Celebration for a Cause

Introduction to the Fundraising Program

Give Hands Together for Change planned to celebrate Holi 2070 by organizing a fundraising program to help a needy girl, namely Pooja Dahal, complete her high school. As a part of this program, our national flag was face-painted on the cheeks of those who wanted to help Pooja complete her high school. We charged hundred rupees per face-paint and provided certificate and receipts to the participants. 

Biography

Pooja Dahal (16) is living with her handicapped father, mentally-ill mother and a younger brother in Kakarvitta, Jhapa. Her father met with a tractor accident when she was just one year of age. The family had to spend all of its property to save him. Though he got his life back, the accident left him handicapped for the rest of his life. Though the family had to pass through such a harsh situation, her mother was able to work and earn the living. But a year back, her mother suffered from a serious, long-term mental illness that made her unable to earn the living. 

Thirst for Education

At the moment, Pooja and her family struggle to survive in extreme poverty. Her brother started to work in a motorcycle-workshop instead of going to school because of poverty. Pooja was studying in grade 12 in Adarsha Higher Secondary School. After her mother got mentally-ill, she could not pay tuition fees and she was compelled to leave the school. Despite being in such difficult situations her determination to pursue further studies was fascinating. She was one bright student – she had passed SLC examination with first division. Similarly, she had also been passing all internal examinations of high school because she had been able to manage some time from her busy life for her studies. She had a dream to run her own business and lead her family to live a better life. 

Our Appeal

We appealed people explaining them the cause:

“This is an appeal of Give Hands Together for Change to all the golden-hearted national and international citizens out there who are motivated to help Pooja pursue her further studies. The money collected through this fundraising program will go to Pooja’s school fees and study materials (ask Srijan Bhandari, the CFO of Give Hands Together for Change, to know exactly how the donation will be spent). And if sun shines bright enough on our side and we collect more, we are planning to enroll her brother too in a local school.

In this festive occasion let’s celebrate the moment together, let’s express our nationality by painting national flag in our faces, let’s help Pooja achieve her dreams and let’s help her family get a better future!”

They were happy to help us in our project. Some of the participants said, ‘‘if our small help will make a great difference in her life, we will certainly help her’. These kinds of statements made us very cheerful and kept us motivated. 

About The success of The Program 

This program was a huge success. We were able to collect more than 30 thousand rupees in a single day. 200 people got the flag of Nepal painted by our group. Many other people donated money and helped Pooja for her studies. We paid the dues of class 11, paid exam registration fees, bought her books of grade 11 right after the program day. We also paid her class fees, bought books and stationary, paid her exam registration fees for 2071. She had also given her class 11 exams and now she is studying stress-free in class 12.

The success in the fundraising program is credited for the organizers, who worked for many days to prepare for the program; the volunteers, who supported our program and worked hard despite hunger and exhaust; the participants, who supported our cause either by painting the flag of Nepal or donating money they possessed; and the well-wishers who helped us in many ways at the time of preparation of the program.