Barefoot dreams lead to divine destiny – guided by Hanuman, the Monkey God.
This year we have given the floor to our friend Dinesh Kandel, known as Ravi, a volunteer at Hanuman ETS since 2004. An opportunity to read about Hanuman volunteering through the eyes of someone who experiences it firsthand, and not just organizes it with us.
Happy reading!
Barefoot dreams lead to divine destiny – guided by Hanuman, the Monkey God.
Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, Nepal is a beautiful country in South Asia. In this mesmerizing country, a small village named ‘Benighat’ lies just 80 km west of the capital, Kathmandu, along the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway. Here, the mighty Trishuli and Budhi
Gandaki rivers originated from Tibet, meet and greet nature. For me, this village is more than a dot on the map; it is a heartbeat, a memory, a dream in motion.
I was born and raised in this small village, wandering through fertile vegetable farms and lush green forests and enjoying scenic mountain views. I spent my childhood in this beautiful village and completed my primary education.
Remembering the first day in school is fascinating for everyone, including me. Stepping into school at the age of 5 in 1985 was not just an exciting moment but also a dream; my heart was full of emotion. I did not even feel the pain of thorny pebbles on the way or the danger of slippery sandy paths while walking down, proudly wearing a sky-blue shirt and dark-blue half-pants on my little bare feet. Even now, nearly four decades later, those school days dance in my memory like flickers of magic, untouched by time.
After completing primary school in Benighat, I had to walk nearly 4 kilometers daily along a dangerous highway to attend high school. My parents, fearing for my safety, sent me to Chitwan to live with my uncle. The school I attended in Chitwan is a stone’s throw away
from my maternal uncle’s home. Between school breaks, I discovered something extraordinary, tourism — that opened a window to me from where I caught a glimpse of the world. It was all possible just because my uncle ran a resort in Sauraha, a major tourist destination.
In 1999, I moved to Kathmandu for further studies. To support myself, I worked in a tourist hotel while studying. Around this time, computers and the internet were making their slow debut in Nepal, but they were very expensive and out of reach for many people.
Having international friends and working in the tourism industry has helped me to understand the importance of technology, and I am fascinated by it. I taught myself programming and design, fueled by curiosity and a deep desire to connect Nepal with the world. I started working as a web designer and later established my own IT business, which I am still working on. I was moved by what I saw on a day in 2002 in Benighat while I was there for a festival villagers, including my father and old teachers, collecting donations to upgrade our local school. Their commitment was humbling, but their resources were limited. I knew then: I had to do something. I decided to form a non-profit organization to support the school in Benighat. I wanted to utilize my technology skills and knowledge as a web designer.
I’ve spoken with like-minded young friends in Benighat, and they agreed but made it clear that they rely on me and can do nothing beyond supporting my idea. I carried their hope as fuel. This was during the extreme period of the Maoist conflict in Nepal—a time of suspicion, fear, and civil unrest. Being united and forming an organization during this period raised many eyebrows. After months of struggle with clarification to various authorities, weregistered the Cooperative Youth Organization Nepal (COYON) under the guise of
economic development among young people to avoid political scrutiny. I built a simple website and posted updates about our modest efforts—a slow-driver signboard and a few books donated to the school. It was small, but it was something from our pocket.
Then, one evening in 2004, an email arrived like a whisper from the universe. It was from an Italian organization named Hanuman Onlus. They had found our website and wanted to support our mission. In Nepal, Hanuman is the monkey god, a symbol of protection, power, and devotion—especially toward children. It was an incredible coincidence; I felt cosmic and divine, as if Hanuman himself had seen our hearts and extended his hand. From that moment, a new chapter began.
In 2004, a team from Hanuman Onlus visited Nepal, and we began distributing educational materials to schools in remote corners of Benighat. Together, we laid the foundation for a new school building. Year by year, brick by brick, we are building schools and creating hope for many children. We are helping schools with computer labs, libraries, sports grounds, toilets, and eventually even hostels for children from distant villages. In Benighat, our high school hostel can accommodate up to 150 children; in Ramechhap, our primary school hostel can accommodate up to 14 children. Furthermore, after seeing many abandoned children, we planned to establish a children’s center. In 2011, we acquired land in Benighat and started building Happy Home. By 2012, we open it as a safe and loving residence for abandoned and orphaned children. Happy Home is now sheltering 35 young lives who are nurtured with care, love, and education. Every year, volunteers from Hanuman ETS Italy visit them, bringing the children new perspectives and boundless joy. Over two decades, together with Hanuman ETS, we built 22 schools in various parts of Nepal and supported thousands of children. We commenced a program called Happy Child Nepal in 2005, providing complete scholarships to needy children, covering tuition fees, school dress, scholastic materials, meals in school, and other general necessities. Till now, more than 350 children have benefited directly from Happy Child. Many of them are now doctors, nurses, engineers, bankers, and civil servants - living proof that dreams planted in the soil of struggle can bloom beautifully.
Today, I live in Kathmandu with my wife and two children. While many of my peers moved abroad, I stayed. Yes, I might have had a more luxurious life elsewhere with my skill and knowledge of Information Technology. But nothing can compare to the pride I feel seeing the change we’ve brought to our village, needy children, and community. And when my 13-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son tell me, “We are proud of you, Dad!” I realized this journey was worth every step. It began with the memory of a barefoot boy who continued with a dream of a better school. It was always guided by an unseen force, probably by Hanuman, the protector of children, and by the kindness of people who believe in giving. And, of course, by those who founded and supported Hanuman ETS.To all the hearts around the world that have contributed to humanity, I salute you. Thank you for walking with me and walking with us and enjoying the joy of sharing and caring.
Thank you!
Dinesh Kandel (Ravi)
Kathmandu, Nepal