The Chepang is the most backward indigenous community of Nepal categorized as “the most marginalized” (the next category being, “liable to extinction”) by the government of Nepal. They are found only in 4 districts (out of the 77 districts) having a total population of 68,399 according to the 2011 census. They live in high altitude hills and forest premises and hence they are socially and geographically isolated. Owing to these reasons they are deprived of opportunities for education and development. They live in extreme poverty and for five months a year they depend entirely on forest products like – roots, leaves, honey, fruits etc for satisfying their hunger. These children are very active, talented and with average intelligence. Added to this, the innocence, simplicity and spontaneity of the forests reflected in the children reveal a clearer image of God in our minds. It is God’s revelation in a different way. The above situation of the Chepang Community motivated our Congregation to open a school and hostel exclusively for these children. Fr. Michael Chirayath volunteered to work with these children. Accordingly, Navodaya School was opened for the Chepang children on 25 April 2005 in a rented building in Jayamangala, Ratnanagar, Chitwan district. All the children in the school live in the hostel as no one is able to reach back home after the school hours. No fee is levied from the children for the school and hostel. Study materials, uniform, food, medicine and accommodation are given free of cost since Chepangs cannot afford to pay anything. From July 2006 the Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Geroza (SCCG) of Mangalore Province have collaborated with us. Now they belong to Delhi Province. Skill Development for children and promotion of Chepang language and culture are two areas where we pay special attention besides managing the school and hostel. On 26 December 2009 a plot of land having an area of five acres was purchased in Khairahani, Chitwan District, to establish the Mission. MISSIO Munich, Germany, undertook the task of financing all the required buildings - School, Girls’ Hostel, Boys’ Hostel, Dining Hall, Auditorium, and Priests’ Residence. On 12 November 2011 the school building was blessed by Bishop Antony Sharma and inaugurated by the Director of Education. It was Fr. Cherian Elavakunnel who designed the buildings and supervised the construction work. We do not have any regular source of income to meet the expenses of the institution. The main financial source is Little Flower Province Gorakhpur and Little Flower School Narayangarh. We get donations and contributions from individuals and groups too which are not regular. In the academic year 2019-2020 the strength of the school is 260 from class III to X, with 14 teachers. Already seven batches of students are out of our school completing Class X. The students are of average intelligence and hence the result is not excellent. However, each year we can see improvement in their performance and the number of students doing their higher studies increasing. Already the first two batches have completed their graduation / Diploma and many of them are employed in their own areas. Because of Navodaya School, now every year a sizable number of Chepang students pass SLC/ SEE exams. The Chepang Community feels that this trend will create positive and basic changes in their Community in the near future. Besides running the school and hostel we undertake village development programs under the umbrella of the Nepal Little Flower Society, centered on Community Schools where Chepangs are in majority. We focus on improving the quality of education in these Community Schools and on livelihood enhancement of the people of the catchment area. Training of teachers and the members of the School Managing Committee, formation of Child Clubs, supporting infra structure of the schools, giving incentive to children in the form of school uniform and study materials, establishing Early Childhood Development Centers, distribution of personal hygiene materials, organizing interaction programs among the schools, conducting exposure programs for students and teachers, promoting kitchen garden, planting of trees and nurturing nurseries, promotion of Chepang culture etc are activities included in this project that is supported by Fastenopfer Switzerland. During the times of calamities and catastrophe we reached out mainly to the Chepang Community for relief work and rehabilitation. The pastoral needs of the Catholic Community in Hetauda, 65 km away from Navodaya are looked after from this Ashram.