EduTech Nepal is supported by a registered New Zealand Charity (EduTech Nepal Foundation) and a Nepal NGO entity.
All the teams involved in EduTech Nepal are motivated by our vision and mission and have a heart for education and the hope and opportunities education can bring to the children and students of Nepal.
New Zealand Board
Mike Chisholm
Sheryl Chisholm
Jill Meikle
Jill Meikle lived in Nepal for five years with her husband Grant and was involved in non-formal education as part of an INF Community Health Project based in the Burtibang area, Baglung District. There, she learned valuable lessons in community development and team leadership. Added to those experiences, Jill feels closely linked to Nepal as her two eldest daughters were born there.
Jill works at Ko Taku Reo, New Zealand's Deaf Education service, as NZSL@School Co-Lead (New Zealand Sign Language). She has been involved in Deaf Education for the last 12 years, having previously worked in various educational settings, from a classroom teacher in NZ to adult literacy in Nepal. Her passion is to see all learners have access to equitable educational opportunities. She wants to support learners to reach their potential, whatever their age or challenges.
Jill has a BA in Education, Dip Teaching and Learning, Dip ICT in Education and a Post Grad Diploma of Specialist Teaching (Deaf endorsement). She lives in Christchurch with her husband Grant.
Nepal Board
Diana Silwal Pradhan Chairperson
Diana Silwal Pradhan Chairperson
Diana Silwal’s work experience to date has spanned a variety of challenging leadership and management roles with INGOs, NGO’s, Local Development Groups, and Private profit-making Companies.
Diana held senior management roles in United Mission to Nepal (UMN) for nine years and World Vision International Nepal (WVIN) for ten years. She worked as the People and Culture Director in the Philippines during the Typhoon Emergency Response.
Diana was the Country Office Manager for the private USA companies Steadfast Nepal Pvt. Ltd and STHIR Digital Pvt. Ltd for three and a half years. Diana also served St. Xavier College as a part-time faculty advisor for seven years. Diana has also been instrumental in establishing two women’s organisations, including Pratibaddha Milijuli Saving and Credit Cooperative Ltd and Milijuli Samaj Nepal.
Narottam Aryal
Vice Chairperson
Narottam is the president of King's College, Nepal.
He is a humble and passionate educator who has been working in the field of education in Nepal for the last two decades.
Narottam believes that community is the best curriculum, and learning happens when the learners make their hands dirty.
Ms. Laxmi Shova Shakya Treasurer
Ms. Laxmi Shova Shakya Treasurer
Laxmi has a master’s degree in Sociology and Nepal Bhasha. She has management experience from working with several national and international NGOs. Laxmi has expertise in community development with a specific focus on women, rural and marginalised populations. Laxmi’s developmental expertise in rural areas since 1990 and her integrated approach to economic, social, and infrastructure issues were vital in post-earthquake recovery and resiliency for Nepal.
Laxmi has strong research skills and works with several international universities, scholars and institutes in knowledge-building and action research. She is also a recipient of Dr. Harka Gurung research fellowship.
Laxmi is involved in many philanthropic endeavours and has been working as a volunteer for Tewa since 1997.
Laxmi has received several honours and rewards, including the Volunteer Award from Tewa and the Mahendra Bidhya Bhushan for her academic excellence in Nepal Bhasha.
Kshitij Raj Prasai
Secretary
Kshitij raj Prasai graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Alahabad University and MA , B.ed from Tribhuban University Nepal in 1992.
Kshitij worked as a private school teacher for five years in Pokhara in the early 90’s. Kshitij then commenced his career as a development worker in 1996 by joining The Asia Foundation and worked for 4 years as the Literacy Coordinator. In 2000 Kshitij joined UNDP’s Education Project and worked assisting several hundred primary schools to improve efficiency and deliver quality education outcomes. In 2008 Kshitij commenced work with United Mission to Nepal (UMN). Kshitij’s experience and passion for education were vital in his eight-year role as Team Leader of Education.
Kshitij is a member of the province-level education committee, where the chairperson is the Social Development Minister in Province No 1. He is married Muna Baral Prasai and has three daughters and one son.
Amit Agrawal
Executive Member
Mr. Amit Agrawal is the Co-founder/Director of ‘Khalti Digital Wallet’, one of the leading Digital wallets in Nepal. Also the Founder/CEO of Janaki Technology (Sparrow SMS), the leading SMS provider of Sparrow SMS in Nepal, Mr. Agrawal leads the GBG (Google Business Group) community in Nepal as a Manager, is the winner of the Entrepreneur ICT Award 2019 and also has been awarded the Outstanding Youth Professional Award by Nepal Engineers Association. He has also worked as an Executive Member of the Federation of Computer Association of Nepal and was selected for the prestigious IVLP (International Visitor Leadership Program] by US Embassy Nepal. He is also a Board member at Fintech Alliance Nepal.
Actively involved in building the IT ecosystem in Nepal as a Mentor, Facilitator, Speaker, and Organizer, he has mentored several startups and aspiring entrepreneurs and is a role model for many individuals. He firmly believes there are ample opportunities in Nepal, and we can build things here ourselves.
As for education Amit says "Our country is rich. It has ample energy (natural resources & youth). The only thing lacking is Education and it's the only way to transform this Nation"
Kalpana Basnet
Executive Member
Kalpana Basnet
Executive Member
Kalpana Basnet's work experiences include technical line management, programme management, good governance, human rights, child rights, community mobilisation and partnership management.
Kalpana served United Mission to Nepal (UMN) for 21 years, SNV/Nepal for three years and the Women Development Office, Ministry of Local Government for three years. She held senior management roles in partnership management with local NGOs and local government. Her technical expertise was in good governance, organisational development, community mobilisation, child rights and women’s rights.
She served the community and a private school as a teacher and vice principal for five years.
Operational Team
Ashok Dalli
CEO
Ashok Dalli
CEO
Ashok developed excellent communication skills with two years of experience in customer service and a further two years as the network administrator at Mercantile Communications.
Ashok also gained valuable life, business and entrepreneurial skills working overseas for six years.
Ashok has managed the procurement of all the hardware required for EduTech Nepal’s computer labs over the past seven years, initially with Microsoft Innovation Center (Unlimited Technology) and latterly with EduTech Nepal Foundation as a registered NGO in Nepal.
Ashok has sourced the best equipment, designed & installed the computer labs, created content and trained teachers for over 200 computer labs scattered all over Nepal.
Akash Das
Western Regional Director
Akash Das
Western Regional Director
Akash completed his bachelor's degree in Humanities and Social Science in 1994 from Prithiwi Narayan Campus, Pokhara.
Akash’s work experience includes time with INGO’s UMN and INF and then with the Shangrila Development bank in Pokhara from October 2009 to August 2017.
Akash worked with Mike Chisholm in INF in the 1980s. Mike introduced computers to help in administration and accounting. Akash took the opportunity to learn about computing and was promoted to the IT department as the Computer Analyst.
With his IT knowledge, Akash secured a job as the IT manager for Shangrila Development Bank's head office, supporting the core banking application (Pumori) and developing and using SQL to generate reports for multiple departments within the bank.
Mike asked Akash to join EduTech Nepal, knowing his passion for education and computing and his honesty and integrity.
Pratima Sharma, MBA
CFO
Pratima Sharma, MBA
CFO
Pratima is an MBA graduate with extensive international financial and accounting experience following nine years working with Madan and Niraula Accounting, Speed House Group of Companies, Ajman U.A.E, Kepy Cement Nepal, London Chartered Accountants, London and Marigold Construction Company, Nepal.
Pratima’s experience and skills include Nepali accounting systems and laws, NGO reporting and management, accounts payable and receivables, budgeting and forecasting and payroll management, and reporting, including variance costing reports and quarterly and annual company and NGO reports.
Pratima’s financial, administration, research and reporting skills, passion and interest in education are essential for the smooth running of EduTech Nepal.
Aman Kumar Das
Training Coordinator
Aman Kumar Das
Training Coordinator
Sujal Manandhar
Training Assistant
Sujal Manandhar
Sujal Manandhar is the Training Assistant for EduTech Nepal, where he plays a critical role in supporting our training initiatives.
Sujal is currently pursuing a Diploma in Computers and also studying BBS 2nd year.
He is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others. Sujal is always eager to teach students and other teachers something new and enjoys going beyond the curriculum to make a positive impact. He is committed to ensuring that all of our training programs are effective and engaging for participants.
Outside of work, Sujal likes to explore new places and meet new people. His main wish is to stay happy and make others happy too, and he is always looking for ways to contribute to his community.
Mira Kapali
Office Assistant
Mira Kapali
Office Assistant
Mira's four years of dedicated service with Edutech Nepal have made her an invaluable member of the team. Despite her quiet and unassuming nature, her enthusiasm, hard work, and sense of responsibility are evident in everything she does. One of Mira's most notable contributions is her commitment to keeping the office clean and tidy, which has helped create a welcoming and professional atmosphere for all.
In addition to her work duties, Mira also goes above and beyond to make others feel welcome and comfortable in the workplace. She greets everyone warmly and even takes the time to prepare delicious meals for her colleagues. It's no surprise that she has become an integral part of the organization and is highly regarded by her peers.
Outside of work, Mira enjoys watching daily soaps, listening to music, and traveling. These hobbies allow her to unwind and recharge, which is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Overall, Mira's combination of professionalism, kindness, and passion make her an asset to EduTech and a wonderful person to work with.
History
Mike and Sheryl’s journey and connection with Nepal began in 1984 when they travelled to Nepal to work for INF (International Nepal Fellowship), a Christian medical mission, serving Nepal since 1952. Amy, Mike, and Sheryl’s oldest daughter, was only 15 months old, and Jacinda was born in Pokhara in March 1987. Mike computerised INF’s accounting which enabled INF to catch up from being nearly one year behind just recording transactions to knowing its financial position each month. Mike and Sheryl planned to stay in Nepal for up to 10 years, but Sheryl became sick with heart disease towards the end of 1987, which resulted in the family returning to New Zealand. Sheryl’s health conditions meant that Mike and Sheryl could not return to Nepal to work.
Two years after returning to New Zealand, Mike co-founded CA-Systems, a business that included Doug Kemsley, a Kiwi, whom Mike became friends within Nepal. Mike became CEO and led this business to a successful sale to MYOB in 1999. After three years of work for MYOB, followed by some months ‘in the wilderness’ Mike decided to commence another business and formed Acclipse, which pioneered cloud software solutions for public accounting firms.
Mike and Sheryl’s computer lab journey began with a dinner on the 1st of October 2010 at Lakeside in Pokhara with Mike sitting next to Richard Odell, who was working with INF, who talked about his dream of creating a computer lab for the government school in Burtibang to help the children and community with educational opportunities. Richard was asking Mike if I had any ideas on how to fundraise around NZ$50,000 for the project, and Mike replied “well, Sheryl and I could pay for it”. Given Mike’s introduction of computers to INF and then founding and creating a successful computer software business, funding a computer lab many years after reluctantly leaving Nepal seemed the perfect opportunity to connect with and give back to Nepal in an appropriate way. With Richard as the detailed project manager, a ‘standard’ classroom transformed into a beautiful, high-quality computer lab in Burtibang. (See the before and after pics below)
After Burtibang, Mike and Sheryl teamed up with Grant and Jill Meikle, who had lived for five years in Burtibang, to create T.A.P. (Technology Alleviating Poverty) Trust to develop more computer labs for Nepal. Grant, Jill, Sheryl, and Mike visited Nepal in 2013, which resulted in creating three new computer labs for Prabha Secondary School, Borhoragaun, Arunodaya Higher Secondary School, Pharping and Central Secondary School for the Deaf, Naxal, Kathmandu.
Mike insisted on purchasing Microsoft Office, believing students using and learning this software would have more significant job opportunities for their futures. Mike then contracted MIC Nepal to implement and install over one hundred computer labs with Microsoft Office software. Over thirty of these computer labs were in the Baglung district, including the e-library for Nishibhuji Janta Multiple Campus. It was an easy decision to support Nishibhuji Janta Multiple Campus, especially after learning that this campus would help many female students who otherwise might not have the opportunity to get a university education.
Mike and Sheryl met Mark Galpin, CEO of UMN (United Mission to Nepal), in New Zealand in late 2014. Learning UMN was committed to serving ten of the poorest areas of Nepal, with education being one of the pillars to solve poverty it was an easy decision to sign an MOU to fund a minimum of fifty schools with UMN through to 2020.
In March 2017, we celebrated the opening of the 100th computer lab at Janajagrity Secondary School in Salleri, Solukhumbu. We partnered with Himalayan Trust Nepal for this school. Himalayan Trust New Zealand records: “it all began in the early 1960s when Sir Ed asked a Sherpa: “If there was anything I could do for the Sherpa people, what do you think that would be?” The Sherpa replied: “Our children have eyes, but they are blind and cannot see. We would like you to open their eyes by building a school in our village.”
This touched Sir Ed’s heart and he immediately set about building the first school in Khumjung.” We are very proud to continue the legacy of Sir Ed, who recognized the importance of education in empowering individuals and communities. We hope to honor his memory by making a real difference in the lives of Nepalese children, providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed and thrive.
With over one hundred computer labs in schools in Nepal, we were confronted with needing to make changes in structure to properly support each school with visits, improved training, reporting, and ongoing updates of educational content and new software. In 2018 we made a fresh start to create our own NGO in Nepal (EduTech Nepal) and to hire a dedicated team to not only look after our current schools but to help us 'live our dream' to build many more high-quality computer labs across Nepal.