The name "Bethany" originates from the Hebrew words beit (house) and ʿanî (affliction or misery), often interpreted as "house of affliction" or "house of misery." This name reflects a place associated with sorrow and healing, offering hope and restoration to those who mourned.
This meaning resonates with Krishna Kumari Bishwokarma, who founded Bethany Vision Nepal in 2008 to support vulnerable children, particularly those abandoned by their families. The organization began with a children's home accommodating 14 children. At that time, there were no clear government guidelines or standards for operating children's homes; however, Bethany's home maintained a high standard of care, providing a safe haven for children. The founder, along with her three children, personally cared for the children, aiming to offer them a 'family' rather than an institution. By 2014, most of these children had transitioned out of the project, either reaching adulthood or being reintegrated into their families.
In 2015, the devastating 8.1 magnitude earthquake resulted in many children losing their families and becoming orphans. This crisis led to an increase in the illegal movement of children seeking safety, heightening the risk of trafficking. In response, Bethany re-opened a home to provide care for children who had lost their families during the earthquake. However, by 2019, the project had transitioned into a temporary care facility, shifting its approach from institutional care to family-based care.
Bethany Vision Nepal partnered with the National Children At Risk Centre, a government agency in Nepal that rescues children from abuse, trafficking, and other vulnerabilities, to provide transitional care. The organization is licensed by the National Child Rights Council to operate a 'children’s home' in accordance with the 2012 standards. Since then, Bethany Vision Nepal has successfully reintegrated over 300 children into their biological families or other forms of family-based care, such as kinship care, community-based foster care, or family-modeled group homes.