FOUNDERS MESSAGE
December 2024
uring the smiles of barefoot h stones and old bicycle tires, j y p g g ational poverty shadowing their families. Today, we find very few children in these ancient village streets because the children are in school. The transformation in our village of Bhaktapur over the past two decades is profound, and Unatti has been privileged to be a part of this journey.
Last year, with unwavering determination, Unatti launched an ambitious three-year plan to deepen our impact in Nepal. This year, we are taking additional steps with new programs, driven by the success we have witnessed and the stories of hope we have nurtured. Our commitment is steadfast because we have seen firsthand how education and support can change lives.
The progress we share today is not just about numbers; it's about real change, young women flourishing, and a brighter future for more girls. In the past two years, our donors have contributed nearly $602,070.00, each dollar a testament to your belief in our mission.
As we expand and forge new partnerships, we invite you to continue this journey with us. Together, we are creating ripples of change that are uplifting our Unatti girls and their communities.
Namaste, Stephanie Waisler-Rubin
UN SDG
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere.
Sustainable Development is a shared global blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are 17 SDGs, which are an urgent call for action by all countries. They recognize that ending poverty and other challenges must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth.
At Unatti, we are partn and community group these global SDGs in N many of these goals t Nepal continue to thri
UNATTI PROGRAMS SUPPORTING
COMMUNITYSPONSORSHIPPROGRAM NEWGREENLEARNINGAGENDA
COMMUNITYSPONSORSHIPPROGRAM SOCIALENTREPRENEURPROGRAM GHEEP
COMMUNITYSPONSORSHIPPROGRAM NEWGREENLEARNINGAGENDA GHEEP
COMMUNITYSPONSORSHIPPROGRAM NEWGREENLEARNINGAGENDA SOCIALENTREPRENEURPROGRAM GHEEP
COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM UPDATE
A Beacon of Hope: Educational Scholarships for Girls in Our Community
In 2023, we set out on a mission to provide educational scholarships for 60 new girls by 2026 a mission born from the belief that every girl deserves a chance to dream and thrive. These scholarships are not just financial aid; they are lifelines for girls whose families are struggling to make ends meet. They represent hope, opportunity, and the promise of a brighter future.
Already, we have granted 22 scholarships, and the difference is nothing short of extraordinary. Each girl now has access to education, along with vital support services like nourishing meals, dedicated academic tutoring, and compassionate mental health care. These scholarships are more than textbooks and classrooms - they are the key to dismantling generations of crippling poverty.
WHEN GIRLS ACCESS EDUCATION, CHANGE
IS INEVITABLE
EARTFELT
“Our father has an addiction to alcohol, and our mother went away when I was small. My sister and I live in a room with our grandparents, who work hard as farmers on a small piece of rented land. We have food each day but no money for anything else.
Without Unatti’s help, we would not be able to go to school. My sister would be home doing washing and cleaning and I would have to work the land, maybe earning $2.00 a day for my labor.
I will be the first in our family to finish school, and I will build a better life for my sister and me. I have to make a better future.” –Kritisha, age 12
“My mother died only a few months ago. She had a heart attack. My father was drinking so much when she died and he was violent. My twin brother still lives with him but I live with my sister, her husband and his mother. l walk to Unatti each morning to have dhal bhat, get help with school work and go to school with all the other Unatti sisters. I come back to Unatti each afternoon, eat more good food, do more school work and go home to sleep. At Unatti Home I feel safe.”- Ganga age 16
“We have witnessed a profound transformation in Ganga over the past few months. When she first joined Unatti, she was socially withdrawn, with clear signs of low self-esteem, and hardly spoke. Her emotional state was fragile, and she would often become paralyzed by her feelings. But now, we see a new Gonga one who is beginning to communicate, sharing her beautiful smile with us.” -
Unatti Housemother
Your generosity is a beacon of hope, lighting the path for these girls and their families. By supporting Unatti, you are becoming part of a transformative story that will echo through generations, inspiring change and nurturing dreams. Join us in making a lasting impact and be the reason for their hope and success.
WHY EDUCATION MATTERS
13%
Primaryschool age(6-12years) arenotenrolled inschool
35%
Girlsof secondary schoolage(1318years),not attending school
50%
Girlswhostart primaryschool donot completetheir secondary education
40%
Girlswhodrop outofschool aremarried beforetheage of18
95%
Girlswhodo notbecome computer literate
88%
Girlswhodrop outthatworkin “unofficialjobs” withno protections.
SOURCE:HUMANRIGHTSWATCH&UNICEFONEDUCATIONINNEPAL
NEW PROGRAM NEW GREEN LEARNING AGENDA
After 22 years of impactful work improving the lives of girls, Unatti is once again expanding our mission to include STEM/climate-centered education as a catalyst for promoting gender equality and cultivating future green leaders.
We are partnering with Prabighya Basnet and David Smith of 3 Trees Permaculture Farm in Bhaktapur, Nepal, to launch two exciting new programs:
UNATTI OUTDOOR CLASSROOM STEM & CLIMATE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR GRADES 7-12
UNATTI FOREST SCHOOL AT 3 TREES PERMACULTURE FARM FOR 3-6 YEAR OLDS
CREATING GREEN LEARNING SPACES TO PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY
IN EDUCATION AND CULTIVATE FUTURE GREEN LEADERS
Nepal ranks 4th globally in climate vulnerability, with crop loss, rising hunger, poverty, and forced migration disproportionately affecting women and girls. Despite this, Nepalese women are not involved in developing solutions, mainly due to a lack of environmental and STEM education.
With less than 0.5% of women in technology and only 7.8% in research, advancing access to quality education and Unatti's work is crucial for the future of girls in Nepal.
To create lasting change, we know it is essential not only to recognize these issues but to actively challenge them.
FOSTERING GENDER-INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
Our goal is to revolutionize education for Nepali children with the Unatti Forest Preschool at Three Tress Permaculture Farm and The Unatti Outdoor Green Learning Initiative, which transforms school grounds into climate-friendly spaces with mini forests and regenerative gardens. Paired with our innovative Green Learning STEM Curriculum, the Outdoor Green Learning initiative aims to close the STEM gender gap by offering experiential outdoor education to both girls and boys.
The Outdoor Green Learning Initiative will emphasize practical STEM applications to inspire curiosity, promote sustainability, and empower students, especially girls, as innovative green leaders who will drive positive change in their communities and beyond.
Unatti Forest School opens October 2024
Two pilot schools will begin the Outdoor Green Learning transformation January 2025
UNICEF POLLED 4198 NEPALI STUDENTS
AGES 15-24 YRS
50%
Wantedto learnabout“all” aspectsof climatechange
78%
Climatechange hadaffected theirstudies 37%
Unlikelyornotatall likelythatthe governmentwould dosomethingto addressclimate change
96%
Wouldliketodo somethingto addressclimate changewiththe necessary support 34%
Reportedthat theywereableto explainclimate changeand globalwarming
Source;UNICEFRISINGTOTHECHALLENGEYouth PerspectivesonClimateChangeandEducationin Nepal-December2021
GIRLS HEALTH EDUCATION
EMPOWERMENT
PROGRAM UPDATE
Combatting Period Stigma by Examining Structures of Inequality and Oppression that Perpetuate Discrimination Against Girls in Nepal
The Unatti Foundation has always been committed to empowering girls and young women through education. In a significant step towards addressing critical social issues, Unatti has broadened our GHEEP (Girls Health Education Empowerment Program) to tackle the deeply entrenched period stigma that affects many girls in the region.
ZING RES OF Y
Period stigma in Nepal is deeply rooted in longstanding social and cultural norms that label menstruating women and girls as impure and demand their isolation.
To combat these harmful beliefs, the Unatti Foundation is incorporating comprehensive educational modules that explore the origins and perpetuation of these stigmas, educating students about the biological realities of menstruation and debunking myths to foster a more informed and supportive community.
Recognizing that period stigma is part of a larger framework of inequality and oppression, the Foundation's new curriculum aims to make students aware of how these broader structures impact their lives and the lives of others in their community. This awareness is crucial in developing empathy and a desire for change.
CHALLENGING AND CHANGING SYSTEMS
To create lasting change, we know it is essential not only to recognize these issues but to actively challenge them. The Unatti Foundation’s GHEEP program, lead by Meeta Shakya MSW, is encouraging students and the broader community to engage in discussions about gender equality and human rights. Through our GHEEP workshops, we are empowering young boys and girls to become advocates for change.
2218 Girlsprovided witheducation& menstruation suppliesat GHEEP workshops
5 Schools changingtheir policiesaround menstrual health management
2086 Boys attending GHEEP workshops
7 University interns trainedto administer GHEEP
14 Numberof Schools reachedin 2023-24 78% Schoolsand staff requesting more information
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM UPDATE
The Unatti Social Entrepreneurial Program- PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABILITY’s goal is to provide job training and employment opportunities for girls and young women who have been raised in the social welfare system in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Inspired by the successful model of Homeboy Industries, our products are centered around Juju Dhau yogurt. Through this venture, we aim to empower and uplift women and girls by offering them a chance to build meaningful careers and contribute to the community.
This program also aims to bring Super Food movement, education and healthy food products to the community.
“Growing up at Unatti we learned about social entrepreneurship and how we can help our community. But the idea of starting a business with the Unatti sisters still felt like a whimsical dream, something teenage girls would imagine together. But that dream is almost within our grasp, so close we can practically touch it.
We ground ourselves in the reality that Unatti has been teaching us that we can take smart risks and be creative entrepreneurs, we know we can make it happen with our united efforts. There's nothing we can't overcome when we join hands. Creating job opportunities for other young girls in our community means everything in today’s world, and developing a product that is healthy and uniquely ours brings us immense pride.
“
Roshani-
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EMPOWERS GIRLS
“I am Rupali, a passionate young woman about to graduate with a Bachelor's in Business Administration thanks to the Unatti Foundation. I grew up at the Unatti Group Home for Girls and now, with the support of the Unatti Foundation, me and two other Unatti sisters are about to launch the first superfood yogurt business in our region. This venture isn’t just a business; it’s a movement to empower girls like me, offering them employment opportunities and the chance to achieve financial independence.
Your generous support can help provide the necessary resources to kickstart this business. By donating, you are investing in a future where young Nepali girls can dream big and become role models in their communities. Together, we can inspire a generation of young women to pursue their ambitions without leaving their homeland.
Thank you for believing in our vision!
26%
TheWorldBank reportedlabor forceparticipation rateforwomenin Nepal(2022) 11%
Female populationin Nepalthat worksabroad
11%
WomeninNepal engagedinearlystage entrepreneurial activity
84%
Employedwomen workingininformal sectors,wherejobs areoftenunstable, low-paid,andlack socialprotection
25%
Womenwhohave accessto entrepreneurshiprelatedtraining
Women-owned businessesinNepal that reporthaving accesstoformal credit 19%
Sourse:TheGlobalEntrepreneurshipMonitor(GEM)&UNESCOInstitute forStatistics
LIFE, AT ITS ESSENCE, IS ABOUT THE LIVES WE TOUCH
Giving isn’t just about charity; it’s about connecting, healing, and becoming part of something far greater than ourselves. It is the endless stream of tiny charitable acts that each of us do every day that has the power to change the world, even in tiny villages on the opposite side of the globe.
Sponsor a Community Education Scholarship Sponsor a Community Education Scholarship (Our goal is 30 more this year!) Please join our Community (Our goal is 30 more this year!) Please join our Community Education Circle and provide a year of school plus wrap- Education Circle and provide a year of school plus wraparound services to one girl in our community. around services to one girl in our community.
$550 $550 annually affords a girl an year of school annually affords a girl an year of school
$46 $46 monthly recurring monthly recurring
Support the Outdoor Green Learning Initiative Support the Outdoor Green Learning Initiative
Please support creating green learning spaces, and ensure
Please support creating green learning spaces, and ensure every child can become a leader in the fight for a sustainable every child can become a leader in the fight for a sustainable ffuture. uture.
$75 $75 sponsors 20 Fruit trees for the outdoor classroom sponsors 20 Fruit trees for the outdoor classroom
$125 $125 sponsors Training for one Green Educator sponsors Training for one Green Educator
$1450 $1450 sponsors annual salary for Green Educator sponsors annual salary for Green Educator
Support expansion of GHEEP Support expansion of GHEEP
$160 $160 sponsors 20 My First Period Packs sponsors 20 My First Period Packs
$1000 $1000 sponsors 125 My First Period Packs sponsors 125 My First Period Packs
$5000 $5000 sponsors workshops for 5000 girls sponsors workshops for 5000 girls
Support Social Entrepreneur Program Support Social Entrepreneur Program
$275 $275 sponsors salaries for 3 Unatti girls for 1 month sponsors salaries for 3 Unatti girls for 1 month
$550 $550 sponsors technology the Entrepreneur Program sponsors technology the Entrepreneur Program
$1150 $1150 sponsors building out our R&D kitchen sponsors building out our R&D kitchen
