Kathmandu — Samaanta Foundation hosted its Meet and Greet Ceremony to celebrate 15 years of Samaanta’s impactful journey in promoting equality and empowerment through higher education for meritorious public-school graduates from underserved backgrounds and the outstanding success of the “One More Fellow 2026” Fundraising Campaign.
Driven by its core principle of “Paying It Forward”, Samaanta Foundation believes, “It’s not the lack of ability, but the lack of opportunity” that limits deserving students from reaching their full potential.
Since its inception, Samaanta Foundation has supported 140 Fellows across Nepal and internationally, with Fellows earning placements at institutions such as the United World College (UWC) Nepal and Asian University for Women (AUW), and in countries including the US, UK, Germany, Norway, Canada and Bangladesh. Samaanta provides a comprehensive fellowship covering tuition, room and board, indirect costs, training, mentorship, and extracurricular opportunities, and is currently supporting 70 active Fellows in Nepal and 16 abroad.
Essence of the “One More Fellow” Campaign
Each year, Samaanta receives more than 180 applications from deserving candidates from underserved communities. Due to several resource constraints, only a limited number of candidates are selected into this transformational Fellowship opportunity.
The Foundation was initially established by a group of individuals who completed their studies at renowned universities through scholarships, with the intention of Paying it Forward the opportunities they had received. Today, to uphold and carry forward the principle, Samaanta Fellows organize an annual campaign to extend the same opportunity to another deserving student. The campaign’s goal is to raise funds to cover the academic and comprehensive expenses of one more Fellow for two years of higher secondary education.
The One More Fellow 2026 Campaign was conducted in three phases:
- Peer Group Collection ( Fellows reached out to friends, families, relatives, mentors, teachers and other supporters)
- Deusi Bhailo
- Fundraising Hike
Through this campaign, Samaanta Fellows raised an extraordinary NRs. 11,75,739, nearly double the initial target! This included NRs. 2,19,720 from Deusi Bhailo, NRs. 41,670 from the Hike, and NRs. 9,14,349 through peer group collection. Out of the total peer collection, NRs. 4,40,000 was generously contributed by Namaste Nepal Belgium, whose support played a pivotal role in the campaign’s success.
Meet and Greet Ceremony Highlights
The Meet and Greet ceremony, held on 21 February at Leapfrog Technology, brought together 20 distinguished guests from policy, education, health, government, and development sectors.
The event fostered a shared space for Fellows and supporters to engage in meaningful group activities and interaction sessions, where they reflected on their journeys and exchanged personal and educational experiences. The open and thoughtful discussions inspired both the Fellows and guests, strengthening mutual understanding across generations and professions, and reaffirming a shared belief in the transformative power of education.
We had three fundraisers this year: one from a senior bachelor Fellow, one from a high school Fellow, and one from an alumnus, Dipak Kumar Kurmi, Bindu Tamang, and Dipesh Bhujel.
Samaanta Foundation extended its heartfelt gratitude to all participants, sponsors, and supporters, including Acala Nepal, Aneke Beauty Salon, KD Store, and media partner WOW Magazine, for this shared achievement.
The ceremony also acknowledged the dedication of the Fellows, whose leadership and commitment made the campaign and event possible, and whose continued efforts uphold the Foundation’s core value of “Paying It Forward.”
Samaanta Fellows stand as a testament to the fact that ‘it is not the lack of ability but the lack of opportunity.’ When given the chance, they rise, excel, and work to ensure that more deserving students gain access to quality education and life-changing opportunities. Individuals, organizations, and well-wishers are invited to support this initiative and help fund another deserving Fellow through donations:
- Esewa: 9847391286 [Recipient: Samaanta Foundation]
For more information, please visit www.samaantafoundation.org or contact us at info@samaantafoundation.org. Updates and stories highlighting the Foundation’s impact can also be found on Samaanta Foundation’s official Facebook page: //www.facebook.com/SamaantaFoundation
Samaanta Foundation continues to build a strong chain of Paying It Forward through collective action, transforming the lives of youth and empowering the next generation of leaders in Nepal.
