Hope for Children Centre in Pokhara Concludes Activities with Educational Materials Distribution

After years of serving children and families in one of Pokhara’s most disadvantaged communities, the Hope for Children Centre in Pokhara concluded its activities with a closing and educational materials distribution program held on 16 July 2026 at Shivatole Hall.

The centre, operating under the Diocese of Pokhara, has served children living in the Bus Park slum area of Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward No. 9. Over the past five to six years, the centre has enrolled 209 children from five surrounding communities, providing free tuition, educational materials, hygiene awareness, health-related support, and various skills-training and community development programs.

The closure came after the Pokhara Metropolitan City issued notices concerning the removal of residents from slum areas. As several families began leaving the area, the number of children able to attend the centre was affected. Following guidance from the Archdiocese of Kathmandu, the HFC Centre was closed from July 2026 until further direction.

Approximately 190 children, parents, community leaders, church representatives, and well-wishers attended the closing program. The gathering was led by Rev. Fr. Shivram Gharti, Diocesan Youth Secretary of Pokhara Diocese and former coordinator of the HFC Centre. Sister Krishna Rasaili, the centre’s coordinator and a youth member of St. Timothy Church, Simalchaur, delivered the welcome and inaugural address.

Educational materials, including notebooks and pencils, were distributed to the children according to their classes. HFC staff members were honored with appreciation certificates and tokens of appreciation for their dedicated service. Community leaders were also recognised for their valuable support and cooperation throughout the years of the project’s ministry.

The program became an opportunity for members of the community to reflect on the impact of the Hope for Children Centre.

Mr. Dhurba Kumar Shrestha, Chairman of Shivatole, expressed his gratitude for the wide-ranging support provided by the project. He said, “The Hope for Children Project not only provided free tuition, but also conducted awareness programs for children and women in the communities. It also distributed necessary items, provided free health check-ups, and offered other forms of support. We were greatly blessed to have such a project in our community, where many low-income families live. We were saddened to hear about its closure. However, we hope to have this project in our community again in the coming days.”

Mrs. Lekhmaya Thapa, Treasurer of Parbati Tole, also acknowledged the project’s contribution to the development of the community. “First of all, I am very thankful to all the staff of the Hope for Children Project Centre in Pokhara for their commitment and hard work in developing our community in moral, educational, awareness, and skills-related areas,” she said. “Through the Hope for Children Project, we not only received free education but also gained skills in areas such as tailoring, gardening, and health awareness. Although the project is now closing, we will never forget the contribution it has made to our community.”

For many parents, the centre’s free tuition program had provided essential support for their children. Sister Indira Ansari, the mother of HFC student James Ansari, said, “I am very thankful to the Hope for Children Project Centre for providing free education for our children. Tuition classes are available elsewhere, but we cannot afford the fees. The Hope for Children Project provided valuable educational support to our children. It also gave us peace of mind as we went to work, knowing that our children were studying at the tuition centre after school. I felt sad when I heard that the project was closing. We hope that this project will continue in our community.”

The closing programme also included messages from community leaders, parents, and children, who expressed their appreciation for the love, care, education, and opportunities provided through the project.

Rev. Fr. Sal Bahadur Tamang, Local Parish Priest of St. Timothy Church, Simalchaur, offered words of thanks to the community leaders, parents, and children for their support and cooperation throughout the project’s years of service. The gathering concluded with refreshments for all participants.

Although the Hope for Children Centre in Pokhara has now concluded its activities, the gratitude expressed by the community reflects the lasting impact of its ministry among children and families. The community continues to hope that the project may one day resume its service in Pokhara.