Namaste Nepali Educational Fund

Why there needs to be an Educational Scholarship Fund for Nepali Students 

Nepal can be a difficult place to live.  Half of Nepal's population lives below the poverty line, and about one third of the population live without clear water.  These are people who do not have access to basic needs such as food, health care and education.  Half the population is jobless in Nepal, with most Nepalese people living on a $1 day or less, and an average income of  less than $200 a year.  One of the major barriers to improving this situation is the lack of access to education.  In Nepal, challenges such as poverty, shortages of schools and teachers in isolated areas, high dropout rates in primary school, low enrolment in secondary school and poor facilities preclude children from receiving education.  Twenty-eight percent of Nepalese primary school age children are not at school, and of these the majority are girls.  Only 50 percent of students starting grade one reach grade five.  Among adults, the overall literacy rate is around 57%, and a little less than a quarter of women can read and write.  Lack of education, skills, or business training makes it hard for people to feed and support their families. 

How the Educational Fund Works

This scholarship fund has been set up to help deserving students in Nepal achieve their educational dreams, while simultaneously allowing them to give back to the communities around them.  Nepali students in good standing who could not otherwise afford to attend secondary school and/or college are given financial support to help cover their tuition, uniforms, textbooks and school supplies.  In return, the scholarship students commit to engaging in regular community service throughout their scholarship period, preferably in the educational sector.  In this way, the Fund is able to advance the goal of education in Nepal beyond its scholarship awardees. 

How far does your money go?

Because the US dollar is so much stronger than the Nepalese Rupee, your money goes much farther than you could ever imagine.  The tuition and fees for secondary schools for an entire year can be covered by a mere $20!  That's less than you would spend on a night out at the movies! For only $25, you can cover a student's college tuition for an entire month.  $35 covers a year's worth of college uniforms.  $50 covers both books, supplies and uniforms for a year of secondary school. $60 a year's worth of college textbooks and supplies.  These kind of donations make the difference between a student being able to achieve an education, and a child being forced to drop out of school. 

The Namaste Nepali Educational Fund thanks you for you support!