The year of 2009 was a challenging year on the front of fundraising for NCEF. As a small independent and fully volunteer-based organization, we were affected by the declining economy. There was a noticeable decrease in donations from previous year. However, with the support of our committed and generous donors, we were able to raise $16,628.26. Private donations made up 92% of our total donation. The Mira Rana Michaud Memorial continued to be the largest contributor of private donations and accounted for 38% of the private donations amount.

We received small yet heartfelt support from children from “The Explorer’s Club”, a non-profit childcare cooperative located in a small town of Grand Marais in Minnesota. The children ranging from ages 5 through 11, prepared and served lunch to over 2 dozen invited guests and donated $210 for the children of Nepal.

As in previous years, the “Recycle for Education” project initiated by Hem Pokharel raised $230.  NCEF had participated in the google matching gifts program and received $1065 as matching gift donation.

Despite our strong presence on facebook, the donations through facebook users amounted to $185. However, on the publicity front, NCEF has opened its own account on facebook that has attracted members and fans, and continues to be one of the main information dissemination channels for NCEF.

NCEF’s long-time member Anil Pachhai represented NCEF at 2009 ANA (Association of Nepalis in America) convention. The presentation on NCEF was part of a social cause platform organized by Nepal ko Yuwa (NKY), a youth movement that comprises of Nepali youths interested in fostering initiatives to give back to communities in Nepal. The aim of the panel was to present and discuss the organizations’ vision, activities, and areas of need before a large audience. NCEF was chosen as one the organizations to presents at the forum. We hope to have reached a broader Nepali and young audience interested in educational promotion in Nepal through this participation.

We thank all our well-wishers and donors for their generous support during the times of economic difficulties.

NCEF volunteers from the US make an effort to visit NCEF-sponsored children, area coordinators, and volunteers in Nepal, whenever possible. In the past, volunteers have visited NCEF’s operation in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, Palpa and Patan and arranged outings for the children to the zoo. Towards the end of 2009, Ritu Shrestha, NCEF member based in the US, decided to meet the children and area coordinators in Kathmandu and Patan. Additionally, Ritu had the opportunity to meet Bidur Dhungana, Secretary, Hari Tripathi, Program Director of Campaign for Education (CE), Suraj Pokharel, Patan area coordinator and Sarita Gopali, area volunteer in Kathmandu who is a former NCEF student.

Opportunities like this are a great opportunity to exchange experiences between individuals working in the U.S and Nepal.  In this newsletter, we want to share with our readers Ritu’s account of her Nepal trip along with the pictures taken during the outing.

"I went to Nepal in December of 2009.  I volunteered for NCEF in Nepal in 2003 after high school but lost in touch with NCEF after coming to the United States for higher education. However, I resumed volunteering as a US based volunteer in 2009. I took the opportunity of my trip to Nepal to meet the volunteers, area coordinators, and students.  Personally, it was really exciting to get to see how the program had expanded over the last few years since I was last involved.  I was looking forward to meeting the people who stepped into my shoes and were working as volunteers in Nepal. 

After several email correspondences and phone calls back and forth, I met program director, Mr.  Hari Tripathi and Patan area coordinator Mr. Suraj Pokharel at Satdobato, outskirts of Patan, on a cold December morning.  We exchanged our experiences as volunteers for NCEF over several cups of tea. Discussion involved issues of selection processes, finances, new areas management, getting new volunteers, and organizing training programs for new volunteers.  Following the productive meeting, we organized a social/ educational outing for some of the children of Patan and Kathmandu area. However, since the outing happened towards the end of academic year, many students were either on winter break or preparing for S.L.C examination and we had a small attendance.

We were able to gather a few students and I along with along with Hari jee, Sarita Gopali took a few excited students Ujeli, Ojima and Rojina to Bhrikuti Mandap, a recreational park in Kathmandu. The children went around to see different rides and games and immensely enjoyed the ride around the park in an electric train. The children were quite shy at the beginning but later opened up and shared their experiences with us.  It was almost incredible to see Ujeli who was among one of the first few students I had worked with back in 2003.  Ujeli is now in fifth grade and still resembled the little girl I knew few years back. I was delighted to see that NCEF has continued its support through out all these years. The trip to Bhrikuti Mandap was a good bonding experience for the children and the volunteers and provided a laid back environment to discuss progress and problems at school. 

This event was much appreciated by the students and NCEF will try to continue such efforts in the future.”

About Ritu Shrestha

Ritu started volunteering from Nepal in 2003. Ritu serves on the student selection committee and has been involved with NCEF in various capacities. Ritu also served as the secretary for Nepal Women’s Global Network in 2009. She completed (2007) her Bachelor’s degree from Salem College with a concentration in Chemistry and Mathematics . Ritu is a Ph. D candidate in Chemistry at Texas A & M University.