In the Works
Below are two larger projects on The ISIS Foundation’s ‘wish list’ for 2008 in Nepal. These projects are currently being designed and implemented. The people at ISIS are very excited that these projects, and others that are only awaiting funding, may become a reality in 2008 as a result of funding that the dedicated Members of the Kathmandu Kids Club will generate.
ISIS Children’s Home for Ethnic Tibetan Children
In 2008 ISIS will open at least one home for children from the upper reaches of Humla, the mountainous district in which they work. These children are at grave risk from the violence of the civil war, which rages around them and has depleted their families’ resources in the villages.
ISIS will be undertaking international research on best practice in supporting internally displaced children, so that they can run their own home for children from Upper Humla. Dr. Haddix McKay, ISIS Humla and Research Manager, has already begun this process in the USA. She and Anna Howe, ISIS Kathmandu Projects Manager, will also be talking with leaders from the Humli community to get their views on how such a home should best be run, in a way which preserves culture and provides a safe, happy home for the children.
Once ISIS has defined and agreed the basic principles on which this home should operate, they hope to provide education, food, tutoring, cultural events, and a loving environment for up to 60 children. They also hope to link the children back to their villages, by keeping them in touch with their parents, and providing families with accommodation to come and visit their children in Kathmandu.
They estimate that such a home will cost us about US$1 500 per year, per child, to run.
A Resource and Training Centre for Non-Profit Organisations in Kathmandu
In 2008 ISIS will be registering as an International Non-Government Organisation in Nepal. When that is finalised, they would like to expand in Kathmandu, opening an office which will serve both as a working space for staff, and as a resource centre for smaller partner-organisations.
ISIS hopes to employ a full-time Accountant and an Office Secretary, who would work for them as well as their partner-organisations. The Accountant in particular is needed to help partner-organisations better manage their accounts, to run training courses, and to work (perhaps) with a volunteer accountant from overseas to develop a ‘how to’ manual on managing finances in Nepali charities. They will need furnishings and IT for this office, so that ISIS and their partner-organisations can access a comprehensive library, computers, a photocopier, phones, fax, and scanner. Many organisations with whom ISIS works do not have these resources, and they really need support and guidance to prepare submissions for funding, design programmes, and access international resources via the web.
To set up and run such an office/resource centre will probably cost around US$15 – 20,000 in the first year, excluding staff salaries.
