NAFA Qld or Nepal Australia Friendship Association of Queensland is a volunteer-run, non-profit, non-religious organisation, founded in 1989 and based in Brisbane, Australia.
NAFA supports disadvantaged individuals and communities in Nepal by funding one-off and multi-year health, education, economic development and other village infrastructure projects.
Donations are tax-deductible and one hundred per cent of donations go direct to NAFA-supported projects in Nepal.
NAFA Executive officers in certain key roles visit Nepal annually at their own expense to assess and monitor NAFA projects to ensure our funds are used wisely and in accordance with their approved purpose.
NAFA has a vibrant community of members and supporters, including the Nepalese community in Brisbane and long-standing donors.
Their dedication to improving the lives of disadvantaged communities in Nepal and their adventurous spirit is a major factor in the success of the Association.
The initial interest developed from trekking and climbing experiences and friendships with the Nepalese during these activities. A large proportion of our members are seniors and twenty-three per cent of the committee over eighty. It is wonderful what people do to give back to society.
Outside of Kathmandu, villages depend on tourism and subsistence farming.
At the time of writing, Nepal ranks as the 27th poorest nation in the world, with GNP/person $1300 per year.
Since its inception, NAFA has funded projects in Nepal to a total value of $3,241,587 to 31 December 2024. Most notably, this includes $996,870 allocated to NAFA’s initial and rebuilding responses to the devastating earthquakes that struck Nepal in April and May 2015.
Throughout 2024, NAFA allocated $190,589 to a total of 14 projects across Education and Child Care, Health and Disability, Community Development, Remote Village Infrastructure and Earthquake Relief related to another earthquake that struck in western Nepal.
History of NAFA – tax-deductibility status
The Nepal Australia Friendship Association (NAFA) was formed in 1989 following Expo 88 in Brisbane, Australia. Since then, NAFA has grown steadily into a totally volunteer-run, medium-sized charitable organisation.
In 1994 NAFA obtained tax deductibility status which means that all donations to NAFA are tax deductible for Australian donors. This status, combined with the introduction of a child education sponsorship program and a decision to allow donors to earmark their donations for specific projects, resulted in an increase in annual donations to an average of just over $100,000 in the lead up to 2015. NAFA’s project portfolio has built up over the years, comprising both one-off and annually funded education, childcare, health, disability, micro-hydro electricity, water and other village infrastructure projects and programs.
In 2015 two earthquakes devastated Nepal, death and destruction was widespread. Amongst the many thousands of houses and buildings that were destroyed were eight schools, a remote health post and other village infrastructure that had been built over the years by NAFA and other like-minded partner funds. Over the following three years, more than $900,000 was raised by NAFA from generous donors and philanthropists to help villages survive the onslaught of the monsoon season after the earthquake and rebuild earthquake damaged infrastructure.
Since those earthquakes, NAFA has continued to support its ongoing program commitments, although a sunset clause was introduced to its child sponsorship and Further Education and Training (FEAT) programs. In 2019, Sungava Home for Young Women with an Intellectual Disability was added to NAFA’s portfolio of annually funded programs.
When Covid-19 struck in early 2020, many of NAFA’s fundraising activities, such as the annual dinner and Nepal in the Park have been curtailed. The annual visits to Nepal by NAFA’s senior executive officers were suspended for a few years during Covid, but are now back in full operation.
A very detailed insight into project/program portfolio appear on their website (nafa.org.au), and other information, including how people can become involved.
