Bridges Nepal UK Trust Newsletter 7 March 23

• Community development projects are a big step.
• In addition, our partners seek to be actively involved in the lives of people at risk of trafficking and exploitation.
• Late last year they extended their reach into a new area, following a community conference they were invited to speak and give “trainings” to young people in several remote mountainous villages.

Family Education Project

The new school year commenced in October and the children were so happy and excited to see us and our partners visit them. This year they each received a lovely warm new fleece for the coming winter as their school uniforms are still usable but not warm enough.  In addition, their school fees are being paid. Thank you so much for your generosity towards these children. Getting an education is one of the biggest ways we can protect them from exploitation and decrease their vulnerability to trafficking.
 
Please consider making a regular donation of £10 per month to help support each child in a family, our Bank Details are below, please request a gift aid declaration form if you are a tax payer to further increase the impact of your support.
 
If you pray, please continue to pray that they study well, and that their parents can support them through their studies.

When one of our trustees visited in April 2023 she noted that the Smart Phone era had reached our villages.
 
This presents another channel for traffickers to manipulate the vulnerable. Later in the year one of the young people in the Family Education Programme disappeared and she was being groomed via a social media account that she had been given. We are happy to report that with the ongoing help of the legal authorities and other agencies she is being supported to return to her grandparents and community. Her Grandparents are the couple that suffered a gas bottle fire explosion, which destroyed their home a number of years ago. Only by the on going support from you readers and the ongoing work by our partners can we report this encouraging news.

Water Project update

In October we were finally able to officially open the water tank in Bhadragaun! This brings a secure access to water to the villagers following their relocation due to damage caused in the 2015 Earthquake. As chairman of Bridges Nepal UK Trust, Neil Ambler went out to visit. He had the privilege of cutting a ceremonial ribbon on the tank as well as all the taps that are dotted around the village. The people are so happy and grateful to you our supporters, especially the children who now only have walk a short distance to collect water before they head off to school.

The permanent pipes have not yet been laid down, so water is being redirected from another nearby tank temporarily until the pipes are in place. We hope this will happen very soon despite the challenges of the landowner of the spring hiking his price for access, as well as delays to government support and the increased costs of taking source water from another location further away.

Tailoring Project

Good news on this front too, we have started the shop, with Menuka at the helm in the shop. We have had good sales so far as well as a few appointments for tailoring.
 
Menuka came from a place of vulnerability to exploitation in a hostel in Kathmandu. She needed further training which she progressed through on the tailoring front and in other life skills. She has now been made safe, learning from and living with our partners.
 
Following this time of growth and development, she is returning to her village with new skills, and has been set up with a tailoring facility in the village to support her family. Her parents are now looking for a safe and secure arranged marriage for her.

Future Projects