Shanti Sewa Griha nominated finalist in World Challenge 08

Shanti Sewa Griha, a Nepalese charity that supports leprosy victims and other social outcasts, has made its way to final list of twelve competitors from around the world in the World Challenge 08 by the BBC in association with Newsweek.

BBC mentions, "Nepal is one of the few countries in the world where people still get leprosy. Effective treatments exist. But fear of the disease runs so deep that victims are often shunned even after they've been cured. Most end up as beggars around the country's temples - though even here they are often ostracised by other beggars."

Nominee Krishna Gurung, one of the founders of Shanti Sewa Griha, is busy these days soliciting online votes from his friends and acquaintances - http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/html/project08_shanti.html The voting closes on Saturday (Nov 22). People from around the world can choose and vote for their chosen project.

Literally, Shanti Sewa Griha means "Peace, Help and Home" and it was set up to help the beggars around one of the biggest temples in Kathmandu. The center that started with 12 victims now has over a thousand people.

Along with medical care, Shanti also offers employment through tailoring, handicrafts and organic gardening. Even the most severely disabled are given some useful role.

It has recently opened a new site outside the city. Building on the self-sufficient, village-like ethos of the original centre, the new site incorporates workshops, a school and a free health clinic.

Now in its fourth year, World Challenge 08 is a global competition aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level.

It is about championing and rewarding projects and business which really make a difference. The winner will receive a grant of USD $20,000 to put back into their project/business, and two runners up will each receive USD $10,000. nepalnews.com Nov 20 08