Sarlahi Social Welfare Foundation

Sarlahi Social Welfare Foundation (SSWF) – (Sarlahi Samaj-Kalyan Pratisthan) was established in 2006 (2062 B.S.) in Simara VDC of Sarlahi district, a remote village in southern Nepal near Indian border. The main mission of SSWF is to reduce deprivation and inequality in the poverty-stricken rural villages of Nepal by empowering the children of the most unprivileged section of the society. SSWF specifically focuses on the empowerment of the girls from the poorest of poor of Dalit communities who have been the victim of social and political exclusion for centuries.

SSWF believes that identity, dignity and economic empowerment of an individual come through the provision of accessible Education and Healthcare. These two areas are of the greatest importance to Dalit (formerly known as Untouchable society) communities and the poorest children of rural Nepal. Therefore, SSWF focuses on providing educational opportunities and health awareness to children of Dalit and other poor families in rural Terai, where poverty and caste discrimination are endemic. Based on its success of initial years in empowering the children of Simara VDC and its vicinity, this Foundation was recognized as NRN’s District Project during the NRN Global Conference held in Kathmandu, Nepal in October 2007. Currently, this Foundation is providing education services at the village level and has already expanded its service in other village at the district level. It plans to expand this program in all villages of the district. SSWF is financially supported by Vijay K Jha (Founder) and generous philanthropic supports from some individual Non-Resident Nepalis and organizations in Nepal and abroad.

Started two and a half years ago with just 12 girl students from Dalit communities, SSWF now supports 150 students in Simara VDC and 2 other villages of Sarlahi. Based on financial availability this Foundation plans to expand the service to 500 students in more than 10 villages in coming 2 years. Also, it has set plan for District level High School Teachers Evaluation in 2009.

On health awareness front, this foundation organized a Free Medical Camp in October 2007 in Simara VDC. During this medical camp more than 1,500 people were benefited with medical services from Pediatricians, Surgeon, Ophthalmologist, Dermatologist, Pathologist, General Medical doctors, Emergency Services and free medicines. There were more than 4,000 people gathered during the medical camp, but unfortunately due to the lack of time and resources, more than half of the gathered people could not get free medical services. After the success of this free medical camp, the Foundation has planned to organize similar medical camps at different locations during the NRN Global Conference. Additionally, this foundation has already helped to make sewer canals and repair village roads.

About 80% of students are selected from deprived society (Dalits) while 20% comes from the traditionally upper-caste society. Nonetheless, these upper caste children belong to the poorest of the poor. First priority is given to the orphans. As women and girls are traditionally more suppressed in the society, girls constitute 80% of all the selected students while boys constitute 20%.

Any interested individual, private, commercial or non-profit organization can help to this Foundation. In USA, this Foundation is in the process of forming collaboration with the Social Association of Professional Nepali in America (SAPNA), whereby SAPNA can facilitate a tax exempt donation for this foundation. Donations can be made on-line by visiting SAPNA’s web site at https://www.sapnainusa.com/ or by check. Please make check payable to SAPNA with memo SSWF, and send it to:

 

Treasurer – SAPNA
9538 Pecan Glen Ct.
Houston, TX 77040
For further information, please contact Vijay K Jha [email protected] or at phone number 832-407-7077.

Vision

Sarlahi Social Welfare Foundation (Sarlahi Samaj-Kalyan Pratisthan) has a vision of reducing deprivation and inequality in the poverty-stricken rural areas of Nepal by empowering the most unprivileged section of the society: the children of Dalit communities, who have been the victim of social and political exclusion for centuries. Without eliminating the ultimate causes of caste discrimination, the vision of a just and democratic Nepal is unattainable.

SSWF believes that identity, dignity and economic empowerment of an individual come through the provision of accessible Education and Healthcare. These two areas are of the greatest importance to Dalit communities of rural Nepal. Therefore the Foundation focuses on providing educational opportunities and health awareness to children of Dalit families in rural Terai, where poverty and caste discrimination are endemic.