Bikash lost his father in the earthquake, leaving his mother to support  Bikash, his brother Bishal and their elderly grandparents. The earthquake destroyed almost all of the buildings, homes, and farms in their village, jeopardizing the family’s primary source of income from agriculture and animal rearing. 

Bikash is one of our Rise students and he just finished 10th grade. At the end of 10th grade all students in Nepal have to take an exam, the Secondary Education Exam (SEE). You need to pass this to be able to progress to grade 11. Bikash scored a 3.96 (out of 4), which was the second highest grade in the whole Dhading district. He was honored by the local government, He is on summer break now and will go to focus on science in 11 and 12th grades. His plan is to be a doctor.

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For 2 weeks in June, Manika and several of her classmates at IEC College of Fashion and Art, took part in a global classroom program in Thailand. They immersed themsleves in Thai culture, attended workshops and visited other fashion schools. This is Manika’s story of her adventure. 

We continued to attend the college for five days where we were given the experience on how the students study in the school. We were taught about the basics of stitching, drafting, gartment and construction and also on how to drape in the mannequins. Those five days were really worth visiting and learning many new things. We also got to know our failings and where to improve. I am really grateful for the college that provided me with such an opportunity.  After  attending the college we had a break for two days before we went for a workshop. Our workshop was for 3 days and each day we involved ourselves in different activities. On the first day we visited the place where they taught us how to work on making the bags and decorating them. It took only 4 hours of our day. Then on the next day we attended to make the accessories and following the other day we were given the option to choose between DIYs and making a perfume balm. And among the two options I chose to make a perfume balm.  Understanding the cultural context of our studies was integral to our trip. We visited historical sites. Thailand is a country with many cultures and traditions including the temples. After our completion of attending college and workshop we went to visit different temples. Among the temples we visited in Bangkok, the temples I liked the most were Wat Arun and Ancient city. 

Wat Arun is also known as the temple of dawn as it is worshiped for the god of dawn.. On the day of our visit, there were other numerous foreigners coming to visit as well. According to the locals, that day was the most crowded day in Wat Arun. Despite the crowd it was a really beautiful temple. The color white made it even prettier. It is a buddhist temple. 

Similarly, Ancient city is a museum that covers over 200 acres in bangkok. It is also known as the world’s largest outdoor museum which has over 116 

structures of Thailand’s famous monuments and architectural attractions.it is a historical place that defines the tradition and culture of thailand since the decades. Unfortunately, as it was far from the apartment we were living in, we arrived there late and couldn’t visit the whole structure. But it was such a breathtaking museum.

realistic. It felt as if I time traveled to the past. There were also statues of insects bigger than me which really fascinated me. As elephants are the national animal of Thailand I got to meet many types of elephants which felt as if it was the first time I saw an elephant for the first despite the fact that i have seen elephants in nepal already. The way all the plants were taken care of made me fall in love with every single plant I encountered in the garden. The garden was so big that it took us almost a whole day for the tour. 

After that, we returned to Bangkok which took us a total of 8 hours of travel by bus and rested that night and in the morning we took off for Nepal. Overall, this trip taught me many new things and made me think of many things. It was such a great experience. I got to explore many new things and think more critically and learned the differences.

To make big dreams like Manika’s come true, donate to our students in Nepal today!

Last summer Harsha left for Thailand to complete a yearlong internship for his Hotel Management Bachelor’s Degree. He was placed at the Centara Grand Hotel in Bangkok where he also lived in their employee housing. For the year he was in Thailand Harsha was able to learn many facets of Hotel management.

“I have been in Thailand for an internship, which has been an incredible experience. During my time here, I had the opportunity to work in both the service and housekeeping departments. It has been a fun and rewarding experience, thanks to the fantastic team of colleagues I’ve had the pleasure of working with.

The working environment at Centara Grand Hotel has been great for learning, although we have had to work extra hours as interns to gain more knowledge and experience. Despite the communication barriers with some staff and managers, I am doing my best to adjust. I appreciate the support and guidance I have received from both my superiors and colleagues. The friendly and collaborative nature of the staff has significantly contributed to my positive experience, making each day enjoyable and productive.”

“This internship at the Centara Grand Hotel, the journey so far has been both exciting and enriching, offering me incredible experiences and numerous opportunities for growth. The diversity of people I’ve encountered from different countries has been eye-opening, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the process of

learning from them. I was assigned to work on handling problems, knowing about different food and drinks etc. It has been challenging but incredibly rewarding to apply the knowledge I gained during my studies.

I’ve had the privilege of attending various training sessions and workshops to enhance my skills in bar training, fire extinguishers, working in a team etc. The exposure has been invaluable, and I’m grateful for the learning opportunities that the hotel is providing me.”

To support other students like Harsha following their dreams, donate today!

My name is Smriti Nepali, and I am delighted to share a little update on my life with you all. Currently, I am 18 years old and pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT) at Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences. I’m in my first year, and just recently completed the first terminal exams, though the results are yet to be published.

In my family, we are a total of five members. There’s my younger sister, my younger brother, my mother, my father, and of course, myself. My father plays a crucial role as the main caretaker in our household, and I’m truly grateful for his support and guidance.

As for my academic interests, I find myself particularly drawn to hematology, while pathology is not quite my favorite subject. On an average day, I dedicate around 4 to 5 hours to my studies, ensuring I stay on track with my coursework.

Outside of academics, I have a passion for traveling and exploring new places. Additionally, one of the highlights of my school or college days is engaging in discussions with friends during breaks. It’s always refreshing to exchange thoughts and ideas with peers.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my sponsors. Your support and generosity have enabled me to pursue my education further, and for that, I am truly thankful. Being able to continue my studies and fulfill my aspirations fills me with happiness, and I am excited for the journey ahead.

Donate to Himalayan Children’s Charities today to support Smriti and all our students!

When we first started out in rural Nepal, it was in response to the devastation caused by the earthquakes in 2015. It was around this time we first met Sita. She was bright and outgoing, and suffering. She’d broken her arm and it hadn’t healed properly. In addition to providing educational support, we endeavored to reset her arm.

She impressed us right away with her perseverance and resilience. After several surgeries and physical therapy, Sita recovered and was able to stay in school and help her single mother with her siblings. 

Sita has always been an excellent student and we happily awarded her a Peak Scholarship when she applied. Sita is currently settling into her new life in Kathmandu. She is attending nursing school so she can help people, inspired by her own medical journey.

To help support Sita, her nursing dreams and other students like her, donate today!