Helping Friends Nepal (HFN) is a non-political, non-profit, and non-religious Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), registered with the Government of Nepal and affiliated with the Social Welfare Council. HFN was founded in 2011 by a group of young, motivated Nepali social workers with a shared vision: to improve the education, health, and living conditions of disadvantaged, poor, and orphaned children from Nepal’s mountainous and hilly regions.
Our work focuses particularly on remote districts such as Khotang, Solukhumbu, Rasuwa, and Sankhuwasabha, where access to basic education remains extremely limited due to geography, poverty, and underdeveloped infrastructure. HFN identifies children who are unable to continue their education because of their families’ economic situation and provides long-term support.
Our History
Helping Friends Nepal began as a very small but sincere initiative. Initially, the founding team personally collected funds to support three children from mountain porter families, providing 10,000 Nepalese rupees per child per year for their education. Although this amount was not enough to cover a full year of schooling, it reflected our spirit and commitment to helping children of mountain porters, one step at a time.
A major turning point came in 2013, when Bernard Davy, President of Emmaüs 53 (France), visited Nepal. He showed great interest in our project and deeply believed in our mission. Thanks to his encouragement and ongoing positive efforts, Helping Friends Nepal has grown significantly.
Today, 53 children of mountain porters are sponsored and supported in their education. Beyond scholarships, HFN has expanded its social impact through meaningful initiatives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented relief programs for mountain porter families, providing essential financial support with the help of Emmaüs 35. Additionally, we support several public schools by providing sports and play materials, stationery, and books for school libraries, helping create a better learning environment for children.
Our Mission
The main goal of Helping Friends Nepal is to provide children with a safe, caring, and family-like environment, give them access to quality education, and, in the long term, enable them to become independent and self-reliant adults.
HFN believes that education is one of the most powerful tools for sustainable development. Many individuals and groups who know and love Nepal want to contribute to the country’s future, and investing in children’s education is one of the most effective ways to do so.
Our Commitment
Nepal is a country where a large portion of the population still faces serious socio-economic challenges. According to international data, poverty, undernourishment, and low literacy rates deprive many children of their basic right to education. As a result, issues such as child labor, bonded labor, gender discrimination, and human trafficking persist in vulnerable communities.
Despite these hardships, the people of Nepal are known for their warm hospitality, resilience, and genuine smiles. Helping Friends Nepal is committed to supporting these communities by providing education, food, healthcare, and social development assistance.
Any form of support is welcome and deeply appreciated: school supplies, clothes, food, financial contributions, time, or kind words. Together, we can help children build a brighter future.