Samsara Ghar

Introduction

Samsara Ghar is an initiative under ARC for Nepal (AFN), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Nepali people through cultural, educational, and community-based initiatives.

The mission of Samsara Ghar is to provide a safe, nurturing, and empowering environment for disadvantaged youth in Nepal. By offering essential resources such as shelter, nutrition, and educational support, Samsara Ghar aims to enable these promising youths to pursue their education without the burden of external hardships, as is the right of every child, in hopes of creating a brighter future for themselves and their communities. 

In Nepal, countless children face overwhelming challenges that rob them of their childhood and hinder their futures. Many live in extreme poverty and lack basic necessities such as clean water, nutritious food, clothing, and shelter. Forced to prioritize survival over education, children as young as six years old are pressured to skip school in order to help their parents earn money or secure food for the day, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and child labor. The lack of enforcement of mandatory education laws in Nepal exacerbates this issue, especially for children from impoverished families and girls who face additional barriers due to gender biases. Orphans and victims of domestic violence are often left unattended and unsupported, leading to lives of uncertainty and despair

Samsara Ghar aims to address these profound issues by providing a haven where these children can find refuge, stability, and hope. By ensuring their essential needs are met, Samsara Ghar aspires to give children the freedom to focus on their education, empowering them to reclaim their childhood and aspire towards a brighter future.

Objectives

In the short term, the Samsara Ghar Temporary Home aims to provide immediate relief to young children by giving them access to shelter and removing all external factors that may hinder their access to education. By offering a safe and supportive residential environment, Samsara Ghar Temporary Home will remove children from negative circumstances such as extreme poverty, child labor, and domestic violence that hinder their development and academic potential. These circumstances often force children to prioritize survival over education, impeding their cognitive and emotional growth.

The facility will also create job opportunities for the local community, employing educators, caregivers, and support staff. This initiative not only helps the children but also boosts the local village’s economy by providing stable employment and fostering a community-wide commitment to the project's success. By engaging the local community in this effort, Samsara Ghar Temporary Home aims to create a sustainable support system that benefits everyone involved.

Looking to the future, Samsara Ghar aspires to significantly improve educational literacy across the community by shifting perceptions that undermine the value of education in the long term due to the immediate economic benefits that child labor could provide. This is especially a problem for girls in rural areas as they have to eventually leave their families and are thus not worth investing in, further perpetuating gender biases. Ultimately, Samsara Ghar aims to shift this cultural perception and seek to create a legacy of educational empowerment, transforming both individual lives and the broader community for generations to come.

Scope

Samsara Ghar recognizes several key needs that must be addressed to fulfill its mission effectively:

• Shelter: Samsara Ghar’s main feature, shelter, will ensure every child under its care is provided with a safe and enriching environment. The land on which this shelter is built is provided generously by the founder of AFN and his family. 

  The shelter will contain 22 rooms for youths, with three to four children per room, separated by gender. A dining hall will be set up so that the children and staff may eat together. A common hall will ensure kids will have space to socialize and study. Personal rooms for staff and volunteers will ensure they have privacy. Volunteers will also have their own personal bathrooms and wifi access, to ensure their ease of transition. Additional features include a computer-access library, farm, museum, playground, lawn, and auditorium. 

• Educational Support: Samsara Ghar will ensure that the children under its care attend Shree Sanskrit Janesewa Secondary School, a local institution with which ARC for Nepal has collaborated extensively. Samsara Ghar will be supporting Shree Janesewa Sanskrit Secondary School by covering 100% of the tuition costs for our residents, allowing them to focus on their academic goals without hindrance. Beyond tuition, Samsara Ghar will supply necessary educational resources such as school supplies, uniforms, and any other expenses essential for their education.

• Nutrition: Samsara Ghar Temporary Home will be providing its youths and staff with three nutritious meals a day, crucial for the healthy growth and development of young children and teens. Samsara Ghar will also be taking this opportunity to teach the children basic culinary practices and recipes, equipping them with valuable life skills outside of their education.

• Clothing: Proper clothing for all seasons will be supplied, ensuring children can thrive without worrying about harsh weather conditions. This includes regular household clothing, school uniforms, bedding, and blankets, acquired through donations and bought through financial contributions. This support is crucial for their physical well-being and self-esteem.

• Healthcare Services: Regular physical checkups will be conducted by doctors to monitor the children's health. Additionally, mental health assessments will be provided by psychiatrists and therapists, offering necessary support and interventions during the transition process as well as throughout their stay. Samsara Ghar shall follow all required guidelines set forth by health officials to ensure the health and well-being of the children in our care.

  
  

Timeline

Samsara Ghar will undergo three phases over the next three years, focusing our donation goals on different aspects of development during each phase. These phases are not necessarily sequential but represent our priorities for funding.

1. First Phase

   As construction on the Samsara Ghar is anticipated to be completed within two years, we will be commencing the project sooner with a temporary home to ensure the children do not endure prolonged hardship during the developmental phase. The temporary home will be provided by our founder. This arrangement aims to provide a stable and supportive environment for the children during the interim period until the construction of Samsara Ghar is completed.

   In the first phase, significant resources are allocated toward establishing a solid foundation for Samsara Ghar, including renovations, furniture, room furnishing, and kitchen equipment.

   Key staffing needed for smooth operation during this project includes a full-time staff responsible for basic duties, a part-time staff to take over two days a week, a warden who resides on the premises and assists with studies, and a part-time teacher.

   During the interim period of the first phase, we expect to house ten children and hope to grow by 5-10 kids every yearly.

2. Second Phase

   The second phase of Samsara Ghar focuses on constructing the permanent facility, a crucial step in providing a long-term, stable, and supportive environment for the children in our care. With the main facility in place, Samsara Ghar can offer a range of enriching opportunities that enhance the children's experiences and overall development.

   • Expanded Capacity and Facilities: The main facility will significantly expand upon the resources available in the temporary home, ensuring a comprehensive and supportive environment. Key features of the new facility include:

   • Increased Capacity: The permanent facility will have additional rooms to accommodate an extra [X] children, allowing us to extend our care to more children in need.

   • Staff and Volunteer Accommodation: Two dedicated rooms for staff and two for volunteers will be included, ensuring that those who support our mission have comfortable living arrangements.

   • Expanded Library: An enlarged library will offer a wide range of books and educational materials, fostering a love of reading and supporting academic growth.

   • Computer Lab: A state-of-the-art computer lab will provide children with access to technology, crucial for developing digital literacy skills essential in today's world.

   • Common Area: A spacious common area will serve as a central gathering place for recreational activities, group study sessions, and community-building events.

   • Playground: An outdoor playground will offer a safe and enjoyable space for physical activities, promoting physical health and social interaction among the children.

   • Auditorium: An auditorium will ensure we have the space necessary for crucial events and festivities for the community and children to take a part in.

   The construction of the permanent facility represents a significant investment in the future of the children under our care. By constructing a permanent facility, we aim to help create a safe, enriching environment where children can thrive, learn, and grow. 

3. Third Phase

   The third phase will oversee the integration of children into the main building and the continuation of our program. Samsara Ghar anticipates an increase to 15 students. At this stage, donations will be focused on ensuring the ongoing success and growth of our program.

   Key objectives of the third phase include:

   • Increasing Capacity: We will continue to admit more children to ensure we help as many as possible, providing them with a safe and nurturing environment.

   • Updated Operational and Staffing Costs: Donations will cover the increased operational costs and staffing needs associated with the growing number of children.

   • Enriched Program Offerings: We will expand the program to include talks from experts in various fields, providing the children with valuable insights and knowledge.

   • Community Integration: More events with the local community will be organized to help integrate the children and foster a sense of belonging and social responsibility.

   • Volunteer Opportunities: We will open up opportunities for students and foreigners to volunteer at our facility, promoting cultural exchange and providing additional support for the children.

   By supporting Samsara Ghar in this phase, you are contributing to the long-term sustainability and success of our program, ensuring that we can continue to provide high-quality care and opportunities for the children. We will continue to admit more children to ensure we help as many as possible, providing them with a safe and nurturing environment.

Overall Expenditure

The combined expenditure for the first two years is an estimated $700,000 including construction of the shelter and well as providing shelter, care, food, and clothing for up to 15 students. This comprehensive financial plan ensures that Samsara Ghar can provide continuous, effective support to the children, covering all necessary expenses for staffing, operations, clothing, stationery, sports, and drawing supplies, promoting their well-being and development.

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How You Can Help

We welcome support from individuals, organizations, and businesses who share our vision. Here's how you can get involved:

• Donations: Your financial contributions will help us expand and sustain the project.

• Volunteering: Join our team to offer your skills and time to the children.

• Sponsorship: Partner with us to create impactful programs and activities.

• Spread the Word: Share our mission with your networks to increase awareness and support.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please reach out to us:

• Email: empower@arcfornepal.org

• Phone: +1 (201) 519 2959

• Address: 16-37 River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ

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