With the Integrated Family Aid Programme (IFAP), we are targeting widows with dependent daughters. The civil war currently experienced in Nepal is leaving a large number of mothers without husbands and their children without a father. Where a woman with children migrates from a rural to an urban area, there is a reluctance to acknowledge that she is a widow even where that is the case. Such women are then stigmatized and become the most vulnerable among the disadvantaged. All to often these women and their children (particularly their daughters) are forced to lead a life beset with material want and physical abuse. By targeting this group, we are also targeting the most underprivileged and vulnerable girls and women in Nepal.... those who either are already on the street or are likely to end up there – rag-picking, as bonded/child laborers' or beggars, the victims of violence, exploitation, sexual abuse, forced prostitution or trafficking. The goal of our work is to intervene before the women and girls find themselves in such circumstances.

OUR PHILOSOPHY:
We are approaching these challenges in a holistic way, which is pragmatic, direct to the beneficiary, un-bureaucratic, de-institutionalized and cost effective. We are setting up our target groups in the midst of a community because we believe that this is the best way to reintegrate them back into society and to aid/prepare them to become independent and socially adapted adults. What we mean when we say ‘holistic’ is that we are considering all aspects of the human being and her inter-connectedness and inter-dependence, her constant interplay with her natural and social environment. We aim to treat the situational challenges by looking at the causes of the problems not just the symptoms.

 
ADAPTABILITY has always been the key for survival of the human race and it is the key for survival in this present conflict. Children have a strong ability to adapt to situations in order to survive. Ever so often a child who has been institutionalized for a longer period will lose her ability to adapt, her creativity, and will become dependent. Children who are in institutions and orphanages may well have to leave when they reach the age of 16/18 and may well not be prepared to cope with independence and the potential for ‘problems` that reappears and they could be faced with exploitation, abuse, violence, drugs and prostitution once again. Our approach aims to strengthen their ADAPTABILITY and to make them INDEPENDENT.

THE CONCEPT:
The IFAP program was started with a young widow with four daughters. We have provided this family with adequate rental accommodation, a garden, and a sufficient monthly living allowance. We are also meeting the cost of decent schooling for the girls and in due course, we will arrange for them to receive vocational training or tertiary studies when the time comes. The family lives independently from our organization, as a SELF-ORGANIZING entity, yet enjoys all of the advantages we offer: Healthcare, psychological care as well as advice and support in all aspects of life. In return we ask that the mother take two or three other girls from similar circumstances into her household, to be treated as members of the family.
 
We began this programme as a pilot one in the year 2000. The seven beneficiaries of this pilot project, the mother with her 4 daughters and two foster girls from our target group are now like one family. They have all benefitted enormously. Being able to enjoy a safe, secure and loving family environment has done wonders for them all. They are filled with self-confidence and all are respected and appreciated members of their community. They live a normal life and they learn how to cope and function in society.
In the year 2007/2008 we were able to establish the fourth IFAP respectively fifth family composed of 7 girls and one mother. Both of these families too are doing extremely well and all are happy!
We are now, December 2009, in the process to establish family six.
The amount needed to provide for a family in this way is around € 300,- per month ( €37.50 per beneficiary). This money will benefit the families directly. No-or only very few extra-costs are involved given that the “Day-Care-Centre” with our whole network of support is already in place. The beneficiaries are receiving free healthcare including dental care and counseling if needed. Our social workers are frequently visiting the families and schools. All the beneficiaries are regularly visiting the “Day-Care-Centre” for play, dance and awareness programs. Our administration costs are kept to a minimum of 15%.

SELECTION CRITERIAS:
An experienced ‘Selection Committee` is in place. This committee is composed of skilled social workers, teachers and nurses. All are thoroughly familiar with the social fabric of this society, the complexity of the caste issue, etc. They are aware of the traps and pitfalls in this endeavor and they will carefully select and screen the families.

Funding is targeted to women who have no partner. Where a woman we support does form a new marriage or partnership, her new partner is expected to take charge of supporting the family. At this stage of developing the project, women with only daughters to care for are prioritised, as they tend to be the neediest in a society where women and girls tend to be devalued. This does not mean to say that we are excluding mothers with sons as in the case of IFAP family three.

FUND FOR IFAP:
The amount needed to provide for a family in this way is around € 300,-  per month.
(Please ask for the detailed budget-breakdown if interested). Currently (December.2009) six such families with a total of 47 beneficiaries have been established. Our organization is now ready to expand this programme to more families who are desperately in need of support. We are actively seeking to recruit sponsors for this purpose. Taking in account the long-term commitment that is required and the responsibility we are taking for these beneficiaries, we can only extend this programme after a long term financial support (minimum ten years) has been established.
We are determined to provide a family and a future for many more of orphaned or abandoned children.
And we are equally determined that each child will receive the individual care that meets their unique needs and aspirations.

None of this can be achieved without you. If you are making a donation, forming a Support Group, raising funds or telling people about this important cause, you are changing lives and livelihoods for good.

For further information please contact:
liraylux@gmail.com
fprum@pt.lu
sosbahini@gmail.com