Before Christmas we applied to our great friends at The Body Shop Foundation for grant funding towards the set up and year one programme costs that would allow us to offer the children in our care in Nepal the chance to participate for the first time in the International Award:
http://www.intaward.org
The concept is that our teenage children should have the opportunity to take part in sport, recreation (including camping and treks), the arts, and service towards achieving the Award. The aim is to help these children develop further their self esteem and to turn them from being dependent into the leaders of tomorrow. Inter alia proposed setting up a Scout troop and a youth club, with facilities available for the younger children who are not yet eligible for the Award.
And today we were thrilled to learn that The Body Shop Foundation has agreed, awarding the Trust £10,000, actually £19 more than we had asked for. Now my Programme Coordinator in Kathmandu, Nick Sankey, has the delightful task of making it all happen. Many nights under the stars now beckon.
