Indra Kulung Rai ( Vice Chairperson )

Mr Indra Kulung is working as freelance resource person with NGO/INGOs in the field of Project evaluation, base line survey, training, planning and strategy development. Since 2011, he is also leading Himalaya Natural Fibre Foundation (HNFF), an NGO as Chairperson and General Secretary with Association of Nepal Kirat Kulung Language Culture Development (ANKKLCD) since 2004. He has extensive work experience as Executive Director with the responsibility of overall program management and execution of NGO Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities, NGO FONIN. He experienced various positions with ActionAid Nepal as Advocacy Action Research Consultant, Senior Program Officer, and Infrastructure Officer from 1993 to 2011. Academically, he hold Master in Rural Development from Tribhuwan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal ; Bachelor in Rural Development from Purbaanchal University, Biratnagar, Morang, Nepal; Bachelor in Commerce from Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu, Nepal and Certificate level in Engineering from Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk (T.U), Nepal. He has wide range of experiences in research stud and publications and have engaged in dozen of trainings in different thematic as well advocacy related issues.

Mr. Surendra Shrestha ( Treasurer )

Mr. Surendra Kumar Shrestha, born on 3 September 1962, a resident of Kathmandu, has been appointed as the new Administration and Finance Manager of Teach for Nepal, in August 2012. A veteran in the field of administration and financial procedurals, Mr. Shrestha has had 18 years of experience in different NGOs and INGOs. He started his career as an Administration and Finance Officer in ActionAid Nepal in 1988 and was promoted to Senior Admin. and Finance Officer in the same office. He worked in ActionAid Nepal for 14 years. After that, he joined Sagun, an NGO, as an Administration and Finance Officer in 2003 for about 5 years. Subsequently, he joined Oxfam GB Nepal as a Finance Support Officer in 2008 and worked for two years. In 2010, he then joined Lumanti, an NGO, and continued for about two years. Mr. Shrestha holds Bachelor of Commerce Degree majoring in Finance from Ratna Jyoti Multiple Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal. Besides, he has received advanced level of professional trainings in office management, management training, PRA, Financial Management, Saving and Credit, ToT, Computer, Internal Audit. Also, he has been invited as a Trainer in different sessions. He is involved in several organizations like Society for Participatory Cultural Education, SPACE as a Chairperson, Society for Peoples in Needs (SPIN) as a Treasurer.

Mr. Ram Sharan Sedhai ( Member )

Ram Sharan Sedhai has more than 10 years experience in mainstream media and has worked as senior sub-editor with The Kathmandu Post, as a Managing Editor of Sancharika Online, and has more than 9 years of experience in the field of communication, media advocacy, publication and documentation. He has worked in senior positions at international NGOs like ActionAid Nepal, and UN project. An MA in Sociology and Anthropology and a sophomore of MA Mass Communication and Journalism, he has more than 5 years' experience in program development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. He also has knowledge on fundraising. He is a writer, editor, translator, and interpreter editor.

Ms. Pranita Thapa ( Member)

Ms. Pranita Thapa is a Researcher/ Program Manager by profession who holds over ten years of experience in the field of social science research. She has acquired Master of Arts from North Bengal University, India Ms. Thapa has carried out a number of surveys and participatory research projects in the field of public health, poverty alleviation, trafficking of children and women, migration, HIV/AIDS, displaced children, community development, human rights and gender issues. She has led several research projects related to these subjects and has acquired wide experience in the field of qualitative as well as quantitative surveys. She has authored and co-authored many reports relating to research findings on many subjects. She also holds experience working in the field of women and child rights advocacy campaigns as she has actively participated in rights based advocacy campaigns for over four years. She has led projects related to human rights, women empowerment, child rights, conflict, migration and other development issues in different parts of Nepal.

Dr. Shibesh Chandra Regmi

Dr. Regmi has more than 30 years of national and international experience in the development sector and more than 15 years of experience in senior management positions. He has led organizations such as New ERA as its Executive Director, ActionAid Nepal as its Country Director, and World Neighbors's as its Regional Associate Vice President, Asia. He also has headed many voluntary sector organizations such as Association of International NGOs (AIN) Nepal, Nepal Participatory Action Network, Durga Bhawani Savings and Credit Cooperative Limited, Durga Bhawani Poly-Clinic, to name a few, and has been in advisory positions in many other philanthropic organizations such as Samuhik Abhiyan (NGO), Samunnat Thalo (Pvt. Ltd.), Nandi Student Welfare Trust, The Hope Hermitage (Pvt. Ltd.), among others. Dr. Regmi has got substantive experience in research, training, drafting of long-term strategic plans for NGOs, INGOs and government agencies, reports and publications. He is Ph.D. Degree in Gender and Development from University of Southampton, UK; Master's Degree in Rural Sociology from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines, and MBA Degree with Specialization in Management from Tribhuwan University, Nepal.

Mr. Shreedhar Lamichhane

Mr. Lamichhane is currently a Chair of Prerana (NGO), Vice President with ARDS Nepal (Alzheimer Society of Nepal); Development Advisor and Executive Member for National Senior Citizen Organization Network Nepal (Jan 2007 to Dec 2010). Executive Director, Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (Jan 2011 to March 2013). Area Program Manager, HelpAge International (December 2005 to December 2006) in Batticaloa and Ampara districts, Sri Lanka. His professional background encompasses experience on relief and rehabilitation project targeted to tsunami affected poor people of Sri Lanka and more than fifteen years of experience in development management (rural) in Nepal. Managed Community based rehabilitation for differently able children in Rural Nepal while working with Save the children UK, And in Action Aid International in Nepal for more than 10 years. He has experiences in Baseline, project analysis and policy review, sector review, organizational review, impact study and child research using Participatory tools.Mr. Lamichhane holds MA in Sociology, TU Kathmandu; BA Journalism/ Political Science from RR Campus, TU Kathmandu, Nepal.

Dr. Kokila Vaidya

Dr. Vaidya is a Medical Doctor with loads of years of work experiences in the Development sector of Nepal and Ministry of Health, substantial work experience working on government health policy level, UNDP, INGOs of Nepal and an international expatriate from Nepal.

Ms. Laxmi Rai

Ms. Rai is currently a Parliamentarian of Nepal. She is constituent Assembly member since 2013. She was actively engage in political activities since 1980. She holds a General Secretary post for Center for consolidation of Democracy and Indigenous women activist as of to date. She started her professional life as school teacher from Kanti Ishwari Shish Vidyalaya in early 1972, political activities prior taking up the responsibility of Central Council Member N.C.D. She was a member secretary of National women's commission since 2002 to 2004. Ms Rai holds Master degree in Education from Tribhuwan University, Nepal.

Dr. Rajani Shrestha

Dr. Shrestha, retired professor from Tribhuvan University. She served for 36 years in different academic field. Advisor to Campus Chief in Thakur Ram Campus, Tri Chandra College; Head of Examination Section, office of the Dean, Institute of Business Administration, Commerce and Public Administration (Central office, T.U.); Chairman of Business law and secretarial Science subject committee formed under the IBACPA, T.U; Head of Dept. Management Instruction Committee, S.D. Campus & S.D. Campus unit; Chairperson of Nepal University Teacher's Association, T.U. General Manager of Industrial Districts Management Co. Ltd; Visiting Teacher in Kathmandu University, School of Management; Executive Director (Honorary): Sushma Koirala Memorial Trust, Central office; Academic guidance to Ph.D. scholars as required by the Dean's Office, T.U. Chairperson of Intellectual Women's Group & Chief Editor of "Hamro Prayash" pulication; Vice-Chairperson of Center for Development Activities and Services (CDAS); Promoter - Director in the Board of Kathmandu Bachat Tatha Rin Sahakari Sanstha Ltd.; Chairperson, Tripura Bachat tatha Rin Sahakari Sanstha Ltd.; Member of Nepal Mahila Sangha; Programme Co-ordinator " Senior Citizens Home " in Godawari, Citizens Charity Trust, Rotary Club of Patan.; Academic Board Members of Prime College, Khusibu, Kathmandu, since its inception days; Executive Chairperson of Unique Academy and Unique College of Management. She holds Ph.D Degree in Industrial Estates in Nepal from Baroda, India.

Ms. Pramita Bista

Mrs. Bista started her career as Sociologist in Sappros Nepal and worked under various projects and research studies jointly conducted by Sappros Nepal with Ford Foundation, World Bank and IFAD. She was also engaged in development sector of Nepal for many years, currently a Managing Director/ founder of Chelsea International Academy. Since the inception of this organization in 2005. Mrs. Bista is engaged in the overall management of the institution which has about 1700 students and more than 250 staff members. She has work experience working in development sector of Nepal. She got graduation from Punjab University, Chandigarh, with honours in Sociology and a Master's degree in Sociology from Tribhuvan University.

The Hope Hermitage (THH) was established in the January 2014 by a group of women, who sought to provide care and support to elderly people, and promote their wellbeing. The objective was to help those seniors creating enabling environment to engage in different creative, motivational activities and providing them services, care and support that suit their specific needs. They would be benefited from the increased companionship, scheduled activities and social interaction from THH's senior citizen's home, Club and Day Care Center. Likewise since its inception, THH has been conducting several programs, including interactions inviting stakeholders concerned, free dental health camp, various national tour programs, rallies with other networks, lobbying meetings with the government authorities concerned. It has been attempting to influence state policies in favour of senior citizens with special focus on Alzheimer's Dementia, through campaigning and awareness raising programs. It has strategically designed to expand its outreach in all districts across the country through media (radio and TV). However, an increasing number of seniors with dementia are being enrolled in the center. Currently we have 6 seniors in the residential care and three seniors in the day care center suffering from Alzheimer's dementia. With a view to broadening the scope of our work and focusing more on the care and support for Alzheimer's dementia and earning more legitimacy to our work with varied stakeholders, we have registered Hope Hermitage Nepal (HHN) as a national NGO, dedicated to protect and promote the rights and welfare of elderly people in Nepal. We have acquired affiliation with the Social Welfare Council and registered the organization with NGO Federation of Nepal. HHN operates at two levels: It has a 9-member Executive Board and Central office in Lazimpat, Kathmandu. The board comprises people who have expertise in different fields. HHN aims to sensitize new generation on the life and health of senior citizens, share experiences of senior citizens for building up social coherence and national development, facilitate policy makers for ensuring wellbeing of senior citizens, explore dimensions of social, economic and family problems the elders people are facing, review and assess existing state policies and social security system, formulate focused advocacy for the systemic change, especially as a key priority to work on Alzheimer's and related Dementia disease. HHN has collaborated with national and international organizations to achieve better results. HHN has strong emphasis on institutional framework for placing women's empowerment at the centre of all our work. We are fully committed to channeling energy, effort and resources into processes that create a society that value women and girls equally. We undertake capacity building of women and girls enrolled as HHN Volunteer to provide better care and support to the senior citizens. All initiatives is focus on the well being of senior citizens together it will create women empowerment by creating employment opportunity for women from marginalized and disadvantaged communities.

ABOUT HHN

Hope Hermitage Nepal (HHN), a voluntary social organization, was established in the early 2014 from different expert professional, who sought to redress dishonors behaved against elderly people, and thereby focused on promotion and wellbeing of senior citizens. HHN was formally registered as a non-governmental organization on November 7, 2014, and got affiliation with Social Welfare Council (SWC) of Nepal. We have also registered HHN with NGO Federation Nepal. Since then HHN has started strengthening our already existed networks with senior citizen federation of Nepal and organizations working on the ageing issues aiming to deconstruct the existing perception of society about the concerns of elderly people, including specifically Alzheimer's Dementia. HHN is an elderly people-centric organization that aims facilitate policy makers for ensuring wellbeing of senior citizens and explore dimensions of social, economic and family problems the elders people are facing, review and assess existing state policies and social security system, formulate focused advocacy for the systemic change about the existing social dishonor against ageing, especially Health related like Alzheimer's and related Dementia.