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!

Several times a year the HCC Nepal team heads into the mountains to check up on our Rise Students. These visits check on grades, health, family and they are great opportunities to recruit motivated students for the Peak program. 

This trip surpassed the first one in many ways. I captured numerous photos and documented updates about the students. Engaging in conversations with them was immensely enjoyable, and it was heartwarming to see that they appreciated our interactions just as much. Overall, this experience was profoundly rewarding. -Pushpa

This Dhading field trip was the most exciting and amusing trip so far. It was also my first trip. I usually don’t like going on long trips and used to find them boring. But this time was different. Although we had gone for work, I didn’t feel exhausted and enjoyed 

interacting with other children and learning about their backgrounds. This trip also helped me experience more about village life. I was aware about the hcc’s incredible work in Dhading and  Nuwakot but this time i got to experience it myself. Before I didn’t used to interact much with others but on this trip I was able to open-up with everyone in the group. I think it was also because of the people I was close to and comfortable with. When I went out of the valley I got to know that I am lucky enough to live in kathmandu with all the privileges because the people in the village didn’t have the facilities that we have. This trip has helped me learn things like sometimes we have to compromise many things because life is different in every place. We also should learn to adjust according to the environment. I feel very thankful for including me in this trip.  – Pratima

If you want to support the work we do in rural Nepal, donate to these lucky children today!

One of the elements that sets HCC apart from many other charitable organizations is our Family Culture. Students are not just residents at Khushi Ghar, it is their (happy) home. This notion may seem simple, but it means the students participate in all aspects of the home. They cook together, clean, garden and support each other like siblings. 

When they asked if they could get a second dog, we held a house meeting, made sure everyone was on the same page about the extra commitment, and we got Bambi!

The pups are getting along so well, and everyone loves Bambi! If you want to support the work we do in Nepal and our unique and loving Famliy, donate today!

As part of the larger Mentorship and Leadership Program, students have started the Peace Program through The Prem Rawat Foundation. Every Saturday, the students gather at Khushi Ghar for a new session.

Each session is administered by a TPRF facilitator, in our case, a friend to HCC! 

There are 10 sessions, each focused on a diffrent theme: Peace, Appreciation, Inner Strength, Self-awareness, Clarity, Understanding, Dignity, Choice, Hope, and Contentment.

The Program is designed for young adults to explore their inner resources through videos and group discussions. The students all agree the lessons learned have been beneficial and they look forward to their Peace Program Saturdays!

If you want to support our Mentorship Program, donate to support our students in Nepal!

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!

Here at HCC we start every year with a picnic. We get together and eat, dance and have fun.

It’s a tradition that celebrates the students.

They work hard, and the annual picnic is a chance to bond, relax and enjoy themselves. 

It’s a special family bonus when founders, Bruce and Susan can join in the fun!

You can donate to support children in Nepal, and support our family culture.

Every year, we celebrate International Women’s Day at Khushi Ghar. Nepal has a lot of work to do on the gender equity front, so it’s important that both the boys and the girls participate in these celebrations. This year, Suman takes the reigns on the Women’s Day report!

Mom, sister, teacher, or aunt all contribute in their own unique ways. Women can be strong, smart, and kind. Without them it’s hard to think of a world, as they are the one who give us this beautiful life. 

Like every year we celebrate Women’s Day with joyful moments and beautiful memories.This year we had coincidence that  Women’s Day and Hinduism’s greatest festival Shiva Ratri was on the same day. 

Talking about Women’s Day, we had an amazing time celebrating Women’s Day in HCC( Himalayan Children Charity). We had a small program in the presence of Bruce’s uncle packed with cool stuff. Firstly, we meditated for a couple of minutes to be comfortable and to relax our mind. We heard some awesome poems and speeches about incredible women which empowers women. There were songs that made us feel strong, and dances that were both beautiful and powerful.

Group dance was entertaining in the end which made everyone  smile.The best part was the yummy food we all enjoyed together. It was a day full of joy, celebrating the strength and talents of women in the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”  as it’s the theme for 2024.

Lastly, I would like to thank every woman in HCC i.e Sumir didi, Susan aunt  and especially Hira aunty who did not let us feel absence of a mother.

Sponsor a child and donate to Nepal today!

Last week, Himalayan Children’s Charities staff, Laxmi and Dinesh visited our RISE students in the Dhading district of Nepal. HCC university student, Puspha and HCC graduate, Uttam also joined and volunteered their time to help our rural students. The HCC team met 65 of our students, along with their guardians and many of their teachers. We distributed regular scholarship funds, school supplies, warm winter clothes, and stationery. We met with each student individually checking on their home life and discussing their academic progress. Our team also met with the district President to discuss HCC’s work in the area and how we can best serve the community.

A heartfelt thanks to our incredible team, sponsors, and donors! Your contributions have truly changed the lives of these students. Click here to sponsor a child and donate to Nepal today!