About NAFA Queensland

The Nepal Australia Friendship Association (NAFA) was formed in January 1989 as the Australian Nepal Friendship Association (ANFA) Queensland. The name was changed to NAFA in 1993. NAFA is a Brisbane based non-political, non-profit, volunteer organisation without religious affiliation. Our aim is to improve the well being of individuals and communities in Nepal with an emphasis on women and children. NAFA has a proven track record in supporting sustainable, grass roots community development projects in Nepal in both rural and urban areas.

NAFA is run entirely by volunteers and 100% of tax deductible donations to NAFA’s Overseas Aid Fund are allocated directly to projects in Nepal. NAFA works in close collaboration with the growing Nepali community in Brisbane, who recently formed the Nepal Association Queensland (NAQ) to provide social support and activities to the local Nepalese community (including Nepali students studying in Queensland) and to assist NAFA with its fundraising activities.

NAFA holds a number of fundraising events throughout each year including a Nepali New Year Dinner and a Hike to Help Nepal. NAFA is a vibrant organisation whose members share a love of Nepal and a desire to make a worthwhile contribution to Nepal’s development. New members are warmly welcomed.

NAFA holds general meetings open to all members on the first Tuesday of every month and an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in March.

                      Fundraising in 2009
            The focus for fundraising will be

                  Sustainable Rural Education
               and Development"

Since its inception, NAFA has funded over 50 projects in Nepal to a total value of $600,000.

The project cycle is a four-phase process, involving needs identification, appraisal, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

The objectives of the current aid program are to:

• Improve the physical, social, emotional and economic well being of community members in villages and larger towns in Nepal.
• Provide financial assistance to community based projects.
• Encourage full participation by community members.
• Provide assistance in a culturally sensitive and appropriate manner.
• Ensure activities focus on urban and rural areas.
• Ensure that development projects assist all members of a community, particularly women and children.
• All projects should be self sustaining.
• Monitoring and evaluation is undertaken by Nepali partners and where possible by NAFA members visiting Nepal.