breaking down barriers to education: a message Of Thanks from binsa
Thank you for being a part of this community–and for your generous support that breaks down barriers and helps students, like Binsa, reach for her dreams.
There are still 31 girls who don’t have access to sanitary supplies. You can still help. $2.85 will cover costs for one girl. Your donation of $14.25 will provide for 5 girls; $28.50 will keep 10 girls in school for the entire year.
*Binsa’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.
Guess who’s turning 10?
SuMa ASP was the first program of its kind in Nepal. The After-school program’s curriculum was specifically designed to meet the needs of children living in impoverished circumstances in Nepal, to spark their curiosity and foster a love of learning.
Happy Nepali New Year 2081
SUMA STUDENTS WANTED TO SEND YOU ALL A SPECIAL NEW YEAR MESSAGE!
Happy New Year 2081 is written like this ➡️ नयाँ वर्ष 2081 को शुभकामना ⬅️ in Nepali.
It is pronounced “Naya Barsha 2081 ko Subhakamana”. Try to listen for it in the video!
(We recommend watching in full screen!)
A Year-End Message from Nepal
There are 54 students still in need of warm clothing and a daily meal to make it though the Nepali winter.
Can you help one?
Maya Donates Her Birthday
I received the sweetest message and just had to share it with you. 💕
But first, a little bit of backstory…12 years ago, when I was new to Nepal, I met Yamen. Like me, he was working for a local NGO and falling in love with the people and beauty of Nepal.
We became good friends, and even after leaving Kathmandu, he for Poland and me for the United States, we stayed in touch.
Fast forward 5 years, Yamen had a precious baby girl, Maya. To celebrate her birth, I sent a gift––a white baby blanket with her name engraved on it. That beautiful baby girl is now a wonderful, kindhearted 10-year-old. How do I know? Take a look at the message Yamen sent me.
Jehan,
Hope this message finds you well, I wanted to share this story with you…
Some time ago Maya asked me about a white blanket she has with her name on it, she remembered it was always her favorite blanket since she was little.
So I told her a story about my journey to Nepal (once again) but this time in a different context, about an amazing friend I met, who started a non-profit organization and named it Sunsar Maya (which eventually inspired her mother and me when choosing a name for her). I told her that she got that blanket from you 10 years ago, shipped especially from the US.
Time went by and her birthday was coming up, so when we started talking about what presents she'd like to have, she said, "I already have more than I want. For this birthday I want to fundraise for Sunsar Maya and with this, thank Jehan for the blanket and help other girls in Nepal". That has put this moment in my top 10 proudest moments in my parenthood career :)
Long story short, Maya and Lara (they had a joint birthday party) fundraised yesterday $300 for Sunsar Maya that was donated today.
I have a feeling that this is just a start of something bigger to her path on helping others.
Yamen
I admit it, I teared up when I received Yamen’s note. I am so grateful for our friendship that has lasted so many years. I am humbled to know that Sunsar Maya inspired Maya’s name! And I am grateful for Maya’s thoughtfulness and generosity.
As I often say, this community is filled with Rock Stars 🌟—people like Maya and people like you—coming together to make Sunsar Maya’s mission possible.
If you’re interested in “donating your birthday,” head to the ‘Get Involved’ section of Sunsar Maya’s website for a few ideas or just reply to this email. I’m happy to help. 😊
Manish recites his poetry
Manish is a writer. He loves to create poetry and write short stories. He loves bringing his imaginary world to life.
It’s quite possible that one of the world’s greatest writers is actually a 10 year old boy living in Nepal.
You can change Manish’s life. You can give him the tools and support he needs to create a better life…and to write a different story.
Nehan’s Story As Told by Sweta Pokharel, In-Country Director
Nehan* was about 31 years old when she first started attending Sunsar Maya Women’s Literacy program. She had a warm smile and a bubbly personality, but I sensed a sadness in her eyes.
During a Women’s Day celebration, I encouraged the women in the program to share their stories with the group. I believe we can learn a lot from each other and we were particularly fortunate to have women of all levels and ages attending our classes.
As Nehan began to share her story, it was clear that her life was not easy. She talked about her financial struggles—how difficult it was to make ends meet and care for her children. She also shared that her husband had been verbally abusive, in part because she was illiterate.
Her spirit was broken and she expressed a lot of shame and anger about her situation.
But there is a saying, if you want to achieve something, keep going and one day you will achieve it. In Nehan’s case, she wanted an education and Sunsar Maya provided that. She worked hard every day and over time, she learned a lot. Her self-esteem improved and so did her relationship with her husband.
Nehan’s new goal is to open a small shop so that she can help support her family and provide a quality education to her children.
*Names are changed for privacy.
Special message from ginger colton
My name is Ginger Colton and I'm a co-founder and Board member of Sunsar Maya. I wanted to answer one of the questions Jehan is most often asked, "How did Sunsar Maya get started?"
In 2011 I was in Kathmandu, working for a local NGO when I met Jehan. The two of us worked together during the day, and when we got home, we’d talk for hours about our love of Nepal, the children we were working with (our shared passion for children is what brought us both there), and our cravings for the desserts back home. We became fast (and life-long) friends, along with Santiago and James, who were working for the same NGO.
Over a lot of chai tea (and a few beers) the four of us talked about what we could do to support the communities we'd come to care so much about. Those conversations were the beginning of Sunsar Maya. I can still remember the day we finally came up with the name, which means "World of Love" in Nepali.
We started out providing scholarships to children living in some of the institutional homes we worked with. That first year, a small (but mighty) Sunsar Maya community made it possible for dozens of children to go to school! Over time, we realized a more holistic effort was needed, and in 2014 we launched the SuMa After-School program. It was the first program of its kind in Nepal, offering hands-on STEM learning, a daily meal, healthcare, and a lot of love to children who were lacking so much.
As the years have passed and this community has grown, many more milestones have followed. (Check out our timeline!)
I feel an incredible sense of gratitude to have been a part of Sunsar Maya’s beginning. And I am so proud of the way this community has come together to empower vulnerable women and children in Nepal to build pathways out of poverty.
I know personally the impact Sunsar Maya's programs have on the lives of women and children––impact that is only made possible with your support.
Thank you for being a part of the vision four friends had all those years ago, and for creating positive, lasting change.
With gratitude,
Ginger
P.S. Help the women and children of Sunsar Maya reach more milestones.
mid-year update
We're only half-way through the year, but the women and children of Sunsar Maya have made so much progress thanks to the generosity of this community.
Support the next 6 months
Meet laputi
When Laputi first joined our SuMa Women’s Literacy Program in 2017, she could barely identify her letters and was unable to do simple math problems. Today, not only is she excelling in math, she is reading and writing in both Nepali and English. And the most incredible news…
Laputi opened her own business—a small retail shop where she sells clothes, shoes, and everyday necessities.
Manisha’s Journey - From Student to Teacher
Manisha first came to SuMa After-School five years ago, as an 11-year-old student. Throughout her years in the program she studied a range of subjects, from art to science.
Now in 11th grade, Manisha is working as an intern with Sunsar Maya–sharing what she has learned with our current students! Once she finishes school, she plans to go to university and pursue a graduate degree.
Watch below to see Manisha share her story.
SuMa Teachers’ Wishes for 2021
Donate here to make their 2021 wishes come true: https://www.sunsarmaya.org/2020-end-o...
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SuMa After-School Students' Wishes for 2021
Will you empower our students to create their own miracles by investing in their education? https://www.sunsarmaya.org/2020-end-o...
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunsarmaya
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunsarmaya/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sunsarmaya
Moms Against Poverty Funds 3 Months of Emergency Aid for 100 Families
As the global coronavirus pandemic continues, a sustained commitment to our communities has never been more important. At the time of writing, Nepal has nearly 19,000 confirmed cases, however, that number is thought to be much higher due to limited testing capabilities. Beginning in March, a nationwide lockdown closed all but essential businesses. Many families–including those in our communities–have struggled to meet their basic needs.
In April, we made the call for support and so many around the world stepped up, including Moms Against Poverty (MAP). MAP’s generosity is enabling us to provide food, cooking and cleaning supplies to ensure three meals a day, every day, for 100 families through August.
Our staff have been conducting weekly check-ins with families to determine their needs. Thanks to the generous support of MAP, our staff has the resources needed to keep parents and children as safe and healthy as possible during a challenging time.
“The lockdown has of course been really hard for us. We were constantly worried about how to feed the family as the lockdown continued, and there was zero possibility that anyone could go out and earn a living...I feel grateful to share that the aid from Sunsar Maya has helped us feed the family.” - Dip, community member
Thank you, Moms Against Poverty!
Sunsar Maya's COVID-19 Emergency Relief
Thanks to everyone who has helped to provide life-saving support for vulnerable people in our communities. Since April, our Sunsar Maya family has:
Provided regular food and supplies to 300 families–over 1,300 people
Helped our SuMa After-School and Women’s Literacy students continue their education during lockdown by providing at-home learning packets and materials
Helped reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Nepal by ensuring families have their basic needs met, and can successfully practice social distancing
From our entire Sunsar Maya family, thank you.
A Few of Their Favorite Things
As we reflect on the year, our students wanted to share a message with you.
Manisha’s Journey - From Student to Teacher
Manisha first came to SuMa After-School five years ago, as an 11-year-old student. Throughout her years in the program she studied a range of subjects, from art to science.
Now in 11th grade, Manisha is working as an intern with Sunsar Maya–sharing what she has learned with our current students! Once she finishes school, she plans to go to university and pursue a graduate degree.
Watch below to see Manisha share her story.
Sunsar Maya Profiled on Janata Televesion
Staff and students at our centers were delighted to welcome a crew from Nepal’s Janata Television recently. The network created a lovely and informative segment featuring SuMa After-School and SuMa Women’s Literacy, highlighting how Sunsar Maya is making a difference in the lives of Nepali students of all ages.