Himalayan Peoples Project - Nepal and the
Special Education and Rehabilitation Centre (SERC) are creating a future of hope, one where children with disabilities in Nepal who are abandoned as children or forced to leave home to find help can have a second home with access to the education and treatment
they desperately need and deserve.
Children
living at SERC previous residence before it was forced to close
Who We Are
Himalayan Peoples Project - Nepal (HPP-Nepal) are a small, UK based charity aiming to provide Healthcare, Education, Opportunity and empowerment to some of
the most underprivileged people in Nepal.
Our Vision
*** 80% of people with disabilities live in developing countries; only 5-15% of these have access to assistive devices such as wheelchairs.
*** Less than 32% of people with disabilities in Nepal receive an education.
*** Schools are physically inaccessible and teachers inadequately trained, while many unjustly deny access to children with disabilities.
*** More than 79% of those living with disabilities in Nepal are dependent on their families due to a lack of job opportunities and discrimination.
*** 80% of Nepal's population live in remote villages with no access to primary healthcare including children with disabilities.
*** Those who are orphaned or live in remote villages are significantly less likely to receive an education, many forced to leave their families in search of help and hope for the future.
Some of the children previously living at SERC's residence which was forced to close.
We're helping create a future where children with disabilities who are orphaned or from remote villages with no access to education or treatment can live somewhere safe and secure whilst gaining access to these vital services.
We're working with the Special Education Rehabilitation Centre (SERC) school for disabled children in Kathmandu, to create a future where Nepalese society is encouraged to see and respect these children's abilities and potential, helping them integrate into
and contribute to society alongside them. We are showing people how buildings can be adapted or new ones built to allow better access for those with disabilities and therefore help them thrive independently.
A residence for them to call home will allow SERC to reach out to more children living with disabilities, offering help to those as young as 4 years old, many of whom may only know a life of rejection and uncertainty. This could be the only chance some children
have to receive an education and treatment to help their body's improve whilst increasing their indpendence.
SERC School
The Special Education Rehabilitation Centre for disabled children is a small school in Kathmandu established in 2009 to educate and provide rehabilitation to children with disabilities. They provide an incredibly valuable life line to over 90 children with
single or multiple disabilities, many of who would otherwise be forgotten.
Their previous residence provided a home to some of their students with no families or from remote villages where they had little hope of a future with no education or treatment available.
Children with various disabilities benefitting from and thriving at SERC school
Our Partnership with SERC School
Our Founding Director Beth Halford, also a UK registered physiotherapist, volunteered with SERC school for three months in 2013. During that time she got to know Anish and Kalpana, the manager and principle of the school whilst witnessing first hand the incredible
work they are doing and impact they are having on some truly incredible children.
Beth was so touched by the experience it inspired her to establish Himalayan Peoples Project - Nepal. When she heard SERC's terrible news of their residence having to close in March the charity rallied to support their plight in any way they could.
Beth will be returning to Kathmandu in October when she hopes to see the impact of the money raised from this campaign has had and see the progression of the new residence herself, providing we can help SERC raise enough money to complete the project.
If you would like to read more about her experiences working at the school you can
check out her blog here.
Children receiving treatment for their disability at SERC school; Left: Beth, HPP-Nepal's director works with one of the children during her time volunteering; Right: Kalpana, the school's principle (and qualified physiotherapist)
treats one of the children.
What Happened?
The closure of the residence in March meant the children who’d become like family were separated across different orphanages or forced to return to their remote villages where they will receive no education or treatment.
This was a crushing blow for the children, their families and staff at the school who'd seen their amazing progress come to an unexpected halt.
Kalpana, SERC school principle says...
'The problem started when we received a notice from the landlord to vacate the premises of the hostel as the house was to be demolished to construct a new one. It came as a blow to the 14 children living there. Most of the children were sent home to
their families until a new arrangement is made. It was very sad to see these children leave in the middle of their treatment. There is absolutely no hope that they will get any kind of support when they are in their villages.
It is very important that we construct our own hostel, not just because we will not have to vacate the premises at the slightest whim of the owners of the property, but also to set an example of the disabled friendly housing required for these children.
When we started the school, our main motivation was not to help a handful of disabled children, we wanted to set an example of how a special needs school can be whilst making as many cultural adaptations to global practices of special education as possible
and create a unique brand which fully conforms to our cultural and social requirements.
We believed that if we could start such a school and entice other organisations to adopt what we are doing, we could help many more children with disabilities than we possibly ever could ourselves. So far, we are quite satisfied with what we have achieved,
and hopefully, we can continue to realise our dream'
Children at the previous residence before it was forced to close.
What's Next?
Luckily, there is hope, with the acquisition of new land allowing SERC to make exciting plans for the future. They have an amazing vision for a new school and larger residence on the same site, custom made to the children’s needs.
The building will be built to specifications enabling the children to be as independent as possible, a real rarity in Nepal. There will be en-suite bathrooms attached to girls and boys dormitories giving easy access at night as well as a communal bathroom and
communal areas to spend time and relax when not at school.
New land soon to be cleared ready for building to commence.
Why is This So Important?
Here's an exert from Beth's blog, written whilst working at SERC school which we feel explains what an impact this residence will have. Richa will be one of the children who will call the new residence home.
'Meet Richa.
Richa arrived at SERC school and residence when she was around 3 years old having already lived in multiple government orphanages having been abandoned as a baby, at a hospital in Kathmandu.
Her severe cerebral palsy, insecurity and lack of treatment had left her in a vegetative state with the physical and psychological scars of her life’s short journey clear to see. Completely uncommunicative and unable to express her most crucial needs,
she could only cry or scream when hungry or in pain. She showed no cooperation with staff, or any signs of understanding her surroundings.
Physically, her body was useless, unable to perform the simplest of actions such as moving her arms and legs, let alone roll, sit, crawl, stand or walk. She was fully dependent on others, with staff having to wash, dress, feed and toilet her. Her day
would consist of staying in the same position her carers placed her in, not trying to move, or talk.
After 3 years of attending school and living in SERC's previous residence she's now a happy child with staggering improvements in her cognitive, physical and social skills. During treatment sessions she sits looking at me through her sparkling, squinting
eyes, often with a big toothy grin and mischievous look, typical of a six year old.
Her physical improvements have been incredible. Going from being unable to use her body in any deliberately meaningful way she now picks up objects, threads beads onto a string with a look of pure concentration on her face; walks and stands with help,
sits on her own, kneels for long periods whilst playing with toys, eats independently and sits on the toilet on her own. She is still unable to talk but can communicate through body language with hand signals for when she needs the toilet, is hungry etc. She
loves to be tickled, giving an infectious giggle and smile.
There is huge hope for her future with the possibility of walking using a mobility frame whilst continuing to improve coordination and balance, hopefully enabling her to do more everyday things on her own.
She’s quite simply a living example of what this incredible school and residence is doing for these children. Although her life is still very restricted she’s a happy little girl who can now interact within her environment immeasurably more than she
could before. Her future is bright with possibilities which most probably wouldn't exist without SERC's help'
Sadly, her future and that of others born into similar situations could be jeopardized if the new residence cannot be built. She might not get the chance to continue to learn to walk and more.
Where You Come In
As a small organization, SERC are unable to fund the building costs. They have worked tirelessly alongside Himalayan Peoples Project - Nepal as well as other sources of funding to raise enough to build the roof, floor and walls but need further support to
complete the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen as well as installing windows and doors.
Without the extra funding the children from the previous residence and others will continue to miss out on an the education and rehabilitation to help them integrate into society and enable them to become more independent adults.
How Much Will it Cost?
The total cost - $33,000
Cost of phase one (exterior & internal walls, roof, floor & windows) - $19,000
Cost of phase two (windows, bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms & doors) - $9,000
Cost of phase three (finishing touches: paint, unessential furnishings) - $5000
Funds Contributed to Date by Himalayan Peoples Project - Nepal & SERC School - $19,000
