Vishnu's UK Trip

A bittersweet farewell last Thursday, as Vishnu ji boarded the flight home to Nepal after his month-long visit to the UK. But what a rare pleasure it was to have him with us: in Vishnu's sage company many of us had the opportunity to reconnect and rejuvenate our relationship with HVP Nepal.

The trip took Vishnu to most corners of England, from Stone Henge to Sussex to London to Bath and then up to Oxford and Durham. All the time, he was in the company of friends and former volunteers who have a deep connection with HVP. There were visits to several schools, including Merchant Taylors' School, where there was a happy reunion with the team of students who volunteered at HVP Balkumari last summer. Vishnu's visit became the launchpad for the next MTS expedition in July 2026 and in a promising sign already a dozen students and as many staff are interested in signing up.

There was the HVP Social in London, at Chutney's Restaurant in Euston, a joyous affair that brought many supporters together to meet with Vishnu. His warm and sincere speech renewed in us the desire to rekindle the UK volunteer programme in all three HVP schools. Plans are already afoot in this respect, with Ellie Piggott co-ordinating a team of HVP ambassadors looking to go out to Durham, Cambridge, Oxford, St Andrews and UCL for the October 2025 Freshers' Week. If any of our supporters who have university connections would like to join our team, please get in touch the usual way by contacting us at hvpnuk@gmail.com; we would be very happy to hear from you.

Vishnu spoke on behalf of the whole charity and everyone in HVP Nepal, when he offered his gratitude to Matt Daw, who steps down as Chair of HVP Nepal-UK after more than 20 years of service. He spoke of Matt's leadership throughout that time, in particular through those crises which, without the support of HVP Nepal-UK, could well have seen the schools close and the HVP movement fold. Vishnu also paid tribute to Eileen Daw, who steps down from her role as Secretary, a vital if often unseen role in the running of a charity and essential to keeping us legally compliant with the Charities Commission. Fortunately for us, both Matt and Eileen are staying as trustees of HVP Nepal-UK, a source of great reassurance for everyone.

A special thank you to those involved with the organisation of Vishnu's trip. VIP Vishnu said he felt like royalty the way the trip was handled. "I don't know what I have done to deserve this," he confided in me. 30 years of co-ordinating UK volunteers to Nepal and as many devoted to the service of HVP was my approximate response! Special mention in despatches, therefore, to Ed King for being the logistical mastermind and the driving force behind the trip, and to Lars Atkin and Matt Daw for their quick thinking in resolving an issue with flights and ensuring that Vishnu arrived as planned.

Vishnu will now be back in Kathmandu, back with the staff and students of HVP Balkumari as they prepare for the GCSE equivalent of SEE Exams, and back with his family, Nabu and Kalyani. After a month of touring the UK, he is probably enjoying home comforts and a very well-earned rest. Being a guest can be a tiring business, I ventured to him before he left, but in typical Vishnu style, he said he had never felt tired because of the company he enjoyed each day, special people to him. Something of that indefatigable spirit remains behind with us:

Arise, awake and stop not until the goal is reached.