Ujayalo Nepal in Naya Basti, Gaurighat, of Kathmandu, was established three years ago by Ms. Rama Koirala to provide a shelter to orphans and semi-orphans in need of a home. Right now, there are 21 children between the ages of 3 to 17 living in the home. Five of them are girls, while the rest are boys. Nirjala Rawal from Humla is the youngest, a cute little girl of three. “Both her parents were drowned when they fell into a river while crossing a bridge,” says Ms. Koirala. “Nirjala, too, had fallen into the river with them, but somehow she was saved.”

Ms. Koirala, who also writes poetry under the pen name ‘Rohini’, says that her primary focus is on making sure that all the children get an education. All of them study in various classes in a school nearby. Originally from Janakpur, Ms. Koirala has four sons of her own, but likes to say, “Four plus all these 21 are my children.” Indeed, she is an affectionate “Ama” to all of them. She has a lot of experience in the work she is doing, having worked for 20 years now at New Direction Nepal. And, she is putting this to very good use in running her center in an efficient manner. To my question about the source of her funding, she says, “Previously, it was running with donations from my late father, who was a doctor, and now, also, it’s due to my family’s support that I manage to keep it running.”

Ujayalo Nepal has branches in her hometown Janakpur, as well as in Mahotari. “There are 16 and 6 children, respectively, in these homes, and they are also being educated. Three of them are in college,” she says, and with some pride, states, “Some of my older children are working in different vocations today.” Ms. Koirala appears to have a deep passion in what she is doing, and declares, “I hope a time will come when there is not one orphan on the road. That is what I want to see.”