Our History – Opportunity Village Nepal

The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd Sisters ( OLCGS), commonly known as the Good Shepherd Sisters, was founded in 1835 by Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier in Angers, France. The congregation was established to rescue and provide rehabilitation for women and girls who were marginalised, exploited, or at risk. The Sisters expanded their mission globally, focusing on education, vocational training, healthcare, and social services. They are known for their dedication to empowering women and girls, advocating against human trafficking, and promoting social justice. Today, the Good Shepherd Sisters continue their mission in 68 countries, striving to build a world where all individuals are treated with dignity and compassion.

Story of Good Shepherd Mission in Nepal

In 1998, the Good Shepherd sisters came from India and started their humble beginning. The history of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Nepal reflects a journey of dedication and service. Srs. Vandana and Colette, accompanied by Sr. Sabina the Provincial, arrived in Pokhara on 17^th Jan 1998. Initially, the Good Shepherd sisters were invited by Canadian Jesuits, who supported the sisters to buy land, build the cottages and initiated the mission with a vision to establish the Opportunity Village, aiming to provide education for children and vocational training for young girls and women. The representative of Canadian Jesuits, Dr Jim Thompson played a crucial role in establishing the organisation. Therefore the organisation was registered in the Kathmandu administration office as Opportunity Village Nepal to provide opportunities to those children, youth and women who lack education health and decent livelihood and are at risk of human trafficking and exploitation.

By 2000, all the efforts of sisters to educate young women and were made visible with the inauguration of the first cottages in Opportunity Village, marking a pivotal moment in their mission to empower young women through education and vocational training. Local representative Mr. Govinda Pahari played an important role in the construction. Later, the service to vulnerable women and children had a great impact in Pokhara, adding another cottage and enhancing vocational training programs. The sisters reached out to the remote communities and the Prison in the Kaski district through mobile health clinics and Sisters received support from congregation and international donors, which enabled them to strengthen their infrastructure and broaden their community outreach.

2015 was marked by further growth for the Good Shepherd Sisters. They promptand ly responded to the earthquake, natural calamity that devastated the whole country. Through immediate relief, they provided tents for families and health post, temporary classrooms and health care services through mobile clinics and camps. As long-term relief, two primary healthcare centers with doctors’ residences were constructed and were handed over to the local government. Later water lighting project was launched to provide water to the health post and the surrounding communities. This humanitarian effort underscored their commitment and adaptability in times of crisis, reinforcing their role to support the most affected communities.. This great service influenced Donors to expand projects.

From 2016 onwards, the focus shifted towards combating internal human trafficking and community awareness programs in two provinces of Nepal: Bagmati (Kathmandu) andGandaki Pradesh (Pokhara). . In 2019 OVN expanded to Lumbini Pradesh (Bhairawa) to prevent cross-border Human trafficking. GSIF was Supporting OVN from 2015 and in 2018 the country office was established at Kathmandu in 2018 is a significant milestone, enhancing their operational capacity and outreach across Nepal. The Good Shepherd International Foundation Nepal’s thematic areas are reduction of human trafficking, prevention of unsafe migration and strengthening of protection mechanism of children especially for girl child. GSIF Nepal programs are implemented through Opportunity Village Nepal, Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN Nepal) and the National Network for Safe Migration (NNSM) and other consortiums and networks. . GSIF Nepal through its programs reaches the three provinces directly and indirectly to other provinces through its partners.

In 2024, their ongoing projects emphasize shelter care for children, empowering youth against exploitation, providing a safe home for vulnerable Nepali young girls and women, and launching new initiatives to develop OVN (Opportunity Village Nepal) land in Pokhara for sustainable community support. Through their persistent efforts and partnerships with international organizations, the OVN continues to contribute to the social and educational well-being of vulnerable women, girls and children and transform their lives in Nepal, embodying their mission of compassion, empowerment, and sustainable development.

Thus Opportunity Village stands as a beacon of hope, focusing on the prevention of human trafficking and the promotion of entrepreneurship. The mission of Opportunity Village Nepal is of searching, rescuing vulnerable children and survivors of human trafficking, reuniting them with their families, healing their wounds, and guiding them towards a brighter future. The essence of a true shepherd lies in daily dedication, commitment, sacrifice, and vigilance.