Olga Murray was a beloved humanitarian, activist, and changemaker. Founding the Nepal Youth Foundation in 1990, she devoted her life after retirement to partnering with Nepali communities to educate and empower youth in Nepal.
In honor of Olga's work & incredible legacy:
Tribute Wall
Olga Murray leaves behind a tremendous legacy—both within and beyond the Nepal Youth Foundation. Take a look below to see how Olga has touched the lives of so many of our community members.
Do you have a story, photo, and/or message you’d like to share in celebration of Olga’s life? Join us in sharing your tribute here.
Tribute Gallery: The Remarkable Life of Olga Murray
Olga, known to many Nepali children and young adults as “Olga Mom”, had already led an extraordinary life before founding the Nepal Youth Foundation in 1990, in her 60s.
At Founder’s Day 2024, an entire room was dedicated to honoring Olga’s life. In this tribute room, we collected meaningful moments and treasures from Olga’s life and placed them throughout the space. Friends, family, and NYF supporters gathered together—in tears and in laughter—to remember Olga’s amazing story.
We invite you visit an online version of this tribute gallery that showcases how Olga’s remarkable life led to her pivotal promise to Nepal’s children.
Photo Gallery: Olga's 34 Years of Impact
Since 1990, Olga Murray’s work and partnership with communities across Nepal helped to transform the lives of thousands of children, young adults, and families.
We invite you to visit our beautiful photo gallery (we’ve curated over 100 photos!) which highlights Olga’s 30+ years of extraordinary impact in Nepal. We hope you’ll join us in honoring Olga’s memory through this gallery.
A special appreciation goes to Sanjoj M., Alison W., Lori B., and other wonderful photographers whose photos are featured in this gallery. Thank you for capturing these beautiful moments.
In Her Words: Quotes from Olga Murray
“Some women fall in love with men—I fall in love with countries. In 1984, approaching the age of retirement as a research attorney at the California Supreme Court, I visited Nepal to go trekking in the Himalayas. Totally unexpectedly, I discovered a country and a cause to which I would devote the rest of my life. I was almost 60, and perhaps subconsciously, I was searching for something worthwhile to do following my retirement. After returning to my sleeping bag one night, in a flash, I knew for certain what it was—somehow, I would find a way to educate Nepali children. American dollars go a long way in Nepal, and I realized that for the price of a good haircut back in the States, I could make a significant difference in a child’s life in Nepal.”
“And then I think of my first trip to Nepal and the astounding, unexpected discovery of what would become my life’s work—and the intense joy and sense of fulfillment resulting from that insight. As I nod off to sleep, I think to myself, ‘How lucky can an old lady get?'”
