FRIENDS OF HIMALAYAN CHILDREN

Empowerment through education

"Our volunteer administration ensures nearly 95% of funds raised go directly to supporting disadvantaged children in regional Nepal."

Home-grown talent rewarded

Kirsty Nancarrow with FHC staff
In October, Kirsty Nancarrow, author of Himalayan Dreams: The Story of Som Tamang, spent 10 days in Batase Village with her husband Shaun, reconnecting with their sponsor girls Rabeena Chalise and Jenisha Tamang, and many others featured in the book.

During their stay in the village, Kirsty and Shaun were so impressed by FHC’s Hostel Mother Manisha Tamang’s commitment that they crowdfunded to pay for her teaching degree. Manisha looks after the children in the Hostel and helps with their continued schooling outside of school hours.
Kirsty explains “Manisha wants to teach at the Batase School and this is exactly what the community needs – home-grown teachers.”

A common problem in regional areas is to find teachers willing to stay committed to the school so training local people to become teachers is one solution.
Kirsty and Shaun have been sponsoring Rabeena Chalise for eight years and she made them proud, speaking at the Nepal launch of Himalayan Dreams at The Australian Embassy in Kathmandu. Rabeena has recently been accepted into the ’Women Lead Nepal’ program.

FHC members Anil (President), Dinesh, and Sukuman also attended the talk and connected with the new Ambassador, Her Excellency Leann Johnston, who is interested in visiting Batase.

Kirsty also delivered a talk about FHC’s work at a special meeting of the Rotary Club of Balaju, which has partnered with Rotary Cairns Sunrise to raise funds through the RAWCS program to complete the Batase School. She held another book launch in Singapore on her way home.

You can watch some of Kirsty’s talks and videos from Nepal on her YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@KirstyNancarrow

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