Rs 5 million from 15 Nepalis for HELP NEPAL Trust Fund Over a dozen prominent Nepali entrepreneurs, social workers and a British philanthropist have contributed USD 73,000 (around NRs 47.5 million) to set up Help Nepal Network (HeNN)’s Administrative Trust Fund. The largest charitable network of the Nepali Diaspora, HeNN (www.helpnepal.net ) encourages Nepalis around the world to contribute to philanthropic causes in Nepal. According to HeNN, Dr. Sundar Mani Dixit—a prominent medical doctor and civil society leader based in Kathmandu—has contributed US$ 8,000 while Alison McGrath—a London-based philanthropist and a friend of Nepal—has contributed US$ 9,000 to the Trust Fund. Helping Hands: A Health Post constructed in Mugu district with the support of Help Nepal Network (Photo courtesy: www.helpnepal.net) Similarly, fourteen other Nepalis have contributed US$ 4,000 each to set up the Fund, the charity said. Those contributing generously include Dr. Rudra Pandey, Chief Technology Officer at D2Hawkeye company based in the US; Mahanta Shrestha, a social worker and restaurateur based in the UK; Siddhartha Rana, chairman of Tara Management Company and Bhotekoshi Power Company based in Kathmandu; Bhandari brothers (Kamal, Shanker, Pashupati and Yadav Bhandari)—well known businessmen and social workers based in the UK; and Mrs Sarika Mishra, who is doing her Masters at the City University, London. Similarly, those contributing US$ 4,000 each to the Trust Fund also include Dr. Upendra Mahato, chairman of the Non-Resident Nepalese Association (NRN) International Coordination Council; Jibanath Lamichhane, a leading Nepali entrepreneur based in Russia; Chiranjibi Dhakal, a member of NRN International Coordination Council based in UK; Manoj Basnyat, UNDP country director in Bangladesh; Birendra Bahadur Basnet, Managing Director of Buddha Airways in Kathmandu; Chandra Yonjon, a Nepali businessman based in Australia, Anil Thapa, executive member of HeNN UK now based in Iceland and Swarnim Wagle, a former UNDP employee who is currently pursuing his PH. D. in Australia. “We are really encouraged by the generous support extended by Nepalis around the world and a friend of Nepal based in the UK,” said Rabindra Mishra, founder of HeNN. “We aim to raise US$ 100,000 and are now optimistic that we will be able to raise the additional amount in the near future.” he added. According to HeNN, a separate Help Nepal Administrative Trust Fund was established as per the policy of the charity not to use its charitable donations for administrative purposes. The proceeds from the Trust Fund will be used exclusively to sustain itself and to run the Network’s two-member Kathmandu office, the organisation said. 3 D image of the proposed shelter for children at Dhulikhel. (Photo courtesy: www.helpnepal.net) Set up in 1999, the global charity run on fully voluntary basis now has its chapters in one dozen countries around the world. It has been contributing towards improvement of health and education facilities in remote parts of Nepal. Major projects with HeNN assistance include construction of a health post at Murmu VDC in remote Mugu district and the on-going construction of a shelter for conflict-impacted children in Dhulikhel at the cost of over US$100,000. To construct the Dhulikhel shelter, HeNN is collaborating with a London-based charity, The Nepal Balbalika Trust, which has already provided over US$40,000 towards the project. HeNN has already completed over 30 projects related to health and education in different parts of Nepal. The details of the HeNN projects can be viewed at www.helpnepal.net. Based on the philosophy of Nepalis for Nepal, the charity administers “One Pound/One Dollar a month Fund for Nepal,” and has been in the forefront of mobilizing the goodwill and support of Nepalis around the world for charitable causes in Nepal. nepalnews.com Jul 10 07