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The Project
Children with a mental handicap
In countries like Nepal, the situation for mentally handicapped children is especially difficult. Often they are living in remote villages with no one to help them or support their parents. Often the families are poor or broken and the parents struggle to make ends meet. In studying the situation of mentally handicapped children in Nepal and the services available them, our organization found miserable conditions. They are a neglected and abandoned group without any rights. Many local and foreign organizations are setting up projects for people with needs but hardly any of them advocate for children with mental disability. Thus our project was born: we decided to start a project by ourselves, helping at least a few of these children. 2011
From the first of February we totally converted our Resident home in a Daycare center. We came up with the Daycare program to make the parents more involved and active. It’s important that they share the responsibility for their children. Also we could increase the number of children, who can benefit from our support and could start admitting girls as well. These days’ ten children come to Maitri Griha for the Daycare. Some come by foot; others get picked up by car. By 9.30 the class can begin and the children get lectures, physiotherapy and a warm meal at lunchtime. At 4 p.m. the day ends and the children go back home.
The home visiting program it is going well. Most of the children that got a home visit from Geeta, our physiotherapist, are now admitted in the Daycare. Still there are five children who get their physiotherapy at home twice a week.
On the 23rd of September we attended a program of the Rotary Club of Kathmandu midtown in which a van was handed to our project Maitri-Griha to make an efficient Daycare program. It was pleasure for all of us to attend this program and interact regarding the project activities.
We are very much thankful for all the National and International Rotary members and people who are directly or indirectly involved and gave lots of effort to make our proposal succeed. We will do our best to make the best out of this donation and will try to extend our helping hands to more areas where our help is needed.2010
In 2010 we extended our home visiting programme to nine children who are receiving physiotherapy from Geeta three times a week in their homes. In co operation with “Gharsita Mutu” a candle making program was implemented for the boys in Maitri Griha. After our staff were trained in candle making, they taught the boys how to make candles. This year we sent two children back to their homes. One of the boys, Ram, is working now as a Thanka painter and earning his own money. We welcomed three new boys to our Maitri Griha. One of the boys is coming for day programs so there are still seven residents living in Maitri Griha at the moment.2009
In 2009 we were very happy that Geeta, one of our caretakers, enrolled in the physiotherapy program at the CP-school in Dhapakhel. After a 6 month program she offered physiotherapy to the boys at Maitri Griha and started a home visitation programme. Now we also have the ability to help girls in need at their homes thanks to Geeta. This year we welcomed one new boy. We sent one of the original Maitri Griha residents, Hari, to another children's home called “Swarga”. This new home can offer him more opportunities for further development. All the children at Swarga join in regular school programs.2008
Since April 2008 we've had a classroom and a physiotherapy treatment room on the upper floor of our building. In addition to the two full-time caretakers there is also a teacher coming for three hours in the afternoon. She is teaching classes to the children to help them develop their intellectual abilities. Each child has some duties and daily household chores. This helps their physical development. The physically handicapped boys are receiving daily physiotherapy from one of the caretakers.2007
In 2007 the set-up of the little home was completed. Since then we have focused on helping the children develop skills so that they can be reintegrated into their families. This year three boys could leave “Maitri Griha” and return to their families. Given that he grew up mainly on the streets, we are especially pleased with the progress made by Dhirga. He is now living at home with his family. Three new boys have joined us at Maitri Griha. At the moment there are seven boys living in “Maitri Griha” and one boy, coming for the day care.2006
In May 2006 we started our project “Maitri Griha” by renting a house and counselling families struggling to raise mentally handicapped children. Once the centre was established, people contacted us to inform us about mentally handicapped children living under challenging conditions in their areas. We took these children into our home, providing them with food, shelter and care. This provision was more than most of these children had ever received. In the beginning we had to improvise: we had no beds, furniture, or even enough clothing for all of the children. But we made sure there was always sufficient food and a warm family-like atmosphere where the boys could relax and begin to enjoy childhood free of stigma. During those first few months we set up the project and renovated the first floor flat in order to rent it to tourists to generate income for the centre.
Our organisation
"Maitri Griha" is run under the management of Buddha Jyoti Himalayan Youth Club Nepal (BJHYC). BJHYC is a non-profit organization, which has been working in the sector of social service over the last four years. It is a government-registered organization and works in co-operation with the Social Welfare Council.Goals and Mission
Our main aims for this project are:- To provide an atmosphere of love, acceptance and personal care.
- To empower the handicapped people\'s potential to grow, to help them achieve personal independence and to live with respect and dignity.
- To give counseling, guidance, emotional and social support to the parents and family members.
- To promote service for mentally handicapped people in general.
- To rehabilitate mentally handicapped people in the community.
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