Our History

The story of Mitrata began in 2000…

When Dr. Christine Schutz travelled to Nepal for the first time to visit her Nepali friends and trek in the Himalayas, she was struck by both the great beauty of the country and its culture, and the terrible poverty experienced by so many of its people:

“It was an amazing and transformative experience. As a psychologist I have seen a lot of suffering, but the lack of basic things that we all take for granted here in the USA was overwhelming. Clean water, toilets and garbage collection, basic medical care, public education, and government resources for poor children are lacking in Nepal. I remember going for a run in the morning near Swayambhunath Temple in Kathmandu and seeing small children, maybe 3 or 4, one with a cleft palate, climbing in the piles of garbage alone looking for food.”

Christine’s heart broke for those children suffering in Nepal, so she returned to the U.S. inspired and on a mission to help.

Mitrata’s First Child

In February 2002, Christine went to a small village in Nepal to check on a girl who was reported as homeless. After finding her, it was clear she was very sick and malnourished. She looked to be about seven years old at the time. She had never been to school, was poor and severely neglected. She wore no shoes or underwear, was coughing and very skinny, and had lice too. Her name was Ishwori.

After getting Ishwori medical care, new clothes, and a haircut; Christine found a place to house her in Kathmandu. She became the first child, and was sponsored by Christine’s good friend Nancy Williger.

Today, Ishwori has come a long way from the girl she was in 2002. In 2019, she graduated with a certification in social work, as a healthy, confident young woman ready to make a difference in the lives of others in Nepal. Nancy, Mitrata’s first child sponsor, funded Ishwori’s entire education and other support services, and she traveled to Nepal to meet Ishwori several times.

Today…

Mitrata has touched the lives of over 300 children with years of educational support, healthcare and housing, as well as counseling and career advising. Each year, Christine takes volunteers, sponsors and friends to visit and experience the culture and beauty of Nepal.

Christine says, “With so little money, we have been able to transform the lives of these children and give them a chance for a better life. When I visit the children, get an email from them, or receive their cards of gratitude and thanks, I am filled with the greatest joy of my life. That is why I keep going there and working hard to fundraise -- for their smiling faces and to see what wonderful people they have become. We now have young men and women in college, becoming accountants, doctors, nurses, and teachers! I am so proud of all of them.”

Key Historical Milestones

• 2003: Fiduciary Partnership with O.U.E.S.T. begins

• 2005: Incorporated as a 501C3 nonprofit organization in the USA

• 2008: First part-time employee, with the second hired in 2010

• 2010: Over 100 children supported by Mitrata programs

• 2012: Partnership with BSF for operation of the child sponsorship program begins

• 2015: Partnership with Karma Thalo Foundation to promote children’s health through annual medical clinics

• 2016: Endowment and Scholarship Funds established

• 2018: Five year strategic plan for expansion established

• 2019: Legacy Giving program to plan for Mitrata’s future sustainability established

• 2020: Reached over $500,000 in income

• 2021: BSF moves Nepal office and Contact Center to larger, better facilities

• 2022: First full-time employee hired

Thank you to everyone who has helped us reach this point in our history. We are grateful to the many sponsors, board members, volunteers and donors who have stood by us through these years.