As the summer comes to a close, this newsletter brings you up to date on happenings at Maiti Nepal, as well as an update on the recent catastrophe on the Nepal-Tibet border and how Maiti Nepal has responded, just as they did during the 2015 earthquake. Fortunately, no one from Maiti Nepal was in the area at that time.
2026 First Half Update
Two of the major projects at Maiti Nepal that your donations support are the Women’s Rehabilitation Center (WRC) and Child Protection Center (CPC).
The Women’s Rehabilitation Center
From January to June 2026, the WRC assisted 75 girls and women, providing a range of comprehensive rehabilitation services tailored to the unique needs of each survivor. Among these beneficiaries, 48 were under 18 years old. A senior counselor conducted individual and group sessions to address psychosocial issues of the survivors. These sessions covered crucial topics such as safe migration, preventive measures against human trafficking, and personalized interventions to address their individual needs.
To date, 51 of the 75 women and girls successfully reintegrated with their families. Twenty-four beneficiaries remain currently in rehabilitation. Fifteen received job training (with one securing employment so far), 4 began formal studies at Maiti Nepal’s Teresa Academy, and 2 were sent to a drug rehabilitation center. The WRC focuses on tangible outcomes and provides vital psychological support through individual counseling sessions.
The Child Protection Center
The CPC played a crucial role in the lives of 146 children from January to June 2026. During this period, 11 children were successfully reintegrated with their families and communities. The CPC provided age-specific care with 4 infants receiving specialized attention in the baby room. Additionally, 130 children actively engaged in formal education, including 8 children studying pre-primary school, 100 students attending primary and secondary school, 17 attending higher secondary level schools, and 5 students pursuing college education. Maiti Nepal’s commitment to education remains steadfast, addressing dropouts and providing alternative paths for those no longer attending school.
In addition to the ongoing rehabilitation, mental, and physical health services, Maiti Nepal celebrated International Women’s Day and held Maiti Nepal’s 34th anniversary celebration.
Fighting Trafficking In At-Risk Provinces
One example of Maiti Nepal’s work in the field can be found in Kanchanpur, located in the far western corner of Nepal. The local team conducted a door-to-door community awareness campaign against human trafficking and exploitation. A total of 328 men, women, and children in 65 households were met during the visits, with Maiti Nepal representatives distributing pamphlets and brochures that provided community members with information on safe migration, gender-based violence, human trafficking and its various forms, associated risks, and safe movement and travel practices.
On the occasion of Maiti Nepal’s 34th Anniversary, the team in Kanchanpur conducted an orientation program on human trafficking and safe migration for 20 female volunteers and other stakeholders in Dodhara Chandani Municipality, located in Kanchanpur on the Nepal/Indian border. Participants were informed about the heightened vulnerability of women, adolescent girls, children, and socially and economically marginalized groups in the region. They were taught to understand how trafficking occurs, how individuals and communities can protect themselves from exploitation, and where to seek assistance and legal support in cases of trafficking.
Maiti Nepal operates a transit home in Kanchanpur. To give an idea of the scale of their work, in the first 6 months of 2026, 7,363 vehicles traveling to India through the border checkpoints in Kanchanpur were inspected. 22,933 women, adolescent girls, and children traveling towards India were counseled on human trafficking prevention, safe foreign employment, and associated risks. 82 individuals in vulnerable situations were intercepted at the border, with 18 individuals returned home and 64 individuals brought to the Kanchanpur Transit home.
Employee Spotlight
Govinda Ghimire And The Faces He Never Forgets
“When her trafficker was brought to justice, I felt her soul could finally rest in peace and my own heart felt lighter.”
Govinda Ghimire, Maiti Nepal’s Program Coordinator, was one of the first people our founders Joe and Brigitte met when they created Friends of Maiti Nepal in 1999. Govind’s devotion to Maiti Nepal is unparalleled. For him, the most unforgettable moment of his 29 years of service happened two decades ago. He helped rescue a 17-year-old girl from Kolkata after she had been trafficked and sold into sexual exploitation. By the time she was rescued, she had contracted tuberculosis and HIV. After a long effort, her trafficker was arrested. Tragically, she passed away just one day after her case was filed in court.
Her death deeply affected Govinda. It was only when her trafficker was finally convicted that he felt she had received the justice she deserved.
Stories like hers helped shape his 29 years of service with Maiti Nepal. He joined the organization after a young woman from his own neighborhood was trafficked to Mumbai. Since then, he has witnessed trafficking evolve from the movement of girls to Indian cities to increasingly complex schemes involving false promises of foreign employment and migration.
What keeps him going are the moments that remind him why the work matters, for instance, seeing the overwhelming relief on a father’s face when his missing daughter is finally brought home. Thank you Govinda for your dedication to Maiti Nepal!
Nepal Flood Response
Reminiscent of the 2015 earthquake that devastated Kathmandu, Maiti Nepal, in coordination with the Kathmandu District Administration Office and Swayambhu Police, has provided emergency food and hygiene supplies to those who were rescued from Syafrubesi and Timure, which were affected by the recent floods in the Bhotekoshi, and are currently taking shelter at the Yellow Monastery in Swayambhu.
While providing immediate relief supplies, Maiti Nepal is continuously working to provide them with necessary and appropriate support during this difficult time, keeping in mind the needs and conditions of the affected communities.
Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts have been Maiti Nepal’s working areas for a long time. The transit home, staff, and beneficiaries in Dhunche are thankfully all safe. Maiti Nepal is preparing additional relief and assistance to support the affected communities in this crisis, and coordinating with the National Council for Child Rights (NCRC) to arrange emergency shelter for children rescued from the affected areas.
All of us at Friends of Maiti Nepal thank you for your financial support!
