Namaste!
I am Jaman lama. Currently, I am at the end my Second year of MBBS (Bachelor in Medicine and Bachelor in Surgery) at National Medical college, Birganj, Nepal. In the month of February, I had a beautiful time of learning the human digestive system, diseases related to human gastrointestinal (GI) system; their causes, lab diagnosis, and treatments. I had a seminar on the human digestive system for internal assessment and it went well.

 

On 26th feb, the exam on gastrointestinal system also went good. I learned time management is crucial to make best in exams. I am waiting for results.

From 27th feb, I had regular classes on renal( kidney), endocrine and reproductive systems. Also I am 3 months away from the board exam of second year which will be held on July 1st week at Tribhubhan university.

The post Update from Jaman in Med School appeared first on HCC Nepal.

From Ambika & Ganga:

A: As a volunteer in January, I went to KAT as usual. I am very happy to volunteer here and I am learning many things from here. It always gives me a new idea of handling cases that come there. I will be giving almost seven hours of my time here. It’s fruitful spending time there. I also went with my sister Ganga. She is really good at helping there.

From Anukaran:

I am writing this volunteer report to provide an overview of my experience at the KAT Centre (Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre). We Annex boys went there to volunteer. The KAT Centre is a non-profit organization located in Kathmandu, Nepal, dedicated to improving the welfare of street dogs and cats through rescue, treatment, and adoption programs. I volunteered at the center  and had the opportunity to contribute to their mission and witness their impactful work firsthand.

The post January Volunteer Dispatch pt.2 appeared first on HCC Nepal.

The post Visiting our Rise students in Dhading appeared first on HCC Nepal.

The above quote aptly describes the journey of the children of Himalayan Children’s Charities and its founders Bruce and Susan Keenan. Twenty two years ago, Bruce and Susan had a vision to assist the orphaned, abandoned, and at risk children in Nepal by providing safe, loving housing in a close family environment, the best educational experiences available, and mentorship programs.  The Keenan’s have taken their years of successful businesses, their involvement in philanthropic organizations and have provided their experiences and the experiences of their peers to the children and young adults of HCC. The students have walked successfully beside the founders, mentors, sponsors, and supporters to become the future leaders and change makers in Nepal. 

Three years ago, I  became involved with Himalayan Children’s Charities as a volunteer. Through my journey I became aware of the need for sponsorship of these wonderful, passionate young students.  Very shortly thereafter I  became the grateful sponsor of a beautiful, now 18 year old young lady named Ganga, who  is an intelligent, compassionate, and thriving young artist. Ganga  is currently awaiting admission to Kathmandu University and is  pursuing a degree in Fine Arts.

Ganga, pencil on paper

I recently traveled to Nepal to visit the children and the HCC leadership. It was my first in-person meeting with Ganga and her fellow brothers and sisters.  It was truly a glorious and transformational  experience!  During my stay, I  had the great opportunity to be guided through the sights, villages, and towns of Kathmandu by Ganga and fellow student Jaman. Jaman is currently enrolled in the Medical College of Birgunj. He hopes to bring his medical knowledge not only to the residents of Kathmandu, but to the rural villages which have great medical need, as well. 

We enjoyed three full days of getting to know each other’s cultures and lives while immersing ourselves in the tradition and culture of Nepal. Toward the end of my journey we developed a close connection and bond. I witnessed Ganga, who I first met as a quiet, reserved young lady, just blossom into self-confidence.  Ganga, Jaman, and all of the students of Himalayan Children’s Charities have a love for life, education, and each other. I experienced a different level of appreciation of what HCC has provided for these students by experiencing it in person. The impact that Himalayan Children’s Charities has had on the lives of so many children in Kathmandu and the surrounding villages (Dhading and Benighat) are extraordinary.

Khushi Ghar, “happy house” in Nepali, is the group home that has housed, nurtured, loved, and educated  54 children over the past 22 years. Dinesh and Hira Sapkota have been the house parents for all of these years. I was welcomed with open arms and left humbled and grateful to have shared two weeks of experiencing their lives at work and play as one of the gang!  Dinesh, HIra, and all of the members of HCC Nepal have instilled a wonderful sense of family, love of self, work ethic, direction, and the importance of giving back to the Nepali community. They continually inspire the students to look toward and accomplish any of their goals, both personally and professionally.  The feeling was  one of pure joy when I was surrounded by the aura of Khushi Ghar and the students’ presence. It is clear that they have an insatiable appetite for learning, expanding, and exploring their worlds and their place in that world. Their love is contagious! Singing, dancing, and reveling in the enjoyment of being together as a family. Pure joy!!

As I reflect upon my experiences in Nepal with the HCC Family, the emotions that arise are of happiness and gratitude. I was changed by the experience in the most beautiful way, and now have a  lifelong bond with my second family a world away. 

I have tried to paint a brief picture of my experience in Nepal, however, words alone will never do it justice.  It my sincere hope that each current sponsor, or anyone interested in sponsorship will take this journey to meet the incredible students and staff that have made Himalayan Children’s Charities so successful in creating the future leaders in Nepal and surrounding areas.

Lovingly told by Carol Hoffman

If you would like to change the life of a student in Nepal, donate today

The post With Love, From Nepal appeared first on HCC Nepal.

All 292 students received new uniforms. Uniforms are required and many students end up wearing very tattered and dirty clothes to school to fulfill the requirement. The two new uniforms each child received will make it easier to clean or repair their uniforms.

We provided stationery items such as paper, packs of pencils and colored pencils, pens, a pencil case, erasers, sketch books, and rulers to 194 students to help in their studies and academic performance. 

Additionally, we distributed personal hygiene items such as soap, hair oil, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair comb, vaseline cream, nail cutter, etc to 194 students. 

We helped educated them on the benefits and importance of good personal hygiene in preventing children from picking up or spreading germs and infectious diseases.

Each child received the stationary and personal care packed in new backpacks for them to carry to school.

There is a lot of work to be done to help this community, and all the schools and families of the supported students who received the support were grateful and said that the support of the organization will make a positive impact in the students lives. 

Other stories about the students and families in Benighat:

One Child at a Time

Benighat Update From Mun Maya

Benighat Food Distribution Saves Lives

If you want to help support our outreach in Benighat, and beyond, donate today!

The post Supplies for Benighat Schools appeared first on HCC Nepal.

For the last seven years, Himalayan Children’s Charities has been supporting students and families in rural Nepal. What began as educational support for children orphaned by the 2015 earthquakes, has evolved into dynamic outreach programs that include wifi towers, computer labs, anti-human trafficking awareness, menstrual hygiene classes and food support for a neglected and marginalized segment of the Nepali population. We have cultivated a network of humanitarians, local government and school officials who alert us to dire need in these areas and communities. It was through this network that we learned of the critical need for food in Benighat, Dhading at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. This community, which is composed of mostly Chepang and Magar families, suffers from widespread poverty, food insecurity, lack of running water and sanitation. The five schools we are supporting to improve opportunities need everything from books to toilets; and even then, they are limited to grade 5 by geography. The nearest upper level school is two hours away. 

In January 2021, after this introduction to the Benighat community, HCC graduate and HCC-Nepal executive director, Mun Maya Rawal read an article in a local paper about mounting suicide rates in rural areas of Nepal. The article sighted a family from the Magar community in Benighat who had lost their mother to suicide and their father was suffering from a debilitating alcohol addiction. The children were fending for themselves, and the eldest daughter, only 12, has been caring for her younger siblings, ages 10, 8, and 3 year old twins for the last year. These 5 children were living in squalor, surviving on the one meal a day provided by the school.

Right away, HCC was able to provide warm clothing, school supplies and much needed food support for the children. And in May of 2022 we received permission from the father to move the children. To ensure their safety and care, we enrolled them in an English-Medium boarding school in Dhading Besi, that we have been working with since 2016. In this new environment, we are already seeing the children prosper. Not having adult care for over a year left the children malnourished; they had head lice and their basic hygiene had suffered. 

As residents of the hostel school, they have their own beds, 3 meals a day and the personal care all children deserve. This is a wonderful change of circumstance for these 5 children that have been through so much and lived in such dire conditions. There are 295 more children in Benighat that are also in need of help. Poverty and circumstance makes them vulnerable to early drop out, child labor, child marriage, and human trafficking. They need clean water, basic hygiene and food support. By investing in their education and well-being, we are investing in the next generation of Nepal.

If you want to help support our outreach in Benighat, and beyond, donate today!

The post One Child at a Time appeared first on HCC Nepal.

It has been a great experience all along from my childhood since the time Uncle Bruce and Aunt Susan took me into HCC. I am extremely thankful for providing me with proper schooling and supporting me in almost every way.

Being a senior member of the HCC family I urge all my friends, brothers and sisters to believe in themselves and continuously make an effort to do well in their studies, job and personal life. As we all are greatly affected by covid and all our plans might have changed but I waited hoping that things will get better. I think my wait has become worthwhile but I am still worried if the lockdown will happen again. I hope things will fall in place. For now I have not thought about anything until I reach Korea and start my course. I hope in the future I might return back to Nepal and contribute in the field of research.

Donate today to help amazing students like Nikesh pursue their wildest dreams.

The post Coming Soon: Dr. Nikesh appeared first on HCC Nepal.

We asked him about this amazing opportunity.

What was your first reaction when you found out you got the visa and internship approved?

I literally cried when my visa was approved by the French administration. It was a dream come true for me to be in France and the only thing in my life was to learn multiple cuisines and I was prepared for it.

What are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to learning about the French gastronomic culture in order to enrich my academic career and optimize my personal skills.

Have you studied any French language?

Yes, I have joined my language institute in Alliance Françoise de Katmandu which promotes the French language by offering French classes that are open to all; it offers its students free access to spread the Francophone culture by organizing cultural events that promote both diversity and intercultural dialogue.

Are you excited to learn French technique in France?

Yes, of course, why not? It is all about the foundation of great chefs who begin with classic French techniques. All I want is to learn for now, so it’s a good opportunity for me to learn and move ahead in my professional career.

What is your favorite thing to cook now?

I am mostly into the Indian and Nepalese cuisine as we are familiar with similar foods. So my first thing was to learn the food of my own country and later get into other multiple cuisines. I love traditional foods.

Is there anything you are particularly looking forward to learning?

Yes, I am looking forward to learning of creation and production of desserts, savory or sweet desserts; also discover French gastronomic culture, strict application of food hygiene and safety standards and the luxury of hotels. Since I have no ideas of French gastronomic culture

Are you going to have any time to travel around France? If so, where are you most excited to see?

If I’ll have my time to travel around France then, my first place of visit would be the Eiffel Tower restaurant for unforgettable French cuisine, dramatic views, old monuments and different Michelin star restaurants of course.

Do you feel like a role model for your fellow HCC students?

Yes, I do. There was a time when I had low grades and now I have improved to my best level. Because of the opportunity that Bruce uncle and Susan aunt gave me was one of the best gifts that I had received in my life and it was a life-changing moment for me. With the change in my behavior, with the studies and what I have been accomplishing in my current life, it makes me feel like the students are learning something from me. “Determination to change and bring change in life, motivating others to move forward and giving back to society is something you can always learn from it. Follow your dreams”, that is all I say to my fellows in HCC.

What will you miss most about Nepal?

The people that love us the most will be missed and the foods that we eat in our daily life, the mountains as I love to trek in the mountain regions mostly.

How did you celebrate?

Well, that wasn’t the time to celebrate for me because there wasn’t the permit in the visa to go to France and the processing for the visa was still going on under Campus France Nepal as it had remained closed for two months. I’ll celebrate it when I receive my visa to go to France with my HCC family indeed.

Help support Ram and all the HCC students by donating today!

The post Ram’s Internship in France appeared first on HCC Nepal.

Mun Maya and Laxmi traveled to Dhading to deliver backpacks with supplies and warm track suits for the children supported by HCC.

They meet with each student individually to insure they are keeping up with their studies.

Many of the students have some surviving family, but without support they wouldn’t be able to stay in school. Children in remote districts, like Dhading, are especially vulnerable to early marriage and human trafficking. 

Your support makes this work possible! Donate today to help us continue to provide education and bright futures for these students!

The post First Dhading Trip of the Year appeared first on HCC Nepal.

For me, success is achieving the target set by yourself and gaining it through your hard work and dedication (which also includes the life skills training that I got to learn at Khushi Ghar). Success is also being able to make people around you proud with all your achievements.

I feel successful being able to complete my responsibilities as a senior sister to all junior brother and sisters at Khushi Ghar. I also feel successful being able to live a life at a different area of the country, far from the capital city on my own and completing my university degree. 

I was very scared when I had no choice but to travel to Bhairahawa to complete my further studies. I had a very hard time adjusting to the new environment which was very different from the kind of life I had in Kathmandu. I finally got used to the way and started enjoying my life there. I take this as the biggest achievement in my life. And now, I have completed my studies and have planned to work in hospital. This is all possible because of HCC family. If it had not been the HCC family, I would not be this successful as I am today.

Thank you so much!!

Saraswati 

To sponsor a student like Saraswati and be an integral part of their success, donate today.

The post What Success Means to Saraswati appeared first on HCC Nepal.