how it started

Fellowship and Early DaysBuilt by women. Led by community.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nepal faced the AIDS epidemic, particularly among people who use drugs, leading to isolation, stigma, and discrimination. Amid this crisis, a fellowship of recovering drug users emerged in Basantapur Durbar Square, offering resilience and hope to rebuild their lives. This era also marked the rise of a movement —often led by those directly affected—advocating for the health rights of People Living with HIV and drug users. The concept of establishing an organization emerged in response to this national movement. The founders believed that while embracing the Greater Involvement of People with HIV/AIDS (GIPA) principle, the new organization must include not only those infected but also those affected by HIV/AIDS to ensure broader impact and societal acceptance. This vision of solidarity took shape in FAITH—Friends Affected & Infected Together in Hand—a name that symbolizes unity, resilience, and a commitment to justice. At a time when People Living with HIV faced media vilification and widespread misinformation, FAITH prioritized advocacy to combat stigma, empower communities, and influence policy. Media became the key tool to challenge stereotypes and promote accurate, humane representation. In September 2005, this grassroots movement became an officially registered organization. The journey was not without challenges, but FAITH remained steadfast in its commitment to a world where every individual is treated with dignity and respect.

What began as a small peer support network for women living with HIV has grown into a national movement reaching women and communities often left behind by traditional systems.

WHERE IT BEGAN

Evolving to Empower Health, Rights, and Communities

AASTHA-FAITH emerged in response to a national movement for the health rights of people living with HIV and those who use drugs. The collective efforts, including FAITH’s, have expanded HIV programs significantly in Nepal. However, as evidence highlighted the vulnerability of people living with HIV to Tuberculosis (TB), we took action. We became pioneers in advocating for and implementing TB programs for people living with HIV, making notable progress in HIV and TB-HIV programs in Nepal. Despite these achievements, adolescents and women living with HIV, female sex workers, and women who use drugs continue to face challenges in accessing discrimination free essential health services, particularly Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and human rights. This prompted FAITH to broaden its scope, aligning with the evolving needs of the community we serve. In 2016, we declared ourselves a women-led organization, marking the beginning of our advocacy for SRHR, violence prevention and response, including psychosocial support, economic rights, gender equality, and social equity for our community. Our journey has been a profound learning experience, offering insights into ourselves, the community, and strategies to hold the government accountable. We continue to leverage these lessons to drive change, aspiring to shape a society that embraces marginalized populations. For instance, the lessons learned from our advocacy in HIV, combating stigma and discrimination, have been instrumental in advancing our efforts in SRHR, human rights, and other critical areas. In response to the challenges worsened by COVID-19, we recognized the urgent need to expand our focus to include Gender-Inclusive Economic Empowerment programs and education, particularly in STEM. The pandemic disproportionately affected young people, women especially from vulnerable populations, worsening existing inequalities in access to economic opportunities. Finally, FAITH’s strategic plan also includes climate change as a key focus. We believe addressing the intersection of gender, climate, and economic empowerment is essential for creating resilient communities, especially for the marginalized. By integrating climate adaptation strategies and providing women and youth with the tools to adapt, we aim to reduce vulnerability and promote a secure future. Today, FAITH proudly serves as a multifaceted advocate for change, working to uphold the health, rights, and dignity of Nepal’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities.

how we work

Theory of change

We work to break stigma, advance equality, and protect the rights of marginalized communities. Through community empowerment, advocacy, and local support networks, we help women, children, and vulnerable groups build healthier, safer, and more dignified lives.

through the years

The Pivotal Moments

Two decades of community-led action, advocacy, and partnership have shaped FAITH's journey toward lasting change.

"We did not form an organisation. We formed a community. The organisation came later — because the community needed one."

— Reena Lama, Executive Director, AASTHA FAITH

2005

FAITH founded in Lalitpur by women affected by Nepal's HIV/AIDS crisis, creating a space for solidarity, advocacy, and dignity.

2006

First structured peer support groups established for women living with HIV in Kathmandu Valley.

2007

Pioneered TB screening and treatment protocols for HIV-positive women, later adopted as a national standard.

2008

Expanded outreach to female drug users and female sex workers; established the first Drop-In Centre.

2009

Published formative research on behaviour change communication with FPAN/Global Fund and developed TB-HIV mass media IEC guidelines.

2010

Launched advocacy campaigns to reduce stigma in healthcare settings for PLHIV and FSWs.

2011

Expanded harm reduction programme, reaching 568 people who inject drugs through outreach.

2012

Completed national baseline assessment of injection safety across 78 hospitals, supported by WHO/HQ Geneva.

2013

Strengthened network of community-based organisations across 10 districts.

2014

Launched SRHR advocacy programme targeting women living with HIV and female sex workers.

2015

Formally declared as a women-led organisation, with all decision-making positions designated for women.

2016

Launched a five-year SRHR orientation programme, reaching 6,912 girls and women across 17 districts.

2017

Trained 1,113 local government healthcare providers on SRHR rights across 16 districts.

2018

Assessed and addressed stigma in healthcare settings, training 205 health providers to deliver SRH services without discrimination.

2019

Developed the Safetypin mobile application to improve access to safe abortion information for marginalised women.

2020

Maintained programme continuity through the early COVID-19 period and adapted outreach to community needs.

2021

Provided COVID-19 relief packages to 280 women across 15 districts while continuing SRHR and legal advocacy.

2022

Established a bakery training facility for female sex workers with FREE Fund and launched Phase I economic empowerment programme.

2023

Launched peer mental health model for women in the entertainment sector, reaching 1,007 marginalised women in Lalitpur.

2024

595 women completed financial literacy across 7 districts; 51 youth enrolled in STEM; 1,732 women reached with legal literacy.

2025

FAITH celebrates 20 years: a national network, a proven model, and eight focus areas for the next chapter.

Meet the team

Reena Lama

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Reena Lama is the Executive Director of FAITH, where she has shaped the organization’s strategy, programs, and partnerships for nearly two decades — first as Program Manager and, since 2019, at its helm. She holds a Master in Public Health from the Royal Tropical Institute in the Netherlands and a Bachelor’s in Psychology, with more than seventeen years in strategic planning, program development, and monitoring — seven of them devoted to the sexual and reproductive health of marginalized communities. A health and human rights activist, she is known for building durable partnerships across donors, government, and community-led organizations.

Miraz Roshan

TECHNICAL ADVISOR

Miraz Roshan founded FAITH and led it as Executive Director from 2005 to 2019, before moving into his current role as Technical Advisor. A filmmaker trained in Kathmandu, London, and Berlin, he guides FAITH's media and communications — documentaries, public service films, web series, and advocacy materials — and supports the leadership on strategy, partnerships, and funding. Over two decades he has directed advocacy films on HIV, harm reduction, and women's sexual and reproductive health, several shown at international festivals. He also brings mindfulness, music, and storytelling into FAITH's work on women's mental health and gender.

Bijeta Pradhan

SENIOR FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION OFFICER

Bijeta Pradhan heads finance and administration at FAITH, managing grants, budgets, donor compliance, and the systems that keep the organization running day to day. She holds an Executive Master of Business Administration and brings over thirteen years of experience across financial management, human resources, and organizational operations, work spanning both the ledger's detail and the structures behind it. Her role underpins FAITH's commitment to handling every rupee and every report with precision, giving the team the footing it needs to plan with confidence. In her hands, careful accounting becomes a quiet form of care, the discipline that lets trust take root.

Junu Shrestha

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION OFFICER

Junu Shrestha keeps FAITH’s financial and administrative work running smoothly — from reporting and budgeting to procurement and compliance. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Studies and has spent more than a decade in finance and project operations. Precise and well-organized, she makes sure the day-to-day administration holds up under the scrutiny that good stewardship demands.

Shikha Basnet

MONITORING, EVALUATION & LEARNING (DATA) OFFICER

Shikha Basnet is FAITH’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer. With over seven years in public health across government and development sectors, she turns data and field evidence into a clear picture of what FAITH’s programs are achieving — and where they can do better. Her work in research, monitoring, and data management helps the team design programs that measure the change they set out to create.

Sushmita Karki

PROJECT OFFICER

Sushmita Karki is a Project Officer at FAITH, leading rights-based programs for the inclusion and empowerment of socially excluded communities. She works from a human rights framework, confronting stigma and discriminatory norms at both grassroots and national levels in the name of equality, equity, and dignity. With over eight years among marginalized communities, she pushes for gender equality, social inclusion, and programming grounded in evidence rather than assumption.

Kshitiz Khadgi

PSYCHOLOGIST

Kshitiz Khadgi is a psychologist at FAITH, supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing through evidence-based, compassionate care. He holds a Master’s degree in counseling psychology, with experience in counseling, social work, and field supervision. He favors a practical, collaborative approach — working alongside people as they build resilience and move toward the changes they want for themselves.

Prakriti Subba

PSYCHOLOGIST

Prakriti Subba is a clinical psychologist at FAITH, focused on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of people from excluded and marginalized groups. With a Master’s degree in psychology and over two years of practice, she offers steady, respectful support to people working through their hardest moments. Witnessing their growth, healing, and recovery — reached on their own terms — is what keeps deepening her commitment to the work.

Alisha Shrestha

PSYCHOLOGIST

Alisha Shrestha is a psychologist and psychosocial counseling trainer at FAITH, working with people of all ages and backgrounds. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and more than three years in trauma-informed care, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness to help people steady themselves through difficulty. Those she works with describe her as easy to talk to — someone who listens closely and lets no one feel rushed or unheard.

Sujita Mijar

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Sujita Mijar is FAITH’s Office Assistant and, for many who walk through the door, the first welcoming face they meet. She keeps daily operations running smoothly, balancing administrative support with the hospitality that makes the office a comfortable, well-ordered place to work and visit.