User:Lphanley/sandbox

Padma Organization is a charitable not-for-profit organization founded in Park City, Utah in the united States. Padma fundraises, designs, and oversees humanitarian and environmental works in several countries across Asia. Initially, all programs were designed, funded, and operated by Padma staff and volunteers. Over the past several years (2015-present), partnerships with INGOs with proven long-term efficient methodologies have allowed Padma to expand its footprint into new issues, and new countries. For several years, beginning in 2006 Padma worked in Nepal on various projects related to the socio-economic disaster that resulted from the civil war and Maoist insurgency following the assassination of the royal family and subsequent unrest. Since its inception, international volunteers have served on every Padma project, including on all-inclusive service trips primarily offered to high school students. These trips help accomplish a number of projects while also serving as a fundraising tool.

Past Projects: From 2006 to 2015 Padma operated the Padma Children's Home on the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The children served were all refugees from rural villages across Nepal who were displayed during the period of conflict in the early 2000's. With the rural regions conflict free, Padma closed the Kathmandu home and supported the Padma supported children to return to their ancestral villages while continuing to support their education and a portion of food costs. Today Padma sponsors a number of children, many of whom were supported since pre-school and are now entering their university studies. In Nepal Padma has also operated substance abuse recovery centers during the UN funded Harm Reduction Programs that provided funding for methadone style programs to treat rampant heroin addiction across Nepal. Padma designed 12-step philosophy based abstinence programs that also served current and ex gang members from across Kathmandu.

In 2011 during a particularly tense period of social unrest, Padma spearheaded organizing talks between representatives of the United States State Department and Maoist leaders. The talks yielded some new information on the perspectives, motivations, tactics, and goals of some of the Maoist leaders and also helped to usher in a new interest in stronger international relations by some Maoist leaders, beyond their longstanding dependence on China. In the end, these talks resulted in little more than an increase of understanding of boths sides, with little tangible results.

Beyond Nepal: Currently Padma has projects in various phases on completion in: Indonesia, India, Cambodia, and Tibet/China.