History

Global Family Village, a community-based orphanage model, was conceived after the founder Freema Devis visited a Romanian SOS Children’s Village. SOS had adopted abandoned children who were born with HIV/AIDS and grouped them into family units with "mothers". The sight of the once-hapless children now living together as a family and experiencing so much love and comfort from each other inspired her to start a similar family centered community model for orphan children in Nepal.

In 2004, Freema, with the assistance of The International Child Resource Institute (ICRI), began the initiative to transform institutional orphanages. Initially, the Healthy Infant & Baby Development Program at Bal Mandir Orphanage in Kathmandu was started as an urgent intervention for the safety and health of the newborns and and toddlers awaiting adoption. The intervention was broad based and addressed numerous deficiencies including: physical improvements such as furnishing existing and an additional room, new paint and curtains, general building repairs, creation of a play area, repair or replacement of outdated electrical equipment and fixtures, new cribs and mattresses, new clothes and toys. Donations were received to cover all the costs. The living environment of the children was vastly improved.
The physical improvements occurred in conjunction with ongoing caregiver training offered in collaboration with Educate the Children (ETC-Nepal) as the implementing agency.
March 2007, Global Family Village, Inc. (GFV) was established as a nonprofit organization in the USA. GFV provides a vehicle to raise funds and provide tax receipts.

The Nepal office of GFV is registered with the Social Welfare Council of Nepal under the Social Welfare Act 2049, article no.13, 2005/06.