Life in J and K House

J and K House are located on the edge of Kathmandu, where there is fresh air and room to study and play.

The children study hard, and some of them—having never gone to school before—become academic stars. There's no complaining about school here, even when the homework at their private schools is tough. They know that a good education is the key to overcoming the disadvantages of poverty, caste, and lack of family in a society where family is everything.

That said, it's not all hard work and study for these kids. We have lots of outings, parties, and games—from mountain treks to slumber parties for the K House girls (in groups of ten) at Olga's house. We take them swimming, and occasionally, in the humid hot season, make a field trip to the ice cream parlor.

During winter holiday from school, it’s usually a 3-4 day trip to a wildlife park or into the mountains, where we enjoy deeply discounted rates. The purpose of these outings is not only to provide the kids with a good time but to give them a chance to realize that all of Nepal is not like crowded, dirty Kathmandu. It is important for them to witness the spectacular beauty of their country and to see what life is like in rural Nepal, where 80% of Nepalis live. Often, they return from these trips counting their blessings after seeing children their age carrying heavy loads of fodder and wood on their backs, compelled to do backbreaking labor from dawn to nightfall, and unable to go to school.

The little ones especially enjoy the trips to the parks, where we ride elephants to look for rhinos in the tall grass, float down the rivers in dugout canoes as crocodiles float by (cartoon- style, with only their eyes above water), and dance in the evenings around a huge bonfire. Wherever we go, people comment on how well behaved the kids are and how caring they are toward each other.

We invite you to meet some of these wonderful children. Be aware that we've changed the names to protect the kids since many of them are now miniature cyber-mavens.

Though these formerly "throwaway children" now have more than most Nepalese kids, we take great care to raise them as Nepalese, not little Americans. We celebrate the Nepalese holidays together. We also actively imbue them with a sense of social responsibility. They work in the community, sharing their own bounty. They have visited villages to help teach English and basic hygiene to local kids (toothbrushing lessons were a core part of the curriculum). On special "environmental awareness" days in Kathmandu, they're out there cleaning up the Bagmati River. These efforts seem to make a difference. We are seeing J and K House children grow up into adults with a desire to give back to their community, nation, and world. Click here for stories of how they return to the world some of the investment that NYOF—and its donors—have made in them.

Here is what one donor who visited the houses had to say: "I can tell you that you will not be able to find anywhere in the world better conditions for the good of a child than these facilities (J and K Houses) provide. One finds here the most adorable, bright children in a setting of real 'family' ambiance that provides for their entire well-being. These children are solid 'miracles of transformation' from outcasts at the bottom of the social ladder to loving, responsible, and accomplished citizens. NYOF is the vehicle of their opportunity."