Long-term childcare home in Gokarna
Long-term childcare Home - main project of Shangrila Home vzw
The long-term childcare home of Shangrila Home, which is the first project established by Shangrila Home VZW, was founded in 1995 by Inge Bracke and Paul Jacobs. This project accommodates for over 80 children, up until the moment when they can be reintegrated, either within their family or independently. We give them everything a child needs for growing up: a safe roof above their heads, nutritious food, education, health care and lots of love and care. The childcare home is located in Gokarna, which is about 10 km north of the center of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
About 20 Nepali staff-members are working in this project: kitchen-staff, housekeeping-staff, laundry-staff, janitors, admin-staff, care givers, social workers and a teacher. Some of them have grown up in Shangrila Home. Dinesh Bhandari is in charge on a daily base, together with Wim De Becker.
HISTORY OF THE PROJECT
1995
Inge Bracke and Paul Jacobs establish the first home in a rental house in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, with 11 street children. Inge lives in Kathmandu and is in charge of the project. Paul starts up a working group in Belgium to take care of the fundraising and becomes the chairman of Shangrila Home VZW.
2002
In 2002 a building of a former hotel is rented in Aarubari, Kathmandu, which raises the maximum capacity to 80 beneficiaries. It’s a large and comfortable house, but it’s got 5 floors and is not earthquake proof, which we would later find out...
The summer of 2015
After the earthquake there is an unprecedented wave of solidarity and support for Shangrila Home, which results in a summer of fundraising events. Thanks to the efforts of all these people we collect enough funds to buy land and build a new house!
1997
Gradually the project starts getting more support from Belgium and Holland and so we get the opportunity to help more children. The house in Dhumbarahi is getting too small and a bigger house is rented in Baluwatar, Kathmandu. Soon after the house next to it is included so that we can accommodate for more and more children.
April 25, 2015
Nepal is struck by a major earthquake which causes a lot of damage throughout the country, and there are thousands of casualties. The children and staff of Shangrila Home all miraculously escape unharmed but the house in Aarubari suffers irreparable damage and becomes uninhabitable. The children are literally back on the street.
May 2018
The 2 years following the earthquake presented quite some challenges but in May 2018 the big moment finally arrives: the children can move into a brand new, earthquake-proof and child-friendly accommodation with large rooms, lots of fresh air and sunlight, and lots of space to play. A dream come true thanks to the wonderful support of our sponsors.