not and the Government of Nepal.

Today, Devi lives happily at home with her mother. She has resumed her studies in grade 3 with financial support from donors like you! Devi is performing well at school proving that she is blooming in her community with the loving care and support of her family.

Every dollar fundraised helps children like Devi rise and thrive.

Meet Somesh

Somesh is from Humla in the far north west of Nepal sharing its border with Tibet. When his mother died her brother told the family that there was a place in Kathmandu that could provide free accommodation and education for children from remote areas. Humla was definitely a remote area and Somesh and his little brother were sent to Kathmandu to take advantage of this generous offer.

The institution was given Rs. 20,000 ($240 AUD) to provide the boys with care and a good education. Instead the children were exploited, neglected and badly malnourished. Somesh spent four years at the institution missing his family and village life deeply. He wondered if he would ever return home.

“We were not taken to hospital during sickness; orphanage owner always focused on giving tasks for children,” said Somesh.

In July 2019 Somesh and eight other children took a breath of relief as former Central Child Welfare Board rescued them from the institution for violating the Standard Operation of Residential Child Care Homes (2012).

Today Somesh is back in Humla with his family under permanent legal guardianship of his older brother. He studies in grade 6 at the local public school and receives ongoing education and welfare support from our team. Somesh is also building strong bonds with his extended family and he loves learning about his culture and community.

Meet Kamal

This Earth-angel is one of our brilliant teachers. His name is Kamal and he lives in the Rajghat community. Classes at our Brighter Futures Study Centres have been suspended due to COVID-19 lock down restrictions. Kamal wasted no time in planning, delivering and managing the distribution of thousands of kilos of pantry essentials to over 170 families in Rajghat and Kalyanpuri communities during lockdown. He is one of our heroes and has an enormous heart of gold!

Your donations are feeding families. Thank you.

You donation will help with health, nutrition and hygiene initiatives, education programs, family support, entrepreneur training, prevention programs and intervention activities.