A Future for the Children of Orchid Garden Nepal

Orchid Garden Nepal is a non-profit and non-governmental organization, founded by Bina Basnet, with the basic aim of providing and protecting the rights, welfare and health of discriminated and deprived children of Nepal. The sole purpose of Orchid Garden Nepal (OGN) is to provide care and a quality education for all; to help these children grow, learn, discover, and most importantly, to become reintegrated into society as thriving individuals!

(Bina Basnet pictured below)

The Orchid Garden is a day care center, early elementary school, and day hostel for children aged 6 months to 10 years old belonging to parents or single mothers/fathers dealing with issues of addiction, abuse, neglect, and unable to afford education. At OGN children are provided a well-rounded and multi-faceted educational experience that encourages creativity and self-discovery.

Orchid Garden also provides a number of services to the community at large. These include skill training, job placement and entrepreneurship opportunities. Additionally, Orchid Garden emphasizes women’s empowerment, offering many awareness programs and services for their benefit. By improving the mental, physical and socio-economic development of parents, O.G.N. creates a better community for all, and a more stable way of life for the children they care for.

(Children enjoying lunch at O.G.N)

Now, the future of Orchid Garden and the children they care for is at risk. In 2023, the family of Orchid Garden will be ousted from their current residence which they have been renting since 2006. This means uncertainty for the welfare of the families they have helped; for many mothers, a reminder of times when they had nobody to guide their children. Orchid Garden is the only centre of its kind, and without its existence, many children would be without education and likely follow in the footsteps of their parents working as housewives, laborers and construction workers.

(Class is in Session!)

(Kindergarten kids enjoying their free time)

With eviction looming, our mission is to fundraise enough money for Orchid Garden to purchase their own land in Kathmandu. Bina highlights the importance of the cause, “We need bigger land; our own land! That’s why we need funds. We want to be continually growing. Even after dying, my Orchid Garden needs to be continued! Now that I am here, I can take care of everything easily. But we need our own land so that even if I am gone, the safety and education of our children can be guaranteed.”

(Nap Time!!)

However, there are many obstacles in the way of realizing this dream. Buying land in Kathmandu is extremely expensive, especially for such a small organization. Beyond the small contributions of families who can afford it, Orchid Garden’s funding is solely based on individual sponsors, donations and fundraisers. Owning their own land and expanding in size will give Orchid Garden the self-sufficiency they desire. Every year their current rent increases by 10%, meaning less funds are able to go directly to the children. Nothing they have built can be taken with them, so once land is purchased and a new school is built, Orchid Garden will have a permanent place in Nepal.

(During the monsoon season, the current location of the school means it is often completely flooded, and students are unable to attend until the water has drained.)

While it is easy to dismiss the struggles of those far from home, as Bina Basnet knows, we are all one family of humanity. Bina’s mission goes so much further than saving just a few children. She is empowering women to work, spreading positivity and love, and creating a brighter future for Nepal. And while you may think that you do not have much to give, a drop in the ocean is like a swimming pool to them.

MEET SOME OF THE ORCHID GARDEN FAMILIES

Parbita Hamal and her daughter Unnati. "Without Orchid Garden I have nobody to watch my baby while I work", she told us. Bina explained that Parbita works as a housemaid from 7am to 12pm every day, living on 5000 rupees per month (equivalent to 45 US dollars), which is barely enough to pay for their basic necessities.

This is Rangita Khan and her son Ali. Pictured is their entire home.

Many of the parents work as labourers or street vendors.

STATISTICS ABOUT THE LIVING CONDITIONS IN NEPAL

• In Nepal, more than a third of its 13 million children live below national poverty line, two-thirds of them are severely deprived and 40% live in absolute poverty [1]
• An even larger proportion of children suffer from severe malnutrition (50% of children are short for their age or stunted), have inadequate access to schooling (10% do not attend school at all), and are deprived of their basic human needs.
• With an annual GDP per capita income of US$ 367, it is one of the poorest countries and inequality rising to high levels, with a Gini coefficient of 47.3, the highest in Asia.
• Only out of 10 children reach grade 5 and more than half of them drop out of school before reaching secondary level
• Approximately 620,000 children aged 5-17 are engaged in hazardous work while 13,000 girls are being sexually exploited in Kathmandu [2]

1. UNICEF, "Child Poverty and Disparities in Nepal", 2010

2. UNICEF, "Children and Women in Nepal"

HOW YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH

Bina and Orchid Garden are involved in so many more projects that help uplift the community. You can read more about scholarships for students to further their education, women empowerment, health care assistance and parenting programs on their website: https://orchidgardennepal.wordpress.com/about/

You can also find them on Facebook: Orchid Garden Nepal

Bina is currently planning a fundraising trip to the US in 2021, if you or anyone you know has either the space or audience who may be in the position to help or attend one of her presentations, please get in touch by email at [email protected]