A STABLE home for dozens of ‘desperate’ orphans in Nepal is the goal of a Coventry-based charity’s Christmas appeal.
Feed The Hungry UK, which operates from The Halo Centre in Binley, has launched a campaign to raise £50,000 to construct an accommodation block at Innovative Academy, a Christian school in Nepal which offers free education to 440 children from impoverished communities who would otherwise not have access to it.
The school, run by Pastor Ruben Rasaili, is also home to 37 orphaned children who don’t have a home of their own, living instead in three classrooms that are transformed into sleeping spaces by night.
Canon Gavin Kibble MBE, CEO of Feed The Hungry UK, said: “Pastor Ruben and the children desperately need help.
“He has been put under pressure from the Nepalese authorities who say that the orphans living on site need to have separate living accommodation and shouldn’t be living in the school classrooms.
“The authorities have even threatened to shut the academy if this cannot be achieved in time.
“The closure of the school would impact not only the orphans but all of the 440 students who receive free education there.
“Our goal is to walk alongside people, families, schools and communities on a journey from survival to stability, sustainability and finally significance.
“That’s why we, in partnership with local churches and partner organisations, create safety net programmes that provide nourishment and encourage education.”
One of the orphans, nine-year-old Udesh, lost his father two years ago, and his mother was unable to take care of him.
He said: “We were helpless and vulnerable. We were brought to the orphanage; we are blessed to be here.”
Pastor Ruben said he never imagined that the classrooms might become the only home for vulnerable children when the school first opened.
He said: “Right now, they sleep where they learn because there is no proper dormitory.
“That makes me ache. A school should be for hope and education, not for uncertainty.
“By building a dedicated orphan-house on site, we’re not just giving these children a roof and walls – we’re giving them dignity, security, and a place to truly belong.
“It will be a stable home where they can grow in confidence and dream of a brighter future. Please, join us in making this a reality – your gift today can transform lives forever.”
Visit https://fth.org.uk/orphans to donate. Visit https://feedthehungry.org.uk for more information about the charity.
