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CYDD's mission is mainly to contribute to bring Turkey to the level of contemporary civilization by being a modern secular democratic society with due respect to law and commitment to peace. Its aim is to support the modernization of society through progressive education and to contribute to achieving equal opportunity to children and youth in access to schooling and use of modern educational tools. The Association believes that modernization of Turkey can only come about by overcoming ignorance. For this reason the association has been running campaigns to increase enrollment of girls population by utilizing civil and corporate funds toward establishing scholarship programs, building and improving schools, building girls dormitories, libraries, opening classrooms for preschoolers, becoming the voice of civil citizens by staying independent of politics but also voicing opinion when deemed necessary. Special attention is placed to areas in Turkey which are economically underdeveloped and also the areas in the big cities which have received domestic migration. The 100 branches of our organization also run their own projects according to the local needs of the area they functioning mainly on subjects such as gender equality, human rights, community leadership. Activities such as giving scholars to students of low income families, supporting schools by renovating or making boarding facilities for the students or the teachers, building libraries and preschool classrooms , establishing social centers for both the children and adults. At these places activities such as informative seminars , , summer and winter schools,youth gatherings and confronces, organizing various cultural and musical events, seminars and discussion groups.

Cherish Others Organisation- Kenya was registered in 2004 as a local non-governmental organization dedicated to uplift the lives of the vulnerable members of the community that include the women, girl child, the youth and the orphans. Cherish Others exists to improve the livelihoods of the resource poor communities through information sharing, education and providing support and care while working with them towards reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence within their environment. The organization contributes to advocacy campaigns on issues affecting the girl child, such as education, girl child rights and adolescent pregnancies. It is also involved in mentoring young girls for professional development by conducting alternative rite of passage ceremonies.

Refugees must be seen as an essential part of our shared humanity. Today more than 65 million people have fled their homes seeking safety wherever they can find it - nearby communities, neighbouring countries and often new continents. The global response has been a band-aid solution to a humanitarian crisis that needs long term, sustainable solutions. In countries like Malaysia, where refugees are denied legal status, offered few protections and faced with restrictions on education, work and the perpetual fear of arrest; both their lives and their plight remain in the shadows. We're here to change that. Our vision is of a single, shared humanity, where social inclusion is about dignity and choice, not dependence, not charity. Payong Organisation (which is fully supported by Liberty to Learn Berhad) champions 'Equitable Outcomes' for all refugees living in Malaysia. By championing we support refugee initiatives, leverage partnerships, increase advocacy and work towards creating and funding solutions to bring about systemic changes in the education, health and livelihoods sectors for refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia. With an outcome that all refugees will be able to build meaningful, purpose-driven and successful lives for themselves. Because refugees are in transit in Malaysia, while waiting for resettlement we believe it is critical that we work with and support them to becoming 'transition ready'. Resettlement or repatriation can happen at any point, so all programmes aim to equip them with hard skills/soft skills and tools so that they can navigate their lives during/after transition. Essentially setting them up for success.

VisionTo eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault in Berks County.MissionSafe Berks provides a safe haven and on-going support system for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Our advocacy and education programs increase awareness and promote the prevention of domestic violence, sexual assault, and all forms of oppression.Our ValuesSafety – We believe that the physical, emotional, and psychological safety of all individuals is a basic human right.Respect – We value the dignity of all individuals, appreciating our differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Empowerment – We support our clients in making their own life decisions, and our team to take initiative and make their best contribution to fulfilling our mission.Justice – We strive to create a community where DV and SA are no longer tolerated, and where the principles of fairness and equality, including equal access to resources, are extended

We are a grassroots community where Jews, Muslims, and all are welcome. We build relationships to stand against hate and violence through shared values and social action. What we share is more powerful than what divides us: PEACE We envision a city, country, and world where no one is feared, marginalized, hated, attacked, and killed because of who they are. We challenge prejudice, bigotry, racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, discrimination, and oppression. We stand in solidarity with our neighbors by speaking out against hateful incitement, interpersonal and institutional violence. LEARNING We encourage curiosity and education for transformation. We reflect on our identities by celebrating Muslim and Jewish traditions. We commit to building respectful relationships to gain knowledge. GIVING BACK We mobilize our community to make an impact through service and volunteering. We build on the momentum of social justice and civil rights movements. We believe in freedom, justice, and dignity for all, including the most disadvantaged.

AnnieCannons is a registered 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to training survivors of human trafficking in programming and other skills demanded by today's technology companies. We carefully and compassionately assess the aptitude and interest of each survivor in our program and offer literacy, personal finance, and computer literacy training across the student population. We continue by training interested candidates in quality assurance management, web design, and application programming and then helping them practice skills on anti-trafficking technologies as well as, eventually, securing clients on their behalf. Our approach provides the first viable means for directing economic power into the hands of trafficking survivors on a massive scale. That economic power can, in turn, allow survivors to drive necessary economic growth in their own communities and act as change agents by decreasing the vulnerability of communities to trafficking. After a successful proof-of-concept phase in the Bay Area, we will translate and adapt our curriculum for residents at international trafficking rehabilitation shelters, especially in less-developed countries. To that end, we have forged partnerships with NGOs and shelters in Myanmar, India and Romania that are prepared to assist in this translation process. Once we have trained a critical mass of survivors (approximately 26) with in-demand tech skills, we have modeled a means to self-fund: we would handle the branding, marketing, and sale of software development and support services by our trainees on a contractor basis, with the help of US-based sales and marketing teams. The vast majority of contractor fees would go directly into survivors' pockets, but the organization would retain a modest commission that will fund training more survivors and curating a work environment conducive to success. While no graduate would ever be required to work in our organization, we would offer a work environment tailored to be female- and survivor-friendly (for example, with on-site childcare, counseling, nutrition, and security services). We believe that this model can be scaled to cities around the world with high rates of human trafficking and unemployment.

MISSION To eradicate extreme poverty in rural areas of southern India. To improve the living conditions of India's most disadvantaged groups, enhance their dignity and self-esteem, and help them achieve the necessary means to combat poverty. To ensure sustainable development with the active involvement and leadership of the communities. To reach as many poor people as possible and help organize them both individually and as community-based organizations, affording them strength, confidence, and the ability to lead their own development. To transform the semi-desert land through a holistic approach involving land, water, vegetation, and livestock development and to ensure the people live in harmony with natural resources. To sensitize men and women to the inherent discrimination and violence against women in both family and society, and to develop appropriate support systems and networks to fight such discrimination. To help people with disabilities gain equal rights and opportunities in every area of development, as well as access to all resources and services related to health, education, livelihood, and rehabilitation, helping them live a dignified life. To build a dynamic and creative organization that strives to participate in all development efforts and is spiritual in its motivation, based on knowledge and skills, shares the aspirations and struggles of the poor, and, though permanent in time, adapts to the changing times and needs. To raise public awareness about the living conditions of the rural and urban poor and to promote a more caring society. VISION For everyone from poor and oppressed communities to live with justice, dignity, and socioeconomic equality, and for all people to live in peace and harmony with one another. For people to live in harmony with nature, on land capable of sustaining its population. VALUES Permanence: We are a long-term project. Respect: We respect the people's culture and customs. Participation: We encourage the active participation and leadership of our stakeholders. Action: We have an action-based work philosophy. Accountability: We believe in efficient and accountable program and financial management. Humanism: We are strong believers in people and their capacity to help others. OUR PRINCIPLES RDT-Vicente Ferrer believes that people are the main actors in their development process and ensures their active involvement and leadership in the programs. The organization endorses a multi-sectoral approach with a view to enhancing people's overall progress. As a result, RDT addresses all major areas of development, including access to quality education, improved livelihoods, ecologyand the environment, equal opportunities for people with disabilities, women's development and empowerment, and access to healthcare. We organize, at a grassroots level, women, men, andpeople with disabilities into groups to enhance their strength, confidence, and ability to resolve their own issues and problems. An important RDT-Vicente Ferrer approach is the continuous sharing of knowledge, skills, and awareness about all aspects of life. Collaboration with the government and other NGOs to draw maximum benefits from development. To raise people's awareness and support their use of government schemes and resources. Though the organization has a special program forwomen's development, it believes that women's progress should be a factor in every area of work and life, including education, where emphasis is placed on young girls, and healthcare, for the overall well-being of women and girls. We believe in continuous training and orientation for staff members and people. We also have an HR department that regularly organizes internal and external training sessions for staff members of all levels and people on leadership, group building, problem solving, and gender-related matters, among others. To create an efficient human organization capable of acting regardless of where the need arises, even in emergencies. We believe that we must have a strong organization focused on community development, yet flexible and able to accommodate the changing needs of the people. RDT-Vicente Ferrer also stresses continuous dialogue with people and seeks to ensure its programs are useful and practical. An empathetic approach to helping individuals in severe distress due to chronic or acute illness, abandonment, or abuse of any kind.

ASYLUM PROTECTION CENTER (APC) was founded in 2007 and from the very beginning of the asylum system in Serbia (2008) has been providing legal, psychosocial and interaction/integration aid to exiles, asylum seekers and persons who have been granted asylum or other protection in the Republic of Serbia (with special focus to children and youth- providing legal, psychosocial, interaction/integration aid to minors, unaccompanied minors and youth). Activities of the APC as grass root organization are reflected through our strong presence and engagement at local levels in local communities, in order to establish a dialogue and interaction between asylum seekers/refugees/exiles and local citizens; primarily through the organization of public local events, exhibitions, fairs, asylum corners, interaction/integration, creative and other workshops, round tables, work of APC local networks of volunteers and APC interns, cultural mediators support and other events and activities in local communities, as well as through numerous collaborations with local governments, organizations, institutions, schools, local cultural and youth centers. APC political scientists and researchers actively work in the field of research and advocacy, using extensive APC experience and field data, in order to get to the root of issues and problems of the migration, asylum system and refugees, strengthening and spreading information to the wider general and local public and experts, advocating and fighting to reduce prejudice and xenophobia in local and general public thus building more tolerant and inclusive society in Serbia. Since its founding, lawyers, psychologists, pedagogues, social workers and translators that make up the APC/CZA team have worked first hand with the refugees and migrants in the first asylum centers. Since the opening of the Balkan route, our team can be found across all reception and transit centers, parks, buses, railways stations, at improvised shelters in open air surroundings by the border, in suburbs, on the streets, in forests and in institutions for youth. We have reunified families, discovered smuggling routes and found children who had been lost. Our team continues to protect persons from discrimination and violence, while simultaneously reporting abuse that are endured by vulnerable groups of migrants and refugees. With the help of Social work centers we have placed children in foster families, enabled the healthy births of children, provided birth certificates for refugee babies born in Serbia and reunified children with their families we have ultimately helped wherever we could. APC/CZA has established one of the first mobile applications in Europe - "Asylum in Serbia", providing not only all necessary basic information, placing mechanism tools for reporting abuse in the hands of migrants and refugees, that are necessary in their journey's through the country, or their long term stays in Serbia. With tireless legal assistance and interpretation of regulations, we managed to provide health care (primary, secondary and tertiary protection) to asylum seekers who should receive care equal to the rights of Serbian citizens. In cooperation with local communities in Bogovadja and Lajkovac, the APC/CZA team, as early as 2012 began enrolling the children of asylum seekers into the Serbian educational system, in both elementary and secondary education institutions. We currently continue with this practice and as a result of our engagement with children who attend elementary school in Belgrade, Krnjaca, Sjenica and Tutin, they are able to receive full-time education, have become excellent and thoroughly satisfied students. We are the first in Serbia to have begun the integration process of refugees and asylum seekers in the country- by assisting them to find work, accommodation, the obtaining of documents, ease in overcoming psychological problems and adaptation problems that may have resulted due to their new environment surroundings, regulations, mentality and the culture in Serbia. We have managed to validate and recognize the first pages of diplomas for those who received asylum in Serbia. We provided the first work permits for more than 40 asylum seekers and those who received asylum and established a legal practice enabling and ensuring them with the right to work. Furthermore, APC/CZA also led disputes before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in order to protect people from illegal deportations from Hungary and Serbia and managed to ensure fair and equitable proceedings before the competent institutions. Over the past ten years, we have legally informed more than 220,000 migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, about their rights and obligations in the country in which they are located. We lawfully advised more than 23,600 asylum seekers and represented them in asylum and other proceedings, as well as before Misdemeanor, Administrative, Constitutional Courts and other instances. Our psychologists advised and empowered more than 7,000 asylum-seekers and refugees who needed help - through social assistance, and workshops, we advised more than 3900 asylum seekers. We have held over 937 different workshops (cultural, creative, empowering, health, language, school preparatory, and integration, psychological) with more than 4000 asylum seekers taking part in our activities. We have crossed over 400,000 kilometers with our mobile teams across Serbia. Our web pages were visited by more than 180,000 different people this year alone. During the 2015 refugee crisis, the Center had legally advised more than 110 000 refugees, more than 31 000 children and more than 30 000 women. APC / CZA has trained and taught practices of how to work with children and vulnerable groups, to more than 100 interns and young professionals from the country and abroad. APC / CZA has the first and only accredited training programs for social workers in the social welfare system as well as an accredited training program for professional staff in the education system in the field of migrant / asylum / refugee work with a special emphasis on minors. We have built a volunteer network with over 170 volunteers. Today in Serbia there is no other organization working with refugees where one of its employees has not undergone training, professional development or had a job at with Asylum Protection Center. We are particularly proud of our work related to informing the local community about refugees and migrants - people who have fled from war, persecution, poverty, who have come from various cultures, while at the same time informing the migrants about Serbian culture, customs and the rules of their new environment surroundings. With all of what we have done and of course what has been done by the state and its institutions, who have a primary duty to manage and care about migration, enough has yet to be done to confidently say that the situation with refugees in Serbia is at a good place. Currently there are far more than 5000 migrants in Serbia, of which up to 4000 are housed in reception centers, while others are in the open, in forests, in suburbs, abandoned buildings or in alternative accommodation. The Balkan route is formally closed, but dozens of people continue to enter the country from Bulgaria and Macedonia every day, while in Vojvodina the largest number has accumulated near the borders of Croatia, Hungary and Romania. Illegal deportation of people from Croatia, Hungary and Romania to Serbia is a continuous and illegal practice, and people have been illegally pushed back to Serbia, even in instances when they had not previously travelled through the country. This brings Serbia into the position of becoming a buffer zone for migration and as a new hotspot on the migration route, which ultimately leads to extensive and far-reaching consequences for the future. The longer retention of these people in Serbia and their increasingly difficult transition into EU countries, if that is their goal, requires a change in approaching this problem. Migrants currently have difficulty accessing accommodation and asylum procedures, and registration. They are violated of their fundamental rights as asylum seekers in fair and fast procedures, free legal aid, freedom of movement. This places a vulnerable group of people who are often exposed to abuse and violence more and more, in situations of prejudice and prevents integration and interaction with the local environment, and community while promoting the use of smuggling and crime. These circumstances require a greater engagement by our organization in informing migrants and providing legal protection to asylum seekers and refugees in proceedings before all institutions, bodies and courts of the Republic, as well as monitoring the application of regulations and behavior on the ground through the process' of border monitoring and abuse. It is very important that our organization keeps its independence, professional and objective approach to problems, while continuing to cooperate with the media to objectively inform citizens and the public while continuing our fight against prejudice and disinformation. APC / CZA will continue to train and provide professional practices for young professionals with its accredited training programs for civil servants while working intensively with local communities. APC / CZA will furthermore continue its engagement in the integration of those who have received asylum in Serbia, as well as in supporting the system itself and pushing for the improvement of existing practices, and cooperation in the region. As well, our team will work with secular organizations at the European level who will also be a priority in the fight against prejudices, and in raising public awareness of these problems, in building solidarity and permanent networks of cross-border cooperation between organizations in Europe.

I AM A GIRL BARBADOS, also referred to as 'the Community', is a holistic community modelled organisation based around the philosophy: 'Reach One; Teach One', which signifies that for every one (1) girl we reach, they in turn teach another. The purpose of the Community is to contribute to the continual progression of Barbadian youth by providing opportunities for young "at-risk" girls to be more empowered through their overall growth into adulthood with guidance and support, by aiding in their development of skills, social responsibility, career and fellowship necessary to create positive change, not only within themselves but within their families and wider communities. The overall services offered are capacity building, community development, mentorship, and advocacy. Further to that, through our flagship programme, Generation Y, the Community utilises drama therapy and creative expression as a means to shift negative cognitive behaviour patterns that are evident in girls aged five (5) to eighteen (18), who may have been exposed to domestic abuse, sexual abuse and violence, in many forms. I. Mission To inspire, empower, and provide opportunities for young girls to lead, and create positive change. II. Vision To develop a positive shift in community spirit, and built an everlasting sisterhood among girls of every variety of background, locally and regionally. III. Beneficiaries Girls aged five (5) to eighteen (18) that may be "at risk". This term is used to illustrate that a particular segment of society is statistically more prone to be unsuccessful in various aspects of their lives due to the unfortunate circumstances directly or indirectly thrown at them and/or based on gender. IV. Slogan We are girls, SMART, RESILIENT & STRONG! The Community's overall objectives are as follows: A. To develop the awareness and interest of its members and civil society, about social, economic and environmental issues related to young "at risk" girls; B. To encourage young "at risk" girls to participate in training programmes to develop leadership skills, which would encourage further service contribution to their community; C. To promote the welfare of the community and its young citizens through the planning and execution of comprehensive projects geared mainly towards young "at risk" girls; D. To establish and maintain stronger relations with like-minded youth lead and youth focused groups, NGOs, other organizations, and the furtherance of understanding about the challenges young "at risk" girls face; and, E. To accumulate effective solutions that can be developed to influence the decision making process on areas which affect young "at risk" girls. I Am A Girl Barbados addresses five (5) main themes: 1. Education; 2. Motivation; 3. Community Empowerment; 4. Sustainable Growth; and, 5. Social Development. All activities provides the girls with the tools needed to succeed in life and become leaders in their own right. Ultimately, this Community promotes the overall welfare of Barbadian youth by undertaking projects that are directly geared towards skills not afforded to all young girls within society. Overall programmes touch on elements of non-traditional historical teachings, financial tips and advice, business and project management, creative arts and production and environmental awareness, which are areas neglected to be shared with most girls in Barbados. The solid membership base of this organization, the foundation for which is centred around mentorship, with the establishment and maintenance of relationships with other youth groups/organizations, trained counselling professionals and youth in general, themselves, come together to offer effective solutions for the problems being faced by the girls in Barbados. This Community aims to build a fresh culture within Barbados that demonstrates to all girls that being a girl is no curse; we are enough.

Mission Statement Nicaragua Projekt provides health care for campesinos and their families in remote mountain villages surrounding Ocotal, Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua. Nicaragua Projekt supports a day shelter for girls in Barrio Sandino, Ocotal, providing free meals, educational tutoring, counselling, and scholarships. Background Dr. Katrin Hennings and Reinhart Bein started creating and running a mobile clinic in 2005 in the Ocotal region, northern Nicaragua, on behalf of the German NGO German Doctors. Since then, they have directed the mobile clinic and Dr. Hennings has volunteered several times as a doctor. Through this work, they met Dulce Maria Calderon and Viola Castillo learned about their project Casa Maria de Nazareth, which has existed since 1999 and supports girls who have grown up in extremely poor problem families with backgrounds of alcohol, drugs, prostitution and sexual abuse. In 2006, Dr. Hennings and Mr. Bein, together with other volunteer supporters, founded the German NGO Nicaragua Projekt e.V. Nicaragua Project is dedicated to medical and social projects in northern Nicaragua. Members promote health care as physicians and organizers and help raise funds to make good use of them in projects in northern Nicaragua. The association is engaged in the Ocotal region, Nueva Segovia and Somoto, Madriz in the north of Nicaragua on the border with Honduras. In this rural and partly mountainous or dry region people are extremely poor and the medical care of the population is particularly bad. The Centros de Salud are many hours walk away and they are increasingly very poorly equipped with drugs, experienced doctors are hardly found. Following the logistical withdrawal of German Doctors in 2015, the mobile clinic was taken over by the Nicaragua Project. The projects of Nicaragua Projekt have three main focuses: The mobile clinic Provides free medical care for the population in the north of the country, far from clinics, practices, Centros de Salud or pharmacies. The mobile clinic travels twice a year through the region and is led by volunteers from Germany and Europe. The doctors give up their salary and pay their own travel expenses, from 2018 onwards they also have to fund the costs for four weeks clinic by donations themselves - 2600USD per clinic (medicines, examinations, salaries for nurse and driver, car costs). This clinics takes place in coordination with the governmental health system. They are are connected to the Small community pharmacies or Botequines In order to permanently and sustainably improve medical care, Nicaragua Projekt also equips small pharmacies with medicines and supplies, and we paid for basic medical training (dealing with diseases, medicines and their use) of fourteen local health care providers called Brigadistas (volunteer, committed, non-medically trained villagers), from eight villages. Each village and surrounding farm area comprises between 500 and 1500 people. In May 2017, each brigadista received a mini-pharmacy called a botequine, containing medications and first aid supplies that they had been trained to administer. In American terms, the brigadistas are between an emergency medical technician and a licensed practical nurse. Every month Alba -our nurse- visits each village to resupply the botiquines and review the records of the brigadistas regarding their patients and diagnoses. In May 2018, we are planning a continuing education program for the brigadistas. We have a doctor who has volunteered her time to offer this training. The girls' project Casa Maria de Nazareth Nicaragua Project especially supports the NGO CASA MARIA de NAZARETH in Ocotal, Nicaragua. Here are girls, who grew up in extremely poor problem families - alcohol, drugs, prostitution and sexual abuse of the young girls are the background. The girls are cared for all day and can stay in crisis situations overnight. They are assisted during school attendance, receive two meals, can use a shower and are mentally cared for. Currently, we are accepting applications for a halftime psychologist. With our social workers we work on a close contact with the parents. After completing school, we finance a visit to an evening school to learn a profession and currently we are financing three girls to visit the University of Ocotal. The aim is to provide them with a livable perspective, to enable them to graduate and receive vocational training, to strengthen their sense of self-esteem and to teach them respectful togetherness and rights and obligations in the community.

Many people living in remote regions of Nepal do not have access to primary healthcare, medical treatment or rehabilitation services. Medical care is not free in Nepal and poverty is widespread. Our mission is to support and work with our project partner organisation (Nepal Healthcare Equipment Development Foundation (NHEDF), an organisation that was set up after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, to improve health outcomes and provide opportunities for people who experience life changing injuries or illness but cannot access medical and rehabilitation services due to poverty. Together we help rebuild physical and emotional health, self-reliance, dignity and confidence and change the lives of people who have no one else to turn to and nowhere else to go. We provide funding that pays the wages of three nurses and a physiotherapist, and also funds medical and surgical intervention, pharmaceutical products and medical supplies to patients at NHEDF's Shelter as funds allow. The amount of support we can give is directly related to the number of donations we receive. We also work with our clinical staff to provide ongoing professional development and educational opportunities as appropriate. We are an Australian not-for-profit organisation registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) which gives us accountability and transparency with our Government, our donors and the general public. We were established at the end of 2016. We have two projects under the umbrella of our organisation and our NHEDF Shelter project is the main part of our work. We also accept referrals for women with obstetric fistula and are working with NHEDF to introduce an initiative called Circles of Hope which will provide opportunities for skills training and possible temporary employment for NHEDF patients manufacturing washable reusable sanitary products and incontinence pads specifically made for women with fistula. NHEDF used to be a not-for-profit organisation that repaired and recycled medical technology but after the April 2015 earthquake that devastated the lives of many in Nepal, this all changed. The Director, a wonderful man called Samrat Basnet, removed all the medical technology from the premises and took in patients when they were discharged from hospital way too early to make room for more. Samrat also engaged volunteer doctors, nurses and a volunteer physiotherapist and NHEDF became a medical Shelter, housing people instead of biomedical equipment and providing free medical and nursing care and rehabilitation services to people whose lives were changed by injury as a result of the earthquake. NHEDF had tremendous support both from the local community within Nepal and internationally. Samrat never dreamed that the project would be permanent - he thought he would 'shut up shop' a few months after the quake, and he could go back to being a biomedical engineer again, but patients kept coming. To this day hospitals, community organisations, other not-for-profit organisations in Nepal and individuals, especially nursing and medical staff continue to refer more patients to NHEDF than they can accept. Today, NHEDF's patients may not have earthquake related injuries (though we still have one patient who was injured in the 2015 quake) but they all have experienced trauma, illness and injury requiring rehabilitation and cannot access medical care due to poverty. NHEDF has a Shelter - a rented house - which is located in Kathmandu and this 14 - 20 bed facility provides free accommodation, food, medical intervention, physiotherapy, rehabilitation services and around-the-clock nursing care to as many patients as it can fund in a family centred environment. Everything at the Shelter is completely free thanks to the generosity of ours and NHEDF's donors. Life in Nepal is tough and life for someone with a disability in Nepal is even tougher as people with a disability are generally not treated kindly or compassionately in Nepal. Usually patients are referred to NHEDF following a lengthy expensive hospital stay, however sometimes patients come prior to embarking on this journey of navigating the complexities of medical care in Nepal. Either way, NHEDF finds the most suitable hospital in Kathmandu for investigations, specialist appointments and further surgery as required. Should surgery be required, they are transferred back to NHEDF as soon as they are well enough. Some patients stay only a couple of weeks; others' months, and the occasional patient 1 - 3 years as individual roads to rehabilitation are often long. Our NHEDF Shelter patients have all sorts of diagnoses resulting from trauma/injury/illness. Diagnoses range from fractures, soft tissue injury, amputations, wounds, burns, burns contractures, head injuries, neurological conditions and obstetric fistula. Some of our patients may have bone cancer requiring an amputation, extensive rehabilitation and the fitting of unusual prostheses. Occasionally Samrat accepts a patient who is terminally ill who is simply kicked out of hospital because they cannot pay any more and would otherwise be simply left to die. Patients are either referred or simply picked up from hospital foyers where they are found begging for money to pay for their medical care or that of a loved one. Almost all of NHEDF's patients come from remote regions which are severely lacking in funding, health and medical care. Most larger villages have a clinic staffed by a Health Assistant who has done two years of training and can dispense 35 different medications and do basic wound care and vaccinations, but their medical knowledge is poor. There are often no hospitals for anywhere up to a 2 - 3 day walk, or over the years, dirt roads have paved the way for lengthy rough journeys on a local bus. These hospitals may only have rudimentary services - they often do not have operating theatres, anaesthetists, surgeons or anaesthetic machines, or staff who can use them. Investigative technology and ancillary services like pathology are often basic or non-existent. Many people travel to major cities like Kathmandu to access medical care, and for many varied and complex reasons (including corruption) end up paying a fortune for their medical care. Many of our patients come to NHEDF after a lengthy history with the Nepalese medical system, and some of our patients have spent as much as US$20,000 - $22,500 on medical bills. We have not made a mistake with this figure and put too many zeros in - this figure is correct despite Nepal being coming between 27th and 30th poorest countries in the world and having up to 25% of its population living below the poverty line. Some of our patients are injured working overseas usually in Malaysia or the Gulf and are sent back to Nepal after initial treatment with no compensation. Also, there is no such thing as workers compensation in Nepal. All their savings from working overseas end up going on medical bills. The Government may provide a disability allowance if certain criteria are met, but this is approximately the equivalent of US $44 a month and many hurdles are put in the way which makes it difficult to even apply. As most of our patients come from rural and remote regions they have often sold all or most of their land which has been in their family for generations in order to pay their medical bills. Other patients keep a small parcel and home is a shack or a tent. Many women with fistula live in desperate poverty having been abandoned by their families. They cannot seek medical attention because they are poor; because knowledge of fistula in Nepal is poor; their injury is often not recognised; they are marginalised, socially isolated, often living in stables or caves having been abandoned by their family and ostracised by their community. Many of our patients are in debt to family, money lenders and/or their local community and some of our patients are suicidal when they come to NHEDF. All are in desperate circumstances. Many are unable to return to their pre-injury employment because of their disability, hence the Circles of Hope initiative which will support NHEDF's efforts to help patients help themselves once their rehabilitation is complete. This pilot program will eventually provide skills training and employment opportunities for both NHEDF and fistula patients and help them help themselves. NHEDF will establish a small workshop at the Shelter, manufacturing washable, reusuable, incontinence products which will be donated to NHEDF patients and women with fistula, and also sold in medical supply shops and other outlets initially in Kathmandu and then further afield. Women with fistula, some of NHEDF's patients and many other people in Nepal need incontinence products and none are available other than expensive disposable ones which are only sold in major towns and cities and cost $0.80 - $1 per pad. Our project addresses many articles of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and we are non-discriminatory; support children, women and men of all ages, castes, religions and ethnic groups; help alleviate poverty; improve health; support people with disabilities; improve access of people with a disability to earn an income; promote dignity, independence, self-respect and advance personal, social and economic well-being.