The Nepal Education Fund is a locally based charity which funds poor children in Nepal to attend school through a sponsorship program.

In 2004 my daughter decided to adopt a Nepali child. The one year old little girl came from a very poor family and none of her six siblings could afford to attend school. On the first of two trips for the adoption I put the eldest boy in school which cost approximately $60. On my return I had not only enough sponsors for my new granddaughter's family but a few extra ones that we quickly found suitable children for.

NEF was born as more people at home in Canada wanted to get involved by becoming sponsors. In July 2005 we had grown to 27 children sponsored. The program at that time was being run solely by Jagat in Nepal. On my return to Nepal in September 2005 we expanded to involve a small newly formed orphanage and sponsored all 11 children there plus started fundraising at home to keep the home running. We also held a picnic for all NEF children hiring two school buses and had over 60 people attend. This was a big thrill for all the children. In January 2006 I returned to Nepal for four months staying at the orphanage and visiting families every day. I visited with all the sponsored children and also selected more for new sponsors. We also arranged for a gall bladder operation for a 14 year old boy who was quite sick.

At the time of writing we now have 77 children sponsored, over 20 in private school and three whole families sponsored with money for food and rent also. We now have sponsors in Canada, England and the US. We recently held a huge garage sale where we raised $2000. With this we were able to help some families with extra needs, paying back rent, food etc. Also now we have some money in reserve to help with extra tutoring when necessary and any emergency situation such as medical costs.

In Nepal all education has to be paid for and every child has to pay for uniforms, books etc. Sponsorships cost $75 per year for the government school and $250 for private school. The government schools are very overcrowded and the level of education is not very good but as we always say "It is better than no education at all". All money goes to the sponsored child and no money goes to administration costs.

NEF has been very successful and continues to grow. We have four people working for us in Nepal now and a growing waiting list of children to be sponsored.

My goal is to help as many children as possible in the years to come who in turn when they finish school will be able to help their families and in so doing will break the line of poverty and give hope for the future.