Remember that Happy song that was huge when it came out? You know, the one that spawned countless tributes, controversies and parodies around the world? Well the kids over at Portside Arts Center in Port Richmond have made their own version with the help of Sarah Damiano, a teacher at the Arts Center. Damiano and her students created this video for The Butterfly Home in Nepal, which was demolished by the earthquake earlier this year.

 

This was a wonderful experience for our students and we hope it makes the children in Nepal “HAPPY!” -Portside Art Center

Damiano and the children also created a butterfly quilt that will be hung in the new Butterfly Home facility once it is rebuilt.

In Nepal, if a woman goes to prison and none of her relatives can care for her children, the children often accompany their mother to prison. The Butterfly Home is part of The Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) in Kathmandu, Nepal, which was founded in 2005 by Pushpa Basnet, a young Nepali woman who studied at Kathmandu University. According to their website, ECDC coordinates with jail administrators to rescue children from jail cells throughout urban and rural areas of Nepal. The children receive regular medical check-ups, vaccinations, are enrolled in a local private school, and have regular visitation with their mothers including during the holidays.

As the group says on their webpage,

ECDC helps children break the cycle of crime and poverty, and provides these children with the opportunity for an education, healthy development, and stability in life.

If the child’s parents are released from prison, ECDC makes sure the can send her child to school, feed them properly and provide a healthy and safe environment. ECDC sends the children back to their mothers only after they finish their school exams and we always follow up with these families to make sure the children remain well cared for. The organization also visits a mother’s home and assesses the condition and supports her education as well.

If you had finally succeeded in ridding this song from the infinite-repeat playlist of your mind… well, you’re welcome.

Stay happy, Riverwards!