Let's help Puja make her dream of becoming an engineer in Nepal come true...

After experiencing the 2015 earthquakes firsthand (I was in Kathmandu at the time), I found it very difficult seeing how very little of the help from overseas actually reached my friend Kedar's family and community - for the only reason that they belong to the Gandharba, the bottom rung of an outdated caste system. Fast forward to this month, I have been informed by Kedar that his 19 year old daughter Puja, having achieved excellent grades in school, stands a good chance of being accepted into KEC, the Kantipur Engineering College. Her dream is to be the first woman in her community to become an engineer so she can help rebuild key infrastructure and restore precious monuments in her country while helping to uplift her community's wellbeing. Puja is a special soul and very talented. I shared a room with her when I stayed with her family in Nepal and even taught her to swim! I suggested she might want to make some illustrations of her story and she did so immediately (see photos attached). As her family does not have the resources to pay for her education, Puja has been working a part-time teaching job but could use a major push financially. I hope we can collectively help raise the funds needed. Her civil engineering classes will start from the beginning of April 2023, however enrolment is taking place in a couple weeks so there is a sense of urgency to this crowdfunding effort, though they are requesting an extension of time. Cost due is $5500 USD at the time of admission.