A Letter from Himalayan Children’s Charities Founder, Bruce Keenan

Nepal is a country of paradox. High, high peaks and deep, crushing poverty. Every trip to Nepal is meaningful. I am blessed with friends and family and the privilege to be with them for holidays, graduations and annual celebrations. This recent trip I was able to celebrate Holi, graduation and International Women’s Day.

You hope, when you do this kind of work, that you can make a small change in a big world. And seeing these young women (two thirds of the HCC students are women), celebrating their accomplishments in this reciprocal way is powerful. It was a young girl that planted the seed for HCC in my mind, two dynamic and bright sisters that got the ball rolling, so the annual celebration of women feels like the culmination of these last 24 years. These women, from extremely challenging backgrounds, are dreaming the biggest dreams they can; setting goals and achieving them. All in a country where only 13% ever attend university at all. Where marginalized populations are mostly uneducated or under-educated and 33% of girls find themselves married before they turn 18. 

Every year the Khushi Ghar family puts together a day of activities for Women’s Day. Students read poetry and share their experiences and art. Everyone participated and it was an astounding day. It’s incredibly moving to be a part of this new generation of educated, powerful Nepali women. They are succeeding in spite of huge personal obstacles and vast societal discrimination and systemic sexism. Not only are they succeeding, they are thriving. They are rejoicing in their womanhood. It was a beautiful day.

It blows my mind to think how truly big this small difference is that we are making. Two more women graduated out of HCC this spring, with jobs in their fields (journalism and medical technology), and the life skills they need to succeed. They were 16 years old when they joined HCC and they are shining examples of the difference we can make in the life of a child. 

 

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Arun helps rural student

Field Trip Experience by Arun, HCC university student

From December 9th to 11th, I volunteered on a trip to Dhading and Nuwakot with Dinesh Uncle, Laxmi Didi, Nishan Dai, and D.P. Uncle. Our goal was to distribute winter supplies like clothes, books, and calculators to students in these areas. The trip was a rewarding and humbling experience as we connected with the children and saw the impact of HCC’s work.

We left early on December 9th, starting at 6:30 a.m. Our first stop was to meet eight students. We spent time chatting with them about their families, studies, and future goals, and distributed chocolates to them. Then, we went to Dhading Besi and visited another school, where we spent three hours meeting students, handing out supplies, and learning about their lives. A 13-year-old girl, Gita, stood out to me with her maturity and confidence.

Next, we traveled to Darkha, where we enjoyed the beautiful scenery despite the rough roads. We stayed overnight at a local hotel and the next morning met with the community, including the mayor and teachers. We gave supplies to 15 students and had meaningful conversations with locals.

In the afternoon, we visited Bindu Keshar School in Nuwakot, where we played volleyball with eight students and shared snacks. Finally, we reached Uttar Gaya, where we updated records for six students and saw their dedication to learning. We ended the trip by staying at a hotel in Nuwakot before heading back to Kathmandu the next day.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our team, sponsors, and well-wishers for their invaluable support in ensuring the education and well-being of  students in the RISE program. The field visit was a success, providing much-needed support and monitoring to students in the RISE program. Through collective efforts, we continue to create meaningful impacts on the lives of children and their families in Nepal.

 

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Himalayan Children’s Charities creates paths out of poverty for vulnerable children and at-risk youth in Nepal. Through investment in quality education, innovative mentorship and a loving family environment, we help build lives of leadership.

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