Over the years, the Friends of Maiti Nepal newsletters have concentrated on Maiti Nepal’s work in rescue and rehabilitation of sex trafficked young girls. In this newsletter, we are sharing another aspect of Maiti Nepal which was created by Anuradha Koirala who had formerly worked as a teacher. Soon she rented a few rooms to rescue the abandoned trafficked young girls in Kathmandu.

This concept has evolved into Teresa Academy, whose objective is to deliver quality education for deprived, underprivileged, orphaned, and semi-orphaned children who cannot pay tuition and expenses required for formal education. Teresa Academy is part of the Child Protection Program at Maiti Nepal, and is one of the areas that your generous donations help fund.

About Teresa Academy

Established on April 2, 1998, Teresa Academy (TA) began with a modest 45 students and three classes (Nursery, Kindergarten, and Grade 1). Its primary goal was to provide holistic education and developmental opportunities to orphans, semi-orphans, and highly vulnerable children. TA recognized that without intervention, these children would have no access to education and would be more likely to become victims of sex trafficking. The Academy was designed as a safe haven, providing care, quality education, and the opportunity for a better life.

Strategic Partnership with Maiti Nepal

The connection between TA and Maiti Nepal is both integral and strategic. TA is a cornerstone of the rehabilitation process, providing rescued and at-risk children with comprehensive education, psychosocial support, and moral guidance. It is one of Maiti Nepal’s primary long-term interventions to break the cycle of exploitation and poverty, empowering children — especially girls — to become confident, educated, and socially responsible citizens.

TA’s mission aligns seamlessly with Maiti Nepal’s broader goal of reintegrating survivors into society with dignity and self-reliance. Education is viewed not merely as a right, but as a transformative tool for healing, growth, and empowerment.

Growth and Impact

Today, TA educates 377 students (approximately 90% girls), with most directly benefiting from Maiti Nepal’s protection and rehabilitation programs. These children, residing in Maiti Nepal’s Child Protection Center, include survivors of trafficking, abandoned and orphaned children, and those rescued from extremely vulnerable situations. Other students come from impoverished nearby areas and are also considered high-risk due to poverty and lack of protection.

Teresa Academy by the numbers

Total Students: 377 (90% girls, 10% boys)
Regular Students: 365
Chhahari Class Students: 12 (Since 2013, this class has helped reintegrate young girls who had dropped out or never attended school)
Living Arrangements: While most students live in Maiti Nepal’s Child Protection Center, others come from nearby areas.

Curriculum

Teresa Academy follows the national curriculum prescribed for community and public schools across Nepal, ensuring students receive education aligned with the government’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE) standards. In addition, TA offers a robust focus on extracurricular and co-curricular development.

Students are encouraged to participate in a wide variety of activities aimed at enhancing creativity, critical thinking, and personal growth. These include academic competitions like essay writing, quizzes, spelling bees, and debates, as well as creative and athletic events such as dance, singing, art, indoor and outdoor games, and sports tournaments.

Every Friday, Teresa Academy organizes inter-house competitions in the morning, followed by music classes in the afternoon. Students receive instruction in various instruments, including guitar, violin, flute, keyboard, drums, and traditional Nepali instruments like the madal. These activities aim to support holistic development, build self-confidence, and provide students with practical life skills beyond academics. This weekly schedule also aligns with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s initiative to implement a “book-free and bag-free” day every Friday, promoting creative learning and reducing the burden of routine classroom study.

Exceptional Academic Results

Teresa Academy has consistently achieved outstanding academic results since it began presenting students for the Secondary Education Examination (formerly known as SLC). The school boasts a 100% pass rate, with students consistently achieving grades ranging from A to B. The 2023 SEE graduates also performed exceptionally well, with all of them pursuing higher education based on their interests. Many have continued their Grade XI studies at Teresa Academy, which recently expanded to include a higher secondary level.

One Graduate’s Story

“Mina” is from a village in western Nepal, and after losing both parents, she and her brother were raised at Maiti Nepal’s Child Protection Home.

She studied at Teresa Academy and completed grade 10 with a good score. While in high school, she worked as an Assistant Teacher at the same school. Later, she developed an interest in media and marketing. She joined a media company as a Marketing Coordinator for two well-known magazines.

In 2020, Mina returned to Maiti Nepal, this time as a staff member in the Communication

Department. She helped manage the website, social media, newsletter, and important projects like the Education Sponsorship Program and World’s Children’s Prize.

These experiences helped Mina grow both personally and professionally. Taking on greater responsibilities allowed her to develop leadership, communication, and project management skills. With a desire to serve her community more effectively, she set her sights on a higher academic goal.

Today, Mina is proudly pursuing her Master’s degree at Charles Darwin University in Australia, which would not have been possible without the support of Maiti Nepal. Her journey from a rescued child to a confident and capable young leader continues to inspire everyone around her.

How to support Teresa Academy

Click the “Donate Now” button to make your gift to support Maiti Nepal’s programs and the educational opportunities offered by Teresa Academy!