Questions
Nepal
Nepal is a landlocked country in Asia located between India to the south, and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north.
The population of Nepal is 29.3 million. 80% of the population lives in rural villages.
Source: https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/nepal-population/
In Nepal 81% of the population is Hindu, 9% are Buddhist, 4.2% are Muslim and 3.1% are Kirat. Christians make up 1.4% of the population.
Source: 2011 Nepal Census
The official language of Nepal is Nepali. According to the 2011 census taken in Nepal, 81,447 people or 0.3% of the population speak English as a second language.
The national flag of Nepal is the world's only national flag that is not rectangular in shape. The flag is a combination of two pennants. The blue border symbolizes peace and harmony, while the red is Nepal's national color, and symbolizes the brave spirt of the Nepalese people. The moon symbolizes that the Nepalese are soothing and calm, and the sun symbolizes their fierce resolve.
The Nepalese rupee (NPR) is the national currency of Nepal. Occasionally, vendors in Nepal will accept other currencies, like US dollars and euros. One US dollar is worth about 118 rupees.
Child Development Nepal
Child Development Nepal currently has six Learning Centers, all in the district of Dahding. We have plans to launch more Learning Centers in the districts of Chitwan and Kaski.
Child Development Nepal is operating on a shoestring budget of $153,600 USD ($12,800 monthly). 93.5% of our budget goes to programming, which includes food, fuel, materials, transportation and Nepali salaries. The remaining 6.5% is spent on administration which includes payments to New Horizons Foundation for processing donations. Fundraising costs are covered by volunteers and outside organizations.
Our organization was originally founded as VisionTrust Nepal in February 2015 just before the devastating April 2015 earthquake that claimed more than 8,000 lives. The child-focused development ministry turned to initial relief efforts in Nepal’s Dhading district in the days and months after the earthquake. This relief work laid a vital foundation for community and church relationships to launch learning center-based children’s ministry with a focus on whole person discipleship impacting the health, education and spiritual development of impoverished children in difficult remote places.
In 2020, the organization changed it's name to Child Development Nepal and continues to operate with the same team and leadership passionate about reaching children in Nepal but with an even greater community development emphasis for difficult places and remote people.
There are multiple team members in the USA that help the Nepali team. Our Country Advocate is Dr. Chris Houts who has served since 2015 as global pediatric health coach and as leadership assistant to our Country Director, Buddhi Man Shakya. Matt Storer worked hard to establish the team in 2015 and now serves as our organizational expert for Asia and ministry mentor. Luke and Maisie Knowles were instrumental in founding the ministry, and continue to be involved.
New Horizons Foundation serves Child Development Nepal as our 501c3 charitable organization receiving and processing donations and gifts, as well as assisting us with wire transfers of organization funding to Nepal.
They also function to help us maintain the highest financial integrity standards. New Horizons Foundation has been honored with the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. See NewHorizonsFoundation.com for more information.
Please pray for the children in our programs health and safety and protection. Pray that each boy and girl will grow intellectually and spiritually. Our dedicated team desires your prayers for wisdom and stamina and abiding joy as they serve our children and their communities.
The best ways to stay up to date on what is happening with Child Development Nepal is to like us on Facebook , follow us on Instagram and sign up for our Newsletter.