Nepal has gone through many changes over the past two decades, with the ten year insurgency changing the face of Nepal forever. Children are the biggest victims of the civil war and the thousands of children living on the streets or in children's homes and orphanages are the constant reminders of the price of Nepal's struggle.

Northern Irish born writer and teacher, Viva Bell, was living in Kathmandu through it all. She saw the country that she loved so much be torn apart and could not help but witness the thousands of conflict displaced children arriving in the capital every month. Viva felt helpless and frustrated by the events that were surrounding her, but unlike so many others Viva could not turn her back on the country that she loved so much. She started to take action and address the problems that were now on her own doorstep. Viva's course was set in motion when she met a street child suffering from a simple throat infection. With no one to care for him this throat infection has developed to such a stage that the boy was severely dehydrated. Viva brought the boy to hospital and helped nurse him back to health. After he was fit and healthy Viva placed him in the care of one of Kathmandu's many children's homes.

Viva Bell with Raju

Dave Cutler with Bikram

With the help of her friends in Ireland, Dave Cutler and Harry Coogan, Viva supported the home financially and the trio renovated the home and helped improve the living conditions for all the children there. However it wasn't long until they realised that their money was not reaching the children but was being kept by the home's directors. They soon saw more of the abusive behavior in the home. It felt like their hands were tied; this was an all too common problem in Kathmandu's homes. The answer was to take control of  the matter themselves.

The Birth of Umbrella: 2005 In 2005 Viva Bell and Dave Cutler founded The Umbrella Foundation and set up a children's home of the highest standard that they were determined to uphold. With the help of the Nepali Social Welfare Board, The Umbrella Foundation closed down that orphanage and rescued all 48 malnourished and uneducated children, and placed them in their newly founded home, where they continue to live today. These healthy, happy and well-adjusted children have been given a new lease on life, and for the first time, a dream of a better future for themselves and their country.

Viva and Dave

In 2005, Jacky Buk from France, took the mantel as Country Director of The Umbrella Foundation Nepal and worked tirelessly to build up Umbrella to the organisation that stands today. Umbrella is truly a testament to the inspiring changes these four people sought to make.

Harry Coogan receives Tika

Jacky Buk with Umbrella children

 The next chapter: 2009 

Following on from the great work initiated by Viva and her husband Jacky Buk, who were responsible for the Umbrella vision for Umbrella's first four years, and in particular the Gurje project, an enthusiastic young Irish team have took over at the helm. All hailing from Dublin, Ireland, and in their mid-twenties, this competent new team consists of Stephen Jenkinson, Conor Fox and Amy Mulcahy.

Each member of the team brought a different area of focus to the organisation and each contributed enormously to the continued work of Umbrella. A number of landmark projects were undertaken with an emphasis given to the reintegration of the Umbrella children back to their families where possible. The projects were brought about through great teamwork and a shared vision for the future of the Umbrella children. These projects included; developing a new Family Reintegration and Support Programme; the Rasuwa Reintegration Project; the Child Protection and Development Programme - with DeParaplu Holland; the development of the Volunteer and Sponsorship programmes; the building up of the structures within the organization to maintain it’s sustainability and the growth of the reintegration team to facilitate and monitor the great reintegration work that has been achieved during 2011 and 2012 to date.                                     Stephen, Conor and Amy with the Kids                                                                                         

With the aim of an improved management structure for Umbrella in mind, a qualified and competent team of Nepali staff was hired over the course of 2010 and 2011 to complement the International team.                         

During 2011, Stephen, Conor and Amy all returned to Ireland after their time in Nepal and the Umbrella Nepal of 2012 is only possible thanks to the work and energy that these three people brought to the organization and they continue to be very actively involved as members of the Board of Directors in Ireland.                                          

The Team in 2011-2012

Shane (red and white stripes), Macartan (front centre, umbrella t-shirt) and the local Nepali team November 2011

In late 2011, a new International team was recruited, with Umbrella hiring a new Country Director (Shane Cogan) with a wealth of human rights and development experience, and Macartan Gaughan as the other Director for the International side. It was a busy year for Umbrella with the launch of 2 successful initiatives: Volunteer Teaching Placements as part of the Rural Education Support Programme and Umbrella Trekking  - a non-profit company offering trekking and travel opportunities in Nepal while providing Umbrella youths with trekking experience and generating funds for The Umbrella Foundation. It was also a big year in terms of Reintegration with 156 of Umbrella's children successfuly reintegrated to date. 2012: A successful chapter in Umbrella's story so far.

The Current Team: 2012 - 2013

In December 2012, we said farewell to Country Director Shane Cogan as he moved on from the organisation. The position of Country Director  went to a familiar face, Macartan Gaughan, whose experience as a director during 2012 made him the perfect candidate for the position. A previous volunteer of 2011, Éadaoin Close, with a background in primary teaching, has now stepped into the role of Communications Director, looking after all things Sponsorship and Volunteer related. The Umbrella Foundation of 2012 is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone above that has been, and continues to be, involved over the years, including our volunteers and supporters without whom nothing would be possible. 

 

Macartan, Country Director (back row, far right) and Éadaoin, Communications Director (back row, far left) with the local Nepali team including new Programme Director, Rajendra (back row, second from right) in December 2012.