Hope and Homes for children charity ~ Nepal
James Amos takes a trip to Nepal to witness first-hand the important work this charity is doing.
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Since 1994, Hope and Homes for Children charity has been working to stop the institutionalisation of children. James Amos, Managing Director of Boodles, shares his account of his recent trip to Nepal.
"Boodles is proud to continue its long-standing partnership with Hope and Homes for Children, a charity committed to ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, loving family. Over the past two decades, Boodles has raised more than £1.75 million for Hope and Homes for Children."
James Amos, Boodles Managing Director
Earlier this year, Boodles Managing Director James Amos travelled to Nepal to witness firsthand the important work this charity is doing - reuniting separated children with their families and helping to close the doors of orphanages for good. Inside these institutions, children face a loss of identity, freedom, and consistent care. They are often denied the personal attention and emotional support every young person needs.
Cut off from their communities, culture, and traditions - in some cases not even allowed outside - they grow up in isolation. Even the most well-intentioned orphanages cannot provide the one thing children need most to thrive: love. Most shockingly, 80% of children in these institutions are not orphans at all.
James Amos, Managing Director of Boodles, shares his account below of his trip.
A global movement fighting to bring millions of separated children back to their family.
Nepal ~ April 2025
"In April I travelled from London Gatwick to Dubai, and then on to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Coming into land in a foreign country is always interesting, but Nepal has a fascinating approach - surrounded by hills, with the city itself sitting in a large basin at the foot of these hills. The Himalayas, of course, lay just beyond.
Having met our hosts for the trip at the airport, Archie (our videographer) and I jumped into the waiting car and headed off for an early evening supper, followed by some filming around the Buddhist temple of Boudhanath Stupa.
The next day we had an early start to fly to Chitwan Province, an area to the east of Kathmandu. Upon arrival, we were driven to meet various people around the region, often with long and bumpy journeys in between."
" The purpose of the trip was to meet and interview people who had been directly affected by orphanage tourism. The first lady I met had allowed her children to be taken away from her for a “better life” in an orphanage and realised only years later that they were the subject of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The sad stories continued with each person and family that we met on our long day of travelling… each time, I was filmed in conversation with the “orphans” and families, in order to make a film to expose the issues around orphanages in Nepal to highlight the vital work that Hope and Homes for Children do and why we are raising money for this crucial cause."
"In essence, children are trafficked into privately owned orphanages in order to be exploited by the owners to make a profit. The sad thing is that it is the Western world that unknowingly contributes to these profits by visiting and supporting the orphanages on the tourist trails.
What is more, they often return to the West and continue to make financial contributions - and convince their families and friends to do so as well.
On the second morning, and before our departure back to Kathmandu, we were able to film covertly outside some of these orphanages, many of which had adverts for orphanage volunteers on their outside walls.
There are 10,000 children in orphanages in Nepal, 80% of whom have living parents. Nearly every single orphanage is placed on a tourist route. It is not a coincidence."
James Amos, Boodles Managing Director
Nepal, April 2025
James Amos, Boodles Managing Director
Nepal, April 2025
"The charity has helped over 19,000 children return to their families and prevented more than 28,000 from being separated from them. The funds raised this year will support their remarkable work to end the institutionalisation of children and provide vital support to vulnerable families around the world."
James Amos, Boodles Managing Director
Nepal Gallery
In aid of Hope and Homes:
The Boodles Boxing Ball
At its core the Boodles Boxing Ball is a charity event, and over the past eight events the occasion has raised over £5 million for a variety of different charities. Through auctions, raffles and pledges, all profits raised are donated to the night’s charity of choice. For the last two events, this was Hope and Homes for Children, one of Boodles charity partners. £1.75 million has been raised for Hope and Homes for Children, whose main aim is to stop the institutionalisation of children by making orphanages history- a truly worthwhile cause.
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Friday 6th June 2025
Old Billingsgate Market, 16 Lower Thames Street
London EC3R 6DX
6.00pm - 3.00am
In aid of Hope and Homes for Children
Purchase Tickets
London EC3R 6DX
6.00pm - 3.00am
In aid of Hope and Homes for Children