Education Recovery Project
Update - 19th September 2026
We have been overwhelmed by your support and generosity over the last few weeks. Here are some updates on our work.
In Nepal, we have provided financial support to two key partners who are providing community leadership to children and families in affected areas. One of our partners is from Betrawati (the BBC covered this town) and has focused on supporting families from there who are now living in Kathmandu. One family we support was later featured in Nepali news. The family lost their home in the 2015 earthquake, and again in a 2017 landslide. Several family members died or were injured in the floods, and the pictures below show the impact on their home.
Although connecting with our partner schools and villages is still almost impossible, we have identified one teacher who needs support. The flood swept away her mother-in-law, husband, son and daughter. The flood almost carried her away, but she reached the riverbank and survived.
The next day, a helicopter rescued her and brought her to Kathmandu. The NEF has been providing her with basic materials and regular visits to her home to provide care and support.
Another key partner is from further up the river near Syabru Bensi and close to where our partner schools are situated. She is also in Kathmandu, securing space and supporting rescued people. We are relieved to hear that survivors are being well looked after in a local monastery, but many children have lost their parents or family members.
She is also starting to plan the longer-term education recovery project and has made connections with local delivery partners who specialise in counselling and trauma support. Although we expect this project to take time to plan and deliver, we have donated to the Dolma Foundation to support their immediate work with families in the local area. Part of their project includes developing a register of affected children across the local area and their needs; this will be crucial information for planning our longer-term project.
In the UK, Benji (11) and Nic (9) have decided to climb the equivalent of Everest in their local climbing centre in the name of Dawa Dhakpa, their trekking guide (who is also on the board of the Nepali NGO the NEF partners with). Dawa is a kind, thoughtful person and one of the many people whose absence is deeply felt in the communities we work with. You can find out more and sponsor them clicking on the button below:
Update - August 29th 2026
Following the flood in Nepal over the last week, we wanted to give a further update to all our supporters.
Sadly, the communities we work on the border between Nepal and Tibet have been severely affected by the tragedy.
Thank you to everyone who has been in touch since Wednesday – we have been overwhelmed by your response and kindness.
We have heard that some of our key partners in Nepal are safe, but sadly they believe they have lost many of their friends and family. Dawa Dhakpa, who is a dear friend of the charity and is on the board of our Nepali partner NGO is missing. Many of you may have seen the terrible video of the flood hitting the border office and we believe that he was at the border post waiting for a bus when the flash flood hit.
The immediate priority is the safety, shelter and relief for affected communities.
The Nepal Education Foundation has made a donation to the Dolma Foundation a UK registered charity that focuses on education in the local area, but who also have expertise in the relief response for children and their families. We advise supporters who wish to support the effort fund to donate to the Dolma Foundation or the British Red Cross.
We understand the schools we directly support have not been damaged as the villages are high above the river. However, the villages are not currently accessible and there is no communication. We think it could take weeks to complete an assessment of the impact on children, their families and teachers. We do know that the main town that links the villages we support, Syabru Bensi, was almost fully destroyed and this town is used regularly for transport, trade and secondary education.
Whilst schools are now closed, we know how important education is for children to return to a sense of routine, meet friends and share their experiences in a safe setting.
We are therefore fundraising for an Education Recovery Project to be ready to help children return to school once the initial relief effort has concluded. Once the assessment is completed, we expect the funds to be spent on initiatives focusing on trauma, basic facilities and family support.
Following the earthquake in 2015, we successfully delivered a similar programme of activity and have contacts with a range of local specialist partners in Nepal to support delivery.
You can donate to the Education Recovery Project here: