Supporting Aswin and Aswini in Kathmandu, Nepal
In 2024, violent floods hit Nepal, sweeping away entire houses and leaving behind shattered families.
These include’Aswin and Aswini, brother and sister, now aged 13 and 11, who lost everything in one night: their home, their landmarks and their life's work.
Faced with this tragedy, Helping Hands mobilised to offer them a fresh start in Kathmandu: full schooling, a roof over their heads, meals and, above all, the security and stability they needed to rebuild their lives.
This project, which was born in an emergency, has become an essential and lasting support.
When life turns upside down
The floods of 2024 destroyed the family home of Aswin and Aswini.
Their house - built over the years thanks to the patient work of their parents - was washed away in a matter of hours.
This shock upset the balance of the whole family.
Their father, deeply marked by the loss of everything he had built, sank into psychological distress from which he has never recovered.
Since then, he has been living with serious mental problems that prevent him from working.
Their mother, for her part, does her best to support the household despite having virtually no income.
It is against this backdrop of great vulnerability that Helping Hands decided to intervene to give these two children a chance to continue their education in the capital, Kathmandu, where they were welcomed and looked after by our local relay.
Who are Aswin and Aswini?
🧒 Aswin - The quiet force
At the age of 4, Aswin impresses with his maturity. Quiet but attentive, he has come through the loss of his home and his father's illness with remarkable resilience.
Today, he attends a public school in Kathmandu thanks to the support of Helping Hands.
He has a particular love of maths and science, and dreams of becoming an electronics technician so that he can “understand how everything works and fix what's broken”.
«When the house disappeared, I thought nothing was possible. But now I've got school back.»
- Aswin, 4 years old
👧 Aswini - Energy and light
Aged 5, Aswini is lively, expressive and curious about everything.
She loves drawing and music, and participates enthusiastically in all school activities.
Her dream is to become a nurse, “to help those who suffer like Dad”.
Her joie de vivre and imagination bring a breath of hope to her family every day.
«At school, I learn, I laugh and I feel free.»
- Aswini, 5 years old
A new start in Kathmandu
After the tragedy, Aswin and Aswini were welcomed into a working-class district of Kathmandu, thanks to the local network of Helping Hands.
The association now takes care of all the essential aspects of their daily lives:
- School fees: registration, uniforms, textbooks and supplies.
- Balanced meals every day at school.
- Secure accommodation with the host family.
- Educational support provided by our local tutor, who looks after their well-being and progress.
This comprehensive support enables children to return to a stable environment, conducive to psychological reconstruction and learning.
Testimonies from the field
«When I arrived to meet them, they were shy and very marked by what they had been through. But just a few weeks later, they were laughing again. The school has calmed them down.»
- Radhika, local Helping Hands tutor in Kathmandu
2026 objectives: consolidating their future
Helping Hands is committed to supporting Aswin and Aswini over a number of years. Our priorities for 2026 are clear:
1️⃣ Ensuring school continuity
The main objective is to guarantee payment of school fees for the entire school year.
Public schools in Nepal require quarterly payments: a single unpaid instalment can result in temporary exclusion.
We make sure that never happens.
2️⃣ Keeping track of food and health
Their health is regularly monitored. Helping Hands pays for lunch and dinner, as well as essential hygiene products (soap, toothpaste and a change of clothes).
3️⃣ Supporting mothers in their resilience
Although she can no longer count on her husband's support, their mother remains a pillar of strength.
Helping Hands supports her with small allowances for renting accommodation and buying basic necessities, so that she can keep her household in balance.
4️⃣ Preparing for the future
We also support children in their choice of career path, taking into account their skills and dreams: a future technician and a future nurse.
Annual project budget
| Position | Description | Estimated annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full schooling (Aswin + Aswini) | School, uniforms, manuals | 500 € |
| Housing and family assistance | Contribution to rent, clothing, hygiene | 400 € |
| Meals and health monitoring | Daily meals, snacks, care | 300 € |
| Equipment and support | Supplies, solar lamp, support | 200 € |
| Estimated annual total | 1 400 € | |
Every donation, however small, contributes directly to maintaining this vital stability.
What your support makes possible
- 10 € → one month's supplies and snacks for one child
- 25 € → a full uniform
- 50 → one term of school meals
- 100 → one month's accommodation for the family
💡 Donations are eligible for a tax reduction of 75 % up to a limit of €1,000 per year (French law).
Follow the project
Helping Hands regularly publishes news and photos of Aswin and Aswini on our social networks and in the section News from Nepal. You can follow their progress, their smiles, and the tangible impact of your generosity.
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