CHANCE for Nepal has been supporting Burns Violence Survivors (BVS) for more than 20 years. Over the years, we have built a very special relationship with this remarkable organisation.
BVS first met Firoz over 12 years ago and has stood beside him ever since.
Firoz comes from the remote Rautahat District in the southern plains of Nepal’s Terai region, in Madhesh Province. His parents are farmers from a very poor background, working long hours to provide for their family. Firoz has an older brother.
In 2013, when Firoz was just 11 years old, his life changed in an instant.
Late one afternoon, while his father was working in the fields and his mother was preparing the evening meal, Firoz was playing football with friends. The ball landed on the roof of a nearby house where electrical cables ran across the terrace. As he climbed up to retrieve it, he accidentally came into contact with live wires and suffered a devastating electric shock.
A neighbour witnessed the accident and immediately alerted his parents. Firoz was rushed to the National Medical College Hospital in Birgunj, a journey of almost 5 hours by road, where he received emergency treatment and surgery. After one week, due to the severity of his injuries, he was referred to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. Because specialised paediatric burn care was unavailable, he was quickly referred to the Kanti Children’s Hospital, where he stayed for 6 months.
Sadly, the severity of his injuries, together with the delay in reaching specialist treatment, meant that Firoz’s arms had to be amputated below the elbows.
Throughout those difficult months, BVS-Nepal provided medical and surgical support, educational support, and accommodation for family. CHANCE funded a high-protein diet, physiotherapy, and counselling to help him recover both physically and emotionally.
As Firoz regained his strength, attention turned to his future.
Through BVS, the Audrey Jacobs Foundation awarded Firoz a full scholarship to attend Surya Vinayak English Secondary School in Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, where he lived in the school hostel. He studied there until Grade 8, but then returned to his home village to continue his education.
Despite all his setbacks, Firoz never gave up.
In 2024, returning to Kathmandu for higher education seemed beyond his family’s means but thanks to the generosity of friends and supporters of BVS, enough funds were raised to give him that opportunity.
This year, Firoz achieved another remarkable milestone. He achieved an impressive 3.07 in management from NASA International College in Kathmandu.
His ambition now is to study for a Bachelor’s degree in Law at university.
Firoz continues to attend BVS for follow-up treatment and remains an active member of their burn survivor network. He has become a role model for other young survivors, taking a leading role in school and community awareness programmes, sharing his own experiences to help prevent burn injuries and encourage others facing similar challenges.
His determination, resilience and courage have inspired everyone who has met him.
Today, however, another obstacle stands in his way.
BVS-Nepal has limited resources to support university education, and without additional financial help, Firoz’s dream of becoming a lawyer may not be realised.
CHANCE wishes to change that.
We are launching a new Education Fund for young burn survivors. Our first donation of £2,500 will help fund Firoz’s first year at university while also establishing the beginnings of a fund to support other children with similar educational needs.
Over the coming months, we will introduce you to three more remarkable children whose futures could also be transformed through education.
If you are able to make a donation – large or small – or would consider matching all or part of our contribution, you will be helping not only Firoz, but other courageous young people who refuse to let tragedy define their future.
Together, we can help turn survival into opportunity, and hope into lasting change.
Barbara info@chancefornepal.org
