Rescue Children

Umbrella was founded in response to the growing number of corrupt children's homes in Kathmandu. Many of these homes neglect the children's most basic rights; food, education, safe shelter, health care and love. When Umbrella founders, Viva Bell and Dave Cutler, were made aware of this situation they decided that they had to step in.

In October 2005, with the help of the Child Welfare Board (CWB) Umbrella closed down the first of these corrupt homes and performed their first rescue. The CWB is the government body responsible for child welfare in Nepal.

When the CWB recognised the work of Umbrella and the high standard of care it offered its children they began recommending other cases of corruption in Kathmandu and sought Umbrella's help. Umbrella could not turn its back on the children of these homes. Many of the children rescued were suffering from severe malnutrition, dehydration, forced labour and general ill health. Umbrella answered their calls and to date Umbrella have rescued over three hundred and fifty children from such conditions.

Rescues to date

November 2005 - Umbrella rescue 55 children
Umbrella closes a home in severe financial crisis and was forced to compensate numerous debtors to ensure the security of the children.

February 2006 - Umbrella rescues 7 children
The most remote areas of Nepal were the worst affected by the civil war. As the Maoist presence in these areas was very strong many children, especially boys, fled to the country's capital, Kathmandu, to escape the fighting and the threat of mandatory conscription. In February 2006 Umbrella rescued 7 such children who found themselves in Kathmandu without a home.

May 2006 - Umbrella rescues 16 children
In May of 2006 the Nepali police found sixteen children abandoned in a run down orphanage. The children were starving and terrified. Umbrella rescued these children and days later the police arrested the men responsible for leaving these children in these deplorable conditions. Through Umbrella's media contacts many of the children's parents heard of the rescue and 13 of the 16 children's parents arrived for a tearful reunion with their children.

                                                                                                   
May 2006 - Umbrella rescues 34 children

After a lengthy battle Umbrella succeeds in rescuing 22 children from an abusive and corrupt home. Twenty three children remained in the home. On Umbrella's second attempt to rescue the remaining children they were met with distraught children. The homes directors had filled the children's heads with nightmarish stories of Umbrella; making many of them ear for their lives at the thought of going to Umbrella. These fears quickly subsided when they were reunited with their old friends and were introduced to their new home.

July 2006 - Umbrella rescues 48 children
After learning of the abusive nature and drunken habits of Dallu Children's Home managers Umbrella withdrew its financial support and referred the matter to the government agencies. It was with great relief and joy that Umbrella learned that the CWB were to close the home and grant guardianship to Umbrella.
 

September 2006 - Umbrella rescues 5 children

In September of 2006 the Social Welfare Council closed down an orphanage due to abuse and neglect. Of the 25 children in this home Umbrella took 5, the other children going to different homes in Kathmandu. Three of these children had to be hospitalised due to dangerous levels of dehydration. They were nursed back to health and weeks later were living happily in Umbrella.
 

December 2006 - Umbrella rescues 29 children
In December 2006 the Child Welfare Board called on the help of Umbrella again. After closing anther abusive orphanage the CWB were calling on Umbrella to home 29 children. Though Umbrella was already exceeding the original planned number of children, it just could not turn away and found room for everyone.

January 2007 - Umbrella rescues 5 children
Umbrella received reports that 5 small children were living in a cave on the banks of the holy river that flows through Pashupati River with an ancient holy man. Pashupati is a famous religious site where Hindus hope to be cremated. This was an emergency case as the children were living in freezing cold conditions and people were coming and going all day in the open cave. Umbrella quickly rescued the children who were in surprisingly good condition.

April 2008 - Umbrella rescues 55 Children
In a new partnership with SolHimal, Umbrella went to Rasuwa, a mountainous region close to the boarder with Tibet/China. Umbrella rescued 55 children, many were living on the streets and were clearly malnourished and suffering from an array of skin and infectious diseases.
 

April 2009 - Umbrella rescues 16 children
In 2007 two Irish volunteers began to support a small orphanage in Gongabu, close to Swoyambhu where Umbrella is situated. When questions arose about the management's integrity the two asked Umbrella to manage the accounts and give educational support in the form of tutors. Unfortunately abusive and corrupt managers made this arrangement no longer feasible. The orphanage had to be closed down in April 2009 and the children are now living safely in Umbrella.