A beautiful tribute to Olga Murray
On October 21, 2024, over 450 people gathered at Olgapuri Children’s Village for a special, bittersweet celebration of our founder Olga Murray.
We were so please to see so many NYF Community members present at this ceremony. Attendees included community leaders, stakeholders, and dear friends of Olga’s. Staff members, board members, Olgapuri children, and many adults who were raised in NYF’s care were also in attendance. Even current students at Olgapuri Vocational School joined us! We were also deeply honored to be joined by Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba. Dr. Deuba was a close and dear friend of Olga’s.
The Program
The program was emceed with heart by NYF Nepal staff member Laxmi Ghimire and K House alumna Bunu Sherpa. It featured a wide range of speakers, including our very own Board Chair, Chris Heffelfinger. Chris shared some sweet, funny stories about Olga’s life before NYF. The highlight of the program was a theatrical performance by the children telling the story of Olga’s founding of NYF.
At the end of the program, Olga’s grandson and newest NYF US Board Member, Sean Murray, helped to unveil his grandmother’s statue—a golden bust of Olga resting happily on a wooden lotus flower carving. As we unveiled this statue of Olga Murray on the grounds she cherished, we are reminded that her legacy of compassion and empowerment will forever be a part of this place and the hearts of all those whose lives she touched.
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a delicious Nepali lunch. They then toured the Children’s Village, the Vocational School, Ankur Counseling Center, and the gardens.
Olga’s Legacy
Between 1990 and 2020, Olga spent about six months of every year living in Nepal full-time. She served as a doting grandmother figure to hundreds of children and forged lifelong friendships with community partners. She built transformative programs with her fierce determination and mentored a generation of Nepal’s child protection leaders.
In remembrance of her tremendous impact on the lives of tens of thousands of Nepali children, as well as her work to empower and strengthen the nonprofit community within Nepal, the NYF Community was honored to unveil this beautiful statue on the Olgapuri grounds.
As we rapidly approach the end of the year, we’re reflecting on Olga Murray’s dearest wish—that the organization she built would continue transforming the lives of Nepal’s children for generations to come. We hope you’ll join us in ensuring Olga’s vision lives on!
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