NEWS & UPDATES
On the Ground in Nepal
May 5, 2025 | News
Our approach here at Give Freedom International has always been deeply rooted in locally-led impact. We know the most meaningful change comes when it is led by those with the most experience.
When we first conceptualised The Pokhara Project with 3 Angels Nepal, we imagined a world in which we could build a full self-sustainable, earthquake resilient campus to provide a safe space for education, healing and opportunity for children and survivors of human trafficking.
Along with our incredible field partner, 3AN, we worked diligently with architects, engineers, and other experts, to create master plans for this ground-breaking development. The initial goal was to raise funds and build the campus in its entirety, to move all of 3 Angels Nepal’s current operations – including a Women’s Safe Haven, vulnerable children’s homes, vocational training centres and school – onsite at the same time for one contained campus.
Yet international development is a complex and nuanced process, and the issue of human trafficking is becoming more and more critical each year. One we are learning to adapt to with much more flexibility and consideration for the long term outcomes of those most vulnerable to human trafficking.
In December 2024 our founders Steve and Robyn Raymond, along with Managing Director, Jordana Morrison, travelled to Pokhara to meet with 3 Angels Nepal as part of our ongoing partnership monitoring and evaluation, as well as to see important progress on construction and meet with our architects and engineers to discuss The Pokhara Project’s next steps.
In 2024 we completed an ambitious project to reinforce the adjoining banks of the Seti River, the large river running alongside the beautiful site of The Pokhara Project. The construction of the river works was no small undertaking, and will ensure that the campus—along with the wider local community—has extra protection from flood waters, bank erosion and earthquake resistance. It was a marvellous experience for the GFI executive team, 3 Angels Nepal leadership, and representatives from the locally based architect and construction companies, to view the impressive works to date – works that have been made possible from the generous giving of our donors.
We took time to celebrate this significant milestone, before sitting with 3 Angels Nepal and the architects to discuss their current situation. After many discussions we met with the architects to explore possible solutions for what was quickly emerging as an urgent need.
"As my first time visiting Pokhara and meeting the 3 Angels Nepal team in person, it was wonderful to spend time with them and get a better understanding of the breadth of their work and how they are holistically fighting human trafficking. It was also disheartening to hear of their current situation and see first hand the current state of disrepair of the school buildings. It really hit home about the need and urgency for The Pokhara Project to get off the ground, to enable 3AN to continue their amazing work"
– Jordana Morrison, Managing Director
The reality is, 3 Angels Nepal’s school is currently rented and in serious disrepair. The cost of maintenance and rent are draining their resources, and children are studying in increasingly unsuitable conditions.
This drain on 3AN’s resources impacts not just the school, but also their wider holistic work within anti-human-trafficking. The school has a combination of fee-paying and non-fee-paying students, and the tuition helps to fund vital rescue and recovery work for survivors of human trafficking and critical community education work.
When the gravity of their situation sunk in, we realised we had to adapt our plans to ensure 3 Angels Nepal can continue their work. Working with the team, we decided to begin construction as soon as possible using the current funding we have, with the aim to get as many operations on site as possible. In December we settled on the priority buildings that will enable this–our first step to bringing The Pokhara Project to life.
Since our return from Nepal, the school’s situation has deteriorated further, reinforcing our staged approach and the urgency to move the school onsite as soon as possible.
What we’re doing now
The beauty of The Pokhara Project is it’s been designed in a modular fashion, for this exact scenario. Making it possible for us to adapt the construction stages and ensure those that are most vulnerable to human trafficking get the support they need.
We’re aiming to start construction on key priority buildings to move the school onsite, to ensure continuity of operations. We’ve already raised around $1.5million and need to raise just $800,000 to complete these priority buildings and ensure the school doesn’t close.
Education is critical to ending the cycle of poverty and human trafficking. Its impact goes far beyond creating freedom for one child, it can completely reshape communities with more resilience, reduced stigma and opportunity.
That’s why this next phase is critical. And we need your support to bring it to life.