Friends of Chakraviu Nepal
EIN / Charity ID: 99-1513440
Tax-exempt status: 501(c)(3)
Established: 2024
Address: 214 Lehigh Dr, Winchester, Virginia (VA), 22602, USA
About Friends of Chakraviu Nepal
A U.S. nonprofit supporting locally led work in Nepal
Friends of Chakraviu Nepal is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit connecting international resources, expertise, and partnerships with locally led education, climate, and social innovation initiatives in Nepal.
FOCN supports initiatives that address educational, environmental, and social challenges through practical, community-centered approaches. Its work includes supporting holistic learning and student development, advancing climate and environmental action, promoting circular and socially innovative solutions, and connecting communities with resources, knowledge, and opportunities.
FOCN works closely with Chakraviu Nepal, a Nepal-based nonprofit organization, to support the development and implementation of programs in Nepal. While FOCN is a separate U.S. charitable organization, its partnership with Chakraviu Nepal provides a direct connection to local communities, schools, practitioners, and programs on the ground. FOCN provides a structured pathway for individuals, foundations, institutions, businesses, researchers, and Nepali diaspora communities in the United States and beyond to support programs developed and implemented by Chakraviu Nepal in Nepal.
Through FOCN, supporters outside Nepal can contribute financial resources, expertise, networks, research, partnerships, and other forms of support to locally developed initiatives in Nepal.
Our Mission
Friends of Chakraviu Nepal (FOCN) works to advance holistic education, climate action, and social innovation by mobilizing resources, building partnerships, and supporting locally led solutions that create opportunities for children, communities, and the environment.
Our Purpose
Friends of Chakraviu Nepal works to:
• Build relationships with individuals, foundations, institutions, researchers, professionals, businesses, and diaspora communities.
• Increase international awareness of locally developed approaches to education, sustainability, social innovation, and climate action.
• Connect international expertise and networks with Chakraviu Nepal’s existing local knowledge and implementation capacity.
• Create opportunities for people outside Nepal to participate in and support community-led initiatives.
• Support the development and expansion of practical solutions that address educational, environmental, and social challenges.
• Mobilize financial and other resources for programs implemented by Chakraviu Nepal in Nepal.
Our Relationship with Chakraviu Nepal
Chakraviu Nepal is a Nepal-based nonprofit organization founded in April 2021 and headquartered in Sinamangal, Kathmandu. Its work focuses on education, research, social innovation, sustainability, and climate action across Nepal.
Friends of Chakraviu Nepal (FOCN) is a separate U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to extend the reach of this work internationally.
Chakraviu Nepal develops and implements programs in Nepal. FOCN helps create pathways for international supporters and partners to contribute to that work.
Help 250 Rasuwa Flood-Affected Children Rebuild Education
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Our Board of Directors
Anuj Sainju
Director of Friends of Chakraviu Nepal
Software Developer at Ellucian
Mr. Anuj Sainju currently lives in Winchester Virginia with his wife and son. Originally from Bhaktapur Nepal, he has been in the USA since 2002. He holds Master in Business Administration and Masters in Software Engineering Degrees and currently works as a software developer.
Due to professional and personal commitments in the USA, he had not been able to contribute back to his community in Nepal as he had hoped for. However, with his current involvement in Chakraviu Nepal, he intends to help this organization raise funds to increase its footprints in the community so that it can serve more kids in poverty in its holistic approach to education.
Raju Gadtoula
Director of Friends of Chakraviu Nepal
SVP at the Bank of New York Mellon
Raju Gadtoula is a Senior Vice President at BNY Mellon with over 20 years of experience across investment banking, technology, policy governance, risk and compliance, and program management. Based in Pittsburgh, he has held leadership roles at BNY Mellon, Citi, Neuberger Berman, and Lehman Brothers. He holds a Master’s degree from the University at Albany.
Samiksha Poudyal, PhD
Director of Friends of Chakraviu Nepal
Director of Engineering at HDT Global
Samiksha is originally from Kathmandu, Nepal. She moved to the US after completing her high school. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She currently works as a Director of Engineering and lives in Maryland with her family. Outside of work, Samiksha loves to travel and spend time with her family. Through her involvement in Chakraviu, she hopes to make a positive impact and give deserving children a chance for a brighter future. She believes that no child should be deprived of their right to education.
Kathleen Rafaat
Director of Friends of Chakraviu Nepal
Kathleen Rafaat has maintained a deep connection with Nepal for more than a decade through her longstanding volunteer engagement with communities and children across the country. Her years of returning to Nepal and contributing her time, skills and care have given her a meaningful understanding of the people, communities and realities she has encountered. A meditation, yoga and breathwork instructor and Ayurvedic counselor based in San Diego, Kathleen brings her commitment to holistic wellbeing, service and community engagement to her role as a Board of Director of Friends of Chakraviu Nepal. Through this role, she continues a long-standing personal connection with Nepal while supporting opportunities for children and communities to thrive.
Rejina (Asmi) Pokharel
Director of Friends of Chakraviu Nepal
Senior Research Scientist at Novartis, Founder of The NODE
MSc. Biotech, Harvard Extension School
Rejina (Asmi) Pokharel is a Research Scientist at Novartis with experience in preclinical pharmacology, immunology, genomics, molecular biology, and in vivo research. She has held research roles at Novartis, Biogen, Tome Biosciences, and Corning, with expertise in laboratory techniques, rodent studies, and drug development research. Based in the United States, she is also involved in building professional and innovation communities through initiatives such as The NODE.
What We Support
Education Research & Innovation Centre
Friends of Chakraviu Nepal (FOCN) supports the work of the Education Research & Innovation Centre (ERIC) by helping connect education research and innovation developed in Nepal with resources, expertise, and partnerships beyond Nepal.
The Education Research & Innovation Centre (ERIC) is Chakraviu Nepal’s platform for research, experimentation, resource development, and practical innovation in education. ERIC examines challenges within real educational settings, tests approaches, develops resources, and translates learning into practical tools for educators and students.
- Its work includes:
- Social Innovation - Education, Environment, Empowerment, and Community Mobilization
- Research on Holistic Learning Pedagogy
ARC Fellowship
ARC Fellowship is Chakraviu Nepal’s long-term educational fellowship for children facing economic and social barriers that can place their education and future at risk. We work with each Fellow from the early years of school through Grade 12, providing the resources, guidance, exposure, mentorship, and opportunities they need to learn, grow, and make informed choices about their future.
ARC stands for Architecting a child’s future, while breaking the cycles that can limit it.
We believe education is not only about helping a child stay in school or pass examinations. It is about building the foundations to learn, creating opportunities to discover what they are capable of, developing the confidence to make choices, and eventually gaining the knowledge and agency to navigate higher education, work, entrepreneurship, and life beyond school.
That is why ARC is designed as an 11-year journey across four developmental phases, evolving with each Fellow as their needs, interests, abilities, and aspirations change.
- The fellowship is structured across four stages:
- ARC-1: Foundation — Grades 2–4
- ARC-2: Discovery — Grades 5–7
- ARC-3: Direction — Grades 8–10
- ARC-4: Transition — Grades 11–12
What ARC Fellowship Includes
How Our Fellows Are Selected
Our selection process is structured, transparent, and community-based.
Step - 01
School Referral
Teachers and school leadership refer students who show potential but are struggling financially and lack consistent support at home.
Step - 02
Student Interaction
We meet each child to understand their learning habits, interests, challenges, and aspirations.
Step - 03
Home Visit & Guardian Interaction
We visit the child’s home to learn more about their family environment, financial situation, and overall wellbeing.
Step - 04
Local Government Coordination
We collaborate with ward officials and local bodies to validate information and ensure fairness in the selection process.
Step - 05
Fellowship Onboarding
Selected students are welcomed into the fellowship program, equipped with their fellowship kit, and introduced to their mentors.
This process ensures that ARC Fellowship remains equitable, credible, and deeply rooted in community realities.
Circular Nepal: Upcycling For Education
Circular Nepal: Upcycling For Education is a national circular economy initiative developed by Chakraviu Nepal.
The initiative connects textile recovery, local production, schools, communities, private-sector partners, and other stakeholders to turn textile waste into educational resources and other useful products.
Chakraviu Nepal currently works with post-consumer denim to produce school bags, stationery pouches, and other functional products while creating opportunities for skills development and income generation.
Current Reach
8000+
pairs of jeans collected
5,333 kg
of textile waste diverted
1,474
students reached
22
schools across 5 provinces
60
million litres of embedded water preserved through reuse
267,200 kg
estimated CO₂ emissions avoided
120
institutions and community partners engaged
15
Circular Economy Ambassadors trained
100%
local production
Holistic Education
Chakraviu Nepal develops educational programs that look beyond academic achievement to support students’ intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and creative development.
Its Holistic Learning programs have reached more than 3,400 students across 30 education institutions, using approaches such as experiential learning, storytelling, games, creative expression, environmental education, social-emotional learning, talent exploration, and sound healing.
FOCN helps connect these programs with individuals and institutions interested in supporting broader approaches to children’s learning and development.
Community Mobilization for Education
Chakraviu Nepal also develops action-based initiatives that allow individuals and communities to contribute to education through activities, skills, networks, creativity, and participation.
Friends of Chakraviu Nepal helps create opportunities for supporters outside Nepal to participate in and contribute to such initiatives.
These include:
• Music for Education
• Walk For Education
• Hike for Education
• Run for Education
• Hearts for Education
•Sound Healing For Education
These initiatives have also supported the #DressProudly Campaign, which has provided school uniform sets and stationery to more than 475 students.
FOCN News and Activity
HOW FOCN WORKS
1
Resource Mobilization
FOCN creates opportunities for individuals, philanthropists, foundations, institutions, and other supporters outside Nepal to financially support programs implemented by Chakraviu Nepal.
2
Partnerships
FOCN develops relationships with organizations, researchers, professionals, businesses, and communities interested in education, sustainability, social innovation, and Nepal.
3
Diaspora Engagement
FOCN provides a platform for members of the Nepali diaspora and international supporters to remain connected with locally led initiatives and community work in Nepal.
4
Knowledge and Network Building
FOCN helps connect professionals, researchers, institutions, and other partners with Chakraviu Nepal's work and areas of expertise.
5
Connecting Resources to Implementation
FOCN connects international resources and networks with Chakraviu Nepal's local implementation capacity, community partnerships, and understanding of the Nepalese context.
Transparency & Accountability
FOCN is committed to clear communication about its legal status, organizational purpose, partnerships, and the programs it supports.
Funds and other resources mobilized through FOCN are intended to support charitable activities consistent with FOCN’s mission and the programs it supports in partnership with Chakraviu Nepal.
Information about supported programs, organizational activities, partnerships, and impact is communicated through FOCN and Chakraviu Nepal’s public channels.
For questions regarding FOCN, its nonprofit status, partnerships, donations, or supported programs, please contact us directly.
Support Work in Nepal
Whether you are an individual donor, member of the Nepali diaspora, foundation, business, researcher, professional, or institution, there are multiple ways to engage.
Contact Us
Friends of Chakraviu Nepal (FOCN)
U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
EIN: 99-1513440
Email: friendsofchakraviu@gmail.com
For inquiries, partnerships, donations, or organizational information:
friendsofchakraviu@gmail.com