Graduation is always a cause for celebration; even more so for the children of Mitrata who have overcome great obstacles. For the event, BSF rented out a beautiful party palace, with a stage, music, dancing and a lovely buffet meal.

The day began around 9:30 a.m. with a welcome speech by Yogesh Satyal, BSF Board President, who acknowledged that “it takes a village” to raise a child. That village includes not only parents, but sponsors, teachers, BSF staff, and Mitrata.

We then were treated to instrumental performances by Aleesh Baniya, one of the Mitrata coordinators, and Dil and Raj Kumar, talented Mitrata students. Wonderful dance performances followed, both traditional and modern, by several Mitrata students.

Then came the moment we were all awaiting: the presentation of the 9 Mitrata graduates: Ishwori, Sarita, Rasmita, Sijam, Pasang Kami Sherpa, Pasang Bhuti Sherpa, Laxmi, Rekha, Manju. Each graduate walked onto the stage and was presented with a scarf and a photo memory book.

Many of our graduates gave short speeches wherein they expressed their happiness and gratitude. Pasang and Ishwori said they consider their sponsors to be like a parent, without whom their graduation would not have been possible. Mitrata has come full circle: Ishwori was our first Mitrata student, and now she is graduating with a degree in Social Mobilization, or social work, and so she will be paying forward the opportunities she has been given.

The joy in the room was palpable. So was the love and the sense of family that the BSF and Mitrata union has created. Students were cheering, clapping, laughing, hugging. The official program ended with the sponsors doing their own line dance performance to Pharrell Williams’s song Happy. We were quite nervous beforehand, but the audience erupted into applause and yells of appreciation as we came onto the stage. We felt very loved! And the word “Happy” certainly captured the mood of everyone present.

After a delicious buffet luncheon, we spent the rest of the afternoon freestyle dancing with everyone and taking photos. The excitement in the room was felt by everyone, and it was a great time of bonding for sponsors and their children.

We couldn’t contain ourselves, because in the words of the song:

Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof…

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth…

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you…

I think we know: happiness is seeing all of the hard work, energy, and love come to fruition in the lives and successes of these wonderful, young people.

— Pam Hughes, Sponsorship Committee Chair and child sponsor

A Joyous Graduation

Our Dream for the Mitrata Children

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