Organization: The Ama Foundation

Focus Areas:	Children, Education, Human Rights, Poverty
Countries Served:	Nepal

Description of Services:
Ama Foundation currently supports Ama Ghar and a community scholarship program. Ama Ghar now provides home, health care, education and career development for 46 children. After high school, staff members help children transition into higher education or the work force, creating independence while still providing the support of a family. The new Ama Ghar, an environmentally sustainable building that opened in November, 2011, will allow us to grow our family to 75 children over the next few years. Since we provide higher education for children who qualify, we are very challenged in raising funds for college and vocational training.
History:
Ama Ghar was co-founded by Shrawan Nepali, who spent part of his childhood at the Paropokar orphanage in Kathmandu. He was fortunate to have the support of his godmother, Ama Tika Basnett, who encouraged and helped him during the darkest times of his life. Assisted by Peace Corps volunteers, Shrawan was educated in the U.S. but he never forgot those less fortunate that he left behind in Nepal. With co-founders Ama Tika Basnet and Shekhar Silwal, he formalized his vision and opened Ama Ghar in 2001; the first 14 children arrived at Ama Ghar during that year. Now, 10 years later, Ama Ghar has grown to a family of 46 children and 7 staff members. Four of our children have graduated and started a new life on their own.
Accomplishments & Progress:
Four of our children have graduated to successful lives on their own in the fields of health care, child care and tourism. We have just built a new environmentally sustainable home that can house 75 children. All of our children are successful in their English-speaking schools, and many of them have been awarded national honors in the arts.