For many Westerners, Nepal is a country characterised by smiling children, amazing treks through the Himalayas and hippies that have found “home” in Kathmandu.

We’ve occasionally read in the papers of Nepal’s decade-long civil war, the massacre of the king, queen and heir apparent, and the odd natural disaster.

The reality is Nepal’s civil war and challenging geography have left the country in poor shape, with 40 per cent of its 
23.2 million people living below the poverty line.

International aid organisations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), are working to support the worst affected.

Actor and UNICEF Ambassador Orlando Bloom recently visited Nepal to bring focus to the charity’s work. The 
31-year-old star of Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings spent four days visiting UNICEF programs that support health, education and community initiatives.

Malnutrition is the underlying cause of more than 
60 per cent of child deaths in Nepal; an estimated 51 per cent of children under the age of five have stunted growth and 48 per cent are considerably underweight.

UNICEF supplies vitamin A to more than three million children, saving more than 12,000 each year and preventing another 2000 from going blind.

One of UNICEF’s most successful programs is the “Welcome to School” campaign. Female literacy in Nepal is one of the lowest in the world, with only 43 per cent of females receiving some form of education.

Since the UNICEF program was introduced in 2005, enrolment of girls is up by 49 per cent.

UNICEF also runs an “Out of School” program that provides a second chance for children aged 10 to 14 who have never been to school or weren’t able to complete primary school.

At the time of going to print, Nepal was gearing up for an election on April 10 that looked set to transform the government from a monarchy to a democratic republic or communist nation.

Either way, it’s hoped the change brings peace and a stronger economy.