Living in Japan, I had always wondered how I could support and build a connection with Nepal, which is one of my nationalities. Volunteering with NYF was the perfect platform for me to do this. NYF is a remarkable organization filled with people passionate about providing Nepal's impoverished children the rights that every child should have. Through the organization's kind support, I was able to conduct a research project on the Kamlari Indentured Servitude focused on the rights of girls. During my research, I had the privilege of interviewing Som Paneru, the president of NYF, and Bishnu Chaudhary, a former Kamlari girl, two individuals with remarkable experiences. I am confident that the amazing work of NYF has and will continue to give the children of Nepal hope.
I’ve worked in the nonprofit field for more than 30 years, and have only rarely encountered a nonprofit like the Nepal Youth Foundation that is fueled by such passion while also so professionally administered. This is a very safe place to donate your time, treasure and talent.
At CASHE, we could not be more thrilled, proud and honored to be collaborating with NYF on a number of philanthropic initiatives - from creative collaborations on social media, blogging and filmmaking projects - all the way to driving cross-functional opportunities to better support one another organizationally.
NYF and their team are so incredibly caring and thoughtful. They approach challenges with curiosity and mindfulness, and execute against goals with an assiduous disposition.
We can't wait to see what the future holds for our partnership, and are humbled to be a part of this incredible philanthropic journey.
Thank you NYF!
The Nepal Youth Foundation is one of the most well integrated nonprofits that I have seen to support the people of Nepal. What I have seen as their greatest asset our the people of Nepal and that has been by design. The people that are employed by the Nepal Youth Foundation in Nepal, are the Nepalese people. Not only does this create professional employment opportunities for the Nepalese people but it creates a system where the people making the decisions of "what is best" for the people in this country ARE the people in this country. They see the needs of their people clearer than anyone and are mobilized by the funds of donors to create programs that can best address those needs. This past year I've seen how powerful that type of program could be during COVID-19 when the Nepal Youth Foundation could pivot with the challenges of a world in lockdown and still create safe educational environments, safe nutrition centers, and safe quarantine locations.
I work with Global Grandmothers, a group which vets and recommends non-profits. We continue to love NYF and follow them enthusiasm. As they always do, they have adapted amazingly to the needs of COVID, bringing programs to villages when the students could not come to them, providing an isolation unit in Kathmandu for those needing care and quarantine, and supplying a special "plus flour" that has nutrients adequate to sustain its users with just the addition of water.
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Our charity, Global Grandmothers, vets and recommends child-centered charities on our website. We only recommend 9 and Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF) is one. We recently sponsored a walk to raise funds for them. Unexpectedly a family of three showed up to the walk and we asked what had prompted them to come. They told us that the dad regularly commutes on the ferry and that he had met and talked to a young Nepalese man on his commute. This young man told him all about the Nepal Youth Foundation, how it had changed his life, paid for his education, and that he now was married, living in the US with a good job thanks to them. One more evidence of NYF's great work!
I have personally seen the work that NYF does, and can attest to the commitment of the organization to the children of Nepal. From our first meeting with Olga, we were immediately amazed by the impact that one person can have. The dedication of all of the team members, from the president to the house parents to the nutritional hospital staff is apparent. In addition, Som is a visionary in the field, and has changed the culture of Nepalese communities for the betterment of the children. We're proud to support NYF.
I have had the pleasure and honor of working with Nepal Youth Foundation for three years now. As a grant writer who works with all types of nonprofits across the country, I can say without hesitation that NYF is truly the cream of the crop. Their commitment to the well-being of the young people of Nepal is relentless. Their staff has expertise in issues that most Americans aren't even aware of in our everyday lives. They work tirelessly to ensure that their programs are meeting the needs of the young people and children they serve and aren't just existing to exist. They are truly responsive, working with a staff in Nepal to ensure their services are timely, relevant, and respectful of their culture and traditions while still working diligently for the rights of children who may be experiencing oppression or neglect.
As a grant writer, I get an inside and detailed look at the back-of-house parts of nonprofits and Nepal Youth Foundation is truly a steward of the funds they receive to support their programs. Dollars invested in NYF make such a difference in the lives of Nepali children. I'm proud to both work with them and to have personally supported their mission as a donor.
We are thrilled to be supporting NYF for such outstanding work they are doing to improve the quality of lives of children in Nepal through education. They have a tenacious team and Olga is an example to the world. We are honored.
I have supported this organization for 30 plus years and couldn’t feel better about it.
This organization is so committed and dedicated I only feel I want to do more. So impressive. I feel grateful to be a part of such a quality organization that changes
the lives of children to this incredible degree.
Thank you for your dedication to the children and families of Nepal!
What a great experience it has been to see NYF grow from its early founding by Olga Murray and continuing through the present. It has been wonderful to see the many young people over the years go through NYF to become productive citizens. My father Totton Heffelfinger was on the board and I have been on board for the past six years. My son James and I visited NYF several years ago and the kids were great; it was especially great to meet the dedicated staff and to see the many projects that Som and his team had initiated at Olgapuri including, to name only a few, the many vocational training program options for young women and men, hydroponic farming, and the well-organized school programs for the children. Truly remarkable is that the organization has grown and thrived through natural disasters, economic challenges and the COVID pandemic. I believe that the hallmark of this success has been the capacity of its leadership to adapt its programs to these circumstances while continuing to reach out to new segments of Nepal in need. I also want to note the tremendous strides that our U.S. Executive Director, Eric Talbert, has made since joining us earlier this year.
Won't you please join me in making a generous donation to NYF this year!
Chris Heffelfinger
There is no other charity of this scale and scope operating in Nepal (next up the line is the big UNICEF). Wonderful work achieved by all the elements of NYF in Nepal. Diverse programmes and a nimble approach that allows rapid response to the unexpected....such as Covid. Som Panneru and all the team in Nepal, USA, UK and elsewhere do a fantastic job.
My daughter-in-law was born in Nepal and she has given us a new grandson as of Sept 2020. She told us about this wonderful organization as it is close to her heart. The more I learn about what it has accomplished over the years, the more I am honored to be a part of it on a monthly basis. God bless the NYF in all its efforts!
The range of demographics they serve is very wide: Rescued Kamalaris, disabled children, impoverished children.
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I have known about NYF ever since I was a child as my mom worked for it. I have been growing up with my mom talking about all the children associated with NYF. Their problems, their mistakes, their accomplishments and so on with compassion and love. I have seen her laugh with the children and cry as well. For her, its not just a job, its a way of life.
All this inspires me. The help from NYF and Olga didi is truly amazing.
An amazing organization! I love how honest and communicative they are, and it’s so clear to me that the staff truly cares about the cause! I would definitely recommend ������
I work for One Day's Wages, and we carefully vet organizations to fund projects through matching grants. When Nepal Youth Foundation applied for a matching grant last year, they were very transparent about their work and communicative throughout the process. Nepal Youth Foundation's vocational school program stood out to me because it makes a huge difference in peoples' lives by giving them a skill to be able to make a living to support their families. They've been a great partner in our work to end extreme poverty.
I volunteered with the foundation at their annual Founder's Day event and was truly empowered by their work. Through seeing all of the donors and the presentation of their impact, I could see that NYF was an organization that has been and will continue to transform the lives of many. I hope to be able to work with them again in the future!
I became a donor in February through a matching gift opportunity and I have been so impressed since my first donation. NYF does really meaningful work in the communities they serve.
I helped with some office work and heavy lifting in the US office, but most of the work happens in Nepal. The Nepalese president and staff drive the programs (sometimes to the consternation of the people whose job it is to make sure there is enough money for those ambitious projects to succeed).
I love that the Nepal Youth Foundation focuses on empowering people. NYF has such an amazing 30-year history, and it still continues to evolve based on the needs in Nepal instead of getting stuck doing the same things. One huge example of that is NYF transitioning the Freed Kamlaris program to the very women that it has freed and empowered (NYF's blog has more information on that if you're curious). I am thrilled that NYF is the sort of organization that builds up people and communities to the point that they become independent. In my opinion, that's the sign of a great organization. "Teach a man to fish..." (or, in this case, "Teach a woman to fish...")
Meanwhile, NYF continues to provide housing for children, work on other existing projects, and start new programs that directly address the needs in Nepal. I like that NYF can talk about the need while still celebrating the capabilities and potential of the people it helps.
I encourage you to check out NYF's blog and get to know this organization better.
I donate to this charity, after hearing and seeing the remarkable achievements they are making in the lives of desperately in need children in Nepal. From the Founder, Olga Murray, on down, everyone greets each day and challenge with a smile, sense of purpose, and mission. It is an honor to be a part of the change in the world, and I've seen how seriously they take the responsibility to invest wisely and judiciously. Thank you, NYF, for ALL you do!
I'm extremely proud to have been a patron and sponsor of NYF for over 30 years, it's extremely rewarding to be able to help an organization that so effectively implements critical and life-changing programs , and does so with integrity, efficiency, and compassion.
One of the best elements of being involved with NYF is a personal connection to the children I've sponsored, and to continue to be in touch with them after they've completed their NYF sponsorship and enter the workforce.
Joining the Board recently has only solidified my commitment the the organization, especially to the excellent work of NYF staff in Nepal, as they've risen beyond expectations in response to the pandemic this year and made outstanding accomplishments in difficult situations.
Worked with this group to produce a few podcast episodes to support their donation efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were great to work with, believed strongly in their mission, and attentive to the needs of their collaborators.
A wonderful nonprofit to work for and with incredibly organized, passionate and dedicated staff! I was happy to help out with the virtual Founders Day this year.
Such a great nonprofit. They're doing so much mindful, intentional work on the ground in Nepal, all to benefit these great kids who can really benefit from simple opportunities. If you care about helping children, there's something here that you can be passionate about as a donor or a volunteer - whether it's providing nutritional outreach and education, helping keep impoverished families together, or working to overcome systemic societal hierarchies. NYF is definitely worth investing in!
I’m so pleased to give Nepal Youth Foundation a five star review. Their mission and work to bring freedom, shelter, healthcare, and education to some of the most impoverished children and families in Nepal is inspiring. Their programs are helping to transform lives – from hardship and despair into ones filled with hope and possibility. I recommend everyone to check into these programs and how they can help.
A great organization with holistic and sustainable approaches to lifting poverty in Nepal. It's so cool that most of the staff are actually Nepalese, working with the programs in Nepal. Not to mention they are very friendly with a genuine passion for what they do! Highly recommended!
I volunteered for NYF during their Founder's Day event and was really impressed with the organization. The staff was incredibly compassionate and kind, and it was clear that NYF truly cares for, and prioritizes, the populations it serves.
I highly recommend this foundation! This organization does such amazing and positive work for the people in Nepal.
I'm so impressed with the work NYF does, and all the children they help. It's so great to get their updates and see what my donations support!
Nepal Youth Foundation is an excellent and transparent non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of some of the most impoverished children in Nepal. After working and volunteering the NYF, I was impressed by the dedication and genuine passion the team has for their mission. So much thought, patience, dedication, and hard work goes into crafting their programs and I witnessed the positive impacts they are having on the lives of Nepali youth. It also should be known that all activities and programs in Nepal are lead by Nepali's-- a necessary move for sustainable and inclusive development.
I am so excited to have found Nepal Youth Foundation, especially after I learned that their operations and program staff are Nepalese, working in Nepal. NYF is a role model on how support from the global north should be put to good use not only helping the people in their programs but also creating job opportunities for locals. Keep up the good work!
My husband and I toured Olgapuri last year, and we were so moved and inspired by all of the ways in which Olga and her organization help disenfranchised Nepali youth. It’s hard to put into words how courageous and creative and compassionate Olga is. And what makes her special is that she has directed her empathy and intellect in powerfully transformative ways. She has empowered thousands of young Nepali’s to love themselves and live their lives at their fullest potential! If you are inspired I encourage you to support her work, read her book and maybe even visit Olgapuri yourself. You will be forever changed.
NYF is a wonderful non-profit making a tremendous difference for children in Nepal.
I visited some of the programs in 2018 and can attest to the great work happening on the grounds. Thank you, NYF!
Nepal Youth Foundation is wonderful! I've heard about NYF from one of my family members and both their staff and their programs make a huge impact.
NYF is so great! Their programs - spanning freedom, health, shelter, and education - make a great deal of positive change for the children of Nepal.
Olga met with our group of mothers and daughters (young girls 7-12 grade) to share with us her life's passion of providing the children of Nepal, especially the young girls, with the freedoms we take for granted in our country -- to be treated with dignity and respect (physically and emotionally), to be educated and to control our own future. Olga reminded all of us that at any age, at any time in our lives, each one of us can make what is so inhumanely wrong and make it right -- this is what she did when she started NYF.
Phenomenal organization and so impressive what they are accomplishing! We recently heard Olga Murray speak and were so moved by their work and dedication to helping the youth in Nepal.
I've had the privilege and honor of seeing the fruit of NYF's love and labor first hand in Kathmandu and rural Nepal with Olga, Som, and the NYF staff. I've met the children who are vibrant with intellectual curiosity and glowing from their secure, stable home full of love. NYF's work is effective, sustainable, heartfelt and smart. May they continue to grow and flourish.
It’s amazing what one small organization has accomplished in such a short period of time. This organization is inspiring!
Olga and the NYF have such an amazing story and their accomplishments are truly moving. My daughter and I were telling everyone we came in contact with after we attended a speaking engagement learning about the organization. Will be sure to learn more of what we can do since it is so fulfilling and meaningful work.
The Nepal Youth Foundation is an incredible non-profit organization that continually reaches out to thousands of Nepali children while finding ways to aggressively address their ongoing needs such as education, nutrition, shelter, clean water, vocational schooling, healthcare and private business funding. Their work is remarkable and a testament to the fact that just one ripple of kindness can lead to a tidal wave of positive change. Founder, Olga Murray, had a vision and from that an entire segment of our world has changed for the better.
As a regular volunteer at NYF I get to see how much they are able to get done and how efficiently they do it. Olga Murray's story of founding this non-profit should be an inspiration for all of us to really pay attention and to set bold goals that can make a difference in this needy world.
My wife and I are very proud to be donors of NYF.
We are both from Nepal and understand the depth of the need, particularly for children in remote villages.
NYF is not just saving and changing lives every day, the organization is helping entire communities become stronger, healthier, and educated.
Thank you for doing great work in one of the poorest countries in the world, NYF!
-Badri Poudel
Nepal Youth Foundation is doing incredible work to change the lives of vulnerable children and families in Nepal. As a Nepali-American, their mission is especially close to my heart! Thank you for doing what you do and giving children a better chance at living up to their full potential.
Wonderful non profit doing much needed work in Nepal - supporting children and communities. The organization is incredible and Olga Murray is one of the most kind, caring, hardworking and inspiring people I have ever met.
Excellent organization with a very dedicated staff. Their impactful programs are making a real difference in the Nepali community. Great work!
My wife and I lived and worked in Nepal from 1992 to 2005 and have been closely involved with Nepal since our return to California. During all this time we watched and helped the NYF program where we could, as it evolved from a small, safe home for disabled children to today's robust team. NYF has been exceptionally adept, forthright and successful in tackling core issues.
Wonderful non-profit transforming not only the lives of children and families but reshaping Nepali society for the better. Keep up the great work, NYF!
I watched NYF begin with vision of Olga Murray and have seen how it has expanded over more than 25 years to help more than 10,000 Nepalese children. The professionalism, integrity, and compassion of the Nepali team have made projects come to fruition where no one else could have helped. While not its core mission, NYF jumped in to help after the catastrophic earthquake and has moved back to more programmatic offerings in the realm of child health, education and nutrition.
Nepal Youth Foundation is an excellent, multifaceted nonprofit that tends to the needs of children in Nepal in a variety of ways. They are incredibly transparent in their work - donors always know exactly how their dollars are being spent and are encouraged to contact staff with any questions. NYF's services range from healthcare to disaster relief, so donors have a variety of programs to choose from. Keep up the great work!
"The Nepal Youth Foundation is a wonderful organization. While volunteering for a fundraiser, I was able to meet many of the kind, remarkable staff of NYF. I could easily see the passion that these inspiring people have for my country. I am extremely proud of what this organization does for Nepal. I can't wait to see the work firsthand when I return home. Olga, the NYF founder, even invited me to her home the next time I'm in Nepal!"
As the wife of a man from Nepal and an avid supporter of human rights, I am blown away by the work done through the Nepal Youth Foundation. The strong connection between NYF staff in America and staff in Nepal is something that can be hard to come by with international humanitarian organizations. Additionally, the fact that Olga, the founder of NYF (who recently celebrated her 92nd birthday!) lives in Nepal for over half of the year to oversee operations tells you a great deal about the organization's passion for the well-being of the men, women, and children of Nepal. I have had the fortune to meet the NYF team, including Olga, and can certainly say that they are a true source of inspiration for many, including myself.
The Nepal Youth Foundation is an incredible organization that gives invaluable aid to communities in Nepal. NYF has consistently sought to provide the best, most immediate support to those in need by making the most of every donation they receive. The amount that this organization has been able to accomplish since their founding is absolutely remarkable. Over the past few months, I have been volunteering at NYF and I am constantly amazed by the dedication, commitment, and hard work of all of the people involved. NYF is not only incredible because of its brilliant leadership, but also because of the efficiency and expertise within every office. The reliability and effectiveness of NYF makes it one of the very best nonprofits to support.
I have been involved with NYF for over 7 years. The integrity and commitment of the leadership and staff is without comparison. With a program driven by its Nepal-based President, NYF has been able to build a range of services for children and youth that Nepalese families can rely upon both for acute relief from hunger and poverty and for longer term assistance in education, health and nutrition. And thanks to the deep knowledge of Nepal, NYF has also been able to respond nimbly and effectively to crises such as the devastating earthquake in 2015. While there are many worthwhile international NGOs, I cannot think of another where contributions have more significant impact on those in need.
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For anyone who is aware of the many different needs in Nepal, and the deserving nature of its people, it is tempting to conclude that anything short of grand scale international government aid and drastic political reform is futile. Nepal Youth Foundation takes another view. In a country where needs are so great, the one sure way of making a difference is to focus on improving the lives of individual girls and boys, one child at a time. Through the leadership of its founder, Olga Murray, and now its President and Nepal native, Som Paneru, it has achieved remarkable and heart warming successes, even on a modest budget. This is what an international aid organization should be: driven by and responsive to local needs, committed to cost-effective programs, and guided by international expertise to help thousands of boys and girls who otherwise may have little in the way of hope. I would not have joined this Board and committed my time to it if I did not believe that Nepal Youth Foundation is making more of a difference in this world than any other charity of its size.
Nepal is one of the world's poorest countries and it's youngest and most vulnerable suffer the effects of poverty disproportionately. It is daunting to contemplate the tremendous adversity facing impoverished Nepalese children including: forced servitude, child abandonment, malnutrition, unsafe water and waterborne diseases, HIV and AIDS, lack of access to education, particularly for girls.
I almost never write online reviews and have never been inspired to do so for a nonprofit until now. My own experience working at non-profits taught me to be cautious and deliberate with my donated dollars and time. NYF demonstrates the highest standard of effective, ethical, efficient use of all donations.
My confidence in NYF has only grown over time as I learn more about the programs and the highly ethical and transparent policies of the US and Nepal offices.
Poverty programs are hard to implement, tricky to evaluate, challenging to fund -- and success is rare. When interventions are based on the needs and values of the participants, they are more likely to work consistently, as NYF demonstrates the most important, tangible bottom line --saved lives, improved quality of life and health, increased access to education and job opportunities. The graduates of the programs become de facto advocates and models for the next generation of children in need.
NYF has been doing great work in Nepal for over 25 years. It was because of their excellent track record that I became involved with the organization two years ago, soon after learning of them after a move to the Bay area. I was particularly impressed with their emphasis on local Nepali involvement in managing and implementing the Foundation's programs; the U.S. office is lean and efficiently run, allowing more resources to directly impact those living in Nepal.
Among NYF's many life-changing programs, the Indentured Daughter Program - which saved over 10,000 Nepali girls from being sold into enforced servitude - stands out. The Foundation is deeply committed to improving the lives of Nepali children and families, and I hope to be able to support their work for years to come.
I have fifteen years of experience working with nonprofits. Nepal Youth Foundation is one of the best, most reliable nonprofits when it comes to donor stewardship and supporting its programs on the ground in Nepal. NYF values every donation they receive, and strives to implement funds as effectively as possible to help impoverished children in need. This effective and efficient implementation of funds has earned NYF its tenth consecutive 4-star rating, the highest possible from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities. Only 1% of all charities evaluated have received at least 10 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Nepal Youth Foundation is worthy of supporter trust and commitment.
Nepal Youth Foundation has been saving children’s lives in Nepal for more than a quarter of a century. I visited their programs a few years ago and saw firsthand the remarkable accomplishments of this organization – from rescuing girls from childhood slavery to saving lives of severely malnourished children, NYF is a beacon of light in this deeply impoverished and beautiful country. I highly recommend this organization.
My donation to NYF last year helped to save the life of a malnourished child.... when I visited Nepal this past spring and saw the actual work being done, it was incredibly moving.
The Nutrition Homes are not just my favorite NYF project - they may be the most amazing investment of $350 in any nonprofit I know! It only costs $1 - ONE DOLLAR per day - to literally save a life.
I live in Patan, Lalitpur, Nepal. I have seen many people (volunteers) keeping the donated goods to themselves instead of giving it to earthquake victims.
Many International agencys donated so many things but people who were wearing NYF tshort gave only few to victims and kept many releef goods like food, blanckets to themself.
Some people working there said volunteers are NYF manager's relatives.
We were disappointed to hear the local Earthquake victims complain about NYF staffs selling the donated items like tents and blankets to wholesalers in Lalitpur district in Kathmandu valley.
Most of the donors don't go to see the actual victims so they don't know what's happening there. Our organisation donated a lot to NYF, particularly in Lalitpur area because we have a few clients who work there and they asked us to help the victims. The Earthquake victims never received the amount of tents and blankets that were supplied to the area. We think that the person who manages the distribution was involved in the corruption.
I love Nepal Youth Foundation because of its Nepal-centered approach! This is not your SUV driving, fly-in and fly-out charity. They have a US staff of 3 or 4 people, and a staff in Nepal of over 100. Your money goes far because donations are used for services delivered in Nepal, not for fancy offices in the US. Symbolizing this approach, Olga Murray, the extraordinary woman who founded NYF, has handed the reins to Som Paneru, a Nepalese man and a beneficiary of NYF who explains NYF's programs brilliantly in the US and runs them skillfully in Nepal.
I learned about NYF as President of Global Grandmothers when we were researching child-centered charities that we could recommend to our membership. NYF stood out by its high ratings in Charity Navigator and Great Non-Profits, an impression that was only amplified when we reviewed its programs, like the J and K houses and the Nutritional Rehabilitation Homes, and met the leadership. This is an organization with integrity whom you can be proud to support.
