Our story

 

Established in 1952, International Nepal Fellowship (INF) is Nepal’s longest-serving international NGO.

Our vision? Life in all its fullness for the people of Nepal.

We began in the 1930s, when pioneering medics Dr. Lily O’Hanlon and Hilda Steel began medical work among Nepali people living on the Nepal-India border. Here they faithfully waited and prayed that one day they would be able to work in Nepal, which at the time was a closed and secretive Hindu Kingdom.

When Nepal opened up in 1952, a small group of medical missionaries including Lily and Hilda together with some Nepali friends walked north from the Indian border to the Pokhara valley. With the permission of the Nepali Government, they set up a clinic and a few years later the ‘Shining Hospital’ was established – the first hospital in the west of Nepal and the beginning of INF as we know it today.

Since its humble beginnings INF has grown to be an organisation recognised for its approaches to community health and empowerment. Since 1954 INF has established further hospitals and clinics across the West and Mid-Western Regions of Nepal. New community-led programs, particularly supporting women, people with disabilities and marginalised groups and communities, have also been at the core of INF’s work since the 1980s.

INF Australia was formed in 1961 by Australian supporters of INF. We exist to support and share the work of INF in Nepal and a small number of other Christian partner organisations.

As well as helping bring life through prayer and funding, INF Australia has sent and supported many Australians to serve in training and support roles alongside Nepali counterparts. These include doctors, nurses, teachers and organisational and community development specialists.

How we Work 

Faith

Guided by our Christian faith, we are dedicated to serving the poor, marginalised, and oppressed in Nepal. Following Jesus' example, we aim to be a tangible and active expression of God's love in every interaction. 

Partnership

We collaborate with local Christian agencies that have a deep understanding of their communities' needs. These agencies are best positioned to create relevant and sustainable solutions. We support our partners with necessary funding and provide ongoing training and support. Together, we continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our projects to ensure they deliver lasting transformation

Locally led development

Our approach in Nepal is shaped by local knowledge and needs, through community participation and accountability, ensuring the inclusion of marginalised groups in the decision-making process.
Our local project partners collaborate with community members to develop long-term solutions to poverty. We seek to empower local communities through the provision of training and resources, enabling individuals to initiate and sustain positive changes in their own lives.

Gender Equality

We believe that all people are created equal by God and under God. To address gender inequality, we engage entire communities (females, males and children) to challenge and change discriminatory practices together. We also partner with faith leaders in Nepal to identify and address gender injustices in their communities.

Anti-racism

We are dedicated to fostering an anti-racist organization, committed to dismantling the institutional and societal systems that perpetuate racism, discriminatory behaviours, and white supremacist ideologies. Our goal is to eradicate these inequities by promoting ongoing education, implementing equitable policies, ensuring diverse leadership, practicing inclusivity, holding ourselves accountable, and engaging with affected communities.

Climate resilience

We are committed to respecting and caring for the environment we are working in. We recognise that Nepal is particularly vulnerable to a range of issues that threaten the environment, including climate change. We encourage anticipatory planning, and operations and program management that minimises our impact on the environment, improves adaptive capacity of the communities in which we work, and supports environmental restoration.
We are partnering with communities to address the increasing risk of climate disasters. By collaborating with local organisations, we aim to support communities in managing climate risks, navigating uncertainties and building climate resilience.

Fundraising 

We are committed to the highest ethical standards in fundraising as per our fundraising policy and we are committed to upholding the values and standards contained in the ACFID Fundraising Charter. 
https://acfid.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/The-ACFID-Fundraising-Charter_Aug-2018.pdf