Nepal join the Homeless World Cup network for the first time
Nepal join Homeless World Cup network for the first time since it was established in 2003.
Charity, ‘Shelter Ashraya Nepal’ joins 70+ grassroots organisations that represent their country at the Homeless World Cup.
Shelter Ashraya Nepal work with the Asian Football Confederation and the All Nepal Football Association.
Our new member, Shelter Ashraya Nepal, which was established in 2004, works towards creating a more inclusive society for adults and children in cities and rural areas across the country.
Using sport as a tool, they support children and young people to reintegrate, feel empowered and access rehabilitation.
Together with their participants Shelter Ashraya Nepal wants to show the world that “sport is not just a game, but also a voice, a picture that reflects independence and equality and has the strength to change stereotypes in patriarchal society.”
Grounding their work in the Sustainable Development Goals, Shelter Ashraya Nepal uses sport to bring children together in a safe space so their voices can be heard.
All their activities focus on tackling social issues including challenging stigma surrounding women’s and girl’s health and menstrual health, tackling child labour, campaigning for a right to legal identity, protecting children and young people’s right to access education, anti-violence and support for victims and also supporting young mothers with nutrition for children in the first five years.
They have also launched a football programme working in Nepal’s prisons in collaboration with the Asian Football Confederation and the All Nepal Football Association. Through this they have received a lot of support from national players and the national football association.
Homeless World Cup International Partnerships Manager, Zoe Hopkins said: “Nepal represents an area of the world we have few previous connections with, so we’re delighted to add Shelter Ashraya Nepal to our growing partners in Asia. We hope their work on youth homelessness via sports can be an inspiration to others in the Homeless World Cup Network.”
Background to Shelter Ashraya Nepal’s work in Nepal
Nepal is a small mountainous nation found between superpowers India and China in Southern Asia. In 2015 it suffered a severe earthquake which killed more than 9,000 people and damaged or destroyed over 850,000 homes (Oxfam).
Natural disasters in Nepal are common and some 3.7 million people, approximately 10% of the population were displaced between 2008-2021 because of them. (Internal Displacement, 2021).
The earthquake also decimated the economy wiping out 25% of GDP. It is estimated that climate change will lead to more natural disasters affecting the country. (World Food Programme).
Find out more about Shelter Ashraya Nepal’s work.