Newsletter
October-December 2008
Dear Friends of FFN
Let me begin by thanking you all for your continued support of FFN and the Nepalese cause!
The last 3 months have been quieter than usual, with the FFN sponsored children on Dashain and Tihar holidays during October. However, progress on our project work is continuing apace, with our fully-FFN funded Prayas street child programme in Thamel becoming more established. The drop-in-centre is now caring for over 20 street children every day, with the half-way home also providing accommodation for an additional 6.
I truly believe that this street child project is one of the most important programmes FFN has supported. Helping to persuade street children to leave drugs and re-enter formal education is extremely difficult; it is fraught with numerous failures and small successes, stretching the resilience of even the most determined of individuals. Faced with such challenges, many organizations in Nepal have abandoned any attempts to help these street children. Those programmes that are currently running ignore the Thamel street kids as they are, by notoriety, the hardest to reform (with Thamel being the tourist hub of Kathmandu, street children in this area have easy access to free food, money and drugs). Rather than shying away from a difficult task, I am proud to say that FFN and Prayas are rising to the challenge. Although it is still very early days, progress is being made.
If this project continues to be successful, I believe that this model can be replicated by other NGOs throughout Nepal. I sincerely hope that there will come a day when I no longer meet 11-year old children, who HIV positive and addicted to heroin, see the streets as their home!
I am happy to announce that with the confirmation of our Durham University Himalaya Expedition for next summer, funding for the street child programme is now in place until 2010.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your generosity in the current difficult economic climate, and to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
As ever, should any of you have any queries about FFN or our activities, please feel free to contact me anytime.
Many Thanks,
Take care,
Tom Wells
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