The Punya Foundation (PF), which has been providing scholarships to Bhutanese refugee students, Nepalese students from the host community and African refugee students, has floated its plan to double scholarship quotas for the academic year 2014-2015 on Tuesday, calling for a greater community participation.
“In less than four years, with support of its well-wishers, the Foundation is able to secure higher secondary education of 38 students. As we aim to double our scholarship quotas for this academic year, we want greater participation from the community. We are looking for additional helping hands to join our mission,” said a statement issued by the Foundation.
(Picture courtesy: PF)
The Foundation made such a call as it released its 2013 annual reports, both English and Nepali versions.
According to the statement, the Foundation was able to grant scholarships to seven Bhutanese refugee students for their higher secondary education last year.
Similarly, seven Nepalese students from primary schools of Jhapa, Nepal and four African students from Kakuma refugee camps in Kenya also received the Foundation’s scholarship in the academic year 2013.
Established as a not-for-profit entity in 2010, PF has also been promoting women empowerment program since its establishment.
More than fifty victims of rape and gender based violence in Kakuma refugee camps in Kenya participated in a storytelling workshops funded by the Foundation in 2013.
According to the statement, 29 Nepalese women have been benefiting from its two-year adult basic education program that aims to promote women’s rights and storytelling to help them identify context-specific solutions.
The Foundation, which is legally registered in Adelaide, South Australia, has been operating mostly through community funding.
Video courtesy: PF
