Stories of Impact in 2025
2025 was a year marked by both hardship and hope. Nepal faced tremendous social unrest, shifting political landscapes, and economic uncertainty. But because of continued and steadfast support from the NYF Community, NYF did not just withstand these challenges—we grew stronger together.
Thank you to all those who generously supported NYF’s work in 2025. We hope the impact stories below highlight how your support is more than just a donation, but a direct investment in brighter futures.
Harkaman
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Meet Harkaman, a determined young scholar from Baglung who is proving that resilience and ambition know no limits. After losing both of his arms in an electrical accident at a young age, Harkaman moved to Kathmandu to continue his education and pursue new possibilities.
Today, Harkaman is a Grade 12 student studying computer science. At the same time, he is a dedicated para swimmer, training under the National Para Swimming Association. In 2025, Harkaman made his international debut at the World Para Swimming Competition in Japan. He was proud to represent Nepal on a global stage. He is now training toward his next goal: competing in the 2026 Para Asian Game.
With support from NYF’s Scholarships for Students with Disabilities program, Harkaman is able to balance his studies, training, and daily life in Kathmandu. His journey reflects the power of opportunity paired with determination—and the belief that every young person deserves the chance to pursue their dreams.
Girls’ Education in the Balami Community
Kinship Care
In 2025, NYF’s enriched Kinship Care program supported 18 girls (and 3 boys) in grades 5 through 12 from the Balami community in Kagati Gaun, Nuwakot—where early marriage has historically limited girls’ access to education. The program has helped these students delay early marriage. It also contributed to stronger academic performance and improved school attendance.
Scholarship support covers essential needs such as uniforms, school supplies, shoes, snacks, and extra coaching classes in subjects like English, Math, and Science. With these resources, students were able to attend school regularly, prepare for exams, and build confidence in the classroom.
As one student shared, “If I had not received this scholarship, I would not have been able to continue my education. My sister was married at a very early age. I, too, would have been married off by now if I had not received this support.”
By keeping girls in school, the program is strengthening protection, opportunity, and long-term change across the Balami community.
Anita
NYF’s New Life Center
Three-year-old Anita is from a remote village in Kalikot, where access to specialized medical care is extremely limited. In 2025, her family traveled to Kathmandu for a health checkup. At this checkup, Anita was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Unable to afford surgery at the time, her family returned home. They carried the weight of uncertainty with them.
Anita’s condition worsened, and her family made the difficult journey back to Kathmandu so she could receive the care she urgently needed. Anita successfully underwent heart surgery. She then stayed at the New Life Center with her mother for 20 days, where she received post-surgery care and support. After making a full recovery, Anita returned home—healthier, stronger, and surrounded by renewed hope for the future.
Sudina
Scholarship Program
Sudina is a dedicated young athlete from Itahari in eastern Nepal. She is receiving a scholarship through Nepal Youth Foundation’s sports scholarship program. The daughter of a tempo driver and a homemaker, she grew up in a hardworking family with two younger siblings. Her discipline and talent in taekwondo earned her a competitive selection as a trainee with the National Taekwondo Association. She lives in a modest hostel in Kathmandu as she trains and competes at the national level.
In November 2025, Sudina placed third in the National Taekwondo Association’s General Tournament. She continues rigorous training with the goal of competing in major national events, including the 10th National Games, the IGP Cup, and the Presidential Running Shield. She aspires to join the Nepal Army through its sports program.
Alongside her athletic pursuits, Sudina remains committed to her education and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Her story reflects how targeted support helps a talented young woman from a working-class family pursue excellence, independence, and a future filled with possibility.
Rakshya
Day School Scholarship & College Scholarship Program
Originally from Gorkha, Rakshya moved to Kathmandu at a young age with her mother and two sisters so she could continue her education. NYF began supporting her in 2007, when she was just in Grade 1, through a Day School Scholarship. From the start, Rakshya stood out as sincere, disciplined, and academically gifted. She consistently excelled in her studies and topped her class from Grades 5 through 10.
She went on to study science in Grades 11 and 12. Rakshya then successfully navigated Nepal’s highly competitive medical entrance exam on her first attempt. This earned her a government scholarship seat in the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program at Lumbini Medical College under Kathmandu University. NYF continued to support Rakshya through our College Scholarship Program, covering living expenses so she could focus on her studies. By the end of 2024, she completed her final MBBS exams and began her year-long internship at her medical school’s hospital.
In 2025, Rakshya passed the Nepal Medical Council licensing exam and officially became Dr. Rakshya Tiwari. In December, she was awarded her MBBS degree with a Gold Medal at Kathmandu University’s 31st Convocation. Today, Dr. Rakshya is committed to serving her community. She remains closely connected to NYF—embodying the lasting impact of education, perseverance, and donor support across nearly two decades.
Roman
Vocational Education and Career Counseling (VECC)
Roman is a 20-year-old from Hetauda who grew up determined to build a future in Nepal. As a child, Roman watched his older brother leave the country in search of work, only to face instability, low wages, and mounting debt that prevented him from returning home. Witnessing these challenges firsthand shaped Roman’s resolve to pursue a different path—one rooted in dignity, skill, and opportunity at home.
Financial hardship forced Roman to stop his education after Grade 10, leaving him with few employment options in his village. Everything changed when he learned about Olgapuri Vocational School’s free training programs, which also provide food and accommodation. In August 2024, Roman traveled to Kathmandu and enrolled in the six-month welding training program. Through hands-on instruction, discipline, and mentorship, he developed practical skills that quickly translated into real-world opportunity.
After completing his training, Roman secured employment in Kathmandu with support from Olgapuri’s job placement services. Today, he works as a welder, earning a steady monthly income and moving confidently toward financial independence. Roman’s story reflects the power of vocational education—showing how access to skills and support can help young people build sustainable futures in Nepal, on their own terms.
Sita
Industrial Tailoring, Vocational Education and Career Counseling (VECC)
Sita is a 23-year-old from Kanchanpur District in Nepal’s far-western region. When she was in the 8th grade, she was forced to leave school to help support her family by working as a domestic laborer. She worked for nine years.
Sita then learned about training opportunities at Olgapuri Vocational School through a local cooperative. Determined for more independence and a better life, she applied for NYF’s Industrial Tailoring training program.
In June 2025, Sita completed the training. She was employed immediately and is now earning a good income. Most importantly, she is proud of her own journey.
This past fall, Sita was able to return to her hometown with gifts for her family during Dashain. She’s also looking forward to enrolling her younger sister in the same training.
“I can now get a job anywhere I want,” Sita shares proudly with the NYF team.
Jitendra
Vocational Training & Career Counseling, Caste Equality Project
Jitendra, from Tirhut Rural Municipality, became the sole provider for his 87-year-old mother, his wife, and his young son after his father passed away. With no formal skills and very little income, life was extremely difficult, and many people doubted his ability to succeed.
That changed in 2023, when Jitendra enrolled in NYF’s Building Electrician Training program in Tirhut Rural Municipality. After 390 hours of training, he graduated with a certificate and a brand-new toolbox—giving him the confidence to begin a new journey, not just for himself, but for his family.
Jitendra started by taking small electrical wiring and repair jobs in his village, working in homes and village temples. For the first time, his community had a trained electrician of its own. His dedication and skill quickly earned trust, and demand for his work grew into neighboring towns.
As his work expanded, so did its impact. Jitendra began hiring other trained youth, many of whom are graduates of NYF training programs. Today, he runs his own electrical contracting business with nine employees and has worked on nearly 90 sites, including government school buildings and offices, village temples, and private homes. I am especially proud that he recently completed the electrical wiring at NYF’s new Community Learning Centers built as part of the Caste Equality Project.
With a stable monthly income of NPR 35,000 to 40,000, Jitendra now provides a comfortable life for his family—including his son, who now attends a good private school. Just as importantly, he has earned dignity and respect in his community, and has become an example of what is possible when opportunity is shared.
“I am grateful to NYF for changing my life,” he says. “I encourage all young people to join skill-based training. It can truly transform your future.”
Jitendra’s journey reflects what is possible when young people are given practical skills, confidence, and the chance to build a future close to home. In a time when many young adults and families in Nepal face uncertainty and unemployment, his story offers hope rooted in action.
Maya
New Life Center
The New Life Center (NLC) is a temporary recovery home for rural families who must travel to Kathmandu for critical medical treatment and surgery—and who have nowhere else to turn while recovery begins.
Maya is one of the children the NLC exists to support. Diagnosed with eye cancer, she traveled to Kathmandu with her mother to undergo chemotherapy at a hospital. During her treatment, Maya and her mother stayed at the NLC. They had a safe place to sleep, nutritious meals, and attentive care during an exhausting and frightening time. With stability and support, Maya could focus on healing, and her mother could stay by her side.
Saugat
College Scholarship Program
In 2025, NYF College Scholarship support helped Saugat take a major step forward in his education and career. With an NYF scholarship, Saugat completed his Master’s Degree in Sustainable Development at Kathmandu University, graduating this year with the skills and confidence to pursue meaningful work serving his community.
Today, Saugat has begun a new role as a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer with the Rural Development Center. The Rural Development Center is a UN-funded organization working in Rautahat District in Madhesh Province. In this position, he supports programs focused on community development and long-term progress. He also ensures that resources are used effectively and that efforts reach the people who need them most.
Thank you for creating stories of resilience and hope. While we celebrate our accomplishments in 2025, we know our work is far from finished. Social and political challenges in Nepal will continue into the new year. In 2026, our team will remain laser-focused on our mission, securing safety, education, nutrition, and more for the children and families in our care. We look forward to sharing many more stories of transformations and accomplishments in this new year.