I am pleased to have reached my personal 'half century'. To celebrate I am participating in two challenges, the first is to climb Gokyo Ri in the Nepalese Himalayas at just under 5,500 metres in the Autumn and the second is to walk the 96 miles of the West Highland Way in the spring of 2012, in aid of the charity New Futures Nepal. 

If you would like to sponsor or donate towards my challenges please visit www.justgiving.com/PaulHelenCrook. Thank you l

Helen and I were two of the founding trustees of New Futures Nepal and continue to work tirelessly as unpaid volunteers towards its aims and projects.

The life blood of this charity is money, as nearly everything needed can be found, bought or borrowed in Nepal and Northern India. Whilst we are seeking to raise alot of money, we are still extremely grateful to smaller donations, as a small amount of money can make a big difference there.

Please give what you can afford, but as importantly please visit our website www.newfuturesnepal.org and tell your family, friends and colleagues about our charity.

Thank you

Paul

 

New Futures Nepal is a UK registered charitable trust. It was established in 2002 by a group of like-minded people who, having spent time trekking in Nepal, wanted to give something back to the people of that country. Disabled and orphaned children live a harsh life in this desperately poor country (one of the top 10 poorest countries in the world). Without regular financial support and assistance they are often reduced to begging on the streets, living rough and are prey to unscrupulous traffickers and drug barons.

                

 

The charity obtained UK registered charity status in July 2003 and is numbered 1098661.   We are a non-governmental, non-political and non-religious organisation.  The charity is engaged in raising funds to provide assistance and relieve and support cases of need, hardship and distress for Nepali children and adults worldwide.

 

 

 

We are the main providers of financial support to two homes for disabled children and adults; one in Kathmandu, Nepal and one in Kalimpong, Northern India.  In these homes we care for 30 resident children, 2 disabled adults and we provide salaries for 7 carers.  We also support one-off projects providing shelter for street children and aid for community projects throughout the Himalayan region.

 

 

 

A trustee visits Nepal at least once a year to oversee our projects and confirm that funds are spent as intended.  Annually we assess risks to our projects and discuss strategy and relevant issues. Apart from the official visits some of our trustees have visited several times a year at their own expense when undertaking personal trekking holidays.  

 

The charity employs no administrative staff.  Our total administrative costs are under 1%  and all the trustees work voluntarily for the charity.

 

 

 

We hold various fundraising events during the year, such as;

 

 

 

 

Walking weekends usually once a year based at Youth Hostels throughout the UK. 

 

A Family fun day at Castle Howard, North Yorkshire.

 

Charity trek in the Nepalese Himalayas.  

 

  

 

However, we could not operate without the unstinting help also offered by many supporters and volunteers.  They help with our marketing, our organisation and our administration. They hold many different sorts of fund raising events and it is through their efforts and those of our sponsors and our trustees that we have achieved such amazing results in the last 8 years.

 

 

 

 Some of our achievements to date are as follows :- 

 

 

 

Providing aid to an orphanage known as ‘The Hope Centre’ in Kathmandu, which was being run by Nepali volunteers. The Hope Centre was home to thirteen disabled and orphaned children and 2 disabled adults.  Learning of its precarious financial position in 2002, we decided to help rather than see the home close and the children be forced to take their chances on the street. We raised funds in the UK to pay off the arrears of rent; enrol the children at schools and provide them with regular nutritious meals.

 

 

 

In 2004 New Futures Nepal started its first major construction project named The Smith Project  - after our generous benefactor. Our aim was to build a purpose built home for disadvantaged and orphaned children. The cost of the project was around £100,000. Thanks to Mr Smith’s generous donation and our fundraising, we were able to buy a parcel of land in a good area of the Kathmandu Valley with a clean water supply and close proximity to hospitals and schools. The home was finished in 2005 and the 13 children, 2 disabled adults and their carers moved in immediately. The children are secure and happy in their new family environment. Many of the children in the home are disabled and we assess their needs on a regular basis and fund medical help whenever necessary.

 

 

 

In 2006/2007 our generous sponsorship from Hornbeam Ivy allowed us to start  two new projects in northern India  The trustees had identified a need for help in the Kalimpong region of Bengal which has a high infant mortality rate and we identified a need for clean water supplies in the surrounding remote villages. This area used to be part of Nepal and the inhabitants of the region are 90% Nepali. This area of India is desperately poor with vulnerable children facing the same dangers as in Kathmandu.

 

Our first project – Hornbeam House.  Building on our experience gained in Kathmandu and with Hornbeam Ivy’s initial funding we planned to open another home for disadvantaged children of Nepali origin in Kalimpong.    In 2007 we put in place the due diligence procedures and feasibility studies.  Our director in Nepal worked with us to set up a local charity with whom we work in partnership.  Our initial objectives were to find a suitable property and qualified care assistants to live in and manage the home.    

 

We will continue to support our long term projects in Kathmandu and Kalimpong.  Inflation in both Nepal and India is rising steadily and with the current financial downturn the poor will be hit the hardest. The day to day living conditions in Nepal remain challenging but we are working with our local team in Kathmandu looking  for alternative solutions and ways in which to improve self sufficiency.  Rice is being grown in the grounds of the Hope Centre. Due to the frequent and lengthy power cuts generators have been installed and we are looking at alternative energy sources for cooking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

 

So please dig deep and donate now.