Yapton Free Church working in Nepal
34 Nepalese orphans and four schools within this poverty ridden region bordered by Mount Everest have benefited during the past year from focused fund raising on the part of schools, churches and individuals within the 6 surrounding West Sussex villages of Aldingbourne, Barnham, Climping, Eastergate, Slindon and Walberton.

'The effect even small donations have had has been considerable'. Says Hugo van Driel, the Pastor at Yapton Free Church who, with his late wife Rosie, has coordinating this special aid programme.  On his return from a fourth trip to the region, Hugo explained. '£13 a month pays for the clothing, food, housing and schooling of each child.  We've seen the number at the orphanage grow from 12 to 34 since we began supporting the work of Pastor Baratt and his family, and the pressure is on to provide for another 16 needy children.'  

This is why Yapton Free Church is now fund-raising to build a new purposed designed orphanage to house 50 children. In May 2008, the land was bought and now the Church is looking for 50 cyclists prepared to take on the 6 Villages Nepal Orphanage Cycle Challenge to each raise £1,000 towards the build cost.

Hugo, who travelled many times to Nepal over the years. 'The poverty was a shock to my children. At first, all they wanted to do was come home, but when they saw the effect our support was having on these Nepalese children only a little younger than themselves, they worked hard to interact with everyone and learn about their culture.'

As well as the orphanage, the money raised from within the 6 village communities in West Sussex, also supports four schools in Nepal. For one, the fund has provided computers, at another £2,000 built three new classrooms to double the size of the school. The children at a third school have each been given school uniforms, and funding for a fourth paid for reconstruction work after the original building had been washed away by floods last year.

Hugo, who also addressed two Christian healing conferences during his latest trip to Nepal, says of the region

'Life is very hard, particularly in the villages outside the capital Kathmandu. Life expectancy is very low. That's why there are so many orphans in the region and education is at such a low level. It is fantastic to see the real changes this sponsorship has brought to so many lives. Pastor Baratt and his family are doing a fantastic job and the children in their care are well fed, cared for and going to school now. The money we raise also pays for two support workers, and this year our aim is to build a new orphanage and community/medical centre to relieve the overcrowding in the current, rented building.'

During their trip, Hugo and his family took two days out to visit the Chitwan National Park to ride elephants through the jungle and paddle dugout canoes down a crocodile infested river. 'It is a very different life to the ones we enjoy here is Sussex and certainly produced a culture shock for my children.' He added.
Now Hugo is visiting schools within the 6 villages to show just what focused funding can achieve in one of the poorest regions in the world.

Click here to see ways you can raise money for this good cause.