The Road to Kampur: A Glimpse into Mountain Life

After arriving in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, we set out the next morning for Sankhuwasabha in the east. From the small plane, we saw the Himalayan range stretch across the horizon, with Mount Everest faintly visible in the distance. Below, small clusters of homes rested on steep slopes — a reminder that about 80% of Nepal is mountainous.

From the airstrip, we drove toward Kampur village, located about 2,000 meters above sea level. The first hour of the journey was on paved roads, but the rest was a challenging three-hour drive through rough, winding mountain tracks. By the time we arrived at the UWS Nepal school in Surya’s hometown, we had a deeper appreciation for how difficult it is for children in this region to reach school every day.

＜the unpaved roads to Kampur Village＞

When the Whole Village Welcomes You Home

As soon as we stepped out of the vehicle, light rain falling around us, the entire village gathered to welcome us. Women in bright traditional clothing greeted us with tika—a red powder applied to the forehead—and placed flower garlands around our necks. A local band played as we walked to the mountainside school.

In the schoolyard, children, teachers, and villagers had assembled for a ceremony that must have taken days to prepare. Their pride was unmistakable. This was their school, built and sustained by their own efforts.

For Surya, it was an emotional homecoming after ten years away. He had kept a respectful distance to allow the community to lead, and now he was seeing firsthand how that leadership had taken root.

That night, we stayed with local families. The next morning, we retraced Surya’s childhood path—2.5 hours each way to school. What felt like a scenic trek for us was a sobering reminder of the determination it takes for children here to learn every day.

Moments like these remind us why Earth Company exists—to help local changemakers turn their vision into long-lasting, community-led impact.

＜heading to the school, led by the villagers＞

＜Surya's opening speech as the village welcomed him and the Earth Company team＞

＜Following Surya's daily trek to school during his childhood＞

Beyond Construction: Building Lasting Change

During our stay, we visited three UWS schools deep in the mountains, each one more remote than the last. The final school, near the Tibetan border, took six and a half hours to reach—crossing three mountains along the way.

“Many people have promised to build a school,” a village elder told us, “but Surya was the only one who kept his word.” Those words stayed with us.

UWS Nepal’s work is far more than building schools. For the first five years, they manage operations directly. Over the next three, they gradually hand over responsibility to the community and local government. From the very beginning, they tell villagers, “This school belongs to you.” That shared ownership is what keeps these schools alive long after the handover.

A key part of this process is the role of “School Mobilizers,” who regularly visit to listen, guide, and solve challenges together. We were especially moved by the mothers’ involvement. Through organized mother groups, they have taken active roles in school life, becoming powerful forces in sustaining education for their children.

It was clear that what Surya and his team are building isn’t just schools. They are building a foundation for community-led change that lasts.

＜UWS Ulin Campus, the most remote school of UWS Nepal＞

＜Mother group members giving speeches with confidence＞

Surya's "Way of Being": Deep Listening over Speed

When Surya founded UWS Nepal in his early twenties, his goal was clear—bring education to as many children as possible, as quickly as possible. Having studied abroad, he returned with energy and ambition, driven by the urgency he saw in his homeland. But over time, he learned that speed alone couldn’t create lasting change. In rural Nepal, real progress depends on trust, patience, and genuine connection.

Recognizing this, Surya shifted his approach. He became what he calls a “listening leader,” one who moves forward with the community, not ahead of it.

A key partner in this transformation has been Khem, a local from Sawanbalaya who has worked alongside Surya for more than a decade. As a bridge of trust between UWS Nepal and the villagers, Khem brings deep local understanding and shared values. His presence ensures that progress happens at the community’s pace, not the organization’s.

This grounded, human-centered approach is what makes UWS Nepal’s work so resilient, and so deeply rooted in the people it serves.

＜The UWS Nepal team. Khem is behind Surya, third row most left＞

The 2030 Vision: 700 Schools, 100,000 Students

Surya’s goal is bold: to deliver quality education to 100,000 children through 700 schools by 2030.

Too ambitious? After witnessing his work firsthand, we don’t think so. What we saw in the mountains wasn’t just a dream—it was a future already beginning to take shape.

Step by step, Surya is expanding partnerships with government bodies and communities across Nepal, laying the foundation for change that can outlast any single project or organization.

It’s a vision rooted in trust, built through collaboration, and driven by a belief that every child, no matter how remote their home, deserves the chance to learn.

＜The children of UWS Nepal＞