Jimmy Lama, co-founder of HELP, was born and raised in a remote village in Helambu, Sindhupalchowk, where he completed his early schooling. Growing up, he witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by schools and communities in the region. Inspired by his own experiences, and deeply influenced by the contributions of local teachers, community members, and international volunteer educators, Jimmy developed a strong sense of purpose: to expand educational opportunities and improve lives in rural Nepal.

His journey has been guided by a belief that real change begins with listening to people’s lived experiences. Even coming from a rural background himself, Jimmy emphasizes that no one can make assumptions or claim expertise above the voices of local communities. This philosophy has shaped HELP’s approach, as he works closely with schools and villages to co-design initiatives that address genuine needs. He is passionate about traveling from village to village, learning people’s stories, and translating their visions into impactful projects.

After earning his MA in International Development from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, UK, Jimmy led a major school reconstruction project following the 2015 earthquake in Sindhupalchowk. Working in partnership with MondoFoundation, the initiative successfully rebuilt over 100 classrooms across 14 schools, raising more than Nrs 200 million. In 2019, Jimmy co-founded an initiative called "Saathi Teachers Programme'- a programme that has now emerged as the major undertaking under HELP to transform the way children in rural Nepal experience and receive education at the primary level.

Jimmy has also gained international experience, having worked in the UK with the MondoChallenge Foundation under the mentorship of Anthony Lunch, a formative period that helped him build strong organizational and fundraising skills. Over the years, he has travelled widely across North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia, building networks and partnerships to support education and community development.

At the heart of Jimmy’s work is a commitment to valuing people’s stories, visions, and resilience, and ensuring they are central to shaping a better, more inclusive future for all. 

Aashish Shrestha has been serving at HELP on the Executive Committee since 2018. Previously, he worked at HELP as its Finance and Procurement Officer and played a key role in executing the School Reconstruction phase. Soon after leaving HELP, he joined the Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal in its Procurement Department, and now moved to work in the World Bank. An MBA graduate, Ashish’s knowledge and experience are hugely valuable for the Finance and Governance Sub-Committee at HELP to ensure that we meet all the basic and necessary compliances.  

Chiring, a vital member of the Executive Committee of HELP, is a founding member and has been actively involved since its inception. Chiring served as an Operations Manager at HELP 2017 mainly overseeing the school reconstruction phase. He has a long experience of working as the school management committee of a government school and led the development of Shree Nurbuling Secondary School in Helambu in entirety. Chiring studied Business Management and now is the Managing Director of a construction company. He is also the Country Representative of a US based NGO called Nepal Education and Initiative Organisation (NEIO).  Chiring serves on the board sub-committee of Financial affairs and Staff relations. 

Prakash Shrestha: Prakash worked at HELP as in charge of our Education Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP). He has earned both a BA and an MA in Education from Tribhuvan University, and played a role at HELP in training and supplying grants for teachers, as well as organizing the scholarship programme.  Prakash worked as a Teach for Nepal fellow for 2 years before joining HELP; this involved 2 years teaching in Sindhupalchowk, in the Helambu Valley. His experience and expertise are crucial to the development of HELP’s Saathi programme. He recently worked for Prime Minister Employment Coordinator at Gandaki Rural Municipality, Gorkha. He now serves on the board of HELP. Prakash serves on the board's sub-committee to oversee and support Saathi Teachers Programme.

He writes "I am deeply passionate about transforming education, especially at the primary level, where I believe foundational learning is key to a child's future success. I joined the Helambu Education and Livelihood Partnership (HELP) as a Programme Coordinator. Initially, HELP was running the Teacher Grant Programme, which provided financial support to local teachers. However, I noticed the program's limited impact on educational outcomes. Through my involvement with HELP and the Saathi Teachers Programme, I am committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to quality education. I firmly believe in the power of education to empower communities and change lives for the better."

Saru Giri was a student at Shree Bhotenamlang Secondary School when HELP was approached to rebuild the school in the village. Immediately after completing her SEE, she applied for Scholarship to pursue her higher education in the year 2014. Completing her 10+2 education, she joined as an intern and a staff member. Soon after completing her Bachelors degree in Social Work with a major in Psychology, her role at HELP evolved to coordinate the Scholarship Programme. She recently graduated with Master's degree in Psychology in the UK and working with people with dementia. Given her background, experience and long term interest in the work HELP does, she was invited to join as a board member of HELP in 2022. She serves on the Sub-Committee to oversee and support the Scholarship Programme at HELP. 

Ranjana who worked as the Programme Coordinator at the Saathi Teachers Programme now serves on the board of HELP. Ranjana, an IT graduate, has formerly taught in Lele, Lalitpur a Teach for Nepal fellow. Ranjana has made a significant contribution to the development of the Saathi Teachers Programme and was instrumental in developing partnership at Shree Tripurasundari Rural Municipality and Abukhairni Rural Municipality. Ranjana serves on the board's sub-committee to oversee and support Saathi Teachers Programme. She now lives in Finland with her husband and baby girl. Joining the board of HELP, she is keen to support initiatives that fill educational gaps, foster community collaboration, and strive for a future where every child — no matter their physical address — has access to quality learning experiences. Ranjana serves on the board's sub-committee to oversee and support Saathi Teachers Programme. 

She writes "It has been a fruitful learning journey in the Saathi Teachers Programme, having directly worked with dedicated Saathi Teachers and students in rural communities, I have witnessed firsthand how access to quality primary education can enhance the next generation of a community. As Programme Coordinator, I had the opportunity to engage closely with schools in three different local governments Panchpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality, Shree Tripurasundari and Abukhairni Rural Municipalities which have fortified much of the educational ground upon which children will build their future. The growth of teachers in their practice and the students' newfound confidence in their learning are unforgettable reasons why I remain dedicated to taking steps forward in primary education. As a board member at HELP, I am proud to continue supporting initiatives that fill educational gaps, foster community collaboration, and strive for a future where every child — no matter their physical address — has access to quality learning experiences. "

Sushmita Tamang was one of the students selected for the HELP Scholarship Programme in the year 2015. Her clear goal to become a nurse and go back to serve communities in Sindhupalchowk was what attracted HELP, as one of the few organizations, who offered her the modest scholarship to continue her studies. She remained actively involved at HELP, constantly attending our events and speaking about her experience and dreams. She was one of the two winners for HELP Scholarship Alumni Awards in 2022. After completing her training to become a health assistant, she was posted in Hagam of Jugal Rural Municipality. She now serves on the board of HELP with her keen interest in offering any support she can to future scholarship recipients and her grounded knowledge that she deals with people on day to day basis are hugely informative for us at HELP as we sit in our strategic meetings in formulating our goals and designing our programmes. She serves on the sub-committee of the board to oversee and support the Scholarship Programme. 

Kuber Bomjan Tamang was one of the 10 Saathi teachers who joined the Saathi Teachers Programme in 2019 as it was launched. He was placed in Shree Satkanya Basic School in Bhotang to teach Maths whose work paved a high benchmark for our future cohorts to follow. Prior to joining the Saathi Teachers Programme, Kuber was introduced to HELP through our Scholarship Programme where he was one of the recipients in 2013. He is currently working as a government teacher at Shree Ganesh Secondary School in Gorkha district under the Gandaki Province. Kuber joined HELP as a board member in 2024 representing the Saathi Alumni.

Goma Adhikari is from Barhabise Municipality-08, Kharibote, Sindhupalchowk. She began her teaching journey in 2021 through the Saathi Teachers Programme, where she taught Mathematics at Shree Saraswati Basic School in Panchpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchowk.

After completing her two-year Saathi journey, Goma continued her involvement as a Saathi Facilitator, supporting the Saathi Teachers Management Team.

Inspired by her experience in the classroom and community, she pursued a Master’s in Educational Planning and Management (E.P.M.) to deepen her understanding and further her career in education sector. At present, she teaches Mathematics at the lower secondary level at Shree Bhadrakali Secondary School, Barhabise, where she serves as a government-appointed teacher.

Motivated by her enduring passion for education and the Saathi Teachers Programme, Goma now contributes as a member of the Board of HELP. She brings on-the-ground insights to strengthen the Saathi Teachers Programme and to help advance HELP’s broader mission of improving education in Nepal’s rural communities.