The Nepali Women’s Global Network, St. Louis Chapter (NWGN-STL) is a 501C(3) non-profit, non-partisan, volunteer-based organization registered in the state of Missouri that strives to empower Nepali women and the Nepali community as a whole, in a supportive global network of friendship and understanding to promote shared responsibility that cultivates social change.
NWGN-STL is organizing a Spring Fling, Dance for the Cause, on May 25th, 2012 at Club Viva to raise funds for Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) Nepal. ECDC was founded by the 2012 CNN Hero Nominee, Pushpa Basnet.
In Nepal, if a woman goes to prison and none of her relatives can care for her children, the children often accompany their mother to prison. Children grow up in the confines of jail cells without access to education, proper nutrition, warm clothing, and medical care.
The Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) in Kathmandu, Nepal was founded in 2005 by Pushpa Basnet, a young Nepali woman who studied at Kathmandu University. ECDC coordinates with jail administrators to rescue children from jail cells throughout urban and rural areas of Nepal. The children receive regular medical check-ups, vaccinations, and are enrolled in a local private school. Children have regular visitation with their mothers including during the holidays.
ECDC’s program is divided between two facilities. The kindergarten center cares for children under the age of 5 years old during the day. These children are still deemed too young to sleep apart from their mothers, but they are permitted to leave the jail each day for daycare, including educational programs, games, and nutritious meals. Children over 5 live year-round at the residential home and attend a local school. There are currently 42 children living in the residential home and usually 5-7 children in the daycare center. The children’s mothers work in jail to support their children’s education. They make elaborate Waldorf dolls, jewelry, and bags that are sold to support their children’s education.
ECDC helps children break the cycle of crime and poverty, and provides these children with the opportunity for an education, healthy development, and stability in life.
Please visit CNN Hero page or ecdcnepal.org for more information.
