The Beginning
It all started with a photograph.
In 2000, Seattle photographer Cora Edmonds encountered a young child while filming in the remote Humla region of western Nepal. The image of a boy with his palms together in the traditional Namaste gesture of greeting and respect had a dramatic impact on her life.
The photograph became an instant hit with audiences at ArtX Contemporary Gallery. Phil Crean saw the photograph in a Himalayan exhibition in Seattle and felt compelled to meet Cora. They married several years later. Spurred on by their strong intuitive connection with the child in the photograph, Phil and Cora returned to Nepal in 2007 to search for the child. Their quest was successful and they found the boy, Gyeni Bohara, living in a village called Thehe in the Humla region.
Touched by the wisdom of the culture yet unable to forget the hardship and poverty they witnessed in Thehe, Cora and Phil established Namaste Children’s Fund in 2008, a non-profit organization to help impoverished rural children and their communities in Nepal.
The NCF Family.
Cora and Phil realized that there was a need in the Humla region for better equipped schools, specifically for young girls. They knew that this was going to be a large undertaking that would require plenty of help and support. They first hired Chimey Sherpa who organized building the boarding school in Simikot and then created our team of teachers, cooks, and caregivers who are all local Nepalis from the very same villages our students are from. They continue to run the day-to-day operations and make sure our girls are receiving high quality instruction and care. We are grateful for their continued support and commitment to NCF.
Philosophy and Approach
For Girls
Educating girls helps the whole family. It leads to improved health and nutrition, deeper understanding about family planning and caring for the environment. Girls also tend to have stronger attachments to their village community and a good work ethic.
Overcoming Poverty
Our students all come from three particularly underserved villages near Simikot – Thehe, Zdojom, and Takla. NCF staff chose the students and pay particular attention to families with the most need. The literacy rate in these villages is 47% and 40% of children don’t go to school because of poverty.
College and Beyond
NCF will endeavor to support our students through to the end of their education, including college and post graduate work. Our students will undertake to give back to NCF and their village community by contributing their time and resources to manage NCF projects. The long term aim is to have NCF graduates sustain the growth and development of the school and hostel.
Our students saying hi!
The Team
Suresh Bohara, Chimey Sherpa, and Cora Edmonds standing in front of the new school in Simikot. Cora Edmonds and Phil Crean travel each year to Nepal to visit the school to be with the students and deliver supplies.
Living Quarters
The bunk-beds in the boarding school that each student sleeps on. The girls live together and call each other “sisters” which is emblematic of their close relationships. The older students are designated as “room captains” who take care of the younger girls and have more responsibility within the school, helping to harvest and prepare food from the school garden.
