Supporting Conflict-Displaced Children through the Umbrella Foundation Nepal©

About The Umbrella Foundation Nepal (www.umbrellanepal.org)

The Umbrella Foundation Nepal is a Nepalese-based non-profit that rescues, houses and cares for conflict-displaced and orphaned children.  Currently, the Umbrella Foundation houses 250+ children in fully staffed homes within the Kathmandu Valley. Recently, the Umbrella Foundation launched a community enrichment initiative for its children to develop the necessary educational and vocational skills to encourage their personal and professional development. The overall goal of the Umbrella Foundation is to provide the necessary health, communal and educational foundation for children that they otherwise would not receive due to the difficult circumstances in their lives. For more information, please contact Jackie Buk or Viva Bell at the Umbrella Foundation: umbrella@wlink.com.np.

How Umbrella Foundation USA is Involved

In June 2004, Bryan Van Vranken traveled to Katmandu, Nepal to volunteer in educational, agricultural and/or health-related causes. In less than two weeks, Bryan found himself living at a children’s orphanage called the “New Children’s Home” where he spent the days tending to the boys and girls daily needs (tutoring, teaching hygiene, preparing meals, playing games).

Shortly thereafter Bryan met several dedicated ex-patriots: David Stum, Sheila Lutjens, Jackie McPherson and Viva Bell (among others), who were all involved in assisting not only the “New Children’s Home” but also numerous other orphanages throughout Katmandu Valley.

After a humbling yet extremely grateful six weeks in Nepal, Bryan returned to the United States where he pursued child sponsorships and general donations for this cause in Nepal. Due to the overwhelming response from friends, family and acquaintances, Bryan incorporated Wings of the World (and now Umbrella Foundation USA) to ensure a formal US-based 501c3 was in place to facilitate charitable contributions and support US-based development efforts.

Umbrella Foundation Nepal's Work

1. Rescue and Reunification: Upon hearing of an illegal home or children in imminent danger, UFN goes together with the Child Welfare Board and law enforcement authorities to rescue them. The children, very often starved, dehydrated and traumatized, are brought to our houses, where they are taken care of while we determine the best next steps for each child. Because many of these trafficked children have living parents, UFN first and foremost works to find and reunify as many children as possible with their families from even the most remote parts of Nepal.

2. Resettlement: Children whose parents cannot be found, or whose homes are unsafe for them, are resettled into one of eight UFN homes in Kathmandu, where they receive housing, food and clothing, medical care, education and vocational training. Currently, UFN has over 350 children in its legal care; our focus is on providing an excellent education and practical vocational training, and thus a future, for these children.

3. Rejuvenation: UFN is working to rebuild an entire village outside Kathmandu in Gurje. On land formally allocated by the Nepali government for this purpose, a medical center is already being built, and over the next 3 years, a school, vocational training center, and dormitories will be built so that the children that can’t be reunified with their families can move there. The school and other services will serve the entire community. Key aspects are vocational training such as art and handicraft products (that are marketable in the west), as well as innovative farming and animal husbandry. The children that go through this training will be able to go back to their villages, and ultimately their experience should serve as a model for rejuvenation in other parts of the country, improving the lives of tens of thousands of people throughout Nepal.