Pro Nepal was founded in 2004 due to the initiative of the lawyer Helene Egger Matscher from Meran, Italy, after a journey in Nepal. Many founding members are South-Tyrolean families who adopted children in Nepal.
The association must face many problems and challenges related to poor hygiene, education and living conditions. Because of the poor hygienic conditions and malnutrition, there is high infant mortality due to the lack of medical services, health centres, medicines and competent staff which create some of the main problems.
In the isolated areas and villages, a high percentage of illiteracy exists. The children of many families are forced to work in the fields and in their houses due to the financial difficulties which deprive them of a good education.
Many families live in shanties, built with clay or wood with a thatched roof and an earthen floor, often without windows and chimneys. Access to clean drinking water, bathroom facilities, electricity and waste disposal are available to very few families.