The Hands in Outreach team is collaborative, hard-working, dedicated and diverse. Our mission is carried out in Nepal by our sister organization, Sano Sansar.

Nepal Team

MAMATA RAI
Executive Director

SUSHILA CHAUREL
Social Services Manager

CHANDA SHRESTHA
Education Manager

BINITA MANANDHAR
Finance & Administrative Manager

RUPESH SHRESTHA
IT Operations & STEM Manager

SHREEJANA BASNET
Project Officer

APSARA THAPA 
Office Assistant

LATA RAI
​Lead Teacher

SAMJHANA SUBBA
Project Officer

BILLMAN SHAKYA
Building Supervisor & Teacher

POONAM MAHARJAN
Lead Teacher
Chandra Kala Bal Kendra Learning Center
Ranjana Shrestha, Teacher
Yasoda Adhikari, Teacher
Sital Lama (Tamang), Caretaker
Rinzin Chomphel, Artist/Helper
Sano Sansar Learning Center
Sunita Rana, Teacher
Lhashang Lama, Teacher
Sabita Lama, Teacher
Sarita BK, Caretaker
Sano Sansar Board of Directors
Dr. Archana Thapa, Chairperson
Dr. Nyima Phuti Sherpa, Vice Chairperson
Sashmita Raut, Secretary
Sanju Budhathoki, Treasurer
Dr. Mahesh Maharjan, Member
Sukrima Gurung, Member
Hemujmi Sunuwar, Member

U.S. Team

 RICKY BERNSTEIN
Co-Executive Director

LAURA HUNT
Co-Executive Director

SOFIA RIVA
Program Manager
HIO-U.S. Board of Directors
Simmie Kerman, Chair
Val Stori, Vice Chair
Lani Peterson, Secretary
Sarah Kooshian, Treasurer
Bob Bernert
​Will Dixon
Laura Gladding
Michelle Hoffmeister
Joan Holcombe
Jessica Latour
Mary Mullaney

Advisory Board
​Catherine Miller, ​Board Governance

Medical Consultants:
Elizabeth Bengston, MD
Mike Callaham, MD
Josh Jaffe, MD
Will Dixon, MD

Education Consultants:
Joyce Catsimpiris
Tracy Tyson
Sofia Riva
Jan MacLeod

PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR PROGRAMS