Field Work

/ Current Sites

Current Sites

Launched in the spring of 2006, Recovery Beyond Borders is still in its infancy, yet we have already achieved great deal. We have identified and worked with three sites in Nepal.

The Recovering Group

Patients at The Recoverying Group work together to prepare an evening meal.

Jake Epperly, CSADC, of New Hope Recovery Center, traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal where he assisted Suyash Rajbhandari a local Nepalese. Suyash began a 12-step based treatment program called "Recovery Group" in Kathmandu, Nepal about two years ago. Last year Suyash contacted Jake Epperly and asked for assistance in starting a treatment program in Kathmandu, Nepal. At the time Jake primarily assisted him over the internet by sharing treatment schedules, lectures and other tools. Within 3 or 4 months Suyash had established a 15 bed residential treatment program. Jake spent two weeks assisting Suyash at the Recovery Group Treatment Center. "It was a truly amazing experience, one of the most meaningful times I have had in the treatment field," Jake shared about his time there. Learn more about The Recovering Group at their website.

Jyoti Woman's Group

On May 27th 2006, Recovery Beyond Borders members Jake Epperly, Executive Director, and Lee Fitzgerald, Volunteer, traveled back to Nepal. They presented a two day workshop for recovering women in Nepal. Lee Fitzgerald led the workshop which covered two areas:

  1. Women and Addictions
  2. Women and Recovery

Nepal has little existing support for substance abusing women. Social stigma, a lack of treatment resources and an extremely high unemployment rate contribute to the devastation that drug addicted and alcoholic women face. Through Recovery Beyond Borders contacts with TRG as well as other services in Nepal, Jake and Lee were able to find about fifteen or sixteen women that had experienced a substantial amount of time abstinent from their drug of choice.

While in Nepal, Recovery Beyond Borders was able to locate a small program for women entering recovery called Jyoti. Jyoti is a small residential program for women that was established by nine socially conscious women in Kathmandu. They recognized the plight of the female alcoholic / addict and, through local donations, started Jyoti. The program is currently housed in a small building still under construction on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Recovery Beyond Borders members met with some Jyoti board members, and, as a result, decided that ongoing support from Recovery Beyond Borders would be beneficial to Jyoti. Recovery Beyond Borders was able to make an initial donation to keep the program running. Recovery Beyond Borders will continue to assist Jyoti financially and will also provide counselor training and develop marketing materials.

Dristi Nepal

Two of the founders of Dristi Nepal, a center for women in recovery.

Three women in recovery who had attended an Recovery Beyond Borders workshop in 2006 met with Jake Epperly to explain their need for a drop-in-center for substance abusing women, many homeless, in Kathmandu. The purpose of the center would be to provide a safe place for women to share their experiences and receive information about recovery. The center would be named "Dristi Nepal." Dristi means, "Point of focus for the eyes intending to draw the focus inwards."

Upon presentation and review of the plan presented by the women, RBB agreed to provide financial support to this new program. Recovery Beyond Borders initial donation allowed them to lease a small accessible meeting room in Kathmandu for one year.