Helambu Education Livelihood Partnership

HELP (Helambu Education and Livelihood Partnership) was founded in 2009 by young people from the Helambu region of Nepal who were shaped by the very rural schools they later set out to support. Emerging in the aftermath of Nepal’s political conflict, the organization was rooted in a strong sense of responsibility to give back to communities where educational opportunity was rapidly declining. Through a grassroots, village-to-village needs assessment, HELP identified severe challenges facing local schools, including crumbling infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, limited learning materials, low attendance among girls, and inadequate teacher support. These findings shaped HELP’s purpose: to restore dignity and opportunity in rural education through community-led solutions. In its early years, HELP focused on improving basic school infrastructure, constructing classrooms, providing furniture, sanitation, clean drinking water, and learning materials in hard-to-reach public schools. This foundational work laid the groundwork for stronger and more inclusive learning environments. After the 2015 earthquake devastated Sindhupalchowk, HELP became a key actor in education recovery, delivering emergency relief, establishing temporary learning centers, and rebuilding earthquake-resistant schools in close collaboration with communities and government partners. As schools were rebuilt, HELP shifted its focus toward learning quality. Since 2019, its flagship Saathi Teachers Programme has strengthened early-grade education through child-centered, compassionate teaching practices. Today, HELP continues to support students through teacher development, scholarships, learning kits, and livelihood initiatives, ensuring that children in remote villages have the chance to learn and thrive.