PASHOM's Sponsorship Program began in 2002, when Fiona was working as a volunteer teacher in Pokhara, Nepal. She learnt that an extremely bright female student of hers, Sara, was being taken out of school to help with the household duties, as her family are very poor, and could no longer afford to keep her in school. After discussions with her parents, it was agreed that we would ongoingly pay for her school tuition fees to keep her in school.

In March 2008 we received this heart-warming email from Sara....

"hi fiona,
how r u? I have contacted u after a long time becoz of my SLC preparation. I’m sorry for it. now im free i had finished my exam and result also published a few days ago. i have pass my SLC in distinction with 86.50 percent. I have topped my school. I have got this success becoz of u. If u hadn't helped me in that condition, i couldn't have got this. That's why I thank u very much...."

Through her outstanding achievements, Sara has been awarded with a College Scholarship, and now independently supports her Higher Education

ONGOING SPONSORSHIPS

Yasmin
Yasmin is a young girl whose mother Ashmita works for one of the Women’s Co operatives we support. Ashmita is a single mother of 3 children, who struggles to provide for all of her children’s needs, so we help her on a yearly basis to finance Yasmin's school uniforms, books and tuition fees.

Safalta
Safalta’s older sister is Mamta who has been working and supporting herself through one of the projects we support for the last 5 years. We were happy to meet Mamta’s request for a private scholarship for her younger sister, and to sponsor her ongoingly throughout the rest of her schooling. Safalta is 8 years old.

Shila
Shila’s mother’s name is Gyanshova and she has been supporting her family through the work and vocational skills she has learnt over the past 7 – 8 years within one of the Fair Trade Women’s Skills Groups we have been ongoingly supporting since our Companies inception. Gyanshova has a husband and three daughters in her family. Shila is 8 years old and it is a privilege for us to also be sponsoring her throughout the rest of her schooling.

In the years ahead we hope to be able to sponsor many more children like Sara, Yasmin, Safalta & Shila, helping to provide them with the wonderful gift of education, and the prospect of a future life full of hope and opportunity