HVP Nepal-UK Newsletter June 2026
- Jun 30
- 7 min read
A very warm namaste to all our supporters. As we approach the beginning of July, we wanted to bring you up to date on recent activity both in the UK and Nepal. Exciting developments in the volunteer programme are only just around the corner, as you will see. With the new academic year underway in Nepal, the three principals - Vishnu, Rajkumar and Bhola (former principle) give their reflections, respectively, on the current situation at HVP Balkumari (Central), HVP Thali and HVP Dang.
The pictures they offer are ones of achievement, challenge and aspiration.
Volunteers incoming
Matthew Hilton-Dennis (Chair HVP Nepal-UK)
The next two weeks will see six undergraduate volunteers from Oxford and Cambridge arrive in Kathmandu. After a busy recruiting period over the autumn and winter months, led by our volunteer co-ordinator – Ellie Piggott – we have three volunteers from each university set to begin their six-week placements at HVP Balkumari. Together with our first university volunteer (from Kent) since the pandemic to travel out to Nepal in 2024, this has the feel of a long-awaited revival of the university volunteering programme.
Alongside the university volunteers, there will be a team of students from Merchant Taylors’ School (MTS), who will be based in HVP Balkumari while teaching for a week in HVP Thali, located further into the Kathmandu Valley. Led by myself, the 2026 MTS expedition comprises 18 mainly Sixth Form students and 5 adult leaders and follows on the heels of the first school expedition of its type back in 2024. We depart for Nepal this coming Saturday, 4th July.
Everyone is excited, the volunteers from both Oxbridge and MTS busily preparing lessons and gearing themselves up for their ever visit to Nepal. Vishnu has been active in his communications and preparations, working in partnership with Rajkumar and his team at HVP Thali. From Saturday 11th July, all 29 volunteers will be housed under one roof at HVP Balkumari, staying in the dormitories of the hostel, which promises to be a merry and purposeful gathering. Above all, they are looking forward to meetings the pupils and the classes they will be teaching.
The three Cambridge volunteers also plan to travel to Dang following the end of their placement in Kathmandu. Awaiting them, a warm welcome from Bhola and Samrat and everyone associated with HVP Dang and the Children’s Peace Home (CPH) – not least the wonderful students themselves.
As well as teaching and fundraising for the schools, the university volunteers will be returning to Oxford and Cambridge with the remit of helping to organise the next annual cohort of volunteers to head out to Nepal in the summer of 2027. For many years, this was the virtuous cycle that perpetuated the relationship between HVP Nepal-UK and HVP Nepal – until the pandemic struck. Now, after considerable effort, we look to be in a position to make good on our priority aim as a charity to restore that connection, which is our lifeblood and of huge value to the schools in Nepal.
Scholarship and Fundraising Support
Even as the volunteers arrive in Nepal, back in the UK, we are poised to send out the latest financial transfer to the three schools from our scholarship fund. Raised by monthly donations from our generous network of supporters, a total of £6000 will be divided between the three HVP schools and will go towards supporting the education and essential needs of the poorest students served by the schools.
In addition, we are making a fundraising donation to support the repayment of loans for the new school minibuses at Dang and Balkumari: £4000 and £1000 respectively. Following the successful completion of the new toilet block at HVP Thali and the refurbishment of classrooms at Thali and Balkumari, supporting the schools with the purchasing of safe and reliable minibuses – vital for the everyday transport of students to and from the schools – is our current fundraising priority. Recently elected trustee and former GAP volunteer, Philip Redston, has begun to make applications to a shortlist of charitable trusts and foundations in the hope of securing additional funding for infrastructure projects such as these.
Updates from Nepal
The new academic year in Nepal began in April 2026, and since then all three schools have been celebrating the publishing of the SEE exam results (equivalent of GCSE) and the achievement of their Class 10 students. Below, the three principals offer their reflections on their respective school situations.
HVP Balkumari
Vishnu Bakhta Dangi – Principal
The new term started on 28th of April and everyone looks very happy, excited and delighted to be back to school after the end of the year holiday. The new admission process is still going on, and we hope to have just above 300 students this year. It seems that we will have as many students as we had last year.
However, the admission of new students, particularly in Kindergarten classes (pre-primary classes), is very frustrating. Last year, we had 20 students in Nursery class (aged 2 or 3 years), but this year we have only 10. It has really been challenging to have more students particularly in Kindergarten classes as wealthy private sectors have started opening separate schools for pre-primary classes with a huge amount of investment. Anyway, we will continue to work harder with the hope that there will definitely be more students in these classes in the coming years.
As you know Nepal is the only country having holiday only on Saturday, but the new government has made a decision to provide a public holiday even on Sunday as well. Many schools (and parents) want to remain open on Sundays, but as from now, Nepal has a full weekend break.
We are so excited for the arrival of the student volunteers from Cambridge and Oxford universities and from Merchant Taylors’ School.
HVP Thali
Rajkumar Shrestha - Principal
1. Academic Session Update
Firstly, regarding our academic session, the session for the year 2083 began from April 28 (Baishak 15). At present, we have around 406 students (up from 393 last year). We have also made slight changes to our academic calendar to ensure alignment with the schedule set by the municipality and the government.
In terms of academic progress, we are focusing on maintaining quality education through structured lesson planning, regular assignments, and continuous monitoring of each student's performance. Additionally, we have been working on strengthening co-curricular and extracurricular activities to support the overall development of our students.
Overall, we are committed to provide a supportive and effective learning environment, and we look forward for further collaboration and guidance.
2. Scholarship Support Request- New underprivileged students
In addition, we would like to highlight that we have few new students from Karnali Province who are likely a part of the CPH (Children Peace Home) program. These students come from extremely remote and underprivileged regions, where access to quality education remains a significant challenge. Despite these circumstances, they have shown remarkable determination and resilience in their studies. They truly represent the core values and strength of the CPH initiative. In order to continue supporting their educational journey, we kindly request additional scholarship assistance for these students.
3. Development of Student Play Area
We are currently planning to develop a well-equipped play station/play area for our students. This initiative is aimed at supporting their overall development by encouraging both physical activity and recreational engagement. The project is currently in progress, and we look forward to its successful completion.
4. Urgent needs
We are currently facing some difficulties with student transportation, especially during pick-up and drop-off times. So, we are thinking that having an EV van would really help us manage this more safely and efficiently.
We have also been discussing with our Head Miss (Mrs Shrestha) about the new building for our school, as we feel some development is needed there.
At the same time, we are looking forward to introducing a smart and digital classroom because in today’s world it’s very important for students to learn with technology and have a more interactive (Audio-Visual) experience.
However, we are facing some financial challenges to move forward with these plans, so we would really appreciate financial support or assistance from your side.
We sincerely appreciate your continued support and cooperation. Your assistance plays a crucial role in helping us provide quality education to students from diverse and challenging backgrounds.
For a vibrant picture of school life at HVP Thali, please follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4w484yAiiQ
HVP Dang & Children’s Peace Home (CPH)
Bholanath Yogi – Former Principal
HVP School started on 4th of May this year. We are expecting about 20 more students than last year. New school van is very helpful to increase new more student.
CPH is doing wall; there will be 10 more children in the CPH. Last year there were 34 children but this year going to be 44 children, which is very big number in CPH history. Some of the children have come from jail, because their parents are in the jail. All other new children have lost their parents for so many reasons, like health disease, accident or natural disaster. Some children come from outside Ghorahi, so no money from local authority for them. Local authority to provide some support for CPH in lieu of the service provided for local children.
Government’s Children Welfare Committee has become Children’s Rights Committee, but it still supports children coming to CPH: 42 reliant on CPH, 2 paid through some support funds.
The new yoga building opened 14th of May. This new building is very big hope for the children's home. As you know our regular income is less than how much money we pay for the children’s fee only. Volunteers and yoga stands will be new hope for the CPH.
New minibus part-donated for CPH but used for HVP Dang too (one name on each side). Main supporter who enabled the purchase (more than 50%) was giving for CPH benefit, but very helpful for Dang (for example, a student was recently bitten by a snake, and they were rushed to hospital in the van!).
In total, 67 students supported by HVP Nepal-UK scholarship scheme – 44 staying at CPH but others are day students.
Final Thoughts
If, by reading these updates from Nepal, you feel motivated to donate towards the project we are currently supporting - the repayment of the loans for the new school minibuses at Dang and Balkumari - then we would gratefully receive donations through our HVP Nepal-UK JustGiving site:
Or, if either you or someone you know might be interested in giving on a regular basis to our Scholarship Fund and supporting those students most in need, then please set up a standing order through your bank and email us hvpnuk@gmail.com to let us know.
Our bank details are:
HVP UK
20-49-76
00540103
Thank you. With our operating costs as a charity below 2% of our total income, nearly everything we receive goes out to Nepal in the form of the Scholarship Fund or donations to capital projects. It brings immediate benefit to the schools and to the lives of more than 1000 students.
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