Honoring Mrs. Pabitra Lama
The Founder of Bright Nepal
Pabitra Lama in 1997 when I first met her in Boudha with Poojan, Preza and Chenay Lama.
Angela Bennet
This Bright Nepal girl was named Angela after Angela Bennet! Here they are meeting and getting to know each other.
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Pabitra Lama
Pabitra Lama with chick
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Bright Nepal's founder, Pabitra Lama, is a Nepali woman who grew up impoverished and uneducated and made a vow to help village girls escape the descending spiral of poverty. Forming a friendship and working relationship in 1997 with Anahata Iradah and Prema Dasara, and later on Sophia Kehau Keller, we all set about raising funds so that Pabitra could assist with the many girls that were in need of urgent support. Initially, she took rescued girls into her personal home and then in 2011 Bright Nepal secured its own home and was officially formed as a girl's hostel in Kathmandu.
Due to the diligent work of Angela Bennet who helped to form a God parent program, many girls were educated and now most of those original girls went through their schooling and are now earning a living and have moved on to higher education. There are still a handful of girls who came a little later on who are still with Pabitra and their God parents living in Boudha.
As this was all happening Pabitra's Tamang husband became a full fledged Lama and is now serving the Tamang population in Boudha and beyond. Pabitra is is being called more and more to assist with the many pujas and visitors that come to their family home.
She will forever be looking out for those in need but the days of running the hostel as before are slowly changing. The project was a huge success due to the support of the many donors who are honored at the end of this page.
So the banner of Bright Nepal remains and the more immediate urgent attention is being turned to Atisha School, another project which was also initiated in 1997.
On behalf of all the girls and families whose lives were transformed by Pabitra Lama and her compassionate responsiveness, from the bottom of my heart, I say "Thank you! You are a Bodhisattva and knowing you Pabitra has changed my life and I am honored to know you and to have you as my spiritual friend".
Due to the diligent work of Angela Bennet who helped to form a God parent program, many girls were educated and now most of those original girls went through their schooling and are now earning a living and have moved on to higher education. There are still a handful of girls who came a little later on who are still with Pabitra and their God parents living in Boudha.
As this was all happening Pabitra's Tamang husband became a full fledged Lama and is now serving the Tamang population in Boudha and beyond. Pabitra is is being called more and more to assist with the many pujas and visitors that come to their family home.
She will forever be looking out for those in need but the days of running the hostel as before are slowly changing. The project was a huge success due to the support of the many donors who are honored at the end of this page.
So the banner of Bright Nepal remains and the more immediate urgent attention is being turned to Atisha School, another project which was also initiated in 1997.
On behalf of all the girls and families whose lives were transformed by Pabitra Lama and her compassionate responsiveness, from the bottom of my heart, I say "Thank you! You are a Bodhisattva and knowing you Pabitra has changed my life and I am honored to know you and to have you as my spiritual friend".
These are some pictures of Bright Nepal under the direction of Pabitra Lama from the period 2012-2016 including the
earthquake which struck Nepal in 2015.
A BIG THANK YOU to the godparents who were with us
from the beginning of the program in 2014:
from the beginning of the program in 2014:
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Angela Bennett
Elena Bennett Courtney and Chad Burnette Gonzalo Ortega Carpio Jan Christianson Tonya and Josh Hall Amrita & Hakim Tranter |
Anahata Iradah
Rosebel Nalesso Mariam Mary Neil Barbara Marin Eileen Pappalardo Cecelia & Marcos Valentim |
AND to the Godparents of 2017- who helped us with the
transition to the school hostel:
transition to the school hostel:
Rachel Fresco
Meredith Reynolds (on behalf Pat Reynolds)
Maria Nalesso
John Beal (on behalf of his sister and daughter)
Safia Gray
Sabira Ruehmkorff
Maria-Eleni Alesandre
Verena Voigt
Katharine Barton
Anonymous
Vicki Rees
Katharine Barton
Meredith Reynolds (on behalf Pat Reynolds)
Maria Nalesso
John Beal (on behalf of his sister and daughter)
Safia Gray
Sabira Ruehmkorff
Maria-Eleni Alesandre
Verena Voigt
Katharine Barton
Anonymous
Vicki Rees
Katharine Barton
DONORS Bright Nepal could not survive without
additional generous contributions.
additional generous contributions.
BIG THANKS to ALL of those who have generously donated their
time, energy and resources to help!!!
Some of our recent donors and those who have raised
funds by organizing fundraisers are:
Jan Edmunds, Aysha & Khalid Wahid, Ann Wilson, Wes & Missy Cochran, Anahata Iradah, Dina Shriver, Gayanne Geurin, Maggie Merman, Alim Thompson, Vanessa Ragan, Jennifer Denning, Sylvia's Attic, Paula Saffire, Penny Morningstar-Butler, Eileen Pappalardo, Barbara Marin, Nancy Shayeson, Gyantarang Lister, Adele Ulrich, Julie Stoverink, Francine Barr, Mary & Bill Stewart, Jackie & Patrick Terrail, Lisa Nunan, Sabira Reuhmkorff, Hope Jinishian, Beth Remmes, Roberta Newman, Sherry Pollok, David Raines, Zachary Casper, Gina James, Amy Lee, Lea Lacky-Zachman, Peter & Sara Ribbons, Travis Towns, Marlene Berro in honor of Rachel Fresco's birthday!, Susan Landaiche, Barbara Marin on behalf of her grand daughters Sienna and Sasha Lindamood and those who wish to remain anonymous.
time, energy and resources to help!!!
Some of our recent donors and those who have raised
funds by organizing fundraisers are:
Jan Edmunds, Aysha & Khalid Wahid, Ann Wilson, Wes & Missy Cochran, Anahata Iradah, Dina Shriver, Gayanne Geurin, Maggie Merman, Alim Thompson, Vanessa Ragan, Jennifer Denning, Sylvia's Attic, Paula Saffire, Penny Morningstar-Butler, Eileen Pappalardo, Barbara Marin, Nancy Shayeson, Gyantarang Lister, Adele Ulrich, Julie Stoverink, Francine Barr, Mary & Bill Stewart, Jackie & Patrick Terrail, Lisa Nunan, Sabira Reuhmkorff, Hope Jinishian, Beth Remmes, Roberta Newman, Sherry Pollok, David Raines, Zachary Casper, Gina James, Amy Lee, Lea Lacky-Zachman, Peter & Sara Ribbons, Travis Towns, Marlene Berro in honor of Rachel Fresco's birthday!, Susan Landaiche, Barbara Marin on behalf of her grand daughters Sienna and Sasha Lindamood and those who wish to remain anonymous.