 Taniya Shrestha and Surasma Lamichhane serve as Youth Ambassadors for the Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking (NESST), housed at the Smithsonian Science Education Center and focused on encouraging sustainable development. After meeting virtually from their homes in Kathmandu for a year with students and teachers from around the world, they’ve been invited to join an in-person conference in Washington D.C. this fall. Many thanks to long-time HIO sponsor, Anne Keiser, for initiating this exciting global connection. Dear Friends, Since the moment Taniya Shrestha joined our sponsorship program as a bright-eyed fifth grader in 2015, her inner spark was unmistakable. She’d just earned top marks on Nepal’s national exam, an achievement that opened the door to academic opportunities at Budhanilkantha, the country’s most prestigious boarding school. That same year, her family's home in the eastern hills of Nepal was nearly destroyed by the country’s most devastating earthquakes. This experience planted the seeds of Taniya’s deep curiosity for science and her interest in preserving Nepali culture. Over the years, our social work team has fondly described Taniya as a “chatterbox.” She bubbles over during counseling sessions, sharing everything she’s learning. Behind her enthusiasm is a fierce love for her mother, who battles chronic kidney disease. Her stoic resilience is shaped by hardship. Sadly, her father abandoned the family at the height of the pandemic. Taniya, in her early teens, carried the weight of responsibility and uncertainty. Yet Taniya never lets adversity dim her spark. Although high school was challenging, she persevered with determination, earning respectable marks and stretching beyond her comfort zone to learn about her country’s most pressing humanitarian issues. She even began teaching herself the art of taxidermy, using hens and pigeons as her subjects. In a recent Zoom call with our team, she appeared on screen proudly cradling a hen she’d preserved — equal parts scientist, artist, and gifted storyteller. Now, Taniya is preparing for entrance exams for a Bachelor’s program in public health or physical therapy. She’s channeling her boundless energy into a passion for mountain biking. Taniya recently earned her license to lead mountain bike tours and is a regular volunteer for biking clubs in Kathmandu. The other day we received her heartfelt note below. HIO’s strength lies in nurturing the inner spark in each of our girls so they may flourish as their unique selves. We‘re so proud of all the ways that young women like Taniya are using their gifts of education to transcend gender, economic and social barriers in Nepal. Who wouldn’t want to join Taniya for a bike ride? Lovingly - Laura and Ricky  Taniya is developing valuable leadership and mentoring skills as a volunteer for Cycle Connect Bhaktapur. From Fields to Freedom: My Journey on Two Wheels It’s clear to me how privileged I am. I carry that awareness with me every day. Back in my village, kids walk barefoot across muddy fields during rice planting season. For girls, getting an education isn’t just a goal, it’s a battle. Meanwhile, I get to sit in a classroom, pen in hand, listening to wise teachers and expanding my mind. While many of my childhood friends worry about school fees and wear the same old clothes, I have a clean, structured learning environment where my biggest worry is which subject to study first. It feels unfair sometimes, how chance, support and circumstances can dramatically change the path of a person’s life. I feel incredibly lucky that Hands in Outreach has given me the chance to become the person I am today. Through the support of my sponsor, Susan Seestrom, I made it to Budhanilkantha School — and that changed everything. My school experiences have taught me so much and have led me to discover a deep connection with freedom through cycling. This passion began out of necessity while studying in high school in Bhaktapur. Cycling was my transportation to school. The more I rode, the more I realized that cycling was more than physical movement. It was an escape. It was power. I was excited to find a group of people who love biking as much as I do at Cycle Connect Bhaktapur (CCB). The group focuses on community, change, and belonging. Gradually, I found myself not just participating, but leading. I am the founding coordinator of CCB GenZ, an extension of CCB focused solely on the younger generation. My team of young bikers organizes weekly rides, leads community events, and is discovering our voice. Sometimes it feels scary and overwhelming to hold this much responsibility, but I know I will be okay. I am learning to turn my ideas into action, making small dreams become realities through dedication and teamwork. Seeing events like Kids Kora and Kites on Wheels come to life has been so inspiring. We’re now planning Cycling Maicha - an initiative to empower girls that I presented to the NESST Youth Ambassador group. Recently, I completed the Mountain Bike Guide Training as one of the youngest participants. It was incredible to learn alongside national champions and some of Nepal’s finest MTB guides. The training taught me not only how to lead. It gave me lasting friendships, connections, unforgettable memories and important lessons I’ll carry with me always. In May, I joined the organizing team for Yak Attack 2025, the world’s highest altitude mountain bike race. Being a volunteer behind the scenes of such a massive event taught me so much about logistics and teamwork. I loved watching riders push their limits. I was constantly learning. Being surrounded by the positive energy at Yak Attack has inspired me to work toward bigger roles in the cycling community in the future. With every ride, I am building confidence. Every cycling event gives me purpose. I’m trying hard to balance my passion for cycling with my educational dreams. Sometimes, I’m tempted to leave school and just start working to earn money fast. But I know education is key to my long-term stability and freedom. My mother often talks about her regret in not earning a Bachelor’s degree. She believes our lives would be more stable and secure if she had. I’ve seen how hard her life of uncertainty and dependence is and I don’t want to repeat this cycle. In those moments of doubt, I turn to HIO for support to help me stay on track. I’m still a teenager finding my way. Through it all, I haven’t forgotten my roots. I ride for the friends I left behind in my village. I speak for the girls who have never dared to dream. I study for a better future where my mother will be so proud. Taniya joined HIO’s sponsorship program in 2015 with her signature smile and a thirst for knowledge and adventure. 
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 Rejina Moote is studying social work while working at Om Home, serving children with disabilities. She’s truly an inspiration for us all. Dear Friends, I’m recently back from a busy trip to Kathmandu. It’s the beginning of the Nepali school year, a wonderful time to visit with our HIO girls and their mothers. One drizzly morning in the dusty city I was delighted to visit with Rejina Moote, an inspiring young woman currently studying in her third year of a Bachelor’s in Social Work program. Rejina attends classes from 6:30-10:30 am. She goes to work after school, as many of our older girls do. Rejina feels fortunate to have found a job in her field three years ago. She teaches at Om Home, an NGO that serves children with disabilities. I met with Rejina during a big gathering of HIO mentors and mentees to share a letter from her loving sponsors, Roberley Bell and Jim Morris. With a twinkle in her eye, she invited me to visit her at work, and we arranged to meet the next day.  Rejina is dedicated to her mother, Renuka, a recent graduate of HIO’s Be Part of Her Dream women’s empowerment program who serves as a role model for new BPOHD students. It rained overnight so Rejina texted to make sure we were still on. I grabbed an umbrella and said sure, why not? The taxi ride was longer and steeper than I anticipated so we had plenty of time to chat. Rejina told me that she and her mother worry about her brother, who's quit school and is causing some trouble. Though her father abandoned the family and now lives in his faraway village, he’s still her father, so she sometimes keeps in touch. She's proud of what she’s accomplishing, and frustrated by her poor living conditions. She, her mother and brother have gotten by in a tiny rented room with little light and few furnishings for years. She’s determined to make a better life and dreams of buying a house for her mother someday. She’s saving money from her salary to make her dreams a reality. After rounding a few tight curves and passing some wheat fields, Rejina asked the driver to stop near a small snack stand. We tightened our hoods, and she pointed to a blue, three-story building at the top of a hill. Let's go! I was grateful for Rejina's calm demeanor and outstretched hand as we slid our way up the mud-covered road and scrambled over a few grassy rocks toward the entrance.  The 25 children Rejina works with at Om Home are orphaned. Many have physical disabilities. Some are autistic. All are loved. There was no mistaking how much Rejina is loved at the children’s home from the moment we walked in the door. She first introduced me to Aaravi, a caretaker preparing lunch. Rejina had encouraged Aaravi to enroll her daughter in HIO’s early learning center near her home. Networking such as this, initiated by HIO girls like Rejina, is key to strengthening our community in Kathmandu. We climbed the stairs to the main hall, where several residents gathered with a teacher for singing. A physical therapist worked with a boy with cerebral palsy on a mat in the far corner. Someone turned up the radio and we all began dancing. Oh, how Nepalis love to dance! Rejina brought me to the top floor, where we caught a misty view of the city. She reflected on her days as an HIO girl - the strong friendships she’s made and the hard work she has done. How grateful she is for Roberley and Jim’s support over more than a decade. After waving goodbye to Rejina and the children, I met our taxi driver and descended back to the city along rutted roads and busy streets to our learning center. It was was hard to imagine Rejina navigating this 40-minute journey alone on her scooter twice each day. Her commitment to the well-being of the children she cares for is so deep. My morning with Rejina was a beautiful reminder of the goodness that's left in the world. It’s an immense privilege to serve such a kind, dedicated community that's focused on lifting people up. So many thanks to YOU, our dear HIO sponsors and donors, for your belief in the power of education. Each hardworking girl like Rejina is building HIO’s capacity to impact thousands of lives in Nepal. What a gift! With deep gratitude - Laura |
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