Pushpa Basnet
Pushpa Basnet | |
|---|---|
| File:Pushpa Basnet CNN Heroes Award Nominee 2012.jpg | |
| Born | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Citizenship | Nepali |
| Occupation(s) | Social worker, Entrepreneur[1][2] |
| Website | www |
Pushpa Basnet (Nepali: पुष्पा बस्नेत ) is a social worker and the Founder/President of Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) and Butterfly Home,[3] non profit organizations, in Kathmandu, Nepal. She and her organization work to strengthen the rights of children living behind bars with their incarcerated parents.[1][4]
Her efforts have been recognized by the National and International Media, since she was nominated for the CNN Heroes Award 2012.[1][5]
Career
Basnet started her career at the age of 21, while she was still an undergrad in Social Work . As part of her college assignment, she visited the women prison in Kathmandu. She was dismayed at seeing the conditions of children living with their parents behind the bars. She raised 70,000 rupees (roughly $885) from her close friends and sister, and started a non-profit organization -The Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) to provide a day care program to the children, in 2005.[6]
In 2007, she opened a residential home for kids to live outside of prison year round while still visiting their mothers on holidays. Today, she has assisted more than 100 children of incarcerated parents. She runs a day care center for the prison children and a residential home for older ones. She has also helped to provide alternative residence, school enrollment, free meals and medical care to them.[1]
In 2009, sponsored by Change Fusion Nepal, she started a program to coach parents to make handicrafts inside the cell. The main objective of the program is to make the female prisoners as well as former prisoners to involve in income generating activities through which they can sustain their livelihood and contribute towards raising their children.[1][2]
She, along with her organization, coordinates with prison administrators to rescue children behind bars throughout urban and rural areas of Nepal, and help them break the cycle of crime and poverty.
Donation & Fund Raising
Recognizing her effort as the first of a kind in Nepal, many local organizations have pledged their help to raise fund for Basnet.[1] Major donations for Basnet's organization has come from The Glasswaters Foundation, Shikshya Foundation Nepal and Sundar Sansar. The center collects donations through various fund raising programs and individual donations.[3]
Recently, a local organization helped raise 3.7 lakh ruppees (roughly $4,600) for her organization through various national and international donation programs.[7]
Awards & Recognition
Selected for CNN Top 10 Heroes
CNN Heroes culminated in a global telecast honoring the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012 on September 20. Basnet was selected in the final list through unanimous Jury decision, winning a $50,000 grant amount for her effort and contributions towards the welfare of children who are behind the bars.[8][9].
The final result for CNN Heroes Award 2012 award will be announced at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, December 2, and which will be aired LIVE through CNN. The CNN Hero with highest public vote will be awarded with an additional $250,000 to continue his/her work.[10]
When interviewed by CNN, she commented on her venture as;-
"It's not fair for (these) children to live in the prison because they haven't done anything wrong...My mission is to make sure no child grows up behind prison walls."[1]
Banquet in GW University, Washington
Basnet was the honored guest speaker in the banquet dinner hosted by George Washington Student Organization Babies Behind Bars in The Cloyd Heck Marvin Center, GW University, in May 1, 2012.[11]
TEDx Kathmandu
Basnet was an honored speaker in TEDx Kathmandu, organized in July 28, 2012. [12]
ELGA Foundation Korea
ELGA Foundation of South Korea awarded ELGA Youth Award to Basnet in September 1, 2012, at Soul's Chung Conference Hall for her contribution in human services. Basnet is the only foreigner to receive the award which was established in the memory of Social worker Kim Yongi in 1989.[13][14]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g CNN Edition (2012-03-23). "Pushpa Basnet interviewed by CNN, after her nomination for CNN Heroes Award".
{{cite news}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ a b "Pushpa Basnet listed in Paragon 100 Asia". Paragon100.Asia. 2012-03-23.
- ^ a b "Early Childhood Development Center". ECDCNepal.org. 2012-03-23.
- ^ "Pushpa Basnet: Making a Difference". Nepali Times. 2012-03-23.
- ^ "Pushpa Basnet, top 10 of CNN Heroes Award 2012". My Republica -Nepal's Daily. 2012-03-23.
- ^ "Pushpa Basnet interviewed by MetroFever". MetroFever.com. 2012-03-26.
- ^ "GrowingBeyond Bars raise money for ECDC". GrowingBeyondBars.org. 2012-02-23.
- ^ CNN. "Basnet selected in Top 10 CNN Heroes through unanimous Jury Decision". Retrieved 2012-09-21.
{{cite news}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ CNN. "Top 10 CNN Heroes selected for the Grand prize of [[USD|$]]250,000". Retrieved 2012-09-21.
{{cite news}}:|author=has generic name (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/20/world/cnnheroes-tribute-show/index.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help); Text "Final Ceremony for CNN Heroes Awared 2012 in Shrine Aud., Los Angeles" ignored (help) - ^ "Pushpa Basnet to be honored as a guest speaker". George Washington Today. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ "Pushpa Basnet as a honored speaker in TEDx Kathmandu".
- ^ "Pushpa Banset receives ELGA Youth Award". Sarokaar.com. Retrieved 2012-9-2.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ http://www.nepalkoreanews.com/page.photos.php?article_id=100121publisher=NepalKoreanNews.com. Retrieved 2012-9-2.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help)
External links
- ECDC Nepal ECDC's Official Website
- CNN Edition CNN's Special Coverage on Basnet and her work
- Campaigning for Basnet Official Campaign Page for Basnet: Top 10 CNN Heroes
- Basnet's Fan Page on CNN CNN Heroes Award 2012 Voting Portal for Basnet