Funds will continue our support for this organization, which functions as a home for abandoned children, a training center for destitute women, and an outreach program for needy families in Kathmandu, Nepal. Locally, there are few employment opportunities for women, with the main source being low-paying jobs in carpet factories, requiring long working hours.

In 2009, our $11,000 grant allowed GSM to expand the Women’s Training Program to serve 125 local women, and the Children’s Learning Center to serve 30 children. In 2010, our $16,000 grant continued our support for the 20 children living in the home (16 girls and 4 boys). Basic literacy and math classes were initiated for participants in the Women’s Training Program, and the number of 2-week workshops were increased to better serve the migrant community. With the skills learned in these workshops and classes, 25 women are now producing and marketing candles on their own.

Our support in 2011 will allow GSM to significantly increase the number of women served in the Women’s Training Program, and offer more frequent workshops. One or two more children will be admitted to the children’s home and arrangements will be made for them to attend school. The Children’s Learning Center will grow include nursery programs for children from 18 months – 5 years old; previously, the CLC was only open to children ages 6 and over. Additionally, GSM will work to obtain independent 501c3 status, and identify potential board members.

Tags: children, education: primary, education: vocational, Himalayan, Nepal, poverty, women, women & children

17 West 17th Street | 9th floor | New York | NY | 10011 | USA | info@sdrubin.org

©2008 The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation