Kapil KC

College Scholarship Alumnus

Senior Game Scout, Makalu Barun National Park, Sankhuwasabha District, Nepal

Environmental conservationist

Kapil KC always loved the great outdoors, and he dreamed of building a career protecting Nepal’s natural wonders.

But as Kapil neared the end of 10th grade, his father passed away, and everything changed. Kapil is the oldest son of the family, so in the middle of his teenage years, he suddenly shouldered the responsibility of providing for all his siblings.

Incredibly, Kapil rose to the challenge—and stayed in school, too. He took on forest field work in order to earn money for family expenses, put himself through 11th and 12th grade, and was accepted to Kathmandu Forestry College for his bachelor’s program, which started the spring of 2020.

But balancing work and study was much more difficult at the college level, especially during the early COVID pandemic years. After his first year, his grades were suffering so much that he feared he might need to drop out and give up on his dreams. That’s when his college put him in touch with NYF.

Kapil received an NYF Scholarship from 2021-2023. “That opportunity brought me hope and stability,” he says. “It allowed me to focus more on my studies, as well as on my family.”

This focus on schoolwork allowed Kapil to graduate with impressive grades. He quickly combined his degree with his years of on-the-ground forestry experience, landing a government job leading fieldwork in Malaku Barun National Park.

Malaku Barun is part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape, and contains breathtaking biodiversity, from tropical forests to snow-capped peaks. Kapil and his team (pictured below, Kapil at center) are safeguarding many rare and endangered animals, including the red panda, snow leopard, and musk deer. The park is also home to multiple rare and endangered plant species.

Kapil’s Senior Game Scout position is a stable government job, giving him social & financial security as he builds his career and supports his family.

Today, he is already contributing to policy and lawmaking pertaining to conservation, and he is helping to promote ecotourism within Nepal. He is currently preparing for an exam that will open the door to a promotion to Forestry Officer.

“Through forest conservation, I can contribute to mitigating the climate crisis and also support sustainable agriculture.”