Kathmandu: Society International Travels (SI) has entered into a partnership with Friends of Parents of Children with Autism (FPCA), pledging yearlong monthly financial support to the nonprofit as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative.
The first installment was handed over on Monday to FPCA president Elina Bajracharya Tuladhar during a ceremony in Kathmandu.
“Autism remains deeply misunderstood in Nepal, leading to stigma and immense challenges for families,” said Santosh Bikram Rana, head of GSA affairs at SI. “Our support for FPCA reflects our commitment to building a more inclusive Nepal.”
Tuladhar, who founded FPCA in 2013 and is also the mother of a child with autism, said the partnership would strengthen the organization’s mission to provide specialized education and therapy. “While we urge the government to prioritize neurodiversity, SI’s commitment enables us to expand vital services for families under financial and emotional strain,” she said.
FPCA currently runs Kathmandu’s only nonprofit day-care and learning center exclusively for children with autism, serving 15 children. Its programs include individualized education plans, occupational and speech therapy, music and behavioral sessions, and skill-development training. The center employs trained educators as well as family members of children with autism.