Jorpati

SOS Children’s Villages supports individual children, young people and families so that they can thrive (photo: SOS Children’s Villages Nepal).

Jorpati is located on the outskirts of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Around 2.9 million people live in the urban agglomeration of Kathmandu, making it the most populous city of Nepal. It is considered the centre of Nepal’s history, culture, art and economy, attracting tens of thousands of tourists every year. Poverty, however, is still widespread in the capital, with around 11% of the inhabitants living below the poverty line. This got worse after the earthquake of 2015, which badly hit Kathmandu, destroying 600,000 buildings and killing around 9,000 people.

Since 1983, SOS Children’s Villages has been supporting children, young people and families and advocating for their rights in Jorpati.

19%
Of girls are forced into marriage

Child marriage

Nepal has the 16th highest rate of child marriages in the world. This means that 40% of women in Nepal were married before the age of 18. Child marriage is a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the emotional damage a child suffers from a forced union is profound. There is also an increased risk of child pregnancy and domestic violence. In the province of Bagmati specifically, where Jorpati is located, 19% of girls were married as a child. The national target to end child marriage by 2030 will require a major push from the government.

30%
Of children with disabilities do not attend school

Children missing out on an education

There are an estimated 120,000 children living with a disability in Nepal. Of all these children, 30% cannot attend school. Access to treatment and rehabilitation is also limited in Nepal. Children with disabilities are often socially stigmatized and do not receive the same educational and professional opportunities as other children. In addition, there is often no financial support for families to send their children to a school that is adapted to the child's needs. Although Nepal signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008, there is still a long way to go before children with disabilities enjoy the same human rights, freedoms and protection as children without.

Your support makes a difference for children in Jorpati

SOS Children’s Villages works with local partners and communities to offer a wide range of support that is adapted to the local context. We always work in the best interest of the children, young people and families.
40
Children and young people
Grow up in our care
30
Young people
Are supported on their way to independence
Siblings having fun together. They grow up with each other, and often form bonds that last a lifetime (photo: SOS Children’s Villages Nepal).

How your support helps in Jorpati

Caring for children who cannot live with their families
Some children cannot stay with their families, even with additional support. When this happens, they can find a new home in SOS Children’s Villages. These are specially designed to meet all the children’s needs. The children receive tuition and classes to help them with their learning difficulties and cognitive development, and there is also a therapy room with a small pool for physical therapy in the village. Wherever possible, we work closely with the children’s family of origin. If children can return to live with their families, we help them adapt to this change.
Supporting young people to become independent
To help young people become confident and independent, our local team works closely with each young person to develop a plan for their future. We support young people and also help them prepare for the labour market and increase their employment prospects. For example, young people can attend workshops and trainings run by SOS Children’s Villages. They also improve their skills through taking part in different projects with local mentors and businesses.