Jam-packed with world-changers and innovative humanitarians, every year CNN hosts an event to recognize 10 individuals who are helping others by improving communities around the globe called CNN’s Heroes. After highlighting heroes for their inspirational contribution, CNN announces its Hero of the Year. This year the honor went to Pushpa Basnet, awarding her with an additional $250,000 (in addition to the $50,000 she received from being nominated) to continue working toward her philanthropy.
With 55% of it’s population living below the international poverty line, Nepal is considered one of the poorest nations. Due to limited resources, there are not many government affiliated children’s homes. Because of that, when a parent is arrested and a local guardian can’t be appointed to a child, the only options are to have the child live on the street or to live in the prison with the parent. For the past 7 years, Pushpa has been opening doors for these children, creating an alternative option.
Nepal’s department of Prison Management estimates there are 80 children living in its prisons. Pushpa first learned of the situation after visiting a women’s prison as part of her college studies when she was 21. In 2005, she began her mission to bring these kids out of the prison walls and into an environment where they can “live a more normal life.”
By running a day care program for children under 6 and establishing her non-profit, The Early Childhood Development Center, she financially sustained a residential home for older children to receive education, food, and medical care. Two months after visiting the prison she was caring for five children, picking them up in the morning and bringing them to her center in Kathmandu before returning to the prison in the afternoon.
In 2007 she established the Butterfly Home, a children’s home where she has cared for 140 children with the help of a few staff members. With the ultimate goal of reuniting the children with their families, she sends the younger children to visit their parents on school holiday while still bringing them food, clothing, and fresh water while they are visiting. Sixty of the children she has cared for have since been able to reunite with their families outside of prison.
I’ve been so inspired by CNN Heroes, I’ve attempted to be a seat filler at the event for the past two years. Wish me luck for next year.
– Juan Frausto
(Photo credit: Chris Polk, Palani Mohan)
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