Mamaghar Nepal Changes Lives of 350 Children: From Street Child to National Hockey Captain Raju

Raju, originally from Sisneri in Makwanpur, was forced to leave his village with his parents due to intense social pressure following their inter-caste marriage. After moving to Hetauda, tragedy struck when his father passed away. Soon afterward, his mother remarried and left, leaving young Raju with no one to care for him. He ended up living on the streets, surviving without family or shelter. That could have been the end of Raju’s story — but it wasn’t.

Associate Professor Arpan Parajuli, founder of the social organization Mamaghar Nepal in Hetauda, rescued Raju from the streets. Under the care and protection of Mamaghar Nepal, Raju grew up in a loving environment and discovered his talent in hockey. Today, he is one of Nepal’s most recognized hockey players and has proudly served as captain of the national hockey team.

Trained by coach Manoj Sharma, Raju has played in dozens of matches. Currently, he is working in Qatar to improve his financial situation. With his earnings and continued support from Mamaghar Nepal, Raju has achieved a remarkable milestone: he now owns his own house in Hetauda-11 — a powerful symbol of hope for a boy who once had no home at all.

Raju’s success is not an isolated case. For the 10th National Games, four young athletes raised at Mamaghar Nepal — Suman Achhami, Sujan Bogati, Sushil Bik, and Rohan Devkota — have been selected to represent the country in hockey, bringing immense pride to founder Arpan Parajuli.

The story of Mamaghar Nepal began with a profound personal experience. To truly understand the plight of street children, Arpan Parajuli spent three months living on the streets of Hetauda. Witnessing their daily struggles firsthand deeply moved him. The children began affectionately calling him “Mama” (maternal uncle), which inspired the name “Mamaghar” — meaning “Uncle’s Home.”

Unable to turn away from their suffering, Parajuli founded Mamaghar Nepal, a philanthropic organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating street children. To date, Mamaghar Nepal has rescued 350 children from the streets. Of these, 322 have been successfully reunited with their families, while 28 “nephews and nieces” — as the organization warmly calls them — continue to live under its care. In total, Mamaghar has provided support, including rehabilitation, food, clothing, and education, to 2,274 individuals.

In its early years, Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City supported the organization by covering house rent until 2019 AD (2076 BS). Mamaghar has also been sustained through heartfelt donations — many individuals and groups celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries, or organizational milestones by visiting Mamaghar, providing meals, supplies, or financial contributions.​

In 2015/16 AD (2072/73 BS), Arpan Parajuli received the prestigious National Youth Talent Award of NPR 50,000 (approximately 375 US dollars) from the Government of Nepal in recognition of his selfless work. Education has always been a top priority. After Bhutandevi Secondary School in Hetauda agreed to partner with Mamaghar, rescued children began receiving formal education. In 2021 AD (2078 BS), Ajay Dahal, one of Mamaghar’s children, achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA in the SEE examination — a testament to the power of opportunity.​

Beyond academics, Parajuli ensured the children had access to sports and arts. Makwanpur Kaliwood Art Center now teaches dance, Hetauda Football Academy provides free football training, and Hetauda Medicine Polyclinic offers free healthcare. Dozens of local organizations and government bodies have honored Mamaghar Nepal for its transformative work.

A major breakthrough came when Hetauda businessman Siddhilal Shrestha donated 3 katha and 2 dhur (11,300 square feet) of land in Hetauda-11, Thanabaryang. Inspired by this generosity, Mamaghar launched the “One Person, One Brick” campaign. People contributed whatever they could, and soon a modern 21-room building — complete with bedrooms, toilets, kitchen, dining hall, and assembly area — was constructed. In February 2021 AD (Falgun 2077 BS), Mamaghar Nepal finally moved from rented rooms into its own permanent home.​

Arpan Parajuli was born on 7 March 1978 (24 Falgun 2034 BS) in the former Namtar VDC (now Kailash Rural Municipality), Makwanpur, to parents Khadananda and Manmaya Parajuli. A dedicated educator since 2006/07 AD (2063 BS), he currently serves as an Associate Professor at Hetauda Campus while pursuing his PhD. He founded Mamaghar Nepal in 2011/12 AD (2068 BS) and has since been honored by over 100 organizations, including the former District Development Committee and Hetauda Municipality.​

Despite these achievements, two concerns continue to weigh heavily on Parajuli’s heart: “First, children are still ending up on the streets every day,” he says. “Second, what happens to our children when they grow up? Where will they go?”

He firmly believes the government must take greater responsibility — providing housing and settlement support for grown rescued children who have no family or property, and most importantly, introducing strong policies to prevent children from being abandoned on the streets in the first place.

Mamaghar Nepal is more than an organization — it is a living example that one person’s compassion, backed by community support, can change hundreds of lives. And for children like Raju, it has meant the difference between despair and a future filled with hope, pride, and a place to call home.