Sunsar Maya

A note from our Executive Director, Jehan Seirafi. I can hardly believe it, but this October two of my ‘babies’—my son, Qais, and Sunsar Maya—will turn 10 ?? Qais is super excited about his birthday and is already making plans, even though his birthday is still months away. ?? I get it, I’m excited (and a little weepy) too. I know what a huge deal it is to turn double digits. 10 Years of Impact is a HUGE Deal! So, like Qais, the team is starting to plan now. We’re working on a few surprises (more to come on that later) and we will be sharing stories of impact from our 10 years in Nepal—starting with the launch of the SuMa After-School Program in 2014. This time 10 years ago… I was three months pregnant and in the midst of reaching out to family and friends to support a new vision of education and support for some of Nepal’s most vulnerable children. 117 individuals answered the call, contributing a total of $26,000 to support the dream. And on that day in October—the same day I went into labor with Qais—50 children from nearby orphanages and slum tenements walked through the doors of SuMa After-School. Sunsar Maya was like nothing the children, or the community, had ever experienced. In fact, SuMa ASP was the first program of its kind in Nepal. ?? What was groundbreaking then, and is still incredibly rare in Nepal today, was SuMa’s focus on providing children with a STEM-focused education, combined with holistic support—food, medical and dental care, a safe environment, and caring staff. Fast forward 10 years; today more than 300 children across three locations attend SuMa ASP every day. ?? And while we continue to provide students with experiential learning and holistic support, the program has expanded in ways we could not have imagined––dedicated preschool classrooms, STEM fairs, mental health services, and the growth of a generous donor community whose support has enabled the dream of Sunsar Maya to become a reality. I’m so thankful for the SuMa community, and I look forward to celebrating Sunsar Maya’s 10 Years of Impact with you all in the months to come. ??Jehan

We're excited to share our 2023 Impact Report with you! Beyond the numbers, what stands out most to us are the stories of those whose lives were touched by Sunsar Maya’s programs last year. "I never thought I could understand the concepts of science. They all seemed so mysterious to me. With the constant STEM projects we do at Sunsar Maya, I’ve started to understand the concepts so well. I love how practically we are taught everything. It makes it easy & fun to understand." - Aayan, After-School Student "Prior to joining Sunsar Maya's literacy class, my lack of confidence and inadequate learning skills made it challenging for me to handle grocery shopping. However, now I feel confident and capable of independently managing grocery shopping. I am also able to confidently handle all my bills."? - Meena, Women's Literacy Student Click the link in comments to view the full report.