Summer 2022 Newsletter
Program Update and Tales from Nepal
NCF Students - Class 6 to University Level!
NAMASTE to our Namaste Children’s Fund (NCF) and Bo M. Karlsson Foundation (BMKF) communities. We were thrilled to finally return to Nepal for the first time in over two years with Co-founders, Cora Edmonds and Phil Crean, and Project Manager, Jasper Hanowell. Phil and Jasper visited our Simikot school in the Himalayas and trekked to meet with the parents of our students in Thehe Village. The parents voiced their gratitude and appreciation for NCF and the education that their daughters are receiving. NCF now has a waiting list of girls hoping to join our school compared to years past when there was resistance to girls gaining an education.
1st Photo: Phil & Jasper in the Himalayas, singing Hokey Pokey with our students (put your right foot in and shake it all about). 2nd and 3rd Photos: Meeting with our students' families and communities. 4th Photo: The students waiting to greet Phil.
New Hostel in Kirtipur, Kathmandu
Our team arrived in Nepal to assist our high school students' transition to their new hostel in Kirtipur. Thanks to a generous NCF supporter's donation of lights, posters and amazing handwritten calligraphy name card for each student, our students were able to personalize their rooms and are grateful for their new hostel with increased size and improved location.
1st Photo: Sophie Haak & Karen Tang in Seattle dropping off donated supplies for students in Nepal. The following photos: NCF students decorating and loving their new Kirtipur hostel.
Girls in STEM - Workshop with Udeshya
NCF teamed up with Udeshya: Girls in STEM, to put on a career workshop for NCF's students. Udeshya is a Nepal based non-profit that supports Nepali women pursuing higher education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The co-founders of the organization presented our students different opportunities in STEM and encouraged our students to think about how to architect their own career aspirations. The Udeshya speakers showcased many examples of women leadership in the STEM fields, both globally and locally in Nepal. At the end of the workshop, everyone was given a problem solving experiment to make art out of balloons!
NCF Staff Spotlight
Richa Neupane is the newest member of the NCF team in Nepal and we are excited to have her lead our Career Counseling and Mentorship Program. Richa is a curious learner herself, having spent the last seven years understanding issues of social and educational injustices in Nepal. A graduate of Kathmandu University as well as Minnesota State University Moorhead, USA, Richa has experience with differing educational systems and approaches.
Richa is a fellow for Teach for Nepal and is the co-founder of Udeshya Girls in STEM. Her passion is working to fill the gaps in access to quality education, especially for girls from marginalized communities. Richa understands the nuances of ambition, gender, motivation and environmental/social expectations which affect a girl child's education. We know Richa will be a staunch advocate for our students' holistic growth and development as they persue different study and career paths.
Without your amazing support and positive energy we would never have been able to reach this incredible milestone. Yet, our work is far from done. Today we are faced with a new set of challenges - securing educational opportunities and funding so that all girls who qualify are able to pursue vocational or higher education programs. This is a big step in our evolution and we would be so honored to have you consider a dedicated gift that would be applied towards our higher education fund. Our vision is to empower our graduates to manage and run our NCF programs and in time, take over the leadership and governance of the organization. Our deepest thanks for your generosity and action when our world needs it the most.
