Empower Panauti's Children: Community Hub and Cafe

Dear friends,

Thank you for your generous contributions this new, exciting and transformative project! We're thrilled to share an update with you. Your support is helping us bring vital services and opportunities to some of the most vulnerable communities in the Panauti region.

Project Overview

Freedom to Learn has been working in Nepal for over 14 years, and the Panauti Community Hub and Café marks a bold new chapter in our mission. Located in a beautifully restored Newari heritage building in the heart of Panauti, this initiative combines a vibrant community centre with a not-for-profit café. Together, they serve as a beacon of hope, education and empowerment for hundreds of people.

Why This Project Matters

The need in Panauti is urgent and multifaceted:

• 100% of our students face severe socio-economic challenges, including caste, ethnic and gender discrimination.
• 67% are engaged in child labour for more than four hours daily.
• 32% have reported domestic abuse.
• Recent natural disasters have devastated the region, displacing hundreds of families and destroying livelihoods.

The Hub offers a holistic, long-term solution to the challenges the community faces, through education, support services and community engagement.

What We’re Building Together

The Community Hub will provide:

• Free afterschool tuition, arts, music, dance, drama and counselling.
• Parent support and advice clinics.
• Teacher training and youth development programs.
• Certified vocational training, including barista, hospitality and beekeeping courses.

The Panauti Café will:

• Serve as a high-end ethical eatery and the town’s first public play space for children.
• Train young people in hospitality and entrepreneurship.
• Reinvest 100% of profits into our charity education and community projects.

Who Will Benefit

• 500–600 individuals annually will access free services at the Hub.
• 1,000+ patrons will visit the café each year, including locals and tourists.
• Special focus will be placed on girls’ empowerment, with income-generating training for 25 young women from the Tamang community launching in September 2025.
• The project is fully inclusive, with policies to support individuals with physical, sensory and learning disabilities.

Sustainability and Growth

This initiative is designed for long-term impact:

• The café will generate sustainable income to fund our ongoing education work.
• Local employment will be prioritised, especially for graduates of our programs.
• Partnerships with local guides and agencies will promote responsible tourism and economic development.

Your Impact

Your donations are helping us renovate the building, launch services and begin training programs that will change lives for generations. Work is underway on renovating the building, but we do need to secure more funds to be able to continue.

We are deeply grateful for your belief in this vision. Together, we are building a brighter, more equitable future for the children and families of Panauti.

With heartfelt thanks,
Joey, SK, Aimee, Sarina and the entire Freedom to Learn team 

Links:

• Our website
• Our Facebook
• Our Instagram