Since 2008, volunteers from the UK the ‘Friends of the Malagiri School’, and Sweden ‘Trinity Karlstad’ have made equal contributions to meet the running costs of the school. Both groups have collaborated with a Nepalese NGO ‘The Jangchup Charitable Organisation’ (JCO) – an organisation that takes responsibility for the governance of the school – to ensure that the children experience high quality education and care.
Scroll down to read about Team UK, Team Sweden, Teams in Nepal and Our Founders.
Team UK
The ‘Friends of Malagiri School’ are based in Sussex, UK. We work closely with our partner group Trinity Karlstad to support the Nepalese NGO which has legal responsibility for the Jangchup Pre-Primary school (the Malagiri School).
This is achieved by maintaining regular communication with Trinity:
- To advise the NGO regularly to maintain oversight of the running and upkeep of the Malagiri School.
- To set annual fund-raising goals.
- To agree how funds and donations are used to support the work of the NGO.
- To maintain regular communication with the NGO and the Headteacher in order to disseminate news and updates to friends and supporters of the school.
The ‘Friends of Malagiri School’ regularly organise fundraising events and many of our supporters have visited the Malagiri School and gained first-hand knowledge of the needs of the school, progress of the pupils, and aspirations of the local community.
- Lorraine Harrison
- Jill Munday
- Louise Harper
- Denise Fossey
- Alison Mayo
- Tim Cullen
- Karen Pontin
Team Sweden – Trinity Karlstad
The charity Trinity Karlstad was founded in 2008 by Carin Söderlind; based in Karlstad, Sweden it aims to help underprivileged children in Nepal, India and Tibet – hence the name Trinity.
Since that time Carin has visited the school regularly, almost twice a year, often with other Trinity members. This has enabled Carin to support the staff hands on and to understand more deeply the needs of the community and how this effects the education of the children. Sewing classes have been organised for the local women along with health checks for the children and community.
Trinity also helps Swedish individuals to sponsor individual children with their continuing education and during 2024 funded the instalment of iron stoves in 150 households. These stoves reduce smoke, provide more heat, use less firewood and improve the health of the villagers.
As a registered charity Trinity fund raises and receives regular donations from Swedish supporters. Trinity also receives and directs UK fund raising to the Nepalese NGO The Jangchup Charitable Organisation and ensures that all donations sent are benefiting the school in the best possible way and that the school is an inclusive environment and offers a creative curriculum.
- Carin Soderlind founder and chairperson of Trinity Karlstad
- Kristina Lindgren vice-chairperson
- Ulla Granqvist treasurer
- Pernilla Strömgren
- Monica Magnusson
- Eva Hassel Afzelius
- Gun-Britt Scherp
- Margareta Silvemark
- Erik Elenstrand
Teams Nepal
The Jangchup Charitable Organisation (JCO) is based in Kathmandu, Nepal and has legal responsibility for the Jangchup Pre-Primary school – known as the Malagiri School. This responsibility includes managing the budget for staff salaries, mealtime expenses and the building etc. During the Covid pandemic the JCO organized an emergency delivery of food supplies for the children and families. Secretary Binod Lama is in regular contact with our UK and Swedish teams to discuss the budget needs, he also visits the school regularly.
- Mr. Ang Tsering Lama – Chairperson
- Mr. Suresh Kumar K.C. – Vice-chairperson
- Mr. Binod Lama – Secretary
- Mr. Dawa Dhundup Gurung – Joint Secretary
- Mr. Karma Lama – Treasurer
- Dr. Kunsang Dolma Sherpa – Member
- Mr. Dinesh Bal – Member
School Staff Team
- Gautam Bahadur Bal – School Principal
- Sarita Maya Bal – Teacher – Nursery
- Anupama Tamang – Teacher – Lower Kindergarten (LKG)
- Susmita Lo – Teacher – Upper Kindergarten (UKG)
- Gautam Bahadur Bal – Principal + Teacher – Class 1 (Grade One)
- Jetha Thokar – Guard
- Maili Rumba Lo – Cook
- Thuli Gomja Thing – Cook
- Amrit Thokar – Office Assistant
Our Founders
Geshe Pema Dorjee is an experienced inspirational educator, as a Tibetan Buddhist monk he chose to use his skills actively in lay communities and seeks to help all those in need through guiding creative projects, by networking and connecting with like-minded compassionate people. Pema introduced Kevin and Carin to each other. Initially on the Nepali board of governors (JCO) he guided the project and supported local families to acquire and clear land ready to build a school. He continues to visit the school regularly.
Kevin Fossey (1950 – 2016) believed deeply in the value of education; from years as an enthusiastic primary school teacher Kevin continued his career taking successful head-ship of several schools before joining the University of Brighton School of Education (SoE) as a senior lecturer. An interest in Tibet led to Kevin being invited to Dharamsala, India to help create a national curriculum for Tibetan refugee children, Geshe Pema Dorjee was the educator leading this project. Invitations to speak at teacher training colleges in India and schools in Nepal followed.
In 2007 when Kevin first visited the area of Malagiri plans soon developed to build a school there. Kevin invited Pema to visit Brighton University and give a talk about the project to staff and students, everyone was enthusiastic about the idea and began to raise funds. After the inauguration in 2011 Kevin visited the school once more in 2012 before he was given a very sad terminal cancer diagnosis.
Carin Soderlind met Geshe Pema Dorje when he visited Sweden and soon volunteered to teach in a school for street children in the Kathmandu valley. Carin has used this experience of the culture and people of Nepal along with her former career based in education, arts and crafts to help support the Malagiri school. Since 2011 she has visited Malagiri almost twice a year, sharing teaching strategies, leading art projects and sharing support initiatives, especially immediately after the devastating earthquake in 2015. The mutual love and respect between Carin and the Malagiri community is akin to close family.
