Six students have officially graduated from our PEAK Program, marking an incredible milestone after years of hard work, resilience, and growth! On March 21, we came together in Nepal to celebrate this moment alongside HCC’s founder, Bruce Keenan.

The PEAK Program supports students through higher education by providing scholarships, mentorship, and a strong family environment at HCC’s youth home, Khushi Ghar. Here, they build the confidence and life skills needed to succeed and thrive outside of HCC.

We are proud to celebrate Bina, Harsha, Pushpa, Chadani, Sunita and Monika, each of whom has followed a unique path:

1. Bina (supported since 2010) earned her Bachelor’s degree in Travel & Tourism Management in 2024. She now works as a trekking guide, with aspirations to promote sustainable tourism across Nepal.

2. Harsha earned his Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management in 2025. He is now working as a sports teacher in Nepal.

3. Pushpa (supported since 2007) earned her Bachelor’s degree in Travel and Tourism in 2024. She is currently completing an internship at a five-star hotel in Thailand.

4. Chadani (supported since 2012) completed her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Application in 2025. She is working as an IT professional for a financial technology company, with plans to build a career in AI and automation.

5. Sunita (supported since 2010) earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2025. She is now working as a financial analyst for a financial technology company.

6. Monika (supported since 2012) completed her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Designing and Retailing in 2025. She now works in data analysis and research, while also running her own online clothing business.

For our students, graduating from the PEAK Program marks the shift into independent life, where they step forward with the confidence, skills, and experience they’ve built over the years.

Even as they begin living independently, their connection to HCC remains strong. Many continue to return to Khushi Ghar to tutor younger students, share meals, and offer guidance, carrying forward the same sense of community that once supported them!

HCC’s PEAK Program supports motivated, high-achieving students who lack financial and family resources for higher-education in Nepal. The holistic youth-empowerment program blends academics, life-skills training, leadership development, internships, and community service, to build confidence and independence.

Our PEAK Program offers the stability and opportunity young people need to focus on their studies and thrive – preparing them for meaningful careers and a future of giving back.

This year, the Program has expanded enrollment to include students who are equally motivated and academically strong but who do not require full-time housing. These students are still disadvantaged enough to need scholarship assistance and can benefit from HCC’s mentorship, guidance, and supportive community environment.

Eleven new students going in October 2025 and we will be sharing a bit about each students over the next few months. Stay tuned!

Our rural Rise Program supports nearly 100 students in rural districts about 50 miles west of Kathmandu. Our HCC team in Nepal, who is based in Kathmandu, regularly travels out to these rural areas to check on our students welfare and distribute aid and funding. However, during monsoon season in Nepal heavy rains can wash out roads and make the the more remote parts of the district completely inaccessible for cars and vans.

At the beginning of this year, HCC hired a new staff member who lives full time in a rural area near the majority of our Rise Program students. On foot, bike or motorcycle, Mr. Pradip can now check in on our Rise students when our Kathmandu team cannot. He also supports our Kathmandu team when they visit for welfare checks and student mentorship. We are very excited to welcome him to the team!

In March Mr. Pradip, visited the boarding school in Nuwakot where 10 HCC students live. During the visit, he met with each student and he observed that all students were doing well, in good health, and happy in their environment. He also spoke with the school principal and was updated on each students academic progress.

• Dipsan is preparing for his Grade 11 final exams. He regularly completes his homework, attends all classes, and plans to join extra sessions for additional support.
• Ganga & Jamuna (UKG students) are excelling in their studies. As per Bijaya Sir, they secured a 4.0 GPA in their last internal exam.
• Other Students: All remaining students are actively preparing for their upcoming exams. Along with their regular coursework, they are attending morning and evening tuition classes to enhance their understanding of subjects.

After their final exams, all students plan to visit their homes for a short vacation. They will return to the hostel before the start of the new academic session.

HCC’s Benighat Student Relief Project began in 2021 to help families in the rural and impoverished Benighat community of Dhading, Nepal. The Project provides children with school supplies, clothing, hygiene materials and food relief packages for their families. Since the start of the Project our team in Nepal have completed over a dozen supply distributions helping over 300 children in five different elementary schools.

Last month, HCC began working with a new elementary school in the area that supports a large number of children from the marginalized, indigenous Chepang community. In mid-February we distributed warm clothing (socks, sweaters, wool hats), school supplies (language & math workbooks, writing utensils and a geometry box), and personal care items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap & shampoo) to 310 new students.

Students and their families expressed heartfelt gratitude for the support provided. HCC extends sincere thanks to all participants, including the school administration, local authorities, and dedicated team members, for making this project a success. Together, we continue to empower students through education and holistic support.

During the field visit, the Team:

• Distributed warm winter clothes, woolen caps, socks, mufflers, stationery, and personal care items.
• Collected of written updates and photographs for program records.
• Discussed recent exam results with students and their teachers.
• Conducted counselling sessions with students to support their academic and personal growth.