Archives: Teams

Tulasi Sharan Sigdel

College Scholarship Program Alumnus

Master of Arts in Rural Development, Tribhuvan University, 2004
Senior Director of Studies, Dept. of Governance & Development Management and the Center for Federalism Studies at Nepal Administrative Staff College

Tulasi was the 10th child in a subsistence farming family in rural Nepal. The nearest school was a 90 minute walk away, through a dense forest, and daily expenses were a constant struggle. After completing the 10th grade, Tulasi had to manage education expenses on his own—so he became a full-time teacher and completed his undergrad studies by attending early morning classes before work.

Then he learned about a new master’s program in Rural Development at Tribhuvan University. He knew he could use this education to improve life for communities like his, but managing the expenses in Kathmandu would be a huge challenge.

That’s when he learned about NYF’s College Scholarship Program. “That opportunity changed the entire course of my life.”

“There were widespread rumors that it would be impossible to get the scholarship without influence or connections with those in higher positions,” Tulasi recalls. “But I chose to trust NYF’s process instead of those rumors. The organizational values upheld by NYF became guiding principles for me. They remain exemplary in my life.”

Tulasi received an NYF scholarship from 2002-2004, allowing him to fully dedicate his time to his studies. The gift of focus resulted in academic excellence. He distinguished himself so much that immediately upon graduating, he was offered a teaching position in the same department—the beginning of a massively impactful career training government employees.

Tulasi’s professional life has always revolved around teaching, learning, and research. “Strengthening human resources in government and public institutions is one of the most effective ways to contribute to national development,” he says.

Today, Tulasi provides training and advisory services to government and public sector employees. In his leadership role, he helps design programs, research initiatives, and supports policy formulation for all three tiers of the Nepal government. He also provides crucial provincial-level training for rural governments.

Manjita Chaudhary

Indentured Daughters Program Alumna

Financial Manager, Freed Kamlari Dev’t Forum
Vice Chair, Community Development Committee
Educator & advocate against gender-based violence and early marriage

Manjita Chaudhary was 9 years old when her father sold her into kamlari bondage. For three years, she endured grueling labor and violence, enslaved in a stranger’s home. “I lived in constant fear, unable to speak freely.” Her suffering earned her family only $25/year.

Manjita escaped kamlari bondage in 2001, when she met NYF—but it wasn’t easy. Now age 12, she had to stand up to her parents in order to access what was then the brand-new Indentured Daughters Program. She was fueled by our powerful slogan: “Daughters want education, not slavery.”

“I received NYF support from 2001 to 2008,” Manjita says. “I became deeply involved—participating in street dramas, awareness campaigns, rescue operations, peer counseling, and rallies. I helped lead protests for kamlari rights, organized fundraising efforts, and worked directly with the government to establish identity cards and scholarship guidelines for freed kamlaris.” All this while completing her education!

Manjita helped build the Freed Kamlari Development Forum (FKDF) from the ground up—helping form local, district, and central committees, and establishing and expanding cooperatives. Her peers elected her the founding president of this powerful, locally-led organization.

Manjita has devoted her career to economically empowering the women and girls of her community through local government efforts, grassroots education, and activism.

Today, she is leading strong economic development in her region: strategically expanding & strengthening local women’s cooperatives, matching women with training & entrepreneurship opportunities, running financial literacy & business workshops, and mentoring women towards independence & leadership.

Normandie A. Ramirez

Director

In 2012, Normandie Ramirez fell in love with NYF, Nepal and Olga Murray.  It was a turning point that began a new chapter of life filled with exploration, adventure and deep-rooted friendships. That year, Normandie spent a month teaching English in rural Western Nepal, trekking the breathtaking Himalayas and paying homage to the Buddha in his birthplace, Lumbini. During subsequent trips, Normandie fell even more deeply in love with NYF — visiting its nutritional homes, J and K House, Olgapuri, and the Saptari community, home to NYF’s new Caste Equality Project.

As a media executive and executive producer, Normandie has a long career in advertising, broadcast, branded content and independent film production. Her passion for collaboration, communication and her belief in the power of storytelling is fundamental and integral to everything she does. She has held staff positions as Chief Production Officer, Head of Production and Executive Producer at a variety of companies including Paramount Digital Entertainment. Normandie’s not-for-profit clients include The Alameda County Community Food Bank, California State Library, and Santa Clara University.  She recently produced the award-winning short film The Unbroken Sky, an immigrant tale currently on the film festival circuit worldwide. 

Normandie’s experience with NYF includes coaching and rehearsing Olga Murray for her TedX Vienna talk in 2015,  co-hosting the first virtual Founder’s Day in 2020, and contributing to a variety of NYF media programs. 

Normandie is a native San Franciscan, has five children, five grandchildren and lives with her wonderful husband in Stinson Beach, California.

Leilani T. Stritter

Director

Leilani T. Stritter had been an admirer and supporter of NYF for many years before joining NYF’s board in September 2024.  She became aware of NYF through her mother-in-law, Preb Stritter, who served in the Peace Corps in Nepal in the 1980s.  There Preb and Olga Murray became fast friends with a friendly rivalry, with Preb encouraging Olga to follow her dream and start NYF.  The Stritter family is even more invested in NYF, in that NYF’s current President, Som Paneru, was actually one of Preb’s top students as a child, and over the years he developed a deep, longstanding friendship with the whole family, visiting us often in the US.  As a family, the Stritters have a deep regard and admiration for the work of NYF in meeting the needs of young people as defined by the local community. 

After working in Silicon Valley as an engineer for MIPS Computers Systems and Silicon Graphics, Leilani focused on her work as a family fund director, donor advisor and community volunteer, dedicated to helping children and young adults thrive, locally and globally. She now works as Media Director for Looma Education, a nonprofit which develops computer hardware and software that allows Nepali students in remote villages to receive a modern education, even without power or internet.  Leilani and her husband Skip have two adult children; they and their extended family have all traveled to Nepal, and are invested in its success!

Samrat Adhikari

Advisory Board

Samrat Adhikari is a dedicated donor and volunteer at Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF), passionately contributing to the organization’s mission of transforming the lives of vulnerable children and families in Nepal. With a decade of experience in the tech industry, Samrat currently works at Microsoft, where he excels as a thought leader in digital transformation and program management.

Samrat’s commitment to NYF reflects his deep-seated belief in giving back to the community and supporting meaningful change. His expertise and innovative approach have been invaluable assets to the organization.

In his personal life, Samrat enjoys playing musical instruments, exploring new interests, and tinkering with gadgets. His curiosity and enthusiasm for learning are evident in all he does, making him a well-rounded and inspiring member of the NYF family.

Yubaraj Ghimire

Director

Yubaraj Ghimire, a leading media personality and a journalist, is currently a columnist with Indian Express, a multi – edition daily, published from Delhi and various Indian States, and is associated with Setopati, a prominent web-magazine from Nepal. His key coverage includes politics, electoral and constitutional issues; and also culture, education, agriculture and development.

Through a thirty year long career in journalism, he has had extensive experience of working for various national and international media. From 1998-2000, he was the producer of BBC World Service, Nepali, from London, and from 2000-2003, the Editor of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post, prominent national dailies from Kathmandu. He was also the editor of Samay, a Nepali weekly, associate editor with Indian Express and Outlook Magazine from Delhi, and special correspondent for India Today and The Telegraph Daily published from India.

Masters in Sociology, his research involved tribal culture and agrarian issues in India’s tribal areas. He also contributed to various academic journals in India and the US. He served as the Board Member of the IIDS, a leading think tank in Nepal, and also as the member of the advisory board of J M Foundation, a leading Institute of Media studies in Mumbai.

Yubaraj Ghimire is currently married, with two children.

Mansa Bhattarai

Director

Mansa Bhattarai joined the NYF Nepal Board in 2020 after she retired from her 17-year- long employment at NYF as the head of the Nutrition Program. She had led NYF’s nutrition program, and had played a key role in establishing the Nutritional Rehabilitation Homes across the country. She monitored all of the Seventeen NRHs and ran nutrition trainings. Mansa holds a Master’s Degree in Economics, as well as a specialized training on Malnutrtion from WHO. Before joining NYF, Mansa was working at the Social Welfare Council (SWC), an apex body of the Nepal Government. Her prior experience with the government bureaucracy was an added benefit for NYF, as we developed the Nutrition program in collaboration with the government of Nepal.

Mansa lives in Kathmandu with her son, daughter-in-law, and her grandson; and frequently travels around with her friends and family.

Srijana Rana

Director

Srijana Rana is an outstanding entrepreneur and a social activist. Besides running a successful business she is actively contributing in advancing the status of women in Nepal through various social projects. She is the Board of Directors; Director Research & Development; and Director Corporate Social Responsibility at Hotel Annapurna, one of the top 5 star hotels in Kathmandu. She is also the Executive Member of Hotel Association of Nepal representing more than 300 hotels, resorts and guesthouses. She is serving as the Vice president of Zonta Club Nepal, a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide.  She is a member of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and a Vice Chairperson Nepal at SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Council (SCWEC). 

Likewise, she has held important executive positions at various other organizations such as Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Association Nepal (FWEAN), Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (WEAN), WEAN Savings and Credit Cooperative, and Nourish Nature Agro Enterprise.

She is also the Board of Trustee and Vice Chairperson at JMT (Jayanti Memorial Trust); founder of Burns Violence Survivors Nepal; and a life member and a past Vice President of ASMAN, an NGO devoted to the cause of supporting underprivileged Nepali Women.

She has attended a number of professional international forums and has travelled extensively to various countries in the course of her career. She is married and has a son and a daughter.

Tilak Bahadur Lama

Board Treasurer

Tilak Bahadur Lama is a successful tourism entrepreneur and a social activist in Nepal. He is the Managing Director of the Himaland Adventure Treks P.Ltd and is the promoter of Himal International Inc.  He has had 25 years of work experience in the tourism sector in capacities as trekking guide, tour officer, and account and finance manager. 

He has been equally active in areas of community development, health, education, technical and vocational skill, drinking water, and tourism, especially in his hometown Kavre, a little village in the outskirts of Kathmandu.  He worked as a Project Coordinator for Namaste Stiftung, a German organization in one of its health and education programs. Likewise, he is an active rotary member of Rotary Club of Kavre, Banepa and is serving as the treasurer (2012-013).  He also served as the project coordinator of the Rotary MG project for deep boring drinking water in Kavre.

Currently he is engaged in various sectors such as the Board of Director with MESO, a non-profit company for vocational education, Editorial Board Member at Nepal Parbat published by Nepal Mountaineering Association , Core Member with Sustainable Tourism Network in Nepal Tourism Board, Chairman of Shree Shivalaya Secondary School, Kavre. Likewise, he was previously engaged as the Chairman at the Nepal Canyoning Association, Kathmandu and Executive Member of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal.

He is married and has two children.