HOW FACE NEPAL BEGAN
In 2004, Nepal was experiencing political upheaval. Schools were closed, roads were blocked, and daily life was uncertain. During this period, Zoe Dryden, a business start‑up specialist from New Zealand, and Shreeram Devkota, an English teacher passionate about social contribution, found themselves with extra time as normal routines were disrupted.
They used those quiet hours to reflect and share ideas about what could be done to make a real difference. Out of those conversations grew a vision: to create an organisation rooted in honesty, transparency, and community empowerment.
Building Something DifferenT
Shreeram had long dreamed of a model for social work that was fair and sustainable. Zoe, disillusioned by corruption in existing aid organisations, wanted to help create something better. Together, they combined Shreeram’s Role Model Village strategy (later evolving into the Role Model School) with Zoe’s determination to build an organisation free of bias and corruption.
And so, FACE Nepal was officially registered—with a commitment to mixed caste, mixed gender, and fully accountable projects.
Growing Through Friendship and ActioN
From the beginning, FACE Nepal grew through shared intention and community ownership:
Women’s groups took responsibility for land and premises.
Community groups helped oversee projects and ensure success.
Local and international boards provided governance, auditing, and guidance.
Today, FACE Nepal is registered in Nepal, New Zealand, and the UK, overseen by an international board of former volunteers who visit and audit projects at their own expense each year.
Impact That Inspires
One school tells the story best. In 2012, it had just 18 students. With the support of FACE Nepal, women’s groups, volunteers, and strong local leadership, it now has 500 students, 100% enrollment in the district, excellent pass rates, and a meal programme feeding every child.
This government-funded school is mixed caste and mixed gender, and soon it will mentor other schools to achieve the same high standards.
For sponsors, this is the kind of transformation your support makes possible: measurable impact, transparent outcomes, and lives changed for the better.
What FACE Nepal Stands For
FACE Nepal is more than an organisation—it’s a friendship network. Volunteers, sponsors, and communities come together with one shared intention: to contribute fairly, honestly, and sustainably to society.
Every volunteer is invited to shape the future of FACE Nepal, and every sponsor plays a vital role in ensuring projects thrive long after they begin. Together, we are building brighter futures, one project, one friendship, one story at a time.
This is the model of FACE Nepal; A friendship network that receives and gives support through aligned intentions of helping to contribute to society.