For almost 10 years, I have volunteered in the UK and abroad as a befriender, mentor, at schools and orphanages. Someone once told me that "if you do something kind, never ask for praise or anything in return, as you are then doing business and not kindness" however, I would like to tell you about an orphanage I have visited recently, and how I really need your help.

In May this year, I visited Nepal and was truly touched by an orphanage I visited. This orphanage stood out as the kids were incredibly happy and all of them are sent to private school but what stood out the most was that it was started by one selfless man, Michael Hess, 12 years ago. I was staggered by all that he and his team has

accomplished. The orphanage is called NOH (Nepal Orphans Home), better known as Papa's House.

At the age of 50 Michael wanted to do something different for his 50th birthday. He travelled to Nepal and was shocked by the level of poverty, he decided he wanted to make a difference.  So he sold his business, his home and upon moving to Nepal, started NOH. That was 12 years ago. He now has four houses (and I visited them all) which house 120 children. Unfortunately, after months of emails I didn't get to meet Michael, as he was in America having taken a child there who was left at the home as a baby to have prosthetic legs fitted (see picture of Hope and Michael).

Michael had to fight to have the children accepted into private school but now they all attend school, paid for by NOH and the NOH children consistently achieve over 90% in each of their subjects. The private school were so impressed with their results they are now taking on children from other orphanages.

NOH doesn't just have four orphanages. It also has around 15 projects in remote areas such as English classes for around 150 women, sewing and tailoring classes to help teach skills that increases their employment opportunitie sand a Psychology centre where people who have lost loved ones can attend. The Psychology centre is being heavily used in the aftermath of the earthquake last year which killed around 8000 people. They also help out other less fortunate orphanages in the local area.

As NOH has been running for 12 years now, alot of the children are nearing college age. Last year was the first year any of the kids went to college., with four boys attending. Over the next two years there will be 24 kids who have been in the orphanage for many years who want to go to college. They want to be able to put the 24 children through college over the next two years but will have to find money elsewhere or make alot of cuts which may mean the orphanage unable to take on more children and helping other in need.

I want to help and have made it my mission to raise the $14,400 (10,000GBP) necessary to fund all 24 children through college, which means NOH will not have to make sacrifices elsewhere.

I intend to raise this money by doing a few things but one of these is something that terrifies me and hope that you will each sponsor me in my moment of madness. I have wanted to sky dive for many years but I am petrified of heights however, the thought of being able to support each of these children has driven me to book a skydive in Dubai in Sept. To gear me up for this, I recently did a paraglide off a mountain in Nepal. 

I would be extremely grateful for any sponsorship you could provide towards helping me acheieve my target of $14,400 (10,000GBP)

Thank you,

Miranda xx