In the aftermath of the Gen Z uprising, if any organisation has been dragged into controversy, it is the Barbara Foundation. While pro-monarchy supporters are at the forefront of criticising it, others have also joined in. Just on Tuesday, controversial businessman Durga Prasai criticised the foundation, accusing it of hijacking the uprising. Against this backdrop, the Post explains what the foundation is, who leads it, and what it does.

What is Barbara Foundation

Barbara Foundation is a non-governmental organisation, founded in 2010 at the initiative of journalist, environmentalist, and social activist the late Barbara Adams, a naturalised Nepali citizen, and her like-minded friends. Transforming the lives of communities in Nepal’s remote and disadvantaged villages by empowering and educating the villagers and introducing them to income generating activities was the stated objective of the foundation. As per its website, other objectives include managing local, skill-based products and integrating them into long-term plans, creating employment opportunities for youths by increasing their skills and promoting good governance and democratic norms.

However, with the passing of Adams in 2016, it was restructured by a group of dedicated and noted Nepalis who have made strong marks in their respective professional fields, and possess strong intent to bring reforms in Nepali society. It was relaunched in August 2017 with an objective to prioritise post-earthquake social management in the affected communities, empower sustainability programmes, conduct health projects, carry out environmental movements and confer Barbara Adams Investigative Journalism Award.

Of late, it has focussed on providing journalism fellowship and awards for the investigative journalist and holding talk events on pertinent issues, according its general secretary Mohna Ansari, a former member of the National Human Rights Commission.

The foundation has already organised nearly a dozen talk events and has awarded 87 frontline healthcare workers across Nepal during the Covid pandemic, as well as journalists recognised for outstanding investigative reporting.

Who runs the foundation?

It is run by a team of 11 board members led by veteran ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit. Ruit’s team includes noted personalities from various fields from administrators, academics, legal experts, journalists and artists. Ruit has been leading the foundation ever since it was restructured in 2017. Other office-bearers, however, keep changing. “We contribute voluntarily. There is no remuneration,” said Ansari.

Who was Barbara Adams?

Born an American citizen in New York on April 24, 1931, Adams first visited Nepal as a journalist to cover the Nepal visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1960. Barbara’s Nepal, an essay book by Adams, says she started to live in Nepal thereafter. Soon after she was born, her father, an economist, shifted to Washington DC where she did her schooling.

She studied French and Russian at the Georgetown School of Linguistics and obtained a Bachelors in Arts in International Relations from George Washington University.

After accomplishing her job to cover the British queen's Nepal visit, she settled in Nepal, and with prince Basundara Shah and Sharada Sumshere JB Rana. As per the book, she is a pioneer in Nepal’s tourism sector. She opened Third Eye Tours and traveled much of the world promoting tourism to still unknown Nepal, worked with Nepali craft promotion and design and became an expert on Bhutanese textiles. She was granted naturalised citizenship of Nepal at the age of 78 in 2008—after spending over four decades here.

Why has the foundation drawn controversy?

The foundation has been accused of being influenced by the West. Critics argue it is linked to the Sudan Gurung-led Hami Nepal, which has been at the forefront in the Gen Z uprising. Hami Nepal has been accused of receiving funds from various anti-China organisations. Statements by Gurung in different interviews that Ruit has been the guardian of his organisation also fuelled the criticism.

The foundation, however, has rejected its partnership with Hami Nepal. Holding a press meet on September 14, it said that it was only propaganda to claim the foundation had links with Hami Nepal.

“Since ‘Hami Nepal’ is a network of youth spread across Nepal, we collaborated with them during the Covid pandemic. However, we have no financial relationship whatsoever with that organisation or its officials,” Ruit had claimed during a press conference.

Ansari said no allegations against the foundation are correct. “Everyone in the foundation has their own professional lives. They are on the board with a pure aim to serve the community to the extent they can. Neither the foundation receives donations and grants from any organisations nor it funds others,” said Ansari.

How is the foundation funded?

Except for some contributions from Nepali donors, the foundation purely runs on the money received through the transfer of Adams’ property to it after her death. It received Rs28.8 million from Adams’ property. Over the last eight years, including interest income, it has received a total of approximately Rs78.2 million. As per the foundation’s balance sheet shared to the Post, it has Rs39.5 million in bank reserves. “It spends around five million rupees annually in fellowships, awards and talk series,” said Ansari.