Child Bright Orphanage, Kathmandu
The Unforgotten Fund is proud to be continuing our work started a year ago with the Child Bright Orphanage in Kathmandu. This project, first presented by our newest Board Member Aaron Skalka, aims to give back to the unparented children at the Child Bright Orphanage and provide them with the basics in life and a safe place to learn and grow.
Aaron is the very proud father of two children adopted from Nepal. Since 2010, he has worked diligently to support unparented children in the Kathmandu Valley and beyond through various projects. His son was adopted from Child Bright and since then Aaron and his family have felt a connection and a deep appreciation for the orphanage that raised his son and the children that are still there. Established in 2005, with the vision of ensuring a bright future for disadvantaged children, Child Bright has successfully provided housing, education, and a close-knit family to children, fostering their growth into adulthood. Aaron returns multiple times a year to Nepal and every time he visits the orphanage and helps with as many projects as he can. When speaking of Child Bright, he often mentions the debt he cannot repay them for raising and protecting his son; and how hard it is to leave after visiting and knowing that there are still children there that need help.
Aaron was first connected with the Unforgotten Fund through Bishnu, our PSD partner that assists with operating the Unforgotten-Nepal Child Wastepicker Program. He admired that we are a volunteer organization with no overhead, so all donations go back into the field for the children. Through the Unforgotten Fund Aaron has been fundraising for various capital projects for the orphanage and to assist with yearly operating costs for the 21 children currently in their care. Operating costs are currently split with a Swiss charity.
Aaron has made two trips to Nepal this past year and some of the capital projects that have been funded include renovations to the bathrooms, including a new septic system with a new tank and refurbished plumping throughout the orphanage. The orphanage has also been supplied with new beds and linens for the children, as well as a new roof, and most of the earthquake damage has been fixed.
Moving forward into this year we are excited to announce The Unforgotten Fund has received a $2,000 grant from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation to help support capital projects at Child Bright. We are continuing to fundraise for this program, in particular we are asking donors for support with supplying laptops to the children that they can use for their school work. The aim is to provide 6 laptops at a cost of $1,500 each.
When asked one thing Aaron would like donors to know about regarding Child Bright, he said the following: Child Bright much like Nepal is such a kind and wonderful place and all the children need is to ensure they have the basics for life covered so they can focus on their future and move away from a life of poverty. Donations to Child Bright provide numerous dividends to help a child truly succeed in this life.
It is our hope that in the future, for those child wastepickers in Kathmandu that desperately need guardians and a home, that Child Bright can fill that need.
(Orphanage Project Director, Nepal)
For more information please reach out to Aaron at : aaron.skalka@unforgotten.org
In addition, we would like to mention that the adoption of Aaron’s daughter in Nepal is currently paused and has been held up by the State Department for the past 8 years. To learn more and support his adoption process please visit his petition.