Archives: Teams

Rajesh Saru Magar

College Scholarship Program Alumnus

Master of Arts in Rural Development, Tribhuvan University, 2003
Social Policy Officer at UNICEF Nepal, Surkhet Field Office, Karnali Province

Rajesh Saru Magar grew up in a rural community with limited access to opportunities. “My family was in no condition to send me to live in Kathmandu to study,” he says.

But he believed that change was possible for communities like his, and he dreamed of making that change happen one day. He put himself through his bachelor’s degree by teaching at a local school and attending night classes.

However, when he was accepted to a new master’s program in Rural Development at Tribhuvan University, he had to quit his job. All classes were held during the day. “I was left without either family support or income.”

“I learned about the NYF Scholarship through a notice on the university bulletin board, which listed detailed eligibility criteria targeting students from disadvantaged backgrounds,” Rajesh remembers. “The selection process was rigorous. It was an incredibly well-designed program that aligned with the university’s academic calendar, ensuring the support could be effectively used throughout the course.”

Rajesh received an NYF Scholarship from 2001 to 2003. “This opportunity launched my career in development work, where I have served some of the most underprivileged communities, including Dalit, Tharu, and Badi groups. If I hadn’t received this support, reaching this professional level would have been extremely difficult.”

As a Social Policy Officer at UNICEF Nepal, Rajesh supports provincial and local governments in designing child-focused policies and programs.

From his post in a rural field office, Rajesh has also served as the on-the-ground face of UNICEF in emergency situations, including COVID-19 and following the Jajarkot-Rukum earthquakes in 2023.

One two-year scholarship has allowed Rajesh to empower thousands more young people over the past 20 years. He has seen many of them grow up to serve their communities as well.

Dr. Sushil Pokharel

College Scholarship Program Alumnus

Consultant orthopedic surgeon, Karnali Province
Contract medical officer serving rural populations on behalf of the Nepali government
Trauma surgery specialist

Dr. Sushil Pokharel grew up in a remote village. Everyone in the community knew his dream was to become a doctor, and they believed he could achieve it, with the right opportunity. But no one was sure if medical school was financially possible.

Against the odds, Sushil studied hard and achieved the competitive scores needed to win a seat at a good medical school. He even got a government scholarship to cover tuition!

But living expenses in the city were higher than anticipated. Within a year of beginning medical school, Sushil was in financial crisis. The stress of struggling to make ends meet was impacting his grades—and his future.

Fortunately, Sushil learned about NYF’s College Scholarships and submitted an application.

“NYF provided scholarship support from 2010 through 2013—four years,” Sushil says. “With this financial aid, I was able to complete my medical degree.”

Soon after graduating, Sushil got a job working as a contract medical officer in a rural district. “I used to see lots of cases of trauma,” he says. “Patients needed to go to major cities for surgery. Most could not afford to go to the city for treatment.”

Seeing the need for more specialists serving these communities, Sushil decided to devote his career to providing orthopedic surgery and trauma surgery in some of Nepal’s most remote hospitals. He could have chosen to leave Nepal and practice medicine somewhere more financially rewarding. But helping these patients access life-changing medical care brings him immense happiness. He hopes other doctors will follow his lead.

NYF shares Sushil’s determination to ensure rural Nepalis can access good-quality medical care. In 2023, we expanded the mission of our New Life Center, located in Kathmandu. It now serves as a free Medical Recovery Home for families (especially children and mothers) who are staying in the city for medical care.

Today, Sushil is working on the front lines of Nepal’s developing healthcare system. As a consultant orthopedic and trauma surgeon in Karnali Province, he is providing transformative medical care in some of the toughest conditions out there.

Karnali Province is one of the most remote and least-developed areas of Nepal, full of high mountains, rugged terrain, and difficult-to-reach communities.

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.”

Dipak Paneru

New Life Center Alumnus

Dipak Paneru was born with HIV, and by the time he was 10, both parents had succumbed to AIDS.

When 10-year-old Dipak arrived at the New Life Center (NLC) in 2012, he was extremely sick. He was also deeply angry. “Since childhood, I had suffered from very poor health, intense discrimination, isolation, hatred, and emotional distress,” he explains. This immense pain led him to act out with aggression, impulsivity, and distrust.

Dipak spent over a year between 2012 and 2014 receiving treatment at the NLC. The primary goal was to help him manage his HIV, with a combination of medical support and personalized nutritional care. He also received regular, affirming therapy through Ankur Counseling Center.

Dipak maintained his connection with the NLC as he moved into adulthood. As the years passed, the troubled boy transformed into a responsible, determined, compassionate adult.

“Once I grew up, I founded an organization focusing on the care and support of children and people with HIV/AIDS.”

Today, Dipak’s work is empowering hundreds of Nepalis living with HIV. He is especially proud of his work to shelter and safeguard children living with HIV in his home district.

Bishnu Chaudhary

Indentured Daughters Program Alumna

Public prosecutor, District Government Attorney Office, Hetauda, Makwanpur District

Bishnu Chaudhary was sold into kamlari bondage at age 8, and spent the next four years trapped in indentured servitude far from home.

At age 12, in 2007, Bishnu was liberated by SWAN, a nonprofit which had recently joined forced with NYF to rescue as many young women as possible. After completing a back-to-school bridging course, she was quickly enrolled in the 5th grade. From that moment on, Bishnu excelled, consistently earning the highest scores in her classes.

Bishnu became more directly involved with NYF’s programs in 2010, when she became a Peer Counselor. She quickly became an Empowering Freed Kamlaris superstar.

Between 2010 and 2015, Bishnu was a community leader in anti-kamlari protesting, women’s and girls’ empowerment, and the organization of both the Freed Kamlari Development Forum and multiple local cooperative groups for women.

“NYF’s support helped me set clear goals, work hard and smart, and maintain a positive mindset,” Bishnu says. “One of my greatest strengths is that I experienced injustice and discrimination during my childhood. That experience, combined with the support I received from NYF, gave me the motivation and resilience to achieve my goals.”

In 2015, a sponsor agreed to fund Bishnu’s journey through law school, and in early 2021, she passed Nepal’s Bar Exam. She was the first former kamlari to become a lawyer, and the first woman from the Tharu ethnic minority to do so.

Today, Bishnu is a public prosecutor, working to ensure victims of exploitation, discrimination, and violence can receive justice. In the future, she hopes to become a judge.

Dr. Barsha Prakash

Empowering Dalit Daughters Alumna

Health Division Chief, Ministry of Health & Population, Madhesh Province, Government of Nepal
Pediatrician & pediatric anemia researcher

Dr. Barsha Prakash belongs to the Madhesi Dalit community—the caste group facing the most complex challenges and most oppressive discrimination in Nepal. She comes from a village in Dhanusa District, and was raised watching her entire community experience caste-based violence and systemic neglect. This included medical neglect, including some doctors who practiced untouchability with their patients.

Although the society around her did not see it, Barsha was bright and deeply motivated. Against tremendous odds, she completed grade school and managed to secure a spot at a small medical college. Managing the expenses was a challenge. Becoming a doctor was Barsha’s dream, and though her school wasn’t prestigious, she was making the most of the opportunity.

Then she learned about NYF through a notice in the paper about a special scholarship for female Dalit students from all over Nepal. NYF had launched the Empowering Dalit Daughters program, and Barsha eagerly applied.

NYF supported Barsha from 2005 through 2007, beginning by transferring her to a renowned medical school in Kathmandu to complete her bachelor’s degree.

This enriched scholarship covered tuition and living expenses, plus personalized resources and networking to help young women from Dalit castes move effectively in circles they had historically been strictly excluded from. “This scholarship beautifully changed my life.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree, Barsha was able to complete her master’s as well. She became a pediatrician, and began serving communities back home in Madhesh Province.

Alongside her work providing medical care, Barsha began publishing research on medical issues facing children in Madhesh Province. She specializes in thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that causes chronic anemia. This condition is especially common in South Asia, but often goes undiagnosed and untreated in Dalit communities.

Today, Dr. Barsha Prakash is serving as a Health Division Chief at Nepal’s Ministry of Health & Population, where she is shifting public policy to provide more equitable medical services across the country.

The experimental Empowering Dalit Daughters program began in 2005, when a Dalit Rights organization approached NYF with an idea for girls’ scholarships that would train future leaders from Dalit communities. This massively-successful initiative formed the basis for our current Educating Dalit Lawyers program.

Neera Adhikari

Students with Disabilities Scholarship Alumna

Undersecretary, Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Government of Nepal
Founder, Lalitpur Association of the Blind
Founder, Blind Women Association of Nepal
Trailblazing civil servant & disability rights advocate

Neera Adhikari lost her eyesight when she had typhoid fever at age eight, but despite this setback, her family recognized her tremendous potential. At the time, Nepal had virtually no social safety net for individuals with disabilities, especially daughters with disabilities. But Neera’s family was determined to ensure she could continue her education for as long as possible.

Their support and sacrifice, and Neera’s hard work, carried her all the way to a bachelor’s program. But in 1998, one year into her studies, Neera was struggling to manage her rent, daily expenses, and tuition. “I was extremely frustrated and uncertain about how I could continue my education.” Fortunately, Neera heard about NYF’s scholarship program.

“NYF supported me from 1998 to 2000, which allowed me to complete my bachelor’s degree,” she says.

“I was able to focus fully on my studies instead of looking for work to support myself. Completing my bachelor’s degree was a major step that launched my career. The scholarship enabled me to fulfill my dream and live my life just like any able-bodied person.”

Neera quickly entered the world of advocacy and civil service. She founded two organizations serving blind Nepalis, and began working to raise awareness of the challenges facing people with disabilities—especially girls and women. Her career in the Nepali government is allowing her to push for better conditions and accommodations for Nepalis with all kinds of disabilities.

Shital Chaudhary

Olgapuri Vocational School Electrical Program Alumna

Electrical Trainer, Olgapuri Vocational School, NYF
Career Counselor, Vocational Education & Career Counseling Program, NY

Shital Chaudhary grew up in a very traditional home in southwestern Nepal—which unfortunately meant that, as a girl, her aspirations and well-being were given very low priority. Money was tight, and any extra resources were saved for her brothers.

Even without support at home, Shital was a bright and motivated student who scored well on the challenging Secondary Education Exam (SEE, or “Iron Gate”) at the end of the 10th grade. Only about 50% of students pass this rigorous exam, and these rates are even lower in rural areas.

But a few short months into the 11th grade, Shital’s dreams were crushed when her family forced her to drop out of school and marry a local man. Now, she was completely financially dependent on her husband, who refused to pay for even the basic necessities for Shital or their baby son.

Everything changed when Shital learned that NYF was bringing a village-based Electrical Training Course to her area in 2022. She quickly signed up, completely unfazed at being the only woman in a group of 23 trainees. The program provided her with technical skills, as well as the confidence and dignity she had long been denied.

Shital thrived in the course, which became the foundation for a remarkable personal and professional transformation. She enjoys a place of high respect within her family, and her son is enrolled in a good school. And her personal mission has expanded.

After earning her electrician’s certification, Shital was immediately hired at a construction company in Kathmandu, where she worked for 10 months.

But when NYF expanded the Olgapuri Vocational School Electrical program, we asked if she’d been willing to join our staff as an instructor. This was a dream come true.

Today, Shital is joyfully helping youths from backgrounds like hers to access the same life-changing opportunities she once received.

“Not everyone can pursue higher education, but vocational training can change lives in just a few months. If the next generation combines education with practical skills, there are endless opportunities right here in Nepal and youths do not have to migrate abroad and leave their families and communities to earn a living. Be true, disciplined, and work selflessly. Success will follow you. We don’t need to go abroad to find happiness—we can build our dreams right here at home.”

Shital Chaudhary

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.