The Friendship House, Kathmandu Nepal 

In 1997 Founders Kim Reynolds and Jim Nowak learned of a small safe house for girls, which was faltering financially and organizationally. Young girls in Nepal are at risk of being sold for child labor, “temple prostitutes”, or into the Indian sex trade, ultimately being physically and/or sexually abused. Jim and Kim were instrumental in keeping the house funded, eventually relocating the home to a better facility and an all-Nepali staff.

> Learn more about both Nepali and Sikkim homes

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This excellent program was started by the visionary Olga Murry and is administrated by The Nepalese Opportunity Youth Foundation.  The dZi Foundation funds 75% of the annual budget for this facility. The NRH restores the health of severely malnourished children while teaching their mothers about child-care and nutrition.  11 staff and 200 children and mothers served per year.

> Learn more about Nutritional Rehabilitation Home (NRH) Kathmandu, Nepal (nutrition)

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Himalayan Dental Relief Project (HDRP), Nepal, Ladakh, Sikkim

The dZi Foundation funds and facilitates dental clinics in Ladakh Nepal and Sikkim, in partnership with HDRP.  The dZi Foundation has again increased its financial support of the HDRP in 2006. Currently clinics are scheduled in Ladakh for both spring and fall. The foundation is very proud to have helped bring over  $1,038,542.00 worth of dental care to the Himalayan regions we serve, with over 4628 children served with primary dental care – all at no cost to any recipients of care.

> Learn more on our Dental page

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This is a limited sponsorship program for children who show exceptional potential in academics. This program serves 6 children giving them the opportunity of secondary education.

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Young Monk Sponsorship’s, Nepal Solu Region

This program provides schooling, housing, medical, food and clothing for these monks below the age of 14.  40 served each year. This program helps to preserve local culture, keeping traditional values of the community taught and implemented.

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Funding for an extra teacher at 2 schools in the Solu Region. This support improves teacher/student ratios and time spent one on one. Resulting in more students passing the Student Level Certificate Examination. 2 teachers and 140 children served.

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Revitalize a Village

The dZi Foundation Revitalize A Village (RAV) program is based on an innovative model of rural development that excels in areas where no other organization has worked before. RAV empowers communities to embrace sustainable, durable development that meets their most essential needs and fits within the existing social framework. Our model encourages poor communities to discover their own abilities and skills to create structural and permanent change in the areas of educational opportunities and facilities; basic health and hygiene; gender and caste equity; and income generation.

> More Details

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The new and permanent Happiness Home, Gangtok, Sikkim is now complete.  This incredible facility will offer stability and expanded opportunities for our girls.  Lead by housemother Tsering and our Sikkimese staff, these girls continue to blossom.  We are constantly amazed when a child is given a chance, surrounded by love and support, what they are capable of.

> Learn more in our November 2005 newsletter

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Primary Education Rural Sponsorship—Charmile, Assam Lingzey, Pul Bazaar

In 2004, the dZi Foundation started a pilot program in Charmile, Sikkim, India to improve educational opportunities for the children in this remote Himalayan village.  The program sponsors children—grades 1-6—at the Charmile, Assam Lingzey, and Pul Bazaar primary schools.  Although education itself is free in India, students are required to purchase specific items—uniforms, shoes, bags, and school supplies—in order to be allowed to attend.  So, the goal of the program is not only to provide the school necessities to those who cannot afford them, but also make sure the students' nutritional needs are met through a hot lunch every school day.  We end each day with an hour and a half of tutoring, before the children's parents return home from working on the roads or in the fields.

> More Details

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Secondary Education

Starting with the spring 2008 semester, five students from the Charmile primary school program will be sponsored for secondary education at the Enchey School. The dZi Foundation will provide all costs to educate these students through 10th grade. Each year an additional five students will be chosen to advance. The ultimate goal of the program is to then advance students to the university level.

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Tibetan Youth Club—Continued Adult Education Program

This continuing education program is held 6 days a week in Gangtok Sikkim. Mostly Tibetans attend and take classes in English, Nutrition and Hygiene. The majority of the attendees are over 40 years of ages and every evening there are 40 to 70 individuals who participate in this ongoing program.

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Optical Solutions

Since its inception in 2005, this program has served over 2,600 students in Nepal and Ladakh, expanding this fall to Sikkim.  All children who attended the clinic have their eyes screened.  If they require glasses, we measure the refraction of their eyes and assemble prescription glasses immediately, on a no-fee basis.  Optical education, sunglasses and opthamologist consultation round out this important program, saving the eyesight of the many young lives.

> More Details

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Himalayan Dental Relief Project

The dZi Foundation has again increased it financial support of the HDRP in 2006. Currently clinics are scheduled in Ladakh for both spring and fall. The dZi Foundation with HDRP has provided $1,038,542 in primary dental care to over 4628 school children.

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Optical Solutions

Since its inception in 2005, this program has served over 2,600 students in Nepal and Ladakh, expanding this fall to Sikkim.  All children who attended the clinic have their eyes screened.  If they require glasses, we measure the refraction of their eyes and assemble prescription glasses immediately, on a no-fee basis.  Optical education, sunglasses and opthamologist consultation round out this important program, saving the eyesight of the many young lives.

> More Details

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Hygiene Education

During 2007, this program was presented to over 20 schools, and delivered at six dental and six optical clinics. Addressing simple solutions to basic health problems, from hand washing to proper diet, this program is aimed at school children to implement societal change.

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Hand-washing Stations

Designed and constructed by Ladakhi craftsmen, the stations are presented to the schools following the hygiene educational program. Each is checked on return visits to reinforce the hygiene program.

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Winter Education Sponsorship

To provide a three-month education and nutrition program to fill the gap during the coldest winter months when schools are normally closed. This program serves children born into poverty who have low-caste status.

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Ladakhi Nuns Association

The first of what we hope to be a long and proactive partnership. The dZi Foundation will start with a capital program in spring of 2008, supported by  a group of Vail Mountian Students.  The goal is to expand this program to include educational and other initiatives.

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In the village of Basgo, dZi has loaned funds to a women’s co-op group to purchase weaving looms and yarn. This program will allow the women to become self-supporting, using the long winter months to weave and dye yarn for sale in the summer bazaar. The loan contract is for one year with a 5% rate added, much less than the local banks 18%. Once the loan is repaid in full, dZi will loan the same funds back to another group in Basgo for a micro business or community project.

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Handicapped Livelihood Program

This partnership with Ladakhi Non-Government Organization PAGIR will provide the infrastruture for collection of used paper and the manufacturing of handmade Ladahki paper. This paper will be sold as an income generating business/livelihood for the handicapped population of Leh.

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Community Livelihood Program

The strategy around this program is providing unemployed and winter housebound families—and their surrounding neighbors—the tools, initial supplies, and training to produce local textiles and tourist trinkets for income generation. Due to the influence of “western consumerism” and an ever-expanding tourist economy, a huge market has presented itself for small handmade souvenirs. Once established, the “cottage industries” could easily translate to year-round opportunities for income and advancement.

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Greenhouse Program

Enter into each community through the local school. Using the expertise and greenhouse model of partner Health Inc., the building of the greenhouse becomes the interactive first step. This is then supported by nutritional and hygiene education to both school children and then to the adult community. The greenhouse is then used as an educational tool for both agricultural initiatives, health/nutrition education as vegetables are produced and ingested, and finally a possible business tool, as produce is sold.

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