News
Read stories and updates from our work with the children of Nepal. To find our old newsletters from 2003 to 2018, visit the archive! Otherwise, click in the search bar below to locate blogs on a topics you’re interested in.
A Dream Come True
A message from long-time child sponsor and board member Pam Hughes on her sponsee Puja’s graduation, and the hard work and the dedication it took for her to achieve this milestone.
Graduation 2023
This year, four students graduated from the Mitrata program and joined 52 former graduates in the role of Mitrata alumni. The 2023 Mitrata/BSF Graduation Ceremony was an entire day filled to the brim with pride in the success of our students!
Thank You Connie for Many Years of Service to Mitrata!
This week, we would like to take a moment to celebrate the retirement of Connie Colvis. Connie was a faithful Mitrata volunteer until 2016 when she officially became a part-time Mitrata employee. Since then, as Alexis Mead said, “Connie has been a constant savior and friend.” Connie has supported every sponsor, board member, and committee. She has all our thanks for the past seven years of hard work and dedication she has shown to Mitrata. Thank you Connie! Enjoy your retirement!
Happy Holidays!
Dr. Christine Schutz, Executive Director, reflects on the past year’s events, including the 20th Anniversary Celebration, in-person Holiday Bazaar, and finally returning to Nepal! It was a year filled with many wonderful experiences, and it wouldn’t have been possible without YOU, our Mitrata friends.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Our sponsors and staff are back home in the United States, very ready to rest, recover, and… celebrate Thanksgiving! As we celebrate this year, there is so much for us to be thankful for; from celebrating 20 years of Mitrata, to traveling to Nepal for the first time in three years, our gratitude is overflowing. Thank you for the caring support of these beautiful children, for your generosity that has lifted them out of the cycle of poverty, and for your commitment to Mitrata’s mission through the years. Happy Thanksgiving!
Celebrating Tihar in Nepal
This week, our Executive Director and Founder, Dr. Christine Schutz, and Director of Development and Operations, Alexis Mead, are celebrating the Tihar Festival in Nepal with the entire BSF staff and Contact Center children. Tihar, also known as Deepawali, is a five-day-long Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. They celebrate Tihar by honoring the Hindu goddess of prosperity, Laxmi. Tihar is also known as the festival of lights, where diyas are lit both inside and outside the houses to welcome the spirit of Laxmi. The festival is considered to be of great importance as it shows reverence to not just the humans and the gods, but also to the animals like crows, cows, and dogs who maintain an intense relationship with humans.
Celebrating 20 Years of Mitrata
On Sunday, September 11, 2022 many of the friends of Mitrata gathered together to celebrate Mitrata’s 20th Anniversary. The celebration lasted from 1:00-5:00pm and was a wonderful open house that allowed Mitrata supporters to catch up with one another.
The Founding Advisors of Mitrata
As we continue to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mitrata, we are also celebrating the people who have helped it become what it is today. Today we are spotlighting four individuals who were vital to the success of Mitrata.
Christmas and New Year in Nepal
The holidays were a little different for everyone this year; BSF sent us some pictures to show us how they celebrated in Nepal.
A Special Holiday Message
BSF distributed blankets for our kids to keep them healthy in these coldest months of the year, and Christine received a special birthday message from Nepal. We wish all of our supporters a happy holidays, and have a great new year!