Nepal
Village of Hope
The Nepal Village of Hope was founded in 2005 in a mountainous area outside of Kathmandu. This safe and caring environment was built to house women and teens trafficked both domestically and internationally in neighboring India. Through funding from Shared Hope, the Nepal Home actively provides safe housing for 11 women and 15 children. They also work hand-in-hand with the India Village of Hope outreach teams, receiving Nepali victims rescued on the streets of Mumbai. This beautiful partnership ensures that women are returned to their own culture and home area for healing.
Despite experiencing strong social stigmas, these young women are given an opportunity to rebuild their lives in a safe, remote environment through counseling, biblical guidance, health care, HIV/STD treatment, informal education and vocational training. Over time, they have grown in confidence and independence, allowing them to leave campus for shopping, medical services or errands in town. These emotional milestones are proven traits of an all-star rehabilitation program. Most recently, Shared Hope celebrated the marriage of a Village of Hope resident, an event that will forever be remembered by all with hearts of joy and hope in a future full of promise. Her story of love and redemption is an encouragement to all women in Nepal who have become victims of the sex trade.
In 2009, Shared Hope was pleased to begin funding a new component to Nepal’s Home of Hope – formal education for the campus’s 14 school-age children. This critical investment in their education will reduce their chances of being lured into unsafe environments or exploitive situations. One student, Manisha, became the first Hope child to graduate high school, securing a job immediately as a teacher at the same Christian school. Shared Hope is so proud of her accomplishments and confident that she will be a shining example for her fellow students.
Women's Investment Network
Through the WIN program funded by Shared Hope, residents study a variety of skills: embroidery, candle-making, beadwork, bag-knitting, card-making, cosmetology or farming. These essential life skills are provided with the goal of empowering women to lead fully-restored self-sustaining lives. Women are taught financial and business management skills along with marketing. They learn how to monitor quality and hone creativity.
Capitalizing on their unique partnership, Nepal and India Villages of Hope share their excellence in workmanship with each other. Susan, a Nepali resident who excels at embroidery, journeyed to India to help train their residents in this handicraft. Additionally, she has been hired by a local NGO in Nepal to train women in the community. These accomplishments are a wonderful testament to her personal and professional development through the Village of Hope’s restoration programs.