1. Making a Difference-One Child at a Time in Nepal
Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children

2. Nepal:
Resilient People; Amazing Landscapes;
Rich Culture; Religious & Ethnic Diversity
One of the poorest countries in the world
($730 avg. family annual income)
Population: 31 million
Official Language: Nepali
Religion: 81% Hindu; 9% Buddhist;
5% Muslim; 5% Christian & Other
Terrain: Tarai (flat river land) in south; central hill region; world’s
largest mountains in north
Age: 54% under 23 yrs; 36% 24-54; 10% over 55
Labor: Rural agriculture 75%, Tourism 18%; Light Industry 7%

4. Why We Work In Nepal
The plight of children in Nepal, one of the
poorest countries in the world, is desperate.
Many are without food, on the streets and/or
unable to go to school because they are too poor.
50% are malnourished and only 25% live with
adequate sanitation.
There are 2.6 million child laborers in Nepal.
Medical care is often nonexistent and many children do not attend school
at all or drop out before finishing high school equivalent.
Due to the devastating effects of the recent political conflict, civil war, and
earthquake, there are more children without parents to care for them.

5. Nepali Education System
Government schools charge extra fees which are too expensive for many Nepali families.
Only 4 out of 5 primary school-aged children are in school.
1 in 3 children repeat Grade 1 & 23% drop out.
When adolescent children leave school, they usually enter the workforce. Children of this age run a high risk of labor
exploitation.
72% of children in government schools fail the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) exam and can’t progress past 10th grade.
For girls, education is often viewed as a poor investment since daughters leave their family's home at marriage and the benefit of
their learning is given to someone else. If a choice has to be made, boys are given precedence.
Only 44% of women and girls are literate.
Structure
Primary (LKG – 5th Grade)
Secondary (6th- 9th Grade)
Grade 10 & SLC Exam
11-12th Grade College
University or Trade School

6. Devastating Earthquake
April 25, 2015, measured 7.8
 Killed 9,000+ people, injured 23,000+ &
displaced 450,000.
 Triggered avalanche on Mount Everest, killing
at least 19, making it deadliest day on the
mountain in history.
 Hundreds of thousands of people were made
homeless with entire villages flattened,
across many districts of the country.
 Centuries-old UNESCO World Heritage sites were destroyed.
 Over 450 aftershocks to-date measuring at least 4.0, reaching as high as 6.7 on April 26 and
a second earthquake measured 7.3 on May 12.
 Thus far, ~$5 billion (about 25% of GDP) of damage has occurred.

7. Before / After World Heritage Sites

8. Nepali People & Our Children During & Post-Earthquake

9. Post-Earthquake Humanitarian Crisis: India Blockade
 Blockade at the border began September
23, 2015.
 Severely restricting fuel & essential supplies
such as food and medicine
 Mile-long queues for fuel through
Kathmandu’s streets forces residents to burn
firewood outdoors to cook during winter
 Loadshedding reaches 18+ hours per day
 Shortages create black market; more
casualties resulting from transportation
overcrowding
 Hospitals, businesses & restaurants
shut down for lack of supplies

10. Who We Are Our Goal
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in
St. Louis, Missouri and Seattle,
Washington dedicated to helping
severely underprivileged children
in Nepal.
Mitrata provides shelter, medical
care and educational opportunities
for over 100 children.
Assist our children in becoming
healthy, educated, economically
independent Nepali citizens.

11. Our First Child: Saving the Life of a Child in Nepal
In February 2002, Christine went to a small
village in Nepal to see about a girl, Ishwori,
who was reported as homeless. After
finding her it was clear she was very sick
and malnourished. It was Ishwori’s
desperate situation that started Christine
down this path of helping children in Nepal.
Returning to Kathmandu from the village
with Ishwori, Christine wrote an email to her
friend Nancy in St. Louis, Missouri, who
became the first Mitrata child sponsor.
Ishwori became the first of many children
who receive private school education,
housing, healthcare, love and
encouragement.
After 10 years in our program, Ishwori graduated
and is working and living on her own.
Dr. Nancy Williger visiting Ishwori in 2012.
Ishwori in 2002

12. Through Personal Connections and Compassion,
We Grew One Child At a Time to 108 Children

13. How We Help
Private School sponsorships for children living
at home and in boarding school environments.
Career development and scholarships for
higher education and vocational training.
Operational support for a contact center for
street children and children of itinerant workers.
Capacity building and consultation with our partner
organization in Nepal.
Cultural travel opportunities for donors and sponsors.

14. Connect With Us
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter at /mitratanepal
Sponsor a child and create a one-on-one
connection where you will educate, empower,
clothe, feed, and care half a world away
Donate to a specific need, child or program
Volunteer time in person or from anywhere
Attend an Event in the Seattle or St. Louis areas
Become a member of our Board of Directors or
Advisory Board
Serve on a planning committee

15. MITRATA-NEPAL
FOUNDATION
FOR CHILDREN
7253 Watson Road #127
St. Louis, MO 63119, USA
info@mitrata.org (314) 325-2833
www.mitrata.org
Dr. Christine Schutz, Founder and Executive Director,
christine@mitrata.org
Alexis Mead, Director
alexis.mead@sbcglobal.net
Our Board
Officers:
Dr. Nancy Williger, President
Dr. Sandra Hoffmann, Vice President
Mike Reed, Treasurer
Jim Craig, Secretary
Directors:
Nina Balsam, JD
Ambrose Bittner
Beth Boyd, C.P.A.
Dr. Pamela Caraffa
David Floeh
Rick Hendin
Pam Hughes
Len Kannapell
Toni Schmidt
Jackie Wallach
One Child At A Time