Khahare is a small but vibrant village nestled on the banks of the Bagmati River in the foothills just outside Kathmandu. I first traveled there in March 2022 with front porch , a non-profit dedicated to eliminating multi-dimensional poverty and enhancing community self-reliance.

A new passion ignited in my heart as I worked with community leaders and other volunteers. I was captivated by the courage and spirit of the people of Khahare in the face of challenging circumstances, and I determined that once I finished my Master’s in Public Health, I’d return to Nepal.

Now, armed with newly acquired experience and knowledge (I graduated in June!), I’m ready to go back and dig in to help conquer the significant obstacles faced by the people of Khahare.

In support of the Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation (KRMEF), my goals for my time in Nepal are fourfold:

• Furthering a community health education program focused on priorities identified by local health professionals, such as menstrual health and hygiene, a school-based water, sanitation and health (WASH) intervention, and adolescent-focused maturation education;

• Expanding community engagement with a one-acre sustainable cooperative garden to help meet nutritional deficits in the local population;

• Implementing a complementary elementary "edible garden" curriculum at Ankuran School, a Waldorf-inspired education center;

• Supporting grant-writing endeavors, securing sufficient funding to expand KRMEF’s under-resourced health clinic.

Because the foundation has limited funds and cannot pay its interns, I’m raising money to cover my transportation and living expenses for the three months I plan to work in Nepal.

KRMEF has found ways to integrate into Khahare’s community and individual lives to an extraordinary degree. Its founder, Krishna Gurung, was raised in a leprosy community because his father was afflicted. The care and compassion of outsiders helped him to get an education and beyond. I see his work as an example of inclusion and integration, bringing options to people who otherwise have none (or very little) as he once did.

KRMEF uses a systems-based approach that affects many lives for the better, increasing overall well-being and building resilience. It’s evidence-based, bottom-up, transformational change. It’s how positive community change happens and increases the likelihood that the changes are accepted and sustainable.

Lack of connection is the broken link in many of the world’s issues. Nepal has been a misunderstood and overlooked country, but it has so much to offer. With your help, I know I can make a difference in the lives of these incredible people. Thank you!