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Dedicated to
improving the lives of people -- especially women and children -- in the
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Please note we are in the process of updating our web site. Your comments and patience are requested. Can’t find it? Send us an email: info@brightfuturesfoundation.org Want to see it? Let us know. Thanks! Watch our video Read our latest Newsletter May 2008 update from volunteer Executive Director, Catherine Wood The fruits of our hard work to bring health and hope to thousands of Nepalis were abundant and sweet on our most recent visit to Nepal in October of 2007! Despite uncertainties in the Nepali political realm and the day-to-day chaos it causes, our work ensures long-term success in promoting health, education, and well-being. In Kathmandu, we now provide scholarships for 18 students at Galaxy School, and we celebrated our first high school graduate, Samip Bhatta, who is now attending college. We also celebrated with students at the Shram Rastrya Secondary School as they sat down for the first time in front of 10 brand new computers provided by Bright Futures Foundation. We watched as they listened to their new computer instructor, whose salary is also funded by Bright Futures Foundation. In rural Bhotechaur, we have been facilitating two Rotary funded projects to repair the roof of the Bhotechaur Health Clinic and to construct a security wall around the health clinic compound. We hired a professional manager to run the business side of the clinic, and the clinic now has a full-time doctor. Bright Futures paid for a very successful three-day health camp at the clinic in November, serving close to 400 patients during that time. We are continuing to fund the operational expenses at the clinic while we are working with the management committee and staff to develop a plan for sustainability.
In a locally driven effort, community leader Uma Pradhan has organized 32 women into the Women's Empowerment Group of Bhotechaur whose goal is to establish a micro-lending pool to help their members help themselves. At our suggestion, the Women's Group was hired as the housekeeping staff at the Bhotechaur Health Clinic. A portion of their earnings is deposited directly into their lending pool. The women now have jobs; the clinic is sparkling clean; and their lending pool is growing!
In addition to our
ongoing work in Nepal, we have also adopted a new project in Kasane,
Botswana, to promote good health and education for children orphaned by the
HIV/AIDS epidemic in northern Botswana. We are helping to raise the funds to
build a larger facility for the Fair Lady Day Care Center for Vulnerable
Children.
So many good things are happening that we will be sending an all-new monthly email in addition to our semi-annual Namaste newsletter to keep our supporters informed on our latest news. Sign up here to receive our monthly updates. Thank you so very much for your generous support and interest in our very important work to bring health and education to many thousands of people in the poorest corners of the world!
Catherine Wood
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Bright Futures Foundation Copyright © 2007 Bright Futures Foundation. All rights reserved. Last updated 11/2/07 |
Meanwhile,
a joint effort with Bright Futures and Rotary Clubs in Grants Pass paid for the
Bhotechaur secondary school headmaster’s dream list of books for the library.
The students and teachers showed us what a difference we have made at their
school library and how proud they are to have it. 
The
enhanced facility, which should be under construction by mid-year, will
serve students regularly enrolled by their parents and provide for orphans
who would otherwise not benefit from education
